Bye bye cash in Europe

A statement and a few questions. Cash transactions in Europe are about to be limited to 500 Euros, you cannot pay your rent with that and can barely make your car payment. Think abut that, you will be required to pay your rent electronically. Think about how much information you are giving up to the cloud, to the electronic trail that you leave behind. In Sweden it will be all your information as they are going completely cashless and if you think you can just write a check. Nope, I previously reported how Britain was eliminating checks in two years, I believe.

etathimerinie.com - Cash transactions ceiling is set to drop to 500 euros. This is from a Greek website.

Wired - The Internet of Things Has Arrived — And So Have Massive Security Issues. I have already written on this. It is now the reason that your biometrics will be necessary to access the internet. You wouldn't want someone turning on and off your appliances remotely, now would you?

Did you read this one? Wired - In the Coming Age of the Connected Home, Your Phone Will Be a Magic Wand
. It is from today and something I continually write about. First it will be your phone and then your face alone and someone else's phone. All you Harry Potter fans will love having a magic wand that makes everything work the way you want.

Fox News - Watchdog calls tax code 'unconscionable burden,' asks Congress to reform system. Here is a conservative web site calling for an end to all deductions, who are they are trying to take advantage of? Here is my description of fairness, tax everyone at the same rate with no deductions; but, tax all income, not savings, income.

While I personally do not believe in a high amount of inherited income, I can live with it. Whether one makes their money from work, inheritance, stock or anything else, tax it all at the same rate. If you make a lot or a little tax it at the same rate; but, not if you make less than the poverty level and don't tax welfare or social security, we set the amount, just set it lower. I am against the sales tax, tax the income and leave it at that. Tax us as we benefit from the system and don't tax those who don't.

IOT, do you know that term?

IOT means the "internet of things". It is the state of being whereby everything is somehow electronically telling on you. Your trash creation (they do that in England), your use of your toilet, your purchases right down to the type of product. I started seeing this talked about only in the last few months, this new term for it. When I first saw it used I just thought it was a description of the obvious.

Wired - The Internet of Things Has Arrived — And So Have Massive Security Issues

The article just assumes that there will be an internet of things because there already is. Lets say that you drink a six pack of beer a night. You go to the store and buy two six packs and snacks. An algorithm would assume you had a friend coming by to watch the football game going on that night. Which appliances you use could tell us something about you.

Now, what if you didn't fit any acceptable electronic footprint? Someone would need to investigate such a thing. That is just human nature.

Interesting Stuff from a Lazy Writer

Now, if we are all going to live in smaller spaces and put up with it, you must have the illusion that you are not in a jail cell. We can accomplish that, check out the video from Microsoft.

YouTube - IllumiRoom Projects Images Beyond Your TV for an Immersive Gaming Experience.

Something else I have discussed is also on display in Las Vegas this week at the big computer convention. Yahoo News - Could Eye-Tracking Replace Your Mouse? There is a nice video that shows how well it works. Your phone, computer and television will all be watching your eyes in the future. The data it retrieves will be used to determine what you were really interested in.

While I was reading the news tonight I came across this disturbing little article. It is from a website called "mydailymoment.com". The website seems to be aimed at women and talks about love and health and beauty. It seems quaint enough; but, there is another side to it. Here is one of their newer articles - The Pros and Cons of One-Night Stands. The number one benefit it lists for having sex with a stranger is that you can have "Mind-blowing Sex". It goes on to claim it can be a big ego boost, that you can be "liberated" in bed and finally that it can be good for helping you to later have a serious relationship. As concerns it mentions that you might get a disease, you might become depressed or you might become attached to the person. You understand becoming attached to a person is a bad thing. The article then tells you how to properly go about having a one night stand and suggests you never use your real name.

When you look at these technologies and morality tales, we seem to be headed to a world where we live in a virtual imitation of life and rather than have in person relationships, we are to have meaningless sex with meaningless people while having our real relationships be online and virtual and safe.

So, let me tell you the planned future. Ten years from now, people in their 20s will be happy to live in 250 square foot apartments. They will be able to travel where they want virtually in an immersive environment that is anywhere you want to go to and any type of universe you wish to live in. You will communicate real time with other people from all over the world in your language. You will find love in people that you cannot be with in person; but, have sex with people who don't matter to you and it will be okay with everyone involved.

Now here is the real question you should be asking yourself. What will the world look like when people tell their secrets to people they don't know in person and trust their heart to people they don't know in person while sleeping with people they do know in person; but, at best they know their name.

Here is the thing I learned in my life, touch matters. We need the human touch, we need a touch that says that we matter because we do and a strangers touch cannot convey that because we don't to them. Remember the best touch you have ever felt in life, nothing can compare, it soothes and comforts and conveys that you matter. We used to long for a chance just to hold another's hand. Young people don't understand or know that anymore.

