Check out <A HREF="http://patents.uspto.gov/cgi-bin/ifetch4?ENG+PATBIB-ALL+0+946309+0+7+25907+OF+1+1+1+PN%2f5%2c878%2c155" TARGET=_blank>http://patents.uspto.gov/cgi-bin/ifetch4?ENG+PATBIB-ALL+0+946309+0+7+25907+OF+1+1+1+PN%2f5%2c878%2c155</A>

Quit scaring the CRAP out of me, will ya?<BR> <P>I'm so very glad I'm a Christian!

Chris-<BR>I must say you scared me with that one. <BR>All that talk about the anti-christ and what's supposed to happen at the end of the world scares me to death. So what was your take on this lovely patent? A wacko or what?<BR>Guess I shouldn't have opened this one but the title of your thread caught me.

glad he patented that great idea! Think I have read of similar somewhere before...was it in europe? Or ws it early greek? Or was it the ss number? Or was it all? Seems soem never learn from history? <BR>Yikes, think I will get back to work.

Ok - call me stupid BUT.....<P>Why does this suprise anyone?<P>This is where it's heading - don't you know that?<P>Think about it!!!<P>How many of you have grocery store cards? Do you know that they keep track of everything that you buy!! Did you know that a lot of people have access to that information!! Let's say that you put non-smoker for life or medical insurance - you better not buy cigarettes cuz they will know all about it!!! <P>I went to Radio Shack to simply pick up a couple coax lines. The kid wanted my name even though I was paying cash. I refused to give it repeatedly and then he started saying how he would get in trouble with his boss and I said tell your boss that he's too nosy!!!!!<P>It's like that all over!!<P>Why do you have to show your license for every little thing that you do?<P>Used to be just to write a check - now you can't pay cash without your license having to be shown. Good example - Airline tickets!!!!!! And then you even have to show your license at the airport. What if I don't want somebody following me? Why do I have to show my license? They're checking every little stitch of my underwear.....what is my name gonna do as far as security?<P>How many of you have these debit cards? ATM Cards? Credit Cards? All ways to charge more fees and know more about you. And that information is not kept private either!!!!! Many companies and organizations have access to any of this info.<P>You may think that I'm just paranoid, but I was party to some research in this area and I know what I am saying.<P>People are just going along like sheep and falling in line........it's a very bad thing and may be convenient but it won't be in the long run.<P>Wow, Chris - stop making me go off on tangents - will ya!!!!!!!<P>Hugs,<P>Sheba

hi sheba, those dang grocery store things irritate me to death! I really did not mind cutting out the coupons-at least we had privacy! I refuse to play the grocery card game. There are 5 grocery store chains here. I do not shop at 4 because of the magic card-I go to Albertsons which is more expensive, but no card. So we pay for pur privacy. Just like we pay for our freedom and our rights. <BR>Yes, I have walked out of radio shack when they refused to sell me things on a cash basis without a name and address. Have also left entire orders on counters to maintain my privacy! Yes, I stand up for my values and one of them is independence. <BR>Yeah, the cigarette thing is a good example. So are alcohol purchases. Would you just love everyone to know you bought a home hiv test kit from safeway in march? Maybe you would be real lucky and they would sell your name to ??? The grocery that have prescriptions are interesting too. Just think, they know all the drugs and personal items you buy and all the foods, how many dogs you have, how much tp and soap you use, how many condoms you use, the music you listen to, the papers from the newstand, your favorite candy bar, how many pairs of white socks your kids go thru every yr! <BR>.....moving to montana soon, going to be a dental floss tycoon....<p>[This message has been edited by cl (edited September 17, 1999).]

Keep in mind your computer already has a grocery card. Its called a cookie. And yes, you are being tracked. Who's interested in what you do online? Not the government -- the ADVERTISERS! And just like TV, they foot the bill for much of the content on the web. <P>The newest chip from intel will have the equivalent of a tattoo -- a unique number for each chip. So unlike cookies (which you can refuse or periodically clean out), your computer will have a permanent id. Various privacy groups are trying to prevent this.<P>Keep in mind they don't know who YOU are until you tell them (you fill out an online questionnaire -- now they have your name, address, income and anything else you tell them). <P>Advertising is a business like any other, and they are just trying to reach the right customers. They are not evil. Since I had a baby, I get lots of infant formula and diaper ads in the mail. They just want to do the same thing online. And interactive TV is coming! <P>In Europe, the privacy laws are much more strict. That's because they remember when groups like the Nazi's would use information against people. We've become lazy in this country, assuming it will never happen here. But if the advertisers are collecting all this information, all it takes is for some fascist regime to take control and they could seize this information. It's pretty scary.<P>Whenever you give out information on the web, be sure to check out the site's privacy policy. If they don't have one, steer clear. They should either make it clear that they don't share your information with other companies, or give you the option of not having your information shared. There are a number of groups that monitor compliance with these policies. <P>For more info, see:<P> <A HREF="http://www.truste.org/users/users_protect.html" TARGET=_blank>http://www.truste.org/users/users_protect.html</A> <P>"The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood is an excellent story about what can happen when individuals lose control through over-reliance on technology. <p>[This message has been edited by Animac (edited September 17, 1999).]

Chris,<BR>I would tend to agree with you. It is similar to the chip they want to implant in servicepersons to track there where abouts particularly during times of war.<P>------------------<BR>God Bless,<BR>Rob<P><BR>

Here's the marriagebuilders privacy statement (its brief, but clear!)<BR> <A HREF="http://www.marriagebuilders.com/graphic/mbi050_priv.html" TARGET=_blank>http://www.marriagebuilders.com/graphic/mbi050_priv.html</A>

HI Annie,<BR>The Handmaid's Tale is one of my favs...when I taught high school health, it was required reading for my students. Great book! <BR>I had no idea about the new chips. Is there a way to get around this? Ya mean I have to keep this computer forever?!?!

Can't agree with the "Satan" part of this(although I agree this one is pretty scary). I'll read ANYTHING from you though, Chris... still waiting for the enevitable smiley post , but I got another Very disturbing link from another site I (used to) frequent; a little closer to home for us here...<P> <A HREF="http://www.alibi.co.uk" TARGET=_blank>www.alibi.co.uk</A> <P>blech.<p>[This message has been edited by WhoDat (edited September 18, 1999).]

Heck, you can call it anything you want. It's still not pretty, and there will be people thinking it's a great idea!<BR>Honestly I don't know which one repulses me more,yours chris, or doug's ( Hi doug how's everything?Fine I'm sure ).<BR>I can leave withthose tings while I still have a choice - then I can refuse - but I dread the time where there won't be any choice at all.<BR>Take care everybody<BR>Kat

the alibi website is pretty sick! And now we are back to money....

PLEASE! Let's not give the betraying spouses anything more than we have already by being unsuspecting, blind, trusting spouses! Now and alibi place??? What is next, a 666 on a secret spot so they all have their own little club? Hey Lord, are you seeing these things? What can we do to change them?<P>------------------<BR>Chick's<P>You won't see things until your ready to not be blind!<BR>

gee, doesn't anyone have a microchip in their dog's ear, in case they get lost?<BR>and what about the thing where they fingerprint your kid, in case they get kidnapped. HOW is that supposed to help anything?<P>everybody go erase your cookies!<BR>pretty clever of that guy to get a patent on the human bar code, though. there's gonna be some idiot who'll use it, and someone who'll agree to it, and the patent holder gets a royalty for doing nothing.<BR>can you say 666?