666 chip? Why a Texas student thinks her school ID is the "Mark of the Beast"
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I remember once upon a time spending 30 minutes in the chair of a dental hygienist, who spent the entire time explaining to me how bar codes (UPCs) were the mark of the beast and a sign of the imminent end of the world.
That was my best dental check-up ever.
That was my best dental check-up ever.
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I don't know why they had to bring religious freedom into something which seems to me to be a civil liberties issue.
When I first heard of the story, I cheered, but when I heard the whole "mark of the beast" garbage, I rolled my eyes a bit.
When I first heard of the story, I cheered, but when I heard the whole "mark of the beast" garbage, I rolled my eyes a bit.
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If the chip was going to be more reliable than a teacher looking around and taking role, perhaps there would be a reason to support it in this use, however when I can give you my chip and still be 'at school', we're just wasting money on technology that is offering no advantage.
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I'll leave the religious debate for others, but if I (or my child) were at this school, I'd microwave that badge and plead ignorance.
"Well, I was definitely in class Tuesday, teacher. You remember, I brought you that apple? Strange, it seems like these fancy badges don't work all that well."
"Well, I was definitely in class Tuesday, teacher. You remember, I brought you that apple? Strange, it seems like these fancy badges don't work all that well."
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I'm assuming she is also refusing to get her drivers license, as it also is, "an individual's acceptance of a certain code, identified with his or her person, as a pass conferring certain privileges from a secular ruling authority"
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Someone should warn apocalyptic whackjobs about the 555 chip. It's EVERYWHERE! There's probably one in a device near you right now. SCARY! 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/555_timer_IC
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/555_timer_IC
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I kinda hope I am left behind. A post-apocalyptic + Shadowrun world would be much more exciting than heaven.
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Brainwashed from birth?
Socializes only with other like-minded people?
Read one book many times, instead of many books once?
Didn't travel much so knows little to nothing about other cultures and other religions?
Are we looking for a real answer to your question, or are we looking for a politically correct one that won't upset anyone?
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brodie":2tiovq75 said:
Agreed, but religious freedom was probably used partly because there is no civil liberties case here. RFID is short range and only readable by close contact with a reader to energize the chip. It basically just lets the school make an attendance count automatically and do basic tracking of where on the premises a student is. If its isolated to the school premises, they have the right to do what they want. Don't like it, tough nuts. The religous angle is nothing more than a tool to scare the school into abandoning RFID or allowing opt outs. These paranoid idiots who oppose RFID generally don't understand the technology and think Big Brother can pinpoint you anywhere on the globe. RFID is NOT GPS. Guess what folks, NOBODY cares about you or what you do. If they do, its either to make money by selling you crap, or you're probably on the run from the law. Its not like there's thousands of government agents sitting at computers and on a whim wanting to see what Sally is up to. Hell, you can pretty much already do that yourself. It's called Twitter and Facebook.
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desinerd":mf8o8aln said:
Only if I can....
"She's a witch! Burn her! She turned me into a newt!"
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What irritates me about this story is that the school district is spending $260,000 to prove more students show up then regular roll call shows so they can get $1,700,000 in extra funds.
It's absurd that a public institution is "spending money to make money." All districts should play by the same, preferably cheap, roll call rules and the money should then be split based on attendance (if that's how people want it). Don't let them all define what attendance means and spend large chunks of the money you're giving them to prove they need the money you're giving them!
What a waste.
It's absurd that a public institution is "spending money to make money." All districts should play by the same, preferably cheap, roll call rules and the money should then be split based on attendance (if that's how people want it). Don't let them all define what attendance means and spend large chunks of the money you're giving them to prove they need the money you're giving them!
What a waste.
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realwarder":3gzj011u said:
Yep. They say it's about catching tardy students (because they often should count), but I suspect what you describe is what they're actually counting.
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I agree on challenging this based on civil liberties, though this might still be a valid use case.
If I understand their concern though, it sounds like that family also shouldn't have driver's licenses on the same basis.
If I understand their concern though, it sounds like that family also shouldn't have driver's licenses on the same basis.
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If we accept that the Bible contains a fair amount of history, both Jewish and Christian, with a massive amounts of embroidery and what might, charitably, be regarded a complete fabrication, plus the fact that St. John, of Revelation fame, was probably stoned out of his mind or suffering from severe mental illness - if indeed he existed at all - it will all cause a lot less worry.
Have a nice day . . .
Have a nice day . . .
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If she thinks a RFID is the 'mark of the beast'. She's going to be in for a rude awakening if she carries around a smartphone.
