| Circuses and bad publicity... |
[20 Feb 2006|04:35am] |
"When the politicians complain that TV turns the proceedings into a circus, it should be made clear that the circus was already there, and that TV has merely demonstrated that not all the performers are well trained."
- Edward R. Murrow
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| It's been a year already? |
[21 Dec 2005|08:24am] |
One year ago today I read an article in The Age about Neurocam, read many blogs in their completion, and sent in my reg info.
I'm still here. And I'm trying not to be sentimental.
It wouldn't do any good, anyway, since it seems like most of the 'cammers these days weren't around back then in the before time. I mean, how many of you even remember Xul Solar?
But I've been trying to get a handle on the idea that new ops are coming along and looking at me in the same way as my generation came along and viewed Q, xade, Tript, and even Hamish, but then hadn't they only been around for six months themselves at the time? Graham was the real ole-timer, having began his association some two years ago now, or one year before the article for those of you bad at math.
So today, on the one year mark of my becoming a part of a process called Neurocam, I want to salute the real old-timers, those five, Q, xade, Tript, Hamish, and Graham.
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| Merry Crowleymas! |
[12 Oct 2005|01:56am] |
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There is a sucker born every minute, and 130 years ago was no exception. Happy birthday, Aleister.
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| The Neuroboards |
[06 Oct 2005|05:23am] |
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So the Neuroboards went down. No one bothers to ask me why they are down, and then a few days later the following disclaimer appears on Neurocam's disclaimer page:
neurocam has not requested the removal of www.neuroboards.com
neurocam is not affiliated with www.neuroboards.com
the management of www.neuroboards.com are not inducted operatives of neurocam international
The Neuroboards went down because Nixsys PAUS went down. Nixsys PAUS (that's Public Access Unix System, by the way) supplies the disk space and bandwidth to the Neuroboards free of charge. I did not take the Neuroboards down, and I have not been asked to take the Neuroboards down. I have also never told anyone anything to the contrary of that, though I'm aware of at least one person claiming that I told them NCI asked me to take them down. Also, Neurocam did not ask me to set up the boards in the first place, as some have suggested. It was my idea; I wanted to ease communication between operatives on non-classified Neurocam related topics. I felt this was a resource needed by the Neurocam community as the number of public, blogging operatives was growing to the point that it was difficult to keep track of them all, let alone regularly visit them all. Also, I am not an inducted operative, as that also seems to be a part of the rumor going around. Again, I have made no claim to be an inducted operative. I do not know why Nixsys went down. The Nixsys page would normally be found at http://www.nixsys.bz/ as a quick Google search would show. I do not know when Nixsys, and subsequently the Neuroboards, will be back up. I am still trying to reach Nixsys' admin to find out why it's down and what the time table is for it to be back up. While I'm at it, no one asked me to post this post, but as a friend of mine once told me, there's enough misdirection going on without me jumping in. Update: The word from the man behind Nixsys: "An update went not so good. Working around my schedule and that of the colo op. They've still not setup RCM so this wouldn't be a problem again. Not enough people wanted to pay for it to make it a priority, so here we are again. Ideally, it'll be back up tomorrow, when he and i both have time off to fuck with it. The mail's being queued." |
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| Another quote from Foucault's Pendulum |
[22 Sep 2005|12:54am] |
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The Jesuits knew that if you want to confound your enemies, the best technique is to create clandestine sects, wait for dangerous enthusiasms to precipitate, then arrest them all. In other words, if you fear a plot, organize one yourself; that way, all those who join it come under your control.
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| A quote from Umberto Eco's Foucault's Pendulum |
[07 Sep 2005|10:32pm] |
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... he made a vague gesture, as if urging us to exercise greater discretion. "Forgive me," he said, "I don't know wether you gentlemen are interested in the subject purely from a professional, commercial standpoint, or whether you are connected with any mystical group . . ."
We reassured him on that point.