There is nothing as intimate and more importantly revealing, as having sex with someone. It goes beyond the pleasure, it encompasses all of our senses. Our sense of taste, sight, sound, touch and most importantly smell. Our smell memories are the strongest memories of all senses. That is a fact.

YouTube - John Denver - Annie's Song .

There is a lady that reads my blog, she is not listed as a follower. She watched me get in trouble once for arguing against promiscuous sex. My opinion has not changed. I believe that sex can be one of the greatest demonstrations of true love. I believe that we can become the most attached when sight, sound, smell, taste and touch of our significant others invades us and unites us as one. Or, at least can be that way if we let it.

What becomes of the human experience if it ceases being human and about humans? What is our life about when it is just about living a fantasy? What does it mean if you willingly put yourself in the matrix? We are knowingly and willingly building a "Matrix" world to live in.

Public Right of Ways and a Scam

A little background. In most cities and counties, the streets are NOT owned by the municipalities. Cities and counties rarely buy the underlying property, what they have instead is a public easement. The easement is given for the good of the public and it is illegal to block it without permission. If you own your home you can look at your deed and will see that your property extends to the middle of the street and you have an easement on that part (that means you cannot prevent people from being on the street).

A few months back there was an article on a Southern California paper discussing how the City was considering putting mini-parks on platforms taking away parking spaces. Today, I saw a piece on San Jose doing a similar thing. I will include a link at the end. Here is the thing, if San Jose allows restaurants to utilize these spots, they will be constructively partially vacating the easement. If their little trial does not work out, they could end up permanently losing that part of the street for public use.

There is an attack being aimed at driving. Throughout the nation, bike lanes and encroachments into the right of ways are restricting traffic and at the same time, cities and counties are increasing parking fees and fines.

Yahoo - San Jose Considers SF-Style 'Parklets' For Outdoor Dining

Could Not Sleep Last Night

I couldn't sleep last night, I just lay in the bed with my eyes closed and semi-dreamed or something. As a consequence, I have been groggy all day and am just trying to stay up late enough to not ruin tonight's rest.

I tried to be some use and took care of bills and business. I was dealing with a personnel issue and had just finished talking about it on the phone when my phone rang again. It was my attorney's office, I go back to court this month to have the amount I pay in alimony reduced. The court set the date three years ago and I thought it was at the end of March. Light at the end of the tunnel. It is just now hitting me.

Here is a little story that might make you smile. A little boy asked the Lego company for help and they helped. Yahoo News - Boy writes letter to LEGO after losing minifigure, gets awesome response.

Tricky Taxes that Sound Good

There are two taxes that you really need to watch out for in the future. I would hope that my readers would know that the powers that be protect their money by using yours. For the past few years there has been an amazing amount of propaganda against income taxes; but, the solution that is being proposed disproportionately on the poor and middle class.

The first tax that is being touted by the Republicans (I belong to no party by the way and don't trust any of them anymore) is a national sales tax to substitute for the income tax. Now, states also charge sales tax soooo, your sales tax would be immense and as most of us live paycheck to paycheck, guess what, you would actually pay more in taxes than you do now if you are not wealthy because everything would be taxed. Some states would probably eliminate their sales taxes to keep people buying and then go exclusively to state income taxes. Another thing to consider is that there are no exemptions to sales taxes, no deductions. The Hill - House GOP seeks to abolish IRS, replace income tax with consumption tax. Remember, this bill is being introduced by the same people that want to eliminate the mortgage deduction and reduce the taxes on the rich.

The second tax is going to be one on the miles you drive. Driving is going to be coming under a lot of controls in the future. You will be taxed based on the miles you drive and your driving will be monitored. You watch, they are going to create a system where your car will need to identify you by your face or fingerprint to drive it.

Hello Friends in San Diego

The Pimpernel has had an interesting last six years, plenty of comings and goings. Along the way I have met some very nice and interesting people. I know that some of the people I met still read my writings even though we have not spoken in person in a few years. Only a couple of weeks ago I received a call from a young man who along with his girlfriend and her son had lived with me. He just called to let me know he was okay.

I apologize for not having interesting things to write about everyday. I have been very busy and it takes a lot of time to read all of the news. I want to take this opportunity to thank those of you who I met on the road. Perhaps someday we shall all meet again, in the meantime, lets try and keep up on coming things.

Wired - Forget the Internet of Things: Here Comes the Internet of Cars. Imagine that, being charged more for insurance if you chose to drive yourself rather than let you car drive itself.

Change of subjects. There is a band called Def Leppard, they are an English metal band; but, there is an interesting story that goes with them. Here are two videos to watch and then I will tell you the story.

YouTube - Def Leppard - Photograph

YouTube - Def Leppard - 'Armageddon It' (Official)

You might have noticed the drummer, he lost his arm in a car accident. The band refused to play until he learned to play drum one handed. He did. Loyalty still exists. Peace.