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Homeless to be Implanted with Subdermal RFID Tags
An anonymous reader writes "Politech has the scoop on the Bush administration's plans to forcibly implant RFID tags into homeless people in participating U.S. cities. Here's an excerpt from the UPI article: "The miniscule RFID tags are no larger than a matchstick and will be implanted subdermally, meaning under the skin. Data from RFID tracking stations mounted on telephone poles will be transmitted to police and
social service workers, who will use custom Windows NT software to track movements of the homeless in real time... A second phase of the project, scheduled to be completed in early 2005, will wirelessly transmit live information on the locations of homeless people to handheld computers running the Windows CE operating system.""
So now we can use geocaching to find homeless people? Awesome!
This is the most retarded April Fool's day yet. If you can't come up with your own stuff, at least link to people that do. Lucky for Slashdot that Paypal doesn't let you donate a kick in the ass.
That is how I read it.
How does CTRL-ALT-DEL work on windows CE?
with all these april fool's postings, I don't know what to believe anymore!
(huddles in corner wearing tinfoil hat whilst sucking on thumb)
You can defeat this plot by putting the homeless person in a microwave.
taken! (by Davidleeroth) Thanks Bingo Foo!
I am invloved in an effort to produce an open source HMIS, so that if we are required to have tracking systems, at least they will be inexpensive and under the control of non-commercial entities. You can see a demo of the open HMIS at: homeless-mis.net It uses PHP and Postgres (or MS-SQL if you like that sort of thing....)
The idea of integrated information systems actually started with homeless advocates that wanted to improve services through coordinated service delivery. But, like any tool, HMISs can be mis-used, and sometimes you wonder what motiviates these federal requirements.
You had me up 'til then.
Anybody who has ever been arrested, tried, convicted, of any misdemeanor or above should be tracked using this technology. It's just a good idea - we can keep an eye on criminals.
;>
Better, you could program the automatic doors of your home or office to not let in tagged criminals.
By storing the information in XML format, you can interactively query a RFIDed criminal to find out what their background is (violent vs. non-violent, type of theft, drug use, current income level, gender, SSN, credit history, etc.) and let your security system decide on the fly whether you want that particular entity on your premises.
In fact, governments, building owners, and residents could publish their specification for the type of people they will allow into their space -this will solve all sorts of social ills in the future. The Upper Eastside of New York City, for example, could specify:
<Entities_Allowed>
<Income minimum="50000"/>
<Convictions allowed="white_collar"/>
<Race allowed="caucasian,asian"/>
<Memberships disallowed="ACLU,NYCLU"/>
<Jokes onyou="april foools"
</Entities_Allowed>
Big Daddy, Johnny, Burp, Aunt Zelda, Scott, Slurp, Big Momma
Humm... as far as I know there is no guarantee in The Constitution stating that the government CAN'T implant RFID tags (and shock devices, cause that's really where we're going w/ this) into you, your dog , and the homeless guy living down the street. What are you trying to hide? Aren't you a patriot? Don't resits, assamiliate... it's much safer ;)
And Howard Dean said "GwaUEAUEAAUE".
A few years ago, I went into a Sears to buy a new microwave oven. They had a display model that was really cheap, so I decided to buy it. The sale associate says "Whats your name" and I say "Why do you need my name? I'm paying cash for this" and he replies "Because the computer tells me to".
I ask "Does the computer tell you other things?" He doesn't get it. So I say "Jackie Brown" (just watched the movie the night before). He says "Huh? But..." but types it in anyway. Then he asks for my address. I reply "I don't have an address, I'm homeless." Mind you, I'm wearing nice clothes, driving a new car, etc. He asks "If you're homeless, then why do you need a microwave?" I respond "Because I don't have one." Increasingly frustrated, he says "I have to put something in." So I pick up a card and read the stores address to him. By this time a couple of other bored sales associates have come round. He doesn't like my answer, but types it in anyway. Then I pull a fat wad out of my pocket and peel off a hundred. And walk out with my oven.
-cp-
Was posted on previously - /. August 19th.
Me, I know it is a April fools joke.
However, I lived with the homeless for 6 years. Many of the people I lived long term with were either Korean War vets or Vietnam War vets.
I found that easier than doing the family side end of it. You never get it out of your head the eyes of some of the homeless kids. It has been 13 years since I lived with the homeless. Best thing I ever did was sell my homeless shelter (Rufus Jones House) to Catholic Social Services for $5. St. Joseph's house has been full ever since of homeless families.
And so it is an April Fools' joke. It will be no joke if trends in Yank politics continue,
signing off, one US citizen working on landed residency in Canada.