"Perhaps I am being excessively cautious," he said, "but I do not wish to have anything to do with a member of the OTO." Seeing our puzzlement, he added: "Ordo Templi Orientis, the conventicle of the remaining self-styled followers of Aleister Crowley. . . . I see that you are not connected. . . . All the better: there will be no prejudices on your side." He agreed to sit down. "Because, you understand, the work I would now like to show you takes a courageous stand against Crowley. All of us, myself included, are still faithful to the revelations of the Liber AL vel legis, which, as you probably know, was dictated to Crowley in Cairo in 1904 by a higher intelligence named Aiwaz..."
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| neurocam is not what you expect |
[25 Jul 2005|06:42am] |
Initiation is never what you think it is to be: if it were, you would already be initiated.
~ Aleister Crowley
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| The Neuroboards |
[01 May 2005|10:33pm] |
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| Questions and Answers with Maxwell Knight |
[25 Jan 2005|11:23pm] |
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Dear Operative Simon Moon,
Thank you for your considered queries.
To answer your questions :
1. Does Neurocam have anything to do with initiation?
Although there are certain similarities, Neurocam is not an initiation process.
2. Is Neurocam influenced by Thelema?
Neurocam's employees, operatives and servitors draw influence from a wide variety of sources. We are not, however, directly influenced by the Thelema.
3. Is Neurocam influenced by the Rosicrucians?
Neurocam International is not directly influenced by the Rosicrucians.
4. Is Neurocam influenced by con games?
Neurocam International is not directly influence by "con games".
5. While I imagine this is to be left to my discretion, how much should I trust the information about Neurocam that can be gained from the study of the blogs of operatives who have been active for a longer period of time?
Your supposition that this matter is left to your discretion is correct.
6. Trust is an interesting thing, isn't it?
Trust is indeed an interesting thing. It can take years to establish, but mere seconds to destroy.
7. Does Neurocam have anything to do with Herpes virii?
Neurocam doe not have anything to do with Herpes Virii.
8. How should I, as an operative, respond if contacted by Archavida?
The organization known as Archavida does not have an official or authorized association with Neurocam.
Their motives, methods and actions are known only to themselves and thus Neurocam International can not guarantee the safety and security of any operative who choose to engage them.
Although Neurocam does not prohibit operatives from communicating with Archavida, we strongly recommend against this practice.
Thank you once again, Operative Simon Moon, for your e-mail. I hope my response has been to your satisfaction.
Regards,
Maxwell Knight
Head, Human Resources Security Division
Neurocam International
maxwell.knight@neurocam.com
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| Initiation and the Big Con |
[19 Jan 2005|10:09pm] |
For your consideration... In a con game, everyone knows their part in a structured drama except for the mark. When being initiated into a secret society, everyone knows their part in a structured drama except for the initiate. Con games have a decided advantage in the illusion created: they happen in the real world, seamless with reality. The mark may never know that s/he was deceived. The initiate knows s/he is being initiated. The initiation happens within the bounds of the lodge. The initiation rituals of most orders have lost their power. The initiate does not need to know s/he is an initiate to experience initiation. Initiation, when brought into the model of the con, happening seamlessly with the rest of life, is greatly empowered. I find it probable that Neurocam knows all of these things. Neurocam fits the mold for what I would expect an organization seeking to spread initiation in this manner would look and operate like. An email from Iocus Severus to Graham is relevant. For those too lazy to click, I quote the following from Graham's blog. Consider this: In 1617, alchemist Michael Maier (1566-1622) published his book "Jocus Severus" in which he deals with certain processes of initiation, couched in the languages of satire and allegory.
And this: In your journal entry, dated January 29, 2004, you published an email you received from Robert Henley. I quote,
"As a kind of introduction (we prefer this term to *initiation*) we would like to set you an assignment. ...It is an important part of *a process you will soon come to understand.*" (my asterisks)
The Theatre of Magic by Ray Sherwin is good reading on this subject. |
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| New Mission |
[19 Jan 2005|04:47pm] |
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I've recieved a new mission today. I am unable to reveal the details (at this time?), but I can say that it has something to do with "The Magus" by John Fowles.
