One More Step Toward Positive Personal Identification - US Begins Issuing Electronic Passports

The United States Department of State has begun issuing passports that contain an RFID chip that carries personal information in digital form. Other countries have done the same.  The  implementation of this technology is accompanied by a new Visa Waiver Program that bypasses the visa application process. Below is the official description of the e-passport from the State Department website.  read the rest  of the story here.  -t.h.g.

What is an Electronic Passport?

An Electronic Passport is the same as a traditional passport with the addition of a small integrated circuit (or “chip”) embedded in the back cover.  The chip stores:

• The same data visually displayed on the data page of the passport;
• A biometric identifier in the form of a digital image of the passport photograph, which will facilitate the use of face recognition technology at ports-of-entry;
• The unique chip identification number; and
• A digital signature to protect the stored data from alteration.

You’ll Have Fun With This Two Minute Exercise

This came to me by way of James Taris. James is a writer, teacher and actor, an Australian of Greek descent, living in China.

Joke Of The Month: Learn Chinese in 5 Minutes

(You MUST read these aloud)

Eng: That’s not right.
Chi: Sum Ting Wong.

Eng: Are you harboring a fugitive?
Chi: Hu yu hai ding?

Eng: See me ASAP.
Chi: Kum hia nao.

Eng: Small horse.
Chi: Tai ni po ni.

Eng: Did you go to the beach?
Chi: Wai yu so tan?

Eng: I think you need a facelift.
Chi: Chin tu fat.

Eng: It’s very dark in here.
Chi: Wai so dim?

Eng: I thought you were on a diet?
Chi: Wai yu mun ching?

Eng: This is a tow away zone.
Chi: No pah king.

Eng: Our meeting is scheduled for next week.
Chi: Wai yu kum nao?

Eng: Staying out of sight.
Chi: Lei ying lo.

Eng: He’s cleaning his automobile.
Chi: Wa shing ka.

Eng: Your body odour is offensive.
Chi: Yu stin ki pu.

Comedian Scott Kalechstein on YouTube

Now, to keep things light, take five to see and hear comedian Scott Kalechstein on YouTube.

New Scientist Reports That “Cheap, ’safe’ Drug Kills Most Cancers”

An article that appeared in the 20 January 2007 issue of New Scientist describes “a cheap and simple drug that kills almost all cancers by switching off their “immortality”. The drug, dichloroacetate (DCA), has already been used for years to treat rare metabolic disorders and so is known to be relatively safe. It also has no patent, meaning it could be manufactured for a fraction of the cost of newly developed drugs.” Research on this is ongoing at the University of Alberta (Canada).

Michel Bauwens — Peer-to-Peer Alternatives

Here is an excellent visionary presentation by Michel Bauwens about the emerging phenomena of networks, peer production, social design and innovation, and peer-to-peer (P2P) alternatives.

Middle-class Day Labor?

You may take this as you will, but I found it amusing, and maybe a bit too prophetic. Have a look. — t.h.g.

The Philosophy of Ambiguity

I don’t know where these originated, but I got them from a friend. They’re worth a quick read to lighten up your day. - t.h.g.

For those who love the philosophy of ambiguity…

 

1. DON’T SWEAT THE PETTY THINGS AND DON’T PET THE SWEATY THINGS.

2. ONE TEQUILA, TWO TEQUILA, THREE TEQUILA, FLOOR…..

3. ATHEISM IS A NON-PROPHET ORGANIZATION.

4. IF MAN EVOLVED FROM MONKEYS AND APES, WHY DO WE STILL HAVE MONKEYS AND APES?

5. THE MAIN REASON SANTA IS SO JOLLY IS BECAUSE HE KNOWS WHERE ALL THE BAD GIRLS LIVE.

6. I WENT TO A BOOKSTORE AND ASKED THE SALESWOMAN, “WHERE’S THE SELF HELP SECTION?” SHE SAID IF SHE TOLD ME, IT WOULD DEFEAT THE PURPOSE.

