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| Wednesday, August 13, 2008 |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 13, 2008
Protest Today Against RFID in Clothing and Shoes
RFID WHERE? You'd better look at your shoes, socks and underwear!
Protesters will gather today in Manhattan to greet attendees of the third annual "RFID in Fashion" conference, an event organized to promote the use of RFID in clothing and footwear. Dr. Katherine Albrecht, the Harvard-educated privacy campaigner featured in the film "Freedom to Fascism" and co-author of the bestselling book "Spychips," will be on-hand to speak to attendees arriving for the opening keynote this afternoon at NYC's Fashion Institute of Technology.
The conference features two days of speeches and events to advance apparel-industry uses for controversial Radio Frequency Identification or RFID technology. Past attendees include New Balance Athletic Shoes, Reebok, Levi Strauss, American Apparel, Liz Claiborne, and Jockey, along with retail outlets The Limited, Timberland, and Dillard's.
Albrecht planned today's protest after discovering the conference would promote the use of RFID in individual clothing items. Known as "item-level tagging," the practice of placing RFID tags on consumer items (rather than on crates or pallets in a warehouse) has been widely condemned by privacy and security experts.
Experts caution that such tags pose huge privacy and safety risks to the public. Used to track inventory in warehouses, RFID tags can easily be used to track people as well - a fact that can be exploited by marketers, government agencies, and criminals. IBM, for example, has patented RFID "person tracking units" for placement in walls and floors to allow marketers and government agents to secretly monitor people's movements. They suggest using the devices in public spaces like shopping malls, theaters, elevators, and restrooms once RFID is implemented at the item level.
"Consumers shouldn't have to worry about tracking devices being sewn into the seams of their clothing or pressed into the soles of their shoes," said Albrecht. "We are putting apparel and RFID companies on notice that consumers will protest any item-level use of RFID on apparel."
In 2003, Albrecht's consumer group CASPIAN led a successful boycott against Italian clothing manufacturer Benetton. The resulting worldwide opposition forced the company to cancel plans to sew millions of RFID tags into women's garments.
"Consumer awareness and opposition to RFID has grown exponentially since 2003", Albrecht said. "Any U.S. company foolish enough to use RFID on apparel will face stiff repercussions."
The RFID in Fashion 2008 conference website can be found at:
http://www.rfidjournalevents.com/fashion/
ABOUT CASPIAN
CASPIAN (Consumers Against Supermarket Privacy Invasion and Numbering)is a grass-roots consumer group fighting retail surveillance schemes since 1999 and irresponsible RFID use since 2002. With thousands of members in all 50 U.S. states and over 30 countries worldwide, CASPIAN seeks to educate consumers about marketing strategies that invade their privacy and encourage privacy-conscious shopping habits across the retail spectrum.
OUR WEBSITES:
Human Chipping
RFID Tagging
Shopper Cards
Boycott Gillette
Boycott Tesco
Boycott Benetton (2003)
ABOUT KATHERINE ALBRECHT
Dr. Katherine Albrecht is widely recognized as one of the world's leading experts on consumer privacy, retail issues, and RFID, or "Radio Identification Technology." She holds a Doctorate in Education from Harvard University, was appointed by NH Governor John Lynch to serve on that state's two-year RFID study commission, and is the director of CASPIAN, a 20,000 member consumer privacy organization she founded in
1999.
Since 2003, Katherine has led the fight against unethical RFID use in products and in people. She regularly testifies before lawmakers around the globe and has given over two thousand television, radio and print interviews to news outlets like CNN, NPR, Good Morning America, Business Week and the London Times, to name just a few. Executive Technology Magazine calls Katherine "perhaps the country's single most vocal privacy advocate" and Wired magazine calls her the "Erin Brockovich" of
RFID."
