ID Scanners....at Borders...PRIVACY ALARM? TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK....

New ID Scanners at Borders Raise Privacy Alarm

Monday, December 1, 2008 6:19 PM By: Dave Eberhart

The federal government has already deployed new detection machines that can scan citizens without their knowledge from as far as 50 feet away and "read" their personal documents such as passports or driver's licenses. The Homeland Security Department touts the high-tech devices as increasing security at border crossings, but privacy advocates are raising all sorts of red flags. Critics say the new machines, which read one's personal information right through a wallet or purse, do so without consent or a warrant and may set a worrisome precedent. The devices, called Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) machines, allow officials to read remotely any passports, pass cards, and driver's licenses that contain special chips with personal information. The RFIDs are so sensitive that, even before a vehicle pulls up at a border checkpoint, agents already will have on their computer screen the personal data of the passengers, including each person's name, date of birth, nationality, passport or ID number, and even a digitized photo. The new gadgets are in place, or soon will be, at five border crossings: Blaine, Wash.; Buffalo; Detroit; Nogales, Ariz.; and San Ysidro, Calif. They are slated to have a dramatically expanded presence in June. Lee Tien of the Electronic Frontier Foundation argues that the technology could make Americans less secure because terrorists or other criminals may be able to steal the personal information off the ID cards remotely. Tien and other critics warn that people up to no good can use their own RFID machines in a process called "skimming" to read the information from as far as 50 feet. Indeed, consumer privacy expert Katherine Albrecht maintains that the chips create the "potential for a whole surveillance network to be set up." Among other abuses, she says police could use them to track criminals; abusive husbands could use the technology to find their wives; and stores could trail the shopping patterns of patrons. Homeland Security, however, rebuts the criticism, arguing that the embedded chips surrender only a code to machine readers. That code is then broken in order to display the personal information on the border agents' screen. Meanwhile, the same agencies that are issuing the newfangled IDs supply a sleeve that keep out all prying electronic eyes when not in use

Saxby Chambliss WON!

Do you KNOW how important this is!? (euphoria at the Z household...and we really know nothing about Saxby Chambliss, frankly!)
Oh, and by the way? It doesn't matter what he's like. NO FILIBUSTER-PROOF MAJORITY! Hallelujiah!
z

Good Samaritans were revered..........

I think this is such a slam at basic decency and goodness that I wonder if America can recover from this type of thinking. Seriously. It's so important and so tragic on so many levels.

.....from the linked article: "The case was spawned by a botched rescue attempt by Lisa Torti, who pulled a friend, Alexandra Van Horn, out of a wrecked car in the Los Angeles area on Halloween night of 2003. Torti claimed she saw smoke and thought the car was about to explode.

Van Horn was left a paraplegic, and blamed Torti's efforts to help her. She sued Torti and Anthony Watson, the driver of the wrecked car, for negligence.

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Howard Schwab granted summary judgment for Torti, finding she was immune from liability under §1799.102. L.A.'s 2nd District Court of Appeal reversed last year, ruling that Torti hadn't truly provided emergency medical care."

Would you help someone in trouble if you knew the Good Samaritan Law won't protect you?

How can helping someone get a person in such terrible trouble? Where does a society go when the courts rule like this?

WOW.

z

Socialism.....Cautionary Tales

The Glory of Socialism

An analysis By MR. Z

The Russian President Medvedev paid a cordial visit to Venezuela and received a high decoration from Hugo Chavez. Strange bedfellows, or is there a common thread?

And what do the leftist elites of the United States have in common with Dmitri Medvedev? They love Hugo Chavez and the exemplary socialism he is building in Venezuela. As if the world did not know about all the failed attempts to make socialism work. There are plenty of examples to demonstrate the failures – how many more examples does the Left need?

