US Military Sales to Taiwan – Is It Safe to Allow That Technology to Be Stolen There?

Last year we were discussing the challenges of selling Taiwan our latest weapon systems in case they wanted to defend themselves against a Chinese forced reunification. If we don’t there would be little reason for China not to force their political will, but if we do, it’s well known that Chinese spies have infiltrated the Taiwan Military and political leadership, and thus, might someday use that same technology against us, our allies, or sell it to our enemies. Okay so, let’s talk.
You see it is my contention that Taiwan has been fully infiltrated, and thus, we ought to watch out for espionage or Chinese spies getting Lockheed’s technology (missile defense shield), and what about those F-16 upgrades, of course, China already has that due to Pakistan and other nations, the Chinese were all over the last India Air Show with the newest F-15 modifications for stealthier design, and F-16 modifications.
There are now direct flights between the countries (China and Pakistan), direct trade, and political talks at the highest levels, and previously there were lots of inter-connected flights through Hong Kong, etc. and the latest direct flights are bothersome too, not quite as serious as the secret flights between Venezuela and Iran, because it is important for those two nations to be on good-terms and continue talking – that prevents war and conflict.
Nevertheless, this is how proliferation occurs, just like the North Koreans selling nuclear weapons tech to Syria or the Pakistani scientist to Iran. We have some serious challenges around the world with military tech flows, and these are just a few of what’s out in open and well-known. The recent political talk between Taiwan and Chinese leaders about eventual re-unification, which seems to be a “trial close” sale on the Taiwanese voters, and whenever a Taiwan businessman (patriotic spy) or politician speaks out about China, all of a sudden he’s out of business, out of office and facing some sort of charges.
How about on the spy front? Well, there are several former bought-off Taiwanese double-spies converted into Chinese assets now. China wants our Aegis system tech, and the Metal Storm systems from Europe, as they know they need it, and they are right they are going to need it if they push much harder against South Sea bordering nations, as the US Navy is serious about keeping open shipping channels and open waters.
Does China think the US is weak? Well, perhaps they are not na?�ve to think that we are militarily weak, but they realize the US people cannot stomach a war. Of course, and during the Vietnam war, we wouldn’t bomb past the parallel, where the supply lines were coming from, how do you fight a way half way, my dad said we could have won that war in any 10-period had they let the various carrier groups and USAF in there. Oh well, also China looked pretty weak too when confronted with the Vietnamese who were not afraid to die to defend themselves.
It seems that when Chinese and US Politicians talk, they simply set aside many of these other issues, which are serious enough to discuss, and such a dialogue would be of value, as our nation’s economies are inter-connected of course. Please consider all this and think on it.…

Are QR Codes Fading Out? Only If Self-Absorbed Businesses Will Allow It

The Changing Nature of Technology
If one thing is for certain, it’s that technology is ever-changing. Being far from immutable in all senses of the word, technology is always shifting and flowing as it marches onward. Perhaps these QR naysayers do have some validity to their claims; although not to the extent that they probably imagine. While it’s true that virtually all technology will get replaced eventually, it’s not true to say that the technology in question is not going to have a strong run… and QR technology is fresh in the industry.
So What’s the Problem?
So why do people think that QR codes are going to get replaced before they’ve even had a chance to fulfill their full potential? It’s because people use them stupidly. That’s right: stupidly. Most businesses and companies have been using QR codes like narcissistic drama queens. What’s the bottom line? People don’t care about your website. Many people don’t bother to scan QR codes because there is simply no reward for doing so. Think about it from a consumer’s point of view: if you’re sitting in a pub, drinking a pint of your favorite beer, and you happen to catch a glimpse of a poster on the wall for a beer company, and on that poster is a QR code, are you really going to pull out your smartphone, activate the camera, and scan the QR code? For what? So you can be brought to a webpage that promotes Miller Genuine Draft? No. You’re not going to do that. Why? Because there’s absolutely no motivation for it.
So What’s the Solution?
The solution to this should be obvious to all: offer the consumer a good reason to scan your QR code. The aim of marketers needs to be to make QR codes as ubiquitous as possible – that way, people won’t think about the effort it takes to take out their smartphone and snap a photo. It will become second nature to them. But giving users no motivation will not achieve the ubiquity of QR technology. Companies need to start using QR technology in intelligent ways. They can do this by offering things like coupons, promotions and contests that will spark user interest. If businesses will wake up from their self-absorbed, megalomaniacal coma, they can together start creating the well-deserved buzz that QR codes should already be fostering.
QR technology provides limitless ideas to marketers – and it’s their responsibility to use it to its full potential. So what’s the conclusion of all of this? If companies don’t smarten up, then the naysayers may be right. Innovative and intelligent technology will die if not used in an innovative and intelligent fashion. Let’s start using this useful technology in more creative ways. By doing so, it is certain that QR technology will undoubtedly have a long shelf-life.…