ABOUT CASPIAN
CASPIAN (Consumers Against Supermarket Privacy Invasion and Numbering) is a grass-roots consumer group fighting retail surveillance schemes since 1999 and irresponsible RFID use since 2002. With thousands of members in all 50 U.S. states and over 30 countries worldwide, CASPIAN seeks to educate consumers about marketing strategies that invade their privacy and encourage privacy-conscious shopping habits across the retail spectrum.
http://www.spychips.com/
http://www.antichips.com/
http://www.nocards.org/
You're welcome to duplicate and distribute this message to others who may find it of interest.Labels: News, RFID, Technology |
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| 10:59 AM | Posted by Dave |
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| How To Not Be A Slave To Twitter.. |
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The past two days have been a nightmare where twitter is concerned. In my case the lag/downtime has caused me to seek other options. I like twitter, but it's just not doing the job.
I changed my account preference in twhirl to my friendfeed account. Next I went over to twitterfeed and set up an account there.. then I tried to test my changes.. This is where things got real crazy!
Seems I was double, triple & quadruple posting across twitter and I couldn't keep track of what in the hell was happening.... I sent off a message to Curtis Cross and asked him for help.
He sent me an email with the following instructions, which I am posting here for anyone else who may have a similar problem trying to make the migration:
1st off, as long as you have the twitterfeed pointing to your friend feed url, it does its job of posting friend feed messages to twitter. Once you set that &service=internal flag at the end of it, only what you enter into FF goes to Twitter.
From this point, anywhere you post: ping.fm, socialthing, friendfeed.. etc. Goes to twitter. Anything else in your friendfeed that you subscribe to goes to your FF only.
I hope this helps slightly.. the flag is important & I also had to remove twitter from my friendfeed account as this had a lot to do with the multiple postings.Labels: Technology |
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| 12:43 PM | Posted by Dave |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 3, 2008
CASPIAN RELEASES NEW EVIDENCE OF VERICHIP LIES AND DECEPTION
Group's Latest Report Sets Record Straight on Chip Implants, Cancer, and
more..
Opponents of the VeriChip implant are launching a new offensive against the controversial human microchip this week, amid reports that VeriChip plans to put its chipping division on the auction block. A new report titled "Microchip Implants: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions" released today by CASPIAN Consumer Privacy reveals dirty laundry the company would probably rather keep hidden as it seeks a buyer for its beleaguered product.
The 42-page report was authored by CASPIAN director Dr. Katherine Albrecht, a Harvard-educated privacy expert and long-time critic of the VeriChip. The highlight of the report is an eleven-page section titled "Cancer Cover-up" that describes a systematic pattern of lies and deception engaged by VeriChip executives in an effort to downplay the fact that implantable microchips cause cancer in laboratory animals.
The report reveals how news outlets like Time Magazine, Business Week, and the RFID Journal were used as unwitting pawns in a VeriChip scheme to spread misinformation about the cancer studies. Since research linking the product to cancer first surfaced last year, each of these publications has repeated misstatements from VeriChip company executives, in many cases printing the inaccurate statements verbatim and unchallenged.
"These were not subjective issues, they were plainly verifiable issues of fact," Albrecht said. "We were saddened to see the misstatements fall through the fact-checking cracks of these respected publications. Now that VeriChip is back in the headlines, we felt it was time to set the record straight."
VeriChip's media efforts have done little to salvage the company's public image or its financial performance, both of which plummeted after research linking the implantable microchip to cancer was widely revealed by the Associated Press in September 2007. The same company that once predicted revenues in the "billions" earned just $3,000 from its microchip implant operations in the first quarter of 2008, as patients shun the device that many are now calling the "cancer chip."
Investors have also distanced themselves from the failing company, with VeriChip's stock plummeting from a high of $10.62 last year to just over $2.00 today.
VeriChip's VP of business development, Jay McKeage, acknowledged the implant division suffers from "a substantial cash burn" and is "not sustainable on its own." As a result, he says, VeriChip plans to "shop the VeriMed / Health Link [human implantable chip] business around widely" in hopes that another company will take the unpopular product off its hands.
However, with recent blog headlines like "VeriChip Death Watch" making the rounds, Albrecht has a hard time imagining who, if anyone, will want to buy the business.
