WiserBlog

Time to take it in the... arm

According to CityWatcher.com, a private surveillance company that "provides security cameras [accessible] in real-time over the Internet," about 70 people in the US have been voluntarily injected with the encapsulated RFID chips so far.

It's been so long since I posted something on this site, that I 'd almost forgotten how.  But if some of us are currently letting our 21st Century technology go to waste, well, others are not. Unfortunately.

If you are wondering what I am I complaining about now? What it was that roused me from my malaise-- my generalized feelings of depression and cynicism about anything related to society as we know it--long enough to find out if the WiserBlog.com domain name was even still active?

It was this little piece in the Financial Times.

 

Not that I read FT any more than I do any other word of print media these days, but I did happen to see the article reporting the "first known case in which U.S. workers have been 'tagged”' electronically as a way of identifying."  So there you have it.

In the United States, these RFID chips were at first, like barcodes  only being embedded in things. Then livestock. Then pets.

Surely you've seen by now the cheerful TV commercials for HomeAgain. The new best friend to man's best friend, this company sells  RFID identity chips that you can inject into your dog. A sort of pet LoJack, without which one out of three pets apparently disappear each year.  The ads feature a yellow dog and the brighter, smiley-face-yellow HomeAgain logo.  You can't have missed it (you can watch it here if you did), but you might not have realized what the ad was for.  Maybe it was announcing a sort of Cialis for dogs?  A Crestar formulas for every breed?  Or maybe an over-the-counter canine remedy? After all, HomeAgain's tagline claim is "Pet Recovery."  They just don't go into much detail about about the RFID chips, what they are and how they work.

But never mind HomeAgain for now because, surprise, surprise, the chips are being injected into ordinary U.S. citizens.  As noted before in these pages, Japanese children, Mexican government officials, and Spanish nightclub goers in Barcelona have gotten "chipped." And here in the states, VeriChip has been inviting people to get themselves a chip to store, say, emergency medical information. As creepy a decision as that may be, it is entirely voluntary. You've got to go find yourself a doctor who will inject you with the chip and although VeriChip is offering discounts to early adopters, it's a procedure that will be cost-prohibitive for some. Predictably it is being marketed as a potentially life-saving modern convenience. If you care about protecting your loved ones and pets, you'll fork over the cash.

But, no, there hasn't been much talk of people getting chipped for "security" reasons for fear that the American people might start listening to pesky privacy and civil liberty advocates who fail to appreciate the real dangers to national security and and private industry presented by those outdated Constitutional Amendments--One through Ten. Better to focus on the revolutionary convenience afforded by not only the above-mentioned innovations, but by EZ Passes, and supermarket discount cards and the opportunity for anyone with $9.95 to search multiple databases for private information about whomever they want. 

A lot of people are willing to give up some privacy for more convenience and what they believe to be more security. So, no need to get things all stirred up by talking about injecting people with tracking chips that hold more than 80 times the information stored on a barcode, all of which can be read and updated via a handheld "scanner" from  quite a distance these days.

Except now that is what we are talking about. Of course, technically, participatiion in CityWatcher.com's employee-chipping program is voluntary too. If you don't want to be injected with a chip, you can work somewhere else. But while it's true that the Ohio company is itself in the business of tracking and surveillance, there is no reason to imagine that workplace conditions there are so unique or sensitive that other employers will not see the benefit of tagging their employees.

Versatile and inexpensive, RFID technology is not only here to stay, but it is a huge growth industry. And in our current climate, It's not difficult to see how RFID's future uses will consistently outpace any privacy or civil liberty protections that might be legislated to address them. Injectable national ID "cards" that can conveniently store not only driving, mediical and police records, and credit scores, but broadcast a person's Global Position are no longer the stuff of science fiction. They exist.

What remains to be seen is whether implementation of such chips will, in the end, be mandated or if by then, people will happily roll up their sleeves in the belief that a shot in the arm will yield greater national security--to say nothing of the shorter lines at the airport and the extra discounts at checkout. I am not sure which is the more frightening scenario.

Conyers call for Censure of Bush and Cheney

"In brief, we have found that there is substantial evidence the President, the Vice-President and other high ranking members of the Bush Administration misled Congress and the American people regarding the decision to go to war in Iraq; misstated and manipulated intelligence information regarding the justification for such war; countenanced torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment in Iraq; and permitted inappropriate retaliation against critics of their Administration. There is at least a prima facie case that these actions that federal laws have been violated - from false statements to Congress to retaliating against Administration critics."
-- December 20, 2005 Press Release, Rep. John Conyers,  Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee

The Constitution in Crisis; The Downing Street Minutes and Deception, Manipulation, Torture, Retribution, and Coverups in the Iraq War 
(Full Report, 273 pages)

