With the proliferation of digital technologies, the UK is progressing into a 1984 styled future where every movement is monitored and history is continually rewritten. Fortunately, we are not quite there yet but the standardisation of chip and pin payment on the 14th of February 2006 was a step closer as it reduced everyone paying for goods and services, down to a four digit number. Quite the Valentines Day gift from our government. From then on throughout the United Kingdom, regarding payment technologies, we are no longer people with names but bank accounts with an identification number. However much we resent this Orwellian nightmare it is beyond our control so it is probably best to accept the changes and get on with it. Of course there are some good reasons for the implementation of this system.
In the past when paying at establishments such as retail shops and restaurants the customer would have to hand over his card to an assistant in order for the assistant to take it over to the cash machine and process the charge. Under the new Chip and Pin methods with wireless pin pads this no longer necessary as the mini terminal can be brought straight to the customer.
And that is pretty much it for the benefits. The system is supposed to eradicate credit card fraud because the electronic chips are a lot more difficult to clone than numbers on the receipt and someone's signature. However, whereas before when Chip and Pin was limited to an ATM machine, now customers must enter their Pin number in public places surrounded by a multitude of people. In addition, because each individual only has four digits as identification it is easy for anyone behind the person at the point of sale, to slyly lean over their shoulder and make note of the number, usually on the perpetrator's mobile phone as they feign typing a text message. They will then follow the victim and attempt to pick pocket their wallet.
It may not just be some hood rat peering over your shoulder as you pay for your lobster it could be our own untrusted government. As CCTV becomes ever more pervasive in our town and cities (you will be caught on camera over 300 times on an average day in London) and shop keepers focus theirs on their cash register they will subsequently record you entering your Pin number. Therefore there is wide felt concern on the security of these recordings.
Currently we are nearing the age of biometric information registration that is unique to the individual, such as voice recognition, fingerprints or eye scanning to detect iris patterns has the potential to be stored within the chip. Although this is a securer form of identification I can't help recalling the scene out of Demolition Man. I don't want that to be my eyeball.
Blog-a-holism can be defined as when you have 4 or more blogs you religiously add content to.
I presently have 11 blogs. I think I need to stop here and now.
Unlike Alcoholism or other kinds of drug addiction, I am strengthening my brain nerves and muscles and those tiny tendrils that send messages down my spine and to all parts of my body.
I now feel constantly tingly all over!
While my friends sit with puzzle books in the attempt to prevent Alzheimer's, I just write my blogs with the intention of enjoying my new found prolific writing habit.
And yes, my brain loves it. My heart loves it, too.
My health is vibrant, alive and happy.
Writing blogs and dancing are beautiful companion activities.
One hastens circulation, the other increases inspiration.
Doing one leads to the other.
In fact, writing blogs is my dance partner, my love, the way I measure my steps, moves and grace in this world.
Writing prolifically isn't the discipline I feared it would be. In fact, it is the opposite. Discipline implies some sort of concerted effort, one that is performed with a sense of duty, grim, grit and humorless determination.
Blog-a-holism goes hand and hand with reading 3-5 books at one time. Thankfully on the Dogs And Dolphins Ning, Ildiko Minko has created a book discussion forum so the book-a-holics in the group can write about sudden flashes of idea-spiration and write about these as the spirit so moves.
Blogs, books and pen-a-holism is the holy trinity of the Internet thinking world.
Nurses used to be able to get pens galore from pharmaceutical drug representatives, but our hospital passed a "no solicitation policy." These pens and gadgets are a thing of the past. We get pens with hospital logo printed on them. I do have a collection of those.
But these days, I buy my pens at super markets and office supply stores and have collected quite the stash, befitting a-holic status!
Fountain pens leak ink at inopportune times. Yet, i love the idea of a fountain pen that writes well and smoothly.
The cheap Sheaffer fountain pens that Natalie Goldberg recommended in her early writing books were fun, but aren't on the market anymore.
Did 9/11 take those beauties away along with free speech, the Geneva Convention and Freedom of the Press?
Blogging is the greatest guarantee that I can say whatever I want to say, and others may either read or not read.
What a beautiful medium.
Blogging is done for a variety of reasons: for business, promotion of products or of oneself, or as a diary, and in the process people meet and get to know you.
They bond with you and want to read what you have to say.
At first, I wrote on my blogs, seemingly all alone, perhaps with angelic protection, with 2 dogs lying at my feet, or barking to play ball, but mainly my blogs, my dogs, my computer and the thousands of thoughts vieing for headline attention.
Submitting posts is an act of letting go.
By releasing the words into cyberspace, I am letting go of control. I visualize happy people receiving my words, gaining awareness and enlightenment from them.
Political blogs inform political discourse in America today. The real truth is suppressed by the American mainstream media. While young men and women are killed in Iraq and elsewhere, for instance, the main focus of the nightly news is the latest escapades of Brittany Spears, Paris Hilton or any one else who serves the purpose of diverting the mind from substance thus feeding the public with mind numbing, mindless "interest stories."
The Political Blogosphere has given us a place to go for uncensored news.
The political Blogosphere is the last bastion of a true democracy where free speech is revered and upheld as sacred.
Examples of political blogs are The Huffington Post, Booman Tribune, Daily Kos and many more.
Two of the eleven blogs I contribute to weekly are political in nature.
No one censures my words, except myself.
And in the end, the beauty of blogging is the fact that I can say whatever I want to say, and choose my words wisely and consciously.
Meanwhile, every week I add blog posts to at least 7 of my eleven blogs.
I listen to inward flashes of impressions and thought fragments, feelings, memories and then these coalesce into ideas that form into articles, blog pieces and eventually e-books.
This is the greatest immune enhancer on the planet today!
Blog-a-holism: the mother of all other addictions, replacing those former habits that destroy mind, body and spirit.
I am a Blog-a-holic, and am happy to take this secret out of the closet forever.
Both John Mce & Kate Loving Shenk are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
John Mce has sinced written about articles on various topics from Careers and Job Hunting, Biking and Strategic Planning. John McE writes articles on a number of subjects including and chip and pin. For more about chip and pin see. John Mce's top article generates over 301000 views. to your Favourites.
Kate Loving Shenk has sinced written about articles on various topics from Fitness, self improvement and motivation and Pixel Advertising. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-Kate Loving Shenk is a writer, healer, musician and the creator of the e-book called "Transform Your Nursing Career and Discover Your Calling and Destiny." Click here to find out how to ord. Kate Loving Shenk's top article generates over 90500 views. to your Favourites.