We Germans have actually been surrounded by socialism/communism. We don’t even have to look at Russia –ours was much closer and was called the “German Democratic Republic” (or GDR). We knew that it was bad when we were separated by an impenetrable wall. But the full extent became only visible after the fall of the wall and reunification – the centrally planned economy, which led to the non availability of even the most essential goods, the indoctrination of the children from an early age on, the spying on every citizen by the famous Stasi (or State Security), the militia type of policing (VoPo), the suppression of journalism (complete censorship), complete (self)destruction of the infrastructure, non existence of an incentive for people to use their talents and work more, and lastly, a two class structure of the population: the masses living a poor life, and the reigning party officials with all the amenities they could wish for. It has taken the Western part of Germany 17 years and more than $2 trillion to correct that situation and we are not done yet.

The above paragraphs were a necessary digression from this post’s subject, prompting the reader to recognize the possible parallels of the situation in Venezuela and, to some degree, what might be expected in the United States if we don’t pay attention.

Venezuela used to be a flourishing and rich country, mainly based on the fact that it has a lot of oil and other mineral and other resources. I used to visit Venezuela frequently on business in the 1980’s and saw how it was typical for the middle class citizens to fly for short shopping trips to Miami and/or have a second house in Florida, examples of just how affluent the people were not so long ago.

Fast forward to today. A brief status report of the current situation, generated on the basis of various articles and personal reports, is shown here to the best of my ability:

The summary looks as follows: Journalists are harassed, militias are educated to class hatred and force against the opposition, food has become scarce, criminality has risen dramatically, and the electricity breaks down frequently. And these are just some of the directly visible highlights.

Because of price control and central planning processes, it is not profitable anymore for many farmers to sell their basic food legally, with the result that food has become scarce. The farmers either don’t produce anymore or deliver their products over the green border to Colombia, or to the black market. Imports cannot compensate for that because there is strict foreign exchange control.

That is to say: Foreign currencies cannot be bought or sold in banks. Obtaining them to pay for goods requires a long application process through a state agency called Cadavi, and importers lament that it takes up to six months – a time span impossible to work with for normal goods.

So, if one knows a black market trader, one might get the benefits of elementary food, but at three times the normal price. If a container of milk or beef from Argentina comes, the first served are the Chavez cronies and the rest goes to the markets in the poor quarters, so called popular markets, where large queues develop at 4 am. But this is only symptomatic of all the other supply shortcomings, including such things as household goods, coffee or even pharmaceuticals.

When, after the nationalization of the foreign owned CANTV for those people who had previously watched this American owned station, the telephone didn’t work for several weeks, they never found out what the reason was. Nor did anybody ever understand the electricity blackouts which are becoming more and more frequent. And since we mention CANTV, Chavez has nationalized many other companies and banks, not only robbing foreign owners of their investment, but providing a strong disincentive to obtaining foreign capital.

And then there’s criminality. In the poor areas of Caracas, 30 to 40 people die every weekend. This appears to be related to the increasing trade of drugs, and the police do nothing (and isn’t it just a coincidence that Chavez supports the drug related FARC rebels in Colombia with hundreds of millions of Dollars?). In the meantime, this criminality migrates into the areas where the rich people live with kidnappings, assaults and break-ins. Many of these criminals are part of a Chavez trained Militia whose objective is to suppress the opposition.

The result of all this is that the middle class is leaving the country in droves (an estimated 2 million over the last couple of years), and those who are still there are seriously considering the same.

What has happed since the good old days in Venezuela 20/25 years ago and today? Nobody back then would ever have thought this might happen. But, of course, who thought someone like Chavez would come to power with his “Socialism of the 21^st Century”, electrifying the masses with his promises? What was there then was a large divide between rich and poor. Sound familiar? And, by-the-way: the fact that there is this cozy understanding between Hugo and Russia’s Dmitri also shows that Russia is not quite over communism (it is only covered up by capitalist behavior of the ruling class at the mercy of Putin, who himself still acts as if he is at the KGB, hence the suppression of the normal people, the murders of opponents or critics, etc.) – but that would be worth a separate analysis. There are two more commonalities between Medvedev and Chavez which make their affinity understandable: The hate for America, and President Bush particularly (hence this joint Navy exercise which is meant to poke the U.S. into the eye), and their common policy to use energy as a political means (blackmail).