Chapter 1
Executive Summary

Chapter 2
Chronology: Last Throes of Credibility

Chapter 3
Detailed Factual Findings; Determination to go to War Before Congressional Authorization

Chapter 3 (Part B)
Detailed Factual Findings; Misstating and Manipulating the Intelligence to Justify Pre-emptive War

Chapter 3 (Part C)
Detailed Factual Findings; Encouraging and Countenancing Torture and Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment

Chapter 3 (Part D)
Detailed Factual Findings; Cover-ups and Retribution

Chapter 3 (Part E)
Detailed Factual Findings; Thwarting Congress and the American Public: The Death of Accountability under the Bush Administration and the Republican-Controlled Congress

Chapter 4
Legal Analysis

Chapter 5
Recommendations

Exhibit A: Relevant Law and Standards

Exhibit B: Analysis of Powell Statements to UN

Exhibit C: House Government Reform Committee Democratic Staff Report Iraq on the Record

Exhibit D: Key Documents

John Conyers also introduced three House Resolutions addressing the allegations contained the 273 page Report.

H.Res. 635;
Calling for the creation of Bi-Partisan Select Committee in the House to investigate the Bush Administration

H.Res.636: Calling for the Censure of the President

H.Res. 637: Calling for the Censure of the Vice President

"At least a prima facie case"

The House Judiciary Committee's Report contains evidence of least a prima facie case that federal laws have been violated.  In other words, given a fraction of the time and tax dollars spent "investigatiing" Bill Clinton, any substantial inquiry into Bush et al's practices would, quite unlike the former investigation, uncover more than a blow job. Or a lie about a blow job. Consider also that the "act" that Bill Clinton lied about, while sleazy, cost one of it's citizens a dry cleaning bill. George Bush's decisions, policies and practices have already cost the American people thousands of lives, trillions of dollars, to say nothing of what they have exacted from integrity and functionality of the very institutions make democracy possible. 

Think back to the media frenzy, the outrage, the country's preoccupation with Clinton and that blow job. Now look at the paper, or turn on the TV... where is the outrage about what we already have proof of?  Where is the nonstop coverage feeding and tending that outrage?! 

On a personal note, you may have noticed that there have been no posts here on Wiserblog in quite a while.  This is primarily due to the fact that I am just now a little too overwhelmed by the fact that we live in a country where "we the people" are not outraged by the current state of affairs. Of course, many are outraged. I know this. There is awareness. People do care. There is dissent. There is.  The problem is it doesn't look that way... and we live in a time where that seems to be all that matters. And if life goes on as if everyone in this country is A-OK with the way things are going, what should the rest of the world think? And what will hisory make of this time? I suppos it depends upon who writes the history, but it's a wretched thought in any case. So, yeah, I'm a little depressed.

Nevertheless, I still had to post these links to the Investigative Status Report of the House Judiciay Committee:

 

"Senior White House official I. Lewis Libby was indicted today..."

You can download your very own copy of the

indictment and the the press release

from the Office of Special Counsel here.

Halliburton subcontractor hires illegal immigrants to boost $124.9 million in Katrina profits

According to HalliburtonWatch.org

As many as 100 undocumented immigrants have been hired by a Halliburton subcontractor to clean-up areas damaged by Hurricane Katrina, a United States senator revealed.

Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) accused Alabama-based BE&K of illegally hiring the workers after Halliburton awarded a subcontract to the firm to repair naval bases damaged by the hurricane.

The Associated Press reported that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have detained the workers for violating immigration laws.

"It is a downright shame that any contractor would use this tragedy as an opportunity to line his pockets by breaking the law and hiring a low-skilled, low-wage and undocumented work force," Landrieu said in a statement. She urged the Department of Homeland Security to investigate what she called a "chronic" use of undocumented workers by government contractors involved in Katrina cleanup.

"The federal government must ensure that every company, no matter how big, follows the law and provides Gulf Coast residents with the jobs they deserve," Landrieu said.

DeLay Charged, No Big Deal

Two grand juries have charged DeLay and in alleged scheme of funneling corporate donations to candidates in Texas state elections.

"No big deal," say his friends, "We all will be before it's all over with, but no one cares and... we'll still be rich, white and free! God Bess America!"

Times Picayune: Official says FEMA was warned

"OH MY GOD!!!!!!!! [T]ell her (the press secretary) that I just ate an MRE and crapped in the hallway of the Superdome along with 30,000 other close friends so I understand her concern about busy retaurants. Maybe tonight I will have time to move the pebbles on the parking garage floor so they don't stab me in the back while I try to sleep."
--Marty Bahamonde, a FEMA public affairs official based in New Orleans

The remark was from Bahamonde's email to a FEMA colleague after being told that the Washington FEMA office's response to his desperate pleas for help was that Brown had to "eat dinner" before appearing on an MSNBC talk show and there was "traffic to encounter . . . followed by wait service from the restaurant staff, eating, etc."  This is why Washington didn't answer his call for three hours.  Of course, why Brown failed to act after his important meal and television apperance, is still not really clear.