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| A brief guide to being a Neurocam Operative |
[14 Jan 2005|12:23am] |
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The Neurocam Operative
There are multiple streams of Neurocam involvement, however the majority of recruits commence their relationship with Neurocam as a Field Operative (or simply "Operative"). For this reason the following section addresses several frequently asked questions in relation to the practical aspects of becoming, being and retiring from being an Operative.
Operative Life
Recruitment
Recruitment into Neurocam and our organisation is undertaken via a range of methods, both standard and innovative. Operatives are recruited from a range of backgrounds. Each brings to our programme a unique range of skills required by our organisation and together our network of operatives form an indispensable aspect of this endeavor.
Despite repeated speculation otherwise, potential recruits self-select. Following selection they undertake a preliminary assignment while mandatory administrative activities are undertaken. While appropriate verification and positive vetting methods are resource intensive, to date we have been able to obtain information on all operatives adequate to our needs. We have no reason to anticipate any change to this situation.
The Human Resources and Security Division further employs a range of investigative techniques in support of recruitment and vetting processes.
NB: Further information in relation to background checks shall be made available to operatives engaged in Human Resource-related assignments.
Recruit travel and residency
Neurocam International is part of a multifaceted organization with operations throughout the world. We have operatives in countries such as: Australia; New Zealand; the United States of America; Nigeria; Kenya; Japan; Netherlands; Germany and the United Kingdom.
Residence within any single country is not a requisite of continued Neurocam involvement. Recruits may communicate with their contact via their usual channels (where these are available) while traveling. Alternatively, secondary or replacement, arrangements can be negotiated (at the discretion of Neurocam International) to support you during travel, or following relocation.
In extraordinary circumstances, Neurocam may contact you while away from your general residence in relation to its current assignment needs. Participation at such times is voluntary.
Retirement
The Executive of Neurocam International regards any cessation of an Operative's involvement as regrettable; however we accept that this will, on occasion, be unavoidable. Recruits and/or Operatives wishing, for what ever reason, to terminate their involvement need only send an e-mail which expresses this wish. Upon receipt of such an e-mail, all contact with the individual will immediately discontinue. There will be no further correspondence with you.
Assignments
As a recruit you will be placed on assignment. Our requirements are highly varied and recruits are frequently called upon to undertake both diversionary and directly productive assignments. At this point, the exact number and nature of Neurocam assignments must remain confidential, however all applicants who enter the recruitment process will be invited to participate in one, or more, assignments. As recruits progress through initial assessments, and as mandatory administrative processes progress, they may be offered Field Operative status.
Field Operatives are vital to the organisation achieving its aims with the Neurocam programme. Field Operative status ensures your continued inclusion in Neurocam endeavours. The frequency of assignments varies in accordance with programme requirements. In general Operatives are activated once every 20-30 days.
Public Relations/Assignment Security
We do not actively discourage general discussion about Neurocam. We would prefer that Operatives display a high degree of discretion when relating details of Neurocam's operational practices.
Inappropriate disclosure of details pertaining to upcoming assignment(s) that result in the compromise of the assignment(s) can result in disciplinary action.
Participant health and safety
Neurocam International prides itself on its safety record. Unforeseen circumstances not-withstanding, Neurocam attempts at all times to provide operatives with all the information they require to undertake assignments in a safe and secure manner. Operatives are not knowingly sent into situations that pose a significant risk to Operative health or safety. In short, we will never intentionally place our operatives or employees in overly risky or dangerous situations without their prior consent.
NB: Neurocam premises are protected by state-of-the-art security measures, including both passive and active protections.
Contact between operatives
Operatives are not prohibited from entering into correspondence, or other contact, between Operatives during the completion of assignments, or otherwise. Operatives are expected to fully report such correspondence/contact.
Operational intelligence (including media)
Operational intelligence in the form of tangible media, or the electronic means to produce such, relating to an assignment is always both appropriate and welcome unless the Operative is specifically advised otherwise within the assignment brief.
Time zones
Assignment dates and times always refer to an Operative's current time zone upon receipt of the assignment brief.