Now, how is the foregoing relevant to the situation in the United States? The abovementioned few examples of the situation in Venezuela and the summary about the GDR are meant to demonstrate what happens if and when socialism is introduced into a country. The following summary represents an incomplete list of what might happen in the United States under the new government. I am very well aware that each country is different relative to its preconditions and, therefore, the possibility of implementation of new policies. However, in German we say “Wehret den Anfängen” (Beware of the beginnings).

1. Redistribution: This is an element of class warfare, “taking it from the rich and giving it to the poor”. What that really does is take any incentive away to be successful, and is based on the communist theory that “everybody is equal” and, therefore, deserves equal money. As the example Venezuela demonstrates, this will lead to physical confrontation. It will also lead to a massive leaving of people who have the wherewithal and the intent to see the fruits of their endeavor. The increase of individual taxes, inheritance tax, corporate taxes, capital gains tax etc., together with a nationalization of companies and reinforcing of unions will lead to the effects seen in Venezuela right now, and the GDR until 17 years ago.

2. State controlled planning: While the probability is low that the U.S. would get into a situation with state controlled prices for food and general commercial items, this example could still apply to the planned Universal Health Care. As soon as the government gets directly involved and any incentives are removed from the health care providers, we would find a situation similar to the food situation in Venezuela or the health care situation in countries like UK and Canada.

3. Indoctrination in education: One of the major principles of communist and dictatorial political structures is that the state takes care of the children from early age on – the result is complete indoctrination by the political agenda. This is a very dangerous process, the result of which can easily be observed from the remnants of the GDR. But that is one of the specialties of the people surrounding the new U.S. government. As a matter of fact, one of the recognized preeminent specialists in this field is Bill Ayers, and it is not an accident that Ayers has visited Chavez for an improved implementation of this type of education in Venezuela. We can expect the same on a large scale in the U.S. – it actually happens already. Who hasn’t seen extreme indoctrination in American schools, especially on the university level?!

4. Suppression of opposing opinions: One of the most effective means of ruling in a socialist/communist and dictatorial country is the effective suppression of everybody who has an opposing opinion. This can be recognized everywhere, be it the GDR, Russia, or Venezuela or others, and translates through harassment up to murder (Russia). A pretty far advanced stage of this can be seen already in the camp of BHO, with the mainstream media being a willing fifth column, using Alinsky tactics to divert attention from it. I have said for a long time that the U.S. media supports a communist agenda. I don’t need to bring up Joe the Plumber here, you’re already thinking that, right?

5. Militia: The build-up of a popular army to support the political leader is a very treacherous path. It has been the instrument of power for a long time, whether it be Lenin and Stalin, Hitler, the GDR or Chavez. This, together with a group spying on citizens, such as the Stasi, is a very troubling instrument of power. What’s this CORP the idea of which Obama’s so enthralled with?

6. Megalomania: Yes, this is a common thread, too. The need to demonstrate to the world the power they have, these dictators appear to have the need to show it off. Big military parades and showy events with Greek columns as Hitler or Kim Jong-Il have put to use to show their godliness have an eerie resemblance to some of the appearances of BHO and to the planned inauguration event for which apparently 3 to 4 million people are expected.

The bottom line is: The Venezuelan people’s nightmare scenario has happened in front of our doorstep. The socialist objectives of the incoming U.S. government are very similar (or at least they appear so). We must make sure it doesn’t happen that way. Am I saying we have exactly the situation they have with Chavez? NO. Am I saying this WILL happen in America? Of course not.

Do I love this country and have more faith in her and her people? Absolutely.

My point is this; Can we ignore cautionary tales? Should we learn from them? I think so.