"This is a company that has engaged in a consistent pattern of making false and misleading statements," she said. "It has lied to the public, to the media, to its shareholders, and to regulatory agencies," she said, citing additional evidence from the report indicating that VeriChip hid cancer evidence from the FDA when the agency reviewed the implant's safety in 2004.
"We laid out all the evidence in our report," she added. "We want to make sure no one else gets burned by VeriChip."
ABOUT THE REPORT
CASPIAN's new report, "Microchip Implants: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions," is a comprehensive reference guide to implantable microchips in animals and humans. It provides thoroughly-researched, footnoted answers to 85 of the most commonly asked questions about the implantable microchip, including religious, privacy, social, and health questions. The report concludes with a list of recommendations for patients, pet owners, and policy makers affected by the device.
The new report is available for free download on the group's AntiChips.com website.
While on the website, readers are encouraged to download Dr. Albrecht's comprehensive 52-page overview of the studies, "Microchip-Induced Tumors in Laboratory Rodents and Dogs: A Review of the Literature 1990-2006," and to review scanned copies of the original documents.Labels: News, RFID, Technology |
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| 12:47 PM | Posted by Dave |
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Katherine Albrecht Speaking In Detroit, MI Area
Forwarding from The RFID Mailing List:
Hi, all:
I am headed to Detroit this week to speak on RFID, freedom, and Big
Brother issues. I will be speaking at several events that are free and
open to the public, courtesy of my friends at Peacemakers International
Ministries. If you are in the area, I'd love to meet you!
As you may know, Michigan is one of several states that has agreed to
issue Homeland Security's new, voluntary "enhanced driver's license" to
facilitate border crossings. That means that many Michigan drivers may
soon be lured by "convenience" into carrying our worst nightmare --
uniquely numbered, remotely-readable RFID spychips. Most participating
drivers will have no idea that their new ID cards can be used to track
them right through a wallet, pocket, or purse, without their knowledge,
from more than 20 feet away.
I've posted my schedule below. If you are in Michigan, this will be a
great opportunity to get informed and meet fellow freedom-lovers. All
events are free, and you are welcome to bring as many people as you
would like. (A quick RSVP would be appreciated, but is not required.)
THURSDAY, MAY 8, 7:00 PM
RFID PRESENTATION, Q&A SESSION, AND BOOK/DVD SIGNING
LOCATION: Peacemakers International Fellowship Church
ADDRESS/MAP: MAP
Katherine will deliver a 1-hour, image-rich, up-to-the-minute
presentation on RFID: What it is, how it works, plans for abuse, and why
this issue matters to Michigan. The talk will be followed by a question
and answer session and a book signing. Get your questions answered and
get a signed copy of Spychips or one of Katherine's DVDs while you're
there.
This is a secular (non-religious) event.
(For a similar presentation, minus the updates, see YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0Maj1I6kH0 Part 1 of 6)
FRIDAY, MAY 9, 12:00 NOON
POLITICAL ACTION LUNCHEON MEETING
For those interested in working with the Michigan state legislature on
RFID privacy issues.
Location and details available by writing to: tobrien(at)smallgov.us
SATURDAY, MAY 10, 12:30-6:00 PM (I will speak around 4:00-ish)
PEACEMAKERS OUTDOOR OUTREACH
LOCATION: Peacemakers International Fellowship Church.
ADDRESS/MAP: MAP
You and your friends are warmly invited to the Peacemakers monthly
outdoor outreach event for a day of fun and Christian fellowship on the
church grounds. The event reaches out to Peacemakers' inner-city
community with free food and drinks, bands, cooking, skits, music,
basketball, etc. -- and you're invited, too! At 4:00 PM Katherine will
speak on the encroaching police state and the appropriate Christian
response.
Details
SUNDAY, MAY 11, 11:00 AM
PEACEMAKERS CHURCH SERVICE; KATHERINE WILL ADDRESS CONGREGATION
On Sunday morning, Peacemakers' Pastor Steve Upshur has graciously
allotted me an hour to speak on prophesy, advancing technology, and the
church. The worship service begins at 11:00, and I will speak shortly
thereafter. We'd love to have you join us!