Failure
The nature of consequence is relative to the nature and cause of non-compliance. The most severe penalty, however, is generally termination of an operative's involvement with Neurocam.
These, together with a range of other information often requested by potential/former operatives are classified commercial-in-confidence and/or staff-in-confidence and will only be provided to appropriately cleared operatives/employees as required to undertake their assigned duties.
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| Welcome to Neurocam! |
[13 Jan 2005|11:20am] |
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Dear Operative Simon Moon
Welcome to Neurocam!
I am pleased to advise that I hereby offer you a position within Neurocam International.
Your Perception Assignment report was evaluated in accordance with our pre-determined assessment criteria. Neurocam's Human Resources and Security Division found that your report demonstrated a minimum of seven of the ten qualities desired by Neurocam International. This rating determines that you would be an appropriate candidate for operational deployment.
Neurocam International hopes that you will accept this offer and that this act will mark the beginning of a sustained mutually beneficial association with our organization. Upon acceptance of our offer you will immediately receive accreditation for ongoing operational deployment, a privilege achieved by less than 26% of applicants.
Your operational deployment will be effective immediately, although the details of your first assignment will remain confidential until such time as the Operations Division contacts you. Be aware, the date of your first assignment will be determined by a variety of factors (including, but not limited to, your current location, your age and the state of any current Neurocam operations within your area). Although your deployment is effective immediately, Neurocam can not guarantee the exact date upon which you will receive your first assignment.
Being part of Neurocam is a responsibility we expect you to take very seriously. Neurocam International highly prizes its strong corporate image and reputation, so your continued involvement with us is conditional upon the demonstration of a public manner which will in no way reflect poorly upon the organization. Conduct contrary to this condition, such as overt aggression, physical violence, or any similar potentially embarrassing or disruptive behaviour displayed during the completion of assignments, will result in the immediate termination of your involvement with the organization.
I have included with this letter a copy of one of Neurocam's introductory brochures - 'A brief guide to being a Neurocam operative'. It should answer the majority of questions you may have. If, however, you have any further questions, please contact the Head of Neurocam's Human Resources and Security Division, Maxwell Knight (maxwell.knight@neurocam.com), as he will be happy to respond to your queries.
Congratulations on completing Neurocam's application process. I take great pleasure in being the first to welcome you to the Neurocam team.
Warm Regards,
Bridget Fischer
CEO
Neurocam International
bridget.fischer@neurocam.com
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| Neurocam Response |
[06 Jan 2005|12:51pm] |
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Dear Applicant Simon Moon
Verification of Perception Assessment NCI-2001/02 completion has been received.
Neurocam International's Operations Division is currently reviewing your report. Your performance will soon be assessed in accordance with operational criteria. This assessment will complete your application process.
Once our review is complete you will be contacted and informed of the status of your application. Please be aware that this may take between seven to ten working days.
I assure you, however, that Neurocam will be in contact with you again.