Mr. Z

Please try not to say 'Happy Holidays'

The season is upon us! Say MERRY CHRISTMAS or HAPPY HANNUKAH.... these are the faiths of 90% of America! Why not SAY THE WORDS?!! (I did NOT write the poem below but wanted to share)

Merry Christmas my Friends!

*Twas the month before Christmas*
*When all through our land,*
*Not a Christian was praying*
*Nor taking a stand.*
*See the PC Police had taken away....
*the reason for Christmas - no one could say.*

*The children were told by their schools not to sing,*
*About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.*
*It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say*
* December 25th is just a 'Holiday'.*

*Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit*
*Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!*
*CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod*
*Something was changing, something quite odd! *
*Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa*
*In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.*
*As Targets were hanging their trees upside down*
* At Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found.*
*At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears*
*You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your
ears.*

*Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty*
*Are words that were used to intimidate me.*
*Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen*
*On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton!*
*At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter*
*To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.*
*And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith*
* Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace*

*The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded*
*The reason for the season, stopped before it started.*
*So as you celebrate 'Winter Break' under your 'Dream Tree'*
*Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.*
*Choose your words carefully, choose what you say*

*Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS, not Happy Holiday!*

Z: I once asked a Jewish friend if, growing up, he'd been offended by MERRY CHRISTMAS!, or office CHRISTMAS parties, or CHRISTMAS music playing at the department stores. His answer?

"Yes, don't you just hate it when people are in terrific moods, and rosy cheeked kids's eyes are glowing, and the music's so beautiful, and everybody at the office is having a blast? No, Z.....not at all, in fact, I enjoyed it."

z

Thoughts about Mumbai

When this awful Mumbai terror was happening, Obama's comment was "We have one president at a time". Why didn't he say more? Is it because they're muslim killers and he's afraid? Even embarrassed? He's said plenty about the economy, plenty about energy since being elected, why can't he address terror?

If and when soft targets like the Taj Hotel in Mumbai start getting hit here in the States....

WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR US TO STOP IT?

-Will we be sued by terrorist's families if we killed them before reading them their Miranda Rights?
-Will our media admit that islamists were responsible? Or will they stay silent on that detail .....again?
-Will we sit on our hands because there's nowhere we can FIND these people and fight back, when we're all quite sure those rumors of terror training camps in Oregon or Washington State are probably valid? Do we have the nerve to go into mosques and listen to sermons for murderous, threatening talk, or are we PC'd out of that though we have people going into Protestant churches for the least bit of politicizing?

What will happen? What can we do when this starts? How will Obama react?

ALSO...I heard "The single biggest threat to America will be from Europeans" said on CNN Saturday morning.

EUROPEANS? Who here thinks Germans are coming to kill Americans? French people? Austrians? Italians? Sure, maybe with their delicious, heavy foods, but.........kill us, like CNN insinuates?

"EUROPEANS are going to KILL AMERICANS?" Isn't this another politically correct dishonesty that's very dangerous to the world? Isn't it throwing us off the path which we should be pursuing? WHICH EUROPEANS? The media will say anything not to say what their nationalities or religions REALLY are, right? And it won't be food these people will use because they REALLY want to kill us!....no, these people have AK40's and dirty bombs and terror tactics being practiced all over the world in training camps, probably including some of them I mentioned above, but we're too naive to admit it. We can't demand to know what they're doing in those muslim compounds we've all heard about! What if we're wrong in guessing they're practicing to kill us? But, what if we're RIGHT, and when can we drop PC and err on OUR SIDE AGAIN, like the good ol' days when we WERE safe because of it?

What should CNN have said to avoid PC and tell the truth? (Were those really Europeans who wreaked havoc in India? Some were "from England"...you think they're relatives of the Queen, or the Beefeaters in front of the Palace, generations of their families in England, or might they have come from.......elsewhere? ...Ya, sure...THOSE "Europeans")

z