According to today's Times Picayune, A New Orleans FEMA employee contradicts Michael Brown's account of the agency's awareness of Katrina's potential devasatation

 

Times Picayune, Friday, October 21, 2005:

 

 

By Bruce Alpert

WASHINGTON -- Immediately before and after Hurricane Katrina hit the New Orleans area, the Federal Emergency Management Agency's lone official in the city e-mailed agency leaders warning of a desperate need for medical help, oxygen canisters, even food and water.

Marty Bahamonde, a FEMA public affairs official with 12 years of experience in disaster areas, on Thursday told a Senate panel investigating the disaster that for reasons he still can't quite comprehend, most of his pleas for help got little or no response.

His testimony, and the printouts of his e-mails to FEMA colleagues, give the clearest indication to date of the chaotic federal response to the disaster. They also directly contradict statements by former FEMA Director Michael Brown that he wasn't aware of the grave conditions in the city for days after the hurricane, as well as his claim in recent House testimony that he had assembled a team of FEMA officials, including doctors, before Katrina made landfall.

Not Rove's Best Effort?

"Bush did not feel misled so much by Karl and others as believing that they handled it in a ham-handed and bush-league way,"
-- A source quoted by Thomas M. Defrank, The Daily News’ Washington Bureau Chief, referring to Rove's handiwork on the Wilson/Plame smear campaign not being up to snuff. 

I suppose "bush-league" is the operative phrase--not that DeFrank indicated that a pun was intended. After all, if anyone knows that Rove could have done a more skillful job of maintaining deniabiltity, and a disorienting Katrina-like spin, it's GW.

Strange that the article is basically coming out and saying that "Bush knew," yet, where are the implications of his having this knowlegde spelled out?  And where else is this story running?  Where is the outrage?

Bush to Rove:
" C- for effort, Boy Genius...We expect better from you!"

If evidence proves that Karl Rove was, indeed, behind the outing of Valerie Plame, this bit of handiwork goes beyond his usual dirty tricks. It goes beyond a mere crime.

If the allegations are true, Rove has committed treason.  It is just as simple and brazen and obvious (like the agenda of this administration) as that. But while Rove had a winning concept.  Bush and the rest are very disappointed with its execution.  Karl must have gotten tripped up by his own hubris. 

Let's revisit, yet again, some of Mr. Rove's earlier efforts... and the Marcinkowski testimony while we are at it.

Excerpt from "Over Rove's Dead Body," October 1, 2004 at 04:20 PM

The “Mark of Rove”

That's what they call it in political circles... Although somehow I suspect that Rove ve would have turned out the way he did regardless, the story of Rove always begins with Donald Segretti.  So, we’ll start there too. Rove cut his teeth under the more savage than sage tutelage of Donald Segretti, a Nixon advisor.  Segretti was responsible for, among other things, causing Senator Edward Muskie to break down in tears during the 1972 over lies Segretti leaked to a New Hampshire newspaper.  He also forged letters on fake Muskie letterhead and wreaked havoc that way as well.  Segretti also put the screws to George McGovern, George Wallace, Shirley Chisholm, and McGovern's first vice presidential choice, Senator Tom Eagleton.  Yes, Segretti would have much to teach young Karl.

However, not all of the credit goes to Segretti--Rove was quite capable of screwing people on his own at a tender age. 

Georgia Federal Court says no to "Voter ID Law"

From Associated Press (AP)

Federal Court Bars Georgia From Enforcing Voter ID Law

ATLANTA (AP) -- A federal court has barred Georgia from enforcing a new state law requiring voters to show photo identification at the polls.

In the ruling issued today, the U.S. District Court in Rome agreed with critics who claimed the law amounts to an unconstitutional poll tax.

The U.S. Justice Department approved the law in August. The department said that while Attorney General Alberto Gonzales did NOT object to the state's voter I-D requirement, the federal
agency's approval did NOT preclude lawsuits against it.

The Republican-backed measure sparked racial tension during the state's legislative session last spring. Most of Georgia's black lawmakers walked out at the state Capitol when it was approved.

Dramatic loss of sea ice aka "Global Warming"

Last year, the Arctic lost a record amount of sea ice, and a new report shows we may be approaching a dangerous "tipping point." Watch an animation showing the dramatic loss of sea ice.

How does global warming in the Arctic affect the rest of the world? Click here.

Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till

Opens tomorrow.

So far there is only going to be a limited release, so, if you can go to one of the the theatres here, you should.

How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bush [Administration]

You'll notice that I've not written a whole lot lately.

