GlobalizationWritten by Slawek
ABOUT GLOBALIZATION My Dear: It was still in 20th century when Polish weekly "Wprost" published an article titled "The opponents of globalization - who are they?" Let me ponder what too an average person, GLOBALIZATION is. Here it comes: GLOBALIZATION, or search for means to satisfy at all costs…or, in practice, expanding ad infinitum our ambitions. YES! Our numbers are ever increasing and we want more and more for us and only US! The problem is that in this process, we lose ourselves, our identity. America leads in everything, now it imparted itself on whole world and we, like monkeys in a sandbox, we push sand from one spot to another, vocalizing louder than our fellow monkeys and understanding even less. We cannot afford to open our eyes and realize how much we are not ourselves, to what extent we are gone. Do you have a feeling that with help of our own hands world turns into a mere comic book? In it, there are schwarzenegers, and other rambos in which we find ourselves, although sense of WE is missing. Looking at all that is close to our hearts, human rights, environment, love, democracy, Pope, etc., we only see new form of comic book and ourselves only through and within it. From time to time words ‘the Pope’ slip out of someone’s mouth, but we are not capable anymore of a reflection on what Pope said! You’ll tell me that I rage on and still my point is not clear at all. For a few years I’ve been watching creation of ever-bigger companies, American and international. Engulfing became a new sport. One ingests another. Globalization applies to press, TV stations, Internet, medicine, streets, mercantile exchanges, houses where you pay for love, homes without love, and homes of crime. Not only in our home, but also in homes of those who got to top, thanks to yet another hiccup of newly created beast, everywhere bubbles Globalization. I’ve seen many highly paid experts in their respective professions lose their job without a chance of finding another, as they got too high on pay scale. They are replaced with young people, fresh out of college, for a third of pay of their predecessors. The world is then fed news of savings, profits, successes, ‘the firsts’, globalization… Such is stale hiccup of our times. A few giants expanding absorptive power of their pockets eliminate stinking excess of undigested, and increasingly uniform chow. The only loser is consumer, as marketed product gets worse and worse. Why is it getting worse? The new hires don’t have too much of an idea what they are doing and few nouveaux riches of globalization saddles them up and rides them by forcing new hires to perform at a yet impossible for them level (just as a 5 year old boy can’t be expected to have a child with a girl of same age; this is just situation which results from globalization as observed from employee’s backyard; in US, it pops into view in all walks of life. This is why I get so irate at journalistic ‘pseudo thoughts’ never understanding what they spew around, American style.
| | What Would You DO for a Klondike Bar - OR "National Security?"Written by LadyCamelot
What would you do for a Klondike Bar? If you've ever seen antics of these cleverly and comedically devised commercials, you would be aware of what people would be willing to do for tasty, delicious treat.....BUT, what would you do for sake of National Security? Nearly stripped from pages of a sci-fi novel, comes an all, too incredible story of real, life-altering technology. Modifying course of civilization as we know it, "Applied Digital Solutions," creator of "Verichip," is purportedly and actively developing applications for this controversial product for National defense organization -- Department of Homeland Security. According to company press releases, Verichip (dubbed "Human Barcode") is an implantable device about size of a grain of rice. Composed of a microchip within a glass and silicone cylinder, Verichip may ultimately become Human social security number of future. Not just a form of simple identification, Verichip can ultimately contain retrievable information regarding detailed medical and financial history. And future capabilities are indicative of having GPS - encoded technology (Global Positioning Surveillance), and photographic memory record details. Currently, Verichip is a trial-by-use, or "voluntary" injection only. However, US Government, working in conjunction with makers of these chips, are "encouraging" usage of them -- of course for "your own security," and "medical purposes." The first family to have Verichip installed (yes, I didn't stutter -- "installed") was a family in Boca Raton, Florida. Both parents, injected with a Verichip, watched as their 14-year old son was injected with chip as well. Another perspective of Verichip, is that it raises questions of whether or not parents should have right to have their children injected with these little, digital devices. Although parents may fingerprint and now, even take DNA swabs of chidrens' saliva in case of abduction purposes -- at what point does "protection" become noninvasive; or in case of Verichip installation, intrusive? Advocates for this new and disturbing technology will counterattack claims of privacy invasion, and “Big Brother” supervision by stating how beneficial it is to National Security and "your own safety," but who is actually benefiting from this minute contraption? In lieu of September 11, a Nation stood at arms in wake of unfolding tragedy. Sporadically, our so-called Homeland Security elevates National security levels to different degrees -- just so we become more aware of unseen "terror threats. " And of course Veterinarians and Humane Society or SPCA actively promote use of these tiny mechanisms, so we can "track our animals," should they ever become lost or stolen. Correctional systems across country have interests in Verichip, as it would simplify monitoring system and do away with use of ankle bracelets. Then there's medical "benefit." Who would want to be without a chip that tells emergency workers your medical history if you're ever involved in an accident where you are unconscious or aren't breathing? In this case, I don't honestly believe that EMTs are going to be pulling out a scanning rod to check for a Verichip. More than likely, they'll be working steadfastly on reviving you and pulling you from death's clutches. So, on a medical standpoint, Verichip serves no purpose in emergency treatment as it so proclaims. Additionally, supporters will make assertions on how crucial this apparatus would be in responding to military crash victims. Rescue and recovery will be next targeted proclamation -- as it will save lives. In retrospect, this would be true -- however, military or governmental rescue and recovery operations are never as they seem. If you can recall Space Shuttle Challenger's tragic demise in mid 1980s, NASA's prime focus was indeed rescue and recovery. It's main goal was to retrieve Challenger's vital onboard "package" that cost US taxpayers millions, (if not billions) of dollars. This immediate "rescue and recovery" mission never entailed rescue and recovery of ill-fated crew. Yes -- Unfolding before our eyes, is prioritization of Verichip's "real" intentions.
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