I went out to lunch today with my wonderful girlfriend today. She chose to give me her gift today rather than tomorrow, as this was our time together. So lo and behold, she has given me The Small Woman.^[1] Lately I have been reading a book on Shakespeare, given to me at Christmas this last year, but I have decided to put that on hold for now in favor of this. The story of this unlikely missionary intrigues me in a way that Shakespeare does not.

Which is not to say that a book attempting to demonstrate the Cathlicity of Shakespeare is uninteresting; I was finding the book well worth reading. But lately I have been wanting something far more a story, and yet not really knowing what I want to read. I do not really want to read my staple science fiction or fantasy right now. This non-fiction story should hit the spot nicely. ☺

1. Mr. Alan Burgess. The Small Woman ISBN: 1-56849-184-0

This^[1] sort of development always makes me worry. Puerto Rico is going forward with plans to implant some sort of RFID chip in patients experiencing memory loss. From the headline, you might think this chip is supposed to help the patients in some way. If so, I really do not see it. Rather, this chip appears to contain identity information and/or medical records.

The aged and infirm, such as Alzheimer’s patients, are some of the most vulnerable in our society, after the unborn. It is natural that they would be targeted before any other group for such “advances.” Perhaps there is even some legitimate gain to this.

It brings us inevitably closer to a universal survalence society though. As such tags gain increasing “optional” usage, the day comes closer where they will become mandatory in some place and situation. From that point on, the use of them and the requirement of them will spread. I feel sure that we will all come to regret it.

1. The Associated Press. “Fla.-made microchip to be used in volunteers with memory loss” theledger.com 2006-07-02. http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060702/APF/607020769