This is because ever since I decided that I love the Bush Administration and have nothing but admiration and respect for all that it is attempting to do for our country (to say nothing of the absolute faith recently born in me), I realize that I have nothing to say.  My earlier posts did nothing but complain and criticize and condemn. However, since I committed myself to George Bush, his trusted and visionary inner circle, and their noble mission to lead this country through these dark confusing times to the greatness that is our both our heritage and our destiny, I have found peace. Writing now with this peace and enlightenment, I find little to quarrel with about the path our leaders have chosen.

Well, it's either that or..

Having returned from Costa Rica to the calalogue of horrors going on in this country, I've spiraled down into malaise and inertia.  I've got jet gag... or culture block.. or I don't know what to call it, really.  It's not jet lag, of course, and it's not culture shock, really.  It's also not resignation, apathy or desensitization. In fact, I don't have a very good explanation and I have even less of an excuse except that I just don't even know where to begin. This, combined with the fact, that some important things are being written as I sit here overwhelmed, has led me to the decision, to simply link to a number of articles.   At least until, I regain the ability to go on.

Halliburton gets another $33 million for Hurricane Katrina clean-up

You'll notice that I've not written a whole lot lately.  This is due, in part, to the fact that having returned from weeks in Costa Rica to the calalogue of horrors going on in this country, I've got jet gag... or culture block.. I don't know what to call it, really.  It's not jet lag, of course, and it's not culture shock, really.  In fact, I don't have a very good excuse at all, except that I just don't even know where to begin. This, combined with the fact, that some important things are being written as I sit here overwhelmed, has led me to the decision, to simply link to a number of articles.   At least until, I regain the ability to go on.

According to HalliburtonWatch.org, last night the U.S. Navy has awarded Halliburton another $33 for Hurricane Katrina clean up:

"The money will be added to the $12 million awarded to Halliburton on August 29, the day Katrina made landfall. Both awards, totalling $45 million, require the company to repair structures and remove debris at naval air stations in Pascagoula and Gulfport, Mississippi and in Louisiana..."

Harriet Miers Named to Replace O'Connor on Supreme Court

Like Rehnquist, Miers has no experienceon the bench at any level. She does, however, have plenty of experience working for Mr. Bush. Miers was W's personal attorney in Texas, was counsel for his 1994 gubernatorial campaign. A year later, he appointed her to the Texas Lottery Commission.  Miers then followed W to the  White House in 2001 as staff secretary where she was promoted to deputy chief of staff.  After Alberto R. Gonzales was positioned in the Attorney General's Office, Miers took his place as White House counsel.

Time to support Andy Rooney

Below is CBS' Andy Rooney's Oct. 2, 2005 60 Minutes commentary:

CBS entitled the segment, "Ike Was Right About War Machine."

'I'm not really clear how much a billion dollars is but the United States — our United States — is spending $5.6 billion a month fighting this war in Iraq that we never should have gotten into.

We still have 139,000 soldiers in Iraq today.

Almost 2,000 Americans have died there.

For what?

Now we have the hurricanes to pay for. One way our government pays for a lot of things is by borrowing from countries like China.

Another way the government is planning to pay for the war and the hurricane damage is by cutting spending for things like Medicare prescriptions, highway construction, farm payments, AMTRAK, National Public Radio and loans to graduate students. Do these sound like the things you'd like to cut back on to pay for Iraq?

I'll tell you where we ought to start saving: on our bloated military establishment.

We're paying for weapons we'll never use.

No other Country spends the kind of money we spend on our military. Last year Japan spent $42 billion. Italy spent $28 billion, Russia spent only $19 billion. The United States spent $455 billion.

We have 8,000 tanks for example. One Abrams tank costs 150 times as much as a Ford station wagon.

We have more than 10,000 nuclear weapons — enough to destroy all of mankind.

We're spending $200 million a year on bullets alone. That's a lot of target practice. We have 1,155,000 enlisted men and women and 225,000 officers. One officer to tell every five enlisted soldier what to do. We have 40,000 colonels alone and 870 generals.

We had a great commander in WWII, Dwight Eisenhower. He became President and on leaving the White House in 1961, he said this: “We must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist. …"

Well, Ike was right. That's just what’s happened. '

You can also watch or listen in Windows Media, Quicktime and MP3.

By Andy Rooney © MMV, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.

One thing I do know though...

"I do know that it's true that if you wanted to reduce crime, you could -- if that were your sole purpose -- you could abort every black baby in this country, and your crime rate would go down,"
--William J. Bennett, education secretary under President Reagan, director of drug policy For Bush I and current talk radio host for "Morning in America."

Bennett's defenders will, of course, point to the fact that he added "That [it] would be an impossible, ridiculous and morally reprehensible thing to do, but your crime rate would go down." However, notwithstanding the obvious ways that such a "clarification" fails to mitigate the offensiveness of such a statement, notice that the first reason for dismissing such a plan is that it would be "impossible." 

I doubt many people will pay much attention to that, but I find it quite telling.