Corridor of Madness

The RFID chip is quite possibly THE most misunderstood technological advancement ever.

The chip itself does nothing, under most circumstances. When placed within the field of an RFID transmitter, it responds with a signal. It does not broadcast, it is not tracable. It is essentially a barcode.

Now, if you don't want a barcode on your body, fine. However, RFID tags used for inventory tracking, automated supermarket checkout and the like, are not worth being paranoid about. The way the technology works make it IMPOSSIBLE for people to track someone with an RFID tag on their breakfast cereal. Just do a little research.

Hey... Escape from New York was a classic.

We're actually talking about RFID a little over at Rushkoff's Theoretical Perspectives class:

http://www.rushkoff.com/class/#108237906267285761

Rich, thanks for your comments. I mostly agree with the second part of your argument, however just because the chip "does not broadcast and is not traceable" I don't think having a unique ID code embedded in your body is something to be brushed off.
I did do some research and at this time I do not feel as paranoid about RFID as you might assume by the fact that I posted this item on my blog. However, I do think that looking at technologies in a merely technical way ("the chip itself does nothing", etc.) can be dangerous. There are a lot of things that can be accomplished by something that simply sends back a signal when contacted.

Michael, great -- thanks for the heads-up. I'll check the link soon. I really wish I had participated in that class online, but I screwed up and sat on it even though I knew of it when it started. Oh well, at least I can read the archives. I am enjoying your posts there, BTW.
Hey, it's too bad we didn't meet at the Disinfo evening. I saw you, but I hadn't read your post about what you would be wearing and I wasn't sure, so I was planning to walk up to you at the end... but you walked out during the Bloom speech/rant.
Oh, and I am not saying that 1999 wasn't a classic -- it was a seminal movie for me in fact -- but you gotta admit that it's a little cheezy when you look at it now.

I stayed for the whole event (in fact I rather enjoyed Bloom's speech), but when people started asking him asinine questions, and attempting to drill him for no other reason than their own satisfaction, I thought that it would be a good time to depart. Besides, we had been walking (literally walking) around in New York since noon, and my girlfriend wasn't feeling too well at that point.

I had to catch the last train home to New Jersey (we actually didn't get back here until 1:00am) and I was working early the next day, so time was being crunched, and I had no patience for people who didn't understand Bloom to begin with.

Where were you sitting? I have a good visual of the crowd. Maybe I saw you there after all.

I was sitting a few rows behind you and your girlfriend, and a little bit to the right. I was wearing a dark suit and was holding a digital recorder with its red LED on.

I enjoyed Bloom's speech too, but I also liked the controversy that it sparked. In my perception it was an inevitable response to the input he was presenting to the crowd -- you could feel it coming in the air -- and I'm glad that it came out sparking a back and forth, rather than being repressed as it would have been easy to do.

Bloom is not an easy speaker for people to receive in person, as he is extremely direct in presenting his ideas in a pure state which can be very volatile. Reading his books in the quiet of their home is probably the only way that those folks could have a chance to understand the real point of what he's saying. And they probably won't -- such is the fate of truly controversial authors.
But I still appreciate the occasion of seeing people's beliefs being challenged in such an abrasive way.

Ahh... I thought that was you, actually. I just wasn't one hundred percent certain.

I thought it was good that Bloom was direct. After all, he hadn't spoken in public for quite some time. Though from the emotion in his voice, I thought he was going to burn himself out in a hurry.

Bloom presented us with facts - facts that I hadn't previously known - about current events that still stir emotions in many of us. I guess I was hoping that people would separate the facts of Bloom's speech with his emotional outcry and take it for what it was - a seed of information.

Some people, I guess, are only happy if they can deconstruct someone that they don't completely agree with.

I was greatful for Bloom's tidbit of information, and I thought the whole sponge analogy was very appropriate and interesting. But I never expected him to reveal the secrets of the universe and solve all the political turmoil. I guess other people did.

I was once told that there were two things you can't talk to someone about: religion and politics. Many speakers will talk in abstracts and high concepts - like Rushkoff did for the most part. Bloom, however, took the direct approach, and I'm afraid it backfired on him a little.

Hey man can you run a story on the Tagzapper. It is the only item out that will kill the RFID chip. I am sure all the major players makingthe chips do not want th tagzapper. I read a short stoy on Tagzapper on

I sure hope the black hats come up with something fast to battle the RFID movement. This is one TROJAN HORSE concept RFID plan. I note that this is not on the main stream news but only for the small precent of us know about the rfid movement. I say to all you who oppose this conquest of walmart the machine to inform every one you know although they will not believe this intrusive. Write your local paper and give them key terms and tell them how EPIC this story is. Do what you have to before this chip is under your skin persa or not persa, I know I will get me a tagzapper to burst the chip. Stop them, ZombieWire

8 The tracking technology could be abused by tech-savvy shoplifters to mark expensive goods as cheaper items.

You can imagine nightmare legal scenarios that don't involve the cops. Future divorce cases could involve one party seeking a subpoena for RFID logs--to prove that a spouse was in a certain location at a certain time. Future burglars could canvass alleys with RFID detectors, looking for RFID tags on discarded packaging that indicates expensive electronic gear is nearby. In all of these scenarios, the ability to remain anonymous is eroded.

Tagzapper is a good iteam but hey can you take them in stores? That would be cool

RFID World News "The Zombie Wire"

Zombie Wire RFID World News' main objective is to reach out to the consumer and educate them on RFID and how it will infringe in their private lives.

We would say that 90% of all consumers do not know of the RFID movement. The question are: why are there as many as 90% of the consumers thus far in to the RFID movement unaware of what is taking place behind closed doors? What is there to hide? If informed of the RFID mandate, would they the consumer refute or conform? These and other inquiries need to be approached now before the mandate stands insurmountable.

Get informed now on the RFID movement at Zombie Wire RFID World NewsIf you want to be a part of Zombie Wire and have something to ad: Contact Zombie Wire for more information.

Verichip mandate 2010 Pandora box has openned and unfolding in front as the stocks surge.
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