Australia passes what some call Mark of The Beast Act.

Parliament of Australia: Digital ID Bill 2024. 

Is Australia initiating the Mark of the Beast? I dunno, I didn't read the full bill. The U.S. is moving in the same direction with next year's Real ID Act. Are undocumented immigrants required to have Real ID? Cuz if not, then I identify as an undocumented immigrant.

We gain nothing worrying about the end of times. Scripture and Christ are adamant in reminding us to be aware of, but not concern ourselves, over this. From what I've listened to, from Christian theologians is this: there will be NO MISTAKING that the Mark of the Beast is The Mark of The Beast. 

IOW, no, it's not our SSN or other designated numbers (DL, Medicare, Tax ID, etc) we currently have. And The Mark will be a clear choice. You're not going to be tricked into getting it; you'll know what it is. If you're wise, you'll absolutely refuse it, no matter the consequences. We know how everything ends, anyway: God Wins. He always does. The question is, when time comes, do you want to be with God or without Him? 

Scripture is clear that salvation is the gracious, undeserved gift of God (Ephesians 2:5, 8) and is only available through faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12).

Need a starting place? Try the late Dr. Charles Stanley's "In Touch Ministries" videos. Keep scrolling and strolling, there's a ton of videos on so many topics. Find a subject that interests you or pick one at random. You can't go wrong with him. Each one is around 25 minutes long, but they fly by in 5 minutes.

Tech News - Time To Reclaim our Privacy Edition

We will rue the day we voluntarily gave up our privacy to tech devices. And that day already happened. The rue is coming... 

Google Home + Chromecast = hackers discover exact physical location of IOT (Internet of Things). Threat Post:

Google Home and Chromecast devices allow attackers to uncover the precise physical locations of the connected gadgets thanks to two common internet of things issues present in both.
[.]
...an attacker can use DNS rebinding to carry out an attack. This is a technique where JavaScript in a malicious web page is used to communicate with or gain control of a victim router or other target device that uses a default password and web-based administration.

- - -
Geek: MS helping ICE.

...there’s one piece of Microsoft news we’ve been sad to see not get a ton reporting, news that’s not quite new but disturbingly relevant again. In case you didn’t know, Microsoft is supporting ICE[.]

- - -
Beta News: MicroSoft backtracks; distancing itself from ICE collaboration.

...people took to social media to call out Microsoft, making references to the child separation policy; shortly afterwards, the ICE reference was deleted. Now it is back[.]

- - -

Technocracy: DHS is quietly building a database that includes facial recognition, DNA and relationships:

In late May, EFF filed comments criticizing DHS’s plans to collect, store, and share biometric and biographic records it receives from external agencies and to exempt this information from the federal Privacy Act. 

I ask: just how much more personal information do you want DHS to have on you? DHS is out of control.  Biometric Update:

The database will include multiple biometrics, including face images and DNA data, as well as “data from questionable sources, and highly personal data on innocent people." 

Please, please, please - get involved with the EFF.
- - -
MIT Tech Review: It's time to REIGN IN THE DATA BARONS!
- - -
Gizmodo: Alexa in your hotel room.

[You] forget your toothbrush [while on vacation]. [Don't call the front desk, tell Alexa].  Amazon’s new Alexa for Hospitality service, which puts an Echo device in your hotel room, might let you avoid the conversation altogether, and let you bring a bit of your always-on, always-listening, always-spying smart home with you. So don’t do anything stupid.

Yeah - calling the front desk for a toothbrush, or going to the nearest retail store and buying a new tooth brush -- well, it's just such a laborious task for some people. 
- - -
Information Week - Quantum computing needs to be on your radar now:

Quantum computing will bring wonderful advances to our lives, BUT - - - it will also be used for incredibly nefarious purposes.
- - -
Tech News World: Hacking Academia.
- - -
Recall Vault 7 ?  Bleeping Computer:  Ex-CIA Employee Charged with Leak of Classified CIA Vault 7 Hacking Tools 

The Department of Justice has announced new charges against former CIA software engineer Joshua Schulte for allegedly leaking classified CIA documents, software projects, and hacking utilities called Vault 7 to WikiLeaks. Schulte was charged on August 24, 2017 with possession of child pornography, but was also believed to be the source of the embarrassing leak of CIA documents.

- - -
Who OWNS BIG MEDIA?  Recode has a wonderful diagram explaining it all.
- - -
Yep...the  refrain coming is, "Well, everyone else got that 'mark' on their forehead or hand, so why not me?"