Regards,
Charles Hastings
Head, Operations Division
Neurocam International
operations@neurocam.com
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| Neurocam Mission One - COMPLETE |
[05 Jan 2005|04:41pm] |
Response to NCI-1001/02 1. How did you hear about Neurocam? On the Join My Cult! Email list. 2. What are your expectations of Neurocam? In a con game, everyone knows their lines except the mark. In an initiation, everyone knows their lines except the initiate. Bringing initiation out of the lodge, and into the same conditions of spontaneity that con men face, initiation becomes more powerful. So, I expect initiation. You all really should read Ray Sherwin’s Theatre of Magic, if you haven’t already. Same idea. 3. What is your lucky number? 23 4. Do you instinctively turn left or right? No. 5. Complete this sentence - "Neurocam is." Neurocam is a con, and I am a mark. Response to NCI-2001/01 4:00 PM I am with two friends, a couple, L (male) & J (female), pulling out of Newport Federal Back. I am accompanying them as they complete some errands. 4:01 Stop at Mobil Gas Station so L can buy cigarettes. 4:05 Leave Mobil to visit a mutual friend, T. 4:07 Arrive at T's. Conversation is mostly bland, with the exception of church hopping. Church hopping is when a person who is traveling makes his travel money by stopping in at churches. At these churches, the traveler burst in and claims he has been sent here by God to give a message, takes over the service, and takes all the money gathered during the offering. The traveler is more likely a grifter than a Christian. We also listen to some local hip-hop made two blocks away by people we all know. 4:27 Depart T's for Wal*Mart. 4:33 Arrive at Wal*Mart. On the way in to Wal*Mart, L meets an elderly woman he knows. After we move on, I am told about this woman. She is married to one of the few hippies that have settled here. Inside the store, L meets another older woman that he knows. She turns out to also be much more interesting than most people in the area, having been one of the founding members of Cocke County's one and only poetry slam team. J picks up laundry detergent. As we continue in Wal*Mart, we spontaneously decide to do a bit of guerilla ontology, with both L and I holding J's hands. We receive many confused and disapproving looks. L picks up 10-w40 motor oil. We continue to toy section, as L & J need to pick up a helmet for L's little sister. J notices a little girl near us who is alone, and asks her if she thinks it is pretty. She does indeed think it is pretty. I notice that the child has brown eyes and blond hair, an uncommon combination. When we go to pay, I notice that line 23(!) is empty. Every other line has numerous people. We go to line 23, and the woman working there has a difficult time getting the register to work. Exit Wal*Mart. As we walk to the car, one woman walks up to another woman and starts screaming. "What's this shit I hear about you talking shit about my kids?" "I ain't been saying nothing about your kids." "I heard tell of it from Brenda and two other people that you been saying they're half Mexican. Well you ain't in no place to talk about nobody's kids." At this point I had made it far enough away from the altercation that I couldn't make out what they were saying anymore. 5:00 PM Depart Wal*Mart. 5:09 PM Arrive Sonic Drive-In. L & J order food. 5:19 Depart Sonic. 5:20 Arrive at Coin Laundry laundromat.
L & J need to do laundry. In looking through my change, I notice I have one Quetzal from Quatemala. I have no idea how this coin entered my possession. L has been to Quatemala, but we are both confident he didn't give it to me. I find out that you can smoke in this laundromat. I find this odd since non-smokers wash their clothes here. Very bad Country music playing on the radio. "It's where I drank my first beer. It's where I found Jesus." We talk about how we could write Country songs that would sell, having been surrounded by Country for so long. Talk about the advent of technology and evolution. Question posed: Will the day come when we will not teach our children how to write, but instead start them on typewriters? Talk of the moon landing, and the possibilities it was a hoax. Talk moves on to media distortion and the JFK assassination. 6:47 Leave laundromat. I notice something odd about the children's ride outside the laundromat. On the coin box is a sign, and on the sign is the message "Push for bent coin release" along with an arrow, but there is nothing to push.
6:54 Back at L & J's place. L & J busy themselves putting up clothes and doing some light cleaning. My mind drifts to the Abramelin operation, and the difficulties in performing it, particularly the bit at the end requiring the small child. 7:10 Talk with L about Crimethinc's pseudo-anarchism and the four months I spent on a cult farm. Talk of eugenics, adoption, and what drives people to join the U.S. military. Talk of lighters. What does one call a generic Zippo? Generic Bics are disposable lighters. Naptha lighters? 8:00 J finishes showering and joins us. Talk about mail trucks and Jeeps. GP = general purpose. Does Jeep make mail trucks? Replaceable flint lighters? 8:06 B, L's dad enters. He reminisces about the good old days when "we were going to the moon and JFK was still alive." 8:20 Bathroom break. Bring out my copy of The Book of the Law to read while occupied. Liber AL II:35 "Let the rituals be rightly performed with joy & beauty!" 8:32 Talk about cyberpunk novels and authors, particularly Jeff Noon and Neal Stephenson. Talk of fantasy and sci-fi. I recommend Issac Asimov’s fantasy stories to J, a fan of fantasy. 8:45 Talk of emotion and how anger is the only socially accepted emotion for men to express. L & J argue. Talk of love, common of J, and once again I try to get J to pin down what she means by the word. Avoids the question by proclaiming that she wants to make love a science. L & I object, and the clock strikes 9:00 PM. The worst thing that happened to me on Jan 3 was my father needed to move my car. (I am home for the holidays and look forward to going back to college Friday.) In my car, my backpack was wide open, and my carton of cigarettes was easily viewable. My smoking has been kept out of sight from my parents because I know they do not approve.
