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Tuesday, March 21, 2006

IED - The new BS bellwether

IED - Improvised Explosive Device.

For me this is the new bellwether of fear and BS.

Listen and look at how it's used in Government releases and Media reports. It's the new butter for the fear-churn. WMD is tainted, IED is fresh and exciting!

IED - "I can't believe it's not WMD".

It seems as though IED is now becoming a useful acronym to wrap with fear, uncertainty and doubt.

What can we do?
  • Take note of where IED is used and how it is used.
  • Point out BS occurences of IED to other people

US Airports are completely secure

On the American ABC there was a video called "Airports flunk bomb test".

The video link is: http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=1736851

The story is concerned primarily with chemicals being taken through security that would allow construction of an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) on the other side of the detectors. The story finishes with responses by DHS (Department of Homeland Security).

According to ABC - "Homeland Security has admitted it is especially worried about explosive devices slipping through...[it] recently cut back on the list of banned items so that screeners could concentrate on looking for bomb-making material".

Once again the fear of dreaded nail clipper has proved to be a waste of time and resources.


What was the response from DHS, considering that they are worried about explosive devices slipping through?

According to ABC - "Homeland Security labelled these these tests as far fetched saying - ' While random items commonly found under a kitchen sink could conceivably be concocted into an IED, there are so many things that could go wrong with this hypothetical scenario that we find it highly implausible.' "

Great, the response is not to worry about it because you're just being worried by spin and fear. It's fortunate for the world that we only get truth from the DHS. Truth such as the following:

According to ABC - "And they added - 'Our layers of Security are very strong and the American public should be confident in the system' "

Phew, I was almost beginning to think that an international organisation of dedicated fighters with millions of dollars at their disposal, time on their side, fanatical devotion to their cause and more reasons every year to attack might actually be able to crack the DHS Security. Now I can sit back in peaceful oblivion here in Australia knowing that our own Homeland Security has yet another great lead to follow.

What can we do?
  • Tell other people how ludicrous the security measures are.
  • When you're at an airport, question the security people when you get a chance. Make them spend time articulating their policies and ask how it actually protects.

Tuesday, March 07, 2006

e-Currencies

I'm thrilled to the back teeth to see e-Currencies strengthen. It's a concept that I've only recently become aware of, and am already starting to get excited about.

In my understanding, in it's purest sense an e-Currency is a currency purportedly without nation or government that allows a non-currency exchange based transaction between entities.

Good old wikipedia has some references and links here:

http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=21285508&postID=114172759898792320

As an example of e-Currency, here's some information on a popular one - e-gold.

e-Gold (www.e-gold.com)

e-Gold is explained pretty well in this article (which also takes quotes from e-gold):

http://www.blonnet.com/ew/2002/11/06/stories/2002110600310100.htm

They explain the following:

"e-gold, quite simply, is an electronic currency issued by a company. ... , its currency is backed fully and at all times by gold bullion in allocated storage."

"Thus, e-gold is ideally suited for international transactions. Although e-gold is accounted by weight, the e-gold payment system allows spends to be expressed in terms of the eight major national currencies currently so accepted. For example, it's possible to spend 10 troy oz worth of e-gold or 5.3 grams worth of e-gold or US $100.00 worth of e-gold or CHF 685.88 worth of e-gold. This basically means that a Canadian, say, can pay a German or a Japanese can pay an Australian the correct weight of gold (e-gold) for a good or service as easily as if the price had been quoted in his own national currency."

"The bullion is held in the form of certified good delivery bars"

"...the company modestly identifies itself as a Nevis corporation. ... A Nevis corporation is one that is incorporated in the Island of Nevis ... It is currently a member of the Federation of St Kitts & Nevis, a sovereign, independent nation and a member of both the British Commonwealth and the United Nations. "

I expect that will be the regular assortment of scams by preying individuals and government misinformation (in fact if you read the whole article above which mentions the Reserve Bank of India you'll see some common nervousness).

To me this ushers in a new era where we can control our financial transactions, independent of government interference and busybodying. This personal power and responsibility can only be a good thing.

What can we do?
  • Talk to people about this service and way of doing business
  • Experiment with it ourselves. Use a tiny bit of money to find out your own reality.
  • Think for ourselves