Note: Although many of the events have a Christian theme, people from
all faith traditions are warmly invited to attend.
Peacemakers works with inner city drug addicts and gang members, and
helps them turn blighted urban lots into vibrant, green gardening
projects.
Lean more here
See a photo here
More Peacemakers details
This will be a great opportunity to connect with others who are
concerned about RFID and privacy issues. Come get informed and help us
strategize!
In freedom,
Katherine Albrecht, Ed.D.
Dr. Katherine Albrecht
Founder and Director, CASPIAN Consumer Privacy
Host of "Uncovering the Truth"
We the People Radio Network, M-F 10AM-12PM EST
Listen Live
Archives
Co-author of "SPYCHIPS: How Major Corporations and Government
Plan to Track Your Every Move with RFID"
WEBSITES:
Human Chipping: AntiChips.com
RFID: SpyChips.com
Shopper Cards: NoCards.org
Bio onlineLabels: News, RFID, Technology |
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| 11:17 AM | Posted by Dave |
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I found this little tidbit.. check it out...
Be sure to click on the link at the bottom of this article to view the entire thing as I've only included a snippet here.
ZigBeef Offers Ranchers a Long-Distance Cattle Head Count
One of the things the government and proponents of NAIS keep reassuring us is that the RFID chips can only be read close up so our privacy is safe. But here's an interesting article that makes a lie of that:
The long-range RFID system promises to provide ranchers, their commercial interests and rodeos an easier method for tracking their animals, through ZigBee technology.
By Claire Swedberg
Feb. 21, 2008 - A new active RFID system is set to help ranchers and rodeos track animals from a distance, as well as measure an animal's movement during a rodeo competition, for instance, when it is difficult to track exactly when a bull came out of its gate, or when it was roped and immobilized. The solution, provided by a startup company called ZigBeef, is being developed to allow cattle ranchers and their financial backers to track each head of cattle on a daily basis. The system became commercially available two weeks ago.
Full story, Source: NoNAIS Labels: News, RFID, Technology |
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| 1:47 AM | Posted by Dave |
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| Monday, February 25, 2008 |
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With GrandCentral you can call me and if I'm not available you can leave a voice message for me! This is cool.. Try it out, just click on the words CALL ME located in the sidebar to the right and then enter your name and phone number, then click Call Me.. You need a phone to do this, you will receive a phone call which will connect you to my phone. The neat thing is that if you are one of my Trailer Life Podcast listeners or you don't know my phone number you can still use GrandCentral to make the call.
You can select to have your phone number remain anonymous and I won't see it but you may still leave a voice message for me.
For more information or to get your own WebCall button just sign up for free over at GrandCentral!
CALL ME!Labels: Technology, Website |
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| 7:20 PM | Posted by Dave |
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| Thursday, February 14, 2008 |
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I posted another podcast last night and if you haven't been keeping up with them lately I highly reccomend listening to the latest one (TL13) in which RFID Technology is discussed. RFID is a tracking technology that paints a nightmarish future for mankind in which every object on the planet would be chipped and traceable..
The plan includes far more than merchandise, pets and cattle.. every tree, product and person would be tagged with a unique tracking number. Beyond that, a persons personal information would be contained in these chips as well. Readers or scanners would be installed in every possible location including restrooms, elevators, libraries...
I couldn't think this stuff up if I tried! It's like something right out of Blade Runner and it scares the shit out of you to contemplate the ramifications of this.Labels: Podcasts, Technology |
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| 9:25 AM | Posted by Dave |
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| Monday, December 31, 2007 |
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| The Disappearing Car Door |
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 Has anyone heard of this or seen this yet? It's called The Disappearing Car Door. Really cool, it opens and slides under the car body where it virtually disappears..
There's a video that plays on the website I've linked to above. This is amazing and why didn't anyone ever think of this before now? The only problem I can think of with this is if you got T-Boned then your door couldn't open. But unless your whole car was crushed you could still open the other side I suppose.Labels: News, Technology |
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| 8:32 PM | Posted by Dave |
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