The best thing was spending a couple of hours of my afternoon sitting in the city park reading Nietzsche.
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| Second message from Neurocam |
[24 Dec 2004|06:59pm] |
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Dear Applicant
To conclude Neurocam's application process ALL APPLICANTS are required to
complete the following questionnaire and perception-based assessment.
An assessment of the applicant's suitability for operational deployment will
be made following the fulfillment of these non-negotiable pre-requisites.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NEUROCAM QUESTIONAIRE - NCI-1001/02
1. How did you hear about Neurocam?
2. What are your expectations of Neurocam?
3. What is your lucky number?
4. Do you instinctively turn left or right?
5. Complete this sentence - "Neurocam is."
END NEUROCAM QUESTIONAIRE - NCI-1001/02
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
APPLICANT PERCEPTION ASSESSMENT NCI-2001/01
(A) MISSION.
Assess applicant's perception abilities.
(B) EXECUTION.
1. Write a detailed account of everything that happens between 4pm and 9pm
on Monday January 3, 2005. Pay particular attention to any occurrence which
may be deemed "out of the ordinary". Include in your account two images that
represent the best and worst things that happen on Monday 3, 2005.
2. Submit this report via email to operations@neurocam.com by close of
business Friday January 7, 2005.
(C) OPERATIONAL SECURITY.
Not Applicable.
(D) GUIDELINES.
As with all Neurocam assignments, you will be assessed on the manner in
which you complete this assignment.
Intelligence and creativity are traits highly valued by Neurocam and a
demonstration of both of these will expedite your further advancement within
the organization. Your application and aptitude in this assignment will be
the basis for consideration for operational integration.
ENDS APPLICANT PERCEPTION ASSESSMENT NCI-2001/01
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Regards,
Charles Hastings
Head, Operations Division
Neurocam International
operations@neurocam.com
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| First message from Neurocam |
[23 Dec 2004|05:39pm] |
Dear Applicant
Thank you for expressing interest in Neurocam.
Your application has been forwarded to a designated officer within the Human
Resources Security Division so that our organization can further evaluate
your suitability for recruitment.
In the interest of facilitating an expedient assessment, the Human Resources
Security Division is currently implementing a series of background checks.
We apologize in advance for the potentially intrusive nature of these checks
and assure you that Neurocam International only undertakes this course of
action in the interest of protecting our propriety operational procedures.
Any information gathered from this historical evaluation will be treated as
strictly confidential.
If your application is successful you will be contacted by Mr. Charles
Hastings, Head of Neurocam International's Operations Division. Mr. Hastings
will further inform you about the nature of the tasks Neurocam requires you
to complete.
An unsuccessful application will result in the cessation of all further
correspondence between Neurocam and yourself.
Neurocam appreciates that in 83.6% of instances, new applicants experience a
desire to enquire about many issues which may further enlighten them as to
the true nature of Neurocam. Due to the need to maintain a high level of
operational security Neurocam is unable to provide much of the information
desired by entry level participants.
We can, however, inform you of the following : Neurocam is a process which
you are already part of.
Having said this, if you do have any questions, please feel free to contact
me directly. I will endeavor to answer as many of your enquiries as
Neurocam's Organizational Security Guidelines allow.
Thank you once again for expressing interest in Neurocam. I hope that your
application will be successful and that I will soon have the pleasure of
working with you.
Warm Regards,
Maxwell Knight
Head, Human Resources Security Division
Neurocam International
maxwell.knight@neurocam.com
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