A word on computer records and security
The word is NOT.

What is so difficult to understand about that? I’ll try and make it simple for you. If the computer that holds your records is connected to the internet in any way, shape or form - IT IS NOT SECURE. And it can’t be made so by any technology the world possesses at this point. Some systems may come closer than others to security. But this is not to imply that they are even close to safe. If your IT person tells you not to worry, your records are not in any danger of being hacked, either your records are not worth stealing or he or she is lying to your face. Those are the only two choices you have.

The desire of people for easy and the greed of the financial institutions has fueled this fantasy. And it is a fantasy. Banks put all your information online and it gets hacked. Credit companies put all your information online and it gets hacked. Information brokers and collectors put all your information online and it gets hacked. Businesses of all kinds put all your information online and it gets hacked. What is the problem, people? When the day dawned on the computer age did the sun set on your brains?

I can’t begin to tell you what you can do to start protecting yourselves. This whole ‘make it public’ thing has gotten so out of hand and has insinuated itself so deeply into all aspects of our daily lives that it seems unlikely we can break free. It’s too late to expect honor on the part of the government or financial entities. I simply would like to see no delusions on your part.

I am moved to say this because of the following two articles.
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=14054179&BRD=1283&PAG=461&dept_id=158544&rfi=6
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,148775,00.html
- posted by Citizen @ 10:45 PM 0 comments

 
Truth from a different prospective... you should read it!
“... Today, a new generation [of Slovakians and other Eastern Europeans] that never experienced oppression is coming of age. It is important to pass on to them the lessons of that period. They must learn that freedom is precious, and cannot be taken for granted; that evil is real, and must be confronted; that lasting prosperity requires freedom of speech, freedom to worship, freedom of association; and that to secure liberty at home, it must be defended abroad."

The above quote is from the third paragraph from the end of Bush’s speech in Bratislava, Slovakia last week. The speech in its entirety can be found in the White House archives:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/02/20050224-1.html

Read it if you like. It’s there and it got plenty of coverage. But it is more important for you to read several things that the main stream news doesn’t tell you. This article, Potemkin World… or the President in the Zone, is a ‘biggie’ and you should be aware of the points it makes. Find it here: http://www.tomdispatch.com/

Listen to what it says! It’s important. If the right article doesn’t immediately come up, it has probably dropped to the archives. It’s there and worth looking for. Listen to what it says! It’s important.

But I want to call your attention to the words in the quote itself. notably that:
"freedom is precious, and cannot be taken for granted
evil is real, and must be confronted
lasting prosperity requires freedom of speech,
freedom to worship,
freedom of association ... "

These are the very philosophies and rights that are being compromised and eroded in the United States this very day, this very week. At the same time in history, make note, history will remember this, that the person who speaks so eloquently (he has good speech writers) for our country elsewhere in the world, he is working quickly and quietly to remove the rights and freedoms of the very people for whom he has the nerve to speak.

I have to wonder; does he think that the people are too stupid to notice or too sedated in front of their televisions to think for themselves or does he just think we are too frightened for our personal well being to make noise?

Wake up, Americans and watch your life and liberty slipping quietly away. I have to ask if, someday, will we be asking other countries for help as did the colonists in 1776.
- posted by Citizen @ 10:37 PM 0 comments

 
I love technology
Just saw an ad for Nextel. Saw one of those handhelds with credit card swipe capabilities. Ya gotta love it, a cell phone - insecure from the getgo, swiping credit cards. That's as bad or worse then social security numbers online. At least we know they're there. You might order something and not even realize that you were being swiped by cell. But it's a mixed blessing. It's nice to know that Nextel has taken the drug dealers plight to heart, however, Now their customers can order by card. I nominate Nextel for the 'customer service of the year' award.
- posted by Citizen @ 6:45 PM 0 comments