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March 25, 2004
Tin Foil Twenties
This freaking cracked me up.
The new $20 bills may char when microwaved, but that doesn't mean tiny tracking chips are embedded in Andrew Jackson's right eye, as an urban myth circulating on the Internet maintains.
Reports of Americans microwaving $20 bills to destroy the chip prompted AIM North America, a trade association for radio frequency identification chip (RFID) manufacturers, to test the notion and declare it a fallacy.
It also said that wrapping bills in aluminum foil "to foil" the technology, as some metal detector operators have noticed people doing, is unnecessary.
Exactly what in these peoples' lives is so interesting that the government would go to the expense of putting RFID chips in money to track them?
*crickets*
The Internet myth exemplifies a public mistrust of RFID chips and other surveillance technology. Sen. Patrick J. Leahy, Vermont Democrat and ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, says these fears have merit.
About as much merit as 'chemtrails' and black helicopters.
"While it may be a good idea for a retailer to use RFID chips to manage its inventory, we would not want a retailer to put those tags on goods for sale without consumers' knowledge, without knowing how to deactivate them, and without knowing what information will be collected and how it will be used," Mr. Leahy said.
Wal-Mart conducted "clandestine tests" that allowed researchers 750 miles away "to watch consumers in action" when lipstick packages tagged with the chips triggered nearby surveillance cameras, Mr. Leahy said.
Oh no! They can surveil shoplifters! The horror! The humanity!
Given the limited range of RFID technology, it's not like they can track a consumer's movements for days you know. And for what possible business reason would they want to anyway?
*crickets*
Get a firmer grip on reality people.
Posted by Rita at March 25, 2004 08:25 AM
Comments
Laugh all you want. I KNOW the guhmint is after me Lucky Charms.
Posted by: Steve H. at March 25, 2004 11:12 PM
That makes me giggle. The post about the $20 bills, and Steve's comment. :)
I know some people that are actually that paranoid.
Posted by: Tam at March 26, 2004 12:35 AM
C'mon Steve, they just want the marshmellow bits. You can keep the cereal.
Tam, I don't think I know anyone that would microwave a perfectly good $20 bill. Though I haven't talked to my mother lately.
Posted by: Rita at March 26, 2004 05:35 AM
You're a scream.
*crickets*
Posted by: Andy at March 26, 2004 10:44 AM
*sotto voice*
Andy....
Have you noticed the lump behind your ear yet?
Tracking chips, embedded beneath the skin on suspected individuals... a tin-foil hat will no longer block the signal. We upped the power of the transmitter after the Wal-Mart tests.
The aliens will be by tonight to reabduct you for the video monitoring upgrade so leave the door unlocked.
Posted by: Mike S at March 27, 2004 08:21 AM
btw... we only do the anal probe thing so you don't notice the chip implant...
Posted by: Mike S at March 27, 2004 08:22 AM