Dear Editor,

A very bad trend in the world today has us relying too heavily on our bank or debit cards. I don't get out a lot due to old age, but last week I got an eyefull on what's going on with debit cards. And also, I heard about a plan in the United Kingdom to gradually phase out check writing, getting us closer to bar codes being imprinted on human skin as foretold in the Gospels.

I went in to Kinko's the other day in Eureka to make copies of a few documents. But now they got it so you have to use a debit or credit card. The copy machines are directly tied into the network that accepts plastic, so there's no need to use cash, a check, or ring up the cash register. Before I took out my card, I left in disgust.

Since we're always going the way of miniturization, the bar code idea on the skin seems to be the direction we're headed. But won't this create problems for our own bodily safety, if all a crook needs is a body with ID printed on it? If we allow technology to go there, would we see a rise in kidnappings anf killings?

Edgar Borch

Hydesville