7. WHAT IF THERE WERE NO HYPOTHETICAL QUESTIONS?

8. IF A DEAF PERSON SWEARS, DOES HIS MOTHER WASH HIS HANDS WITH SOAP?

9. IF SOMEONE WITH MULTIPLE PERSONALITIES THREATENS TO KILL HIMSELF, IS IT CONSIDERED A HOSTAGE SITUATION?

10. IS THERE ANOTHER WORD FOR SYNONYM?

11. WHERE DO FOREST RANGERS GO TO “GET AWAY FROM IT ALL?”

12. WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU SEE AN ENDANGERED ANIMAL EATING AN ENDANGERED PLANT?

13. IF A PARSLEY FARMER IS SUED, CAN THEY GARNISH HIS WAGES?

14. WOULD A FLY WITHOUT WINGS BE CALLED A WALK?

15. WHY DO THEY LOCK GAS STATION BATH ROOMS? ARE THEY AFRAID SOMEONE WILL CLEAN THEM?

16. IF A TURTLE DOESN’T HAVE A SHELL, IS HE HOMELESS OR NAKED?

17. CAN VEGETARIANS EAT ANIMAL CRACKERS?

18. IF THE POLICE ARREST A MIME, DO THEY TELL HIM HE HAS THE RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT?

19. WHY DO THEY PUT BRAILLE ON THE DRIVE- THROUGH BANK MACHINES?

20. HOW DO THEY GET DEER TO CROSS THE ROAD ONLY AT THOSE YELLOW ROAD SIGNS?

21. WHAT WAS THE BEST THING BEFORE SLICED BREAD?

22. ONE NICE THING ABOUT EGOTISTS: THEY DON’T TALK ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE.

23. DOES THE LITTLE MERMAID WEAR AN ALGEBRA?

24. DO INFANTS ENJOY INFANCY AS MUCH AS ADULTS ENJOY ADULTERY?

25. HOW IS IT POSSIBLE TO HAVE A CIVIL WAR?

26. IF ONE SYNCHRONIZED SWIMMER DROWNS, DO THE REST DROWN TOO?

27. IF YOU ATE BOTH PASTA AND ANTIPASTO, WOULD YOU STILL BE HUNGRY?

28. IF YOU TRY TO FAIL, AND SUCCEED, WHICH HAVE YOU DONE?

29. WHOSE CRUEL IDEA WAS IT FOR THE WORD “LISP” TO HAVE “S” IN IT?

30. WHY ARE HEMORRHOIDS CALLED “HEMORRHOIDS” INSTEAD OF “ASSTEROIDS”?

31. WHY IS IT CALLED TOURIST SEASON IF WE CAN’T SHOOT AT THEM?

32. WHY IS THERE AN EXPIRATION DATE ON SOUR CREAM?

33. IF YOU SPIN AN ORIENTAL MAN IN A CIRCLE THREE TIMES DOES HE BECOME DISORIENTED?

34. CAN AN ATHEIST GET INSURANCE AGAINST ACTS OF GOD?

Debtor Nation - The Hijacking of America’s Economy - An Interview With Dr. Michael Hudson

I know Michael Hudson’s work and have a high regard for his scholarship and candor.

I strongly urge you to read this interview, Debtor Nation - The Hijacking of America’s Economy, that appeared in the January, 2008 issue of ACRES, USA. In it, Hudson has some startling things to say about the American economy, how the United States behaves in the world, and the candidates in the upcoming presidential election.

You can also find some interesting audio files at his website. — t.h.g.

A Curse That Brings Enlightenment?

 Lauren Raine is known for the wonderful masks that she creates, but that is not the end of her creativity. Her poem, The Curse of Morrigan is exquisite in its wisdom. Here it is below, taken from her website with her permission. - t.h.g.

The CURSE OF THE MORRIGAN

You who bring suffering to children:

May you look into the sweetest, most open eyes, and howl the loss of your innocence.

You who ridicule the poor, the grieving, the lost, the fallen, the inarticulate, the wounded children in grown-up bodies:

May you look into each face, and see a mirror. May all your cleverness fall into the abyss of your speechless grief, your secret hunger, may you look into that black hole with no name, and find….the most tender touch in the darkest night, the hand that reaches out. May you take that hand. May you walk all your circles home at last, and coming home, know where you are.

You tree-killers, you wasters:

May you breathe the bitter dust, may you thirst, may you walk hungry in the wastelands, the barren places you have made. And when you cannot walk one step further, may you see at your foot a single blade of grass, green, defiantly green. And may you be remade by it’s generosity.

And those who are greedy in a time of famine:

May you be emptied out, may your hearts break not in half, but wide open in a thousand places, and may the waters of the world pour from each crevice, washing you clean.

Those who mistake power for love:

May you know true loneliness. And when you think your loneliness will drive you mad, when you know you cannot bear it one more hour, may a line be cast to you, one shining, light woven strand of the Great Web glistening in the dark. And may you hold on for dear life.

Those passive ones, those ones who force others to shape them, and then complain if it’s not to your liking:

May you find yourself in the hard place with your back against the wall. And may you rage, rage until you find your will. And may you learn to shape yourself.

And you who delight in exploiting others, imagining that you are better than they are:

May you wake up in a strange land as naked as the day you were born and thrice as raw. May you look into the eyes of any other soul, in your radiant need and terrible vulnerability. May you know yourSelf. And may you be blessed by that communion.

And may you love well, thrice and thrice and thrice, and again and again and again:

May you find your face before you were born.

And may you drink from deep, deep waters.

Are Soy Foods Good or Bad?

There’s more to the soy story than the hype we get from food marketers.

To get the straight scoop, see the article on it by Dr. Mercola.

Here’s his bottom line on it.

And, as a result, most of today’s soy foods are loaded with anti-nutrients and are a nutritional nightmare linked to:

• Malnutrition and digestive problems
• Thyroid dysfunction
• Cognitive decline
• Reproductive disorders
• Immune system breakdowns
• Heart disease and cancer

If you would like to know more, Dr. Kaayla Daniel’s groundbreaking book, The Whole Soy Story: The Dark Side of America’s Favorite Health Food is an excellent place to start. She authored the Weston A. Price Foundation’s FDA petition, and is a definite expert in the field.

But before you swear off all soy foods for good, there is something you should know.

Fermented Soy Foods ARE Healthy

You may recall me talking about the wonderful health benefits of traditionally fermented foods. Well, this is true of ALL varieties, including fermented soy.

After a long fermentation process, the phytate (which blocks your body’s uptake of essential minerals) and antinutrient levels of soybeans are reduced, and their beneficial properties become available to your digestive system.

So am I opposed to eating soy? Absolutely not — as long as it is in one of the fermented forms that follows:

• Natto, fermented soybeans with a sticky texture and strong, cheese-like flavor. This one is my favorite, and I personally eat it nearly every day (it has the highest concentration of vitamin k in the human diet) and is also loaded with nattokinase, a very powerful blood thinner.

• Tempeh, a fermented soybean cake with a firm texture and nutty, mushroom-like flavor.

• Miso, a fermented soybean paste with a salty, buttery texture (commonly used in miso soup).

• Soy sauce: traditionally, soy sauce is made by fermenting soybeans, salt and enzymes, however be wary because many varieties on the market are made artificially using a chemical process.