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desinerd":26hk6v8j said:
But your god still has to answer to a higher power.. the IRS.
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Tallon":2q1ieepi said:
Probably. Everyone knows that left handed people are the third most evil people in the world.
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Penforhire":1enewemb said:
SpecTP":1enewemb said:
Yeah, it's not like they can track you in some form or another by your drivers license, or cell phone, or ATM card, or credit card, or SSN, or....
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Articles like this are why I subscribe. Nothing like an unexpected lesson on apocalyptic thinking to make the day more interesting.
I had only recently noticed that the kids in my neighborhood were all wearing or carrying RFID badges while waiting for the school bus, and had no idea why; attendance checking makes sense, but like someone said upthread, what's to keep one or more kids from letting someone else carry their badge for them that day? But if it works better than taking attendance manually, I guess it's worth it.
Of course, the way we fund schools in general and in Texas in particular is beyond screwed up. Not that I have any better ideas.
I had only recently noticed that the kids in my neighborhood were all wearing or carrying RFID badges while waiting for the school bus, and had no idea why; attendance checking makes sense, but like someone said upthread, what's to keep one or more kids from letting someone else carry their badge for them that day? But if it works better than taking attendance manually, I guess it's worth it.
Of course, the way we fund schools in general and in Texas in particular is beyond screwed up. Not that I have any better ideas.
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Way to fucking derail my train of thoughtsonolumi":38dqhzs3 said:Someone should warn apocalyptic whackjobs about the 555 chip. It's EVERYWHERE! There's probably one in a device near you right now. SCARY!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/555_timer_IC
. That was THE first integrated circuit I every toyed with. Along with a breadboard, some resisters and caps, a couple 4033 counter chips, and two seven segment LEDs, I managed to build a countdown timer in high school. Upon reaching 00 it would ignite a model rocket igniter. My electronics teacher gave me the most skeptical look I've yet to come across to this day. Probably illegal to do now in school I suppose.For article relevance: Awesome Iron Maiden reference. Had the song in my head before I hit the second page. Nice surprise!
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Good article. There's another interpretation that besides Nero and the Roman Empire, Revelation also is discussing the split in early Christianity over accepting gentiles and not requiring them to fully follow Mosaic law. Though the New Testament in general is on the pro side of that argument, Revelation is on the anti side.
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After reading this story, I have only one comment....
WTF America... How on earth did the US become a technological powerhouse with folks who believe such nonsense.
I am generally opposed to such things normally, but I wonder if some people should not be allowed to procreate.
WTF America... How on earth did the US become a technological powerhouse with folks who believe such nonsense.
I am generally opposed to such things normally, but I wonder if some people should not be allowed to procreate.
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My concise explanation for Revelation and the fantastic prophesies therein?
.
.
.
Psychedelic substances. Very, very good psychedelic substances.
//just because somebody *claims* to know the future, doesn't mean everything he says is true...
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.
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Psychedelic substances. Very, very good psychedelic substances.
//just because somebody *claims* to know the future, doesn't mean everything he says is true...
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I'm still confused about how an RFID badge is a mark or coin on the right hand or forehead.
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Raging Canuck":345uhq8b said:
I'm a Canadian who's getting a bit tired of apologizing for the behaviour of other Canadians lately. Turd? Sheesh. You really added to the conversation with that one.
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As a United Methodist pastor with a more historical/metaphorical perspective on scripture, I appreciate Nate and Eric's analysis on the Mark of the Beast from Revelation. I, personally, am in agreement with their conclusion. I believe and work on a daily basis within the framework that the Bible was written in a specific time and place with a cultural context that requires some work on our part to understand and fully appreciate in our modern day and age. Yes, I believe the Bible to be true, with many stories we can learn from both good and bad, but I don't believe it to be literal. A literal reading causes lawsuits like this, which in the end is not the point of Revelation or other apocalyptic literature.
I run into individuals who frequently have questions on apocalyptic literature worried that the end times are upon us and specific events like this are a sign of that coming. What this does in the end is cause a great deal of anxiety and fear. It frustrates me a great deal that so many fundamentalist and premillenialists have distorted a text that is suppose to be a message of hope and instead induced that fear and anxiety. Oy, I think I'll have another cup of coffee before going outside today.
I run into individuals who frequently have questions on apocalyptic literature worried that the end times are upon us and specific events like this are a sign of that coming. What this does in the end is cause a great deal of anxiety and fear. It frustrates me a great deal that so many fundamentalist and premillenialists have distorted a text that is suppose to be a message of hope and instead induced that fear and anxiety. Oy, I think I'll have another cup of coffee before going outside today.
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