* Posts by Wzrd1

2260 publicly visible posts • joined 7 Dec 2012

Pussy galore: Bubble-bath webcam spy outrage

Wzrd1 Silver badge

Re: Friday

"Yes. It's about pussies on camera."

Or more often, granny panties on camera.

Or worse, my hairy bum. One that has grown, along with my waistline since my retirement from the military and my muscles retired downward.

Wzrd1 Silver badge

Re: All this controversy about Google Glass

"The amount of times cats have tried to follow me into the bathroom is unbelieavable."

I let them. They beat a hasty retreat once I began to, erm, produce.

Regrettably, my bum insisted I remain with it during the process, to admire the newly peeling paint...

Wzrd1 Silver badge

Re: Goddamn

"I hate cats."

Cats taste good.

At least, that is what my cats convinced themselves of when they stepped into my snoring mouth in the middle of the night. :/

Wzrd1 Silver badge

Re: you don't want to cam your kids

"You need to give your kids the freedom to make their own discoveries, and the protection to make sure those discoveries don't kill them."

True enough, though the first lesson is "tell him to vulcanize that vagabond".

A lesson my sister in law didn't impart, resulting in a teen pregnancy and her now incessant babysitting.

Wzrd1 Silver badge

Re: you don't want to cam your kids

"You don't need to - you were doing it when you were their age."

Not I. Back then, we were pure personal interaction only. Indeed, cameras only used film back then, there was digital image processing was in its very infancy.

Wzrd1 Silver badge

Re: Camera LED's

If I ever bring my laptop into the bathroom, I'll not bother.

The last stranger who caught a look at my bum turned to stone and remains that way still.

Wzrd1 Silver badge

Re: all webcams I know have a light on them to indicate if they are active..

"Thankfully this is usually not software controllable, and the LED is hooked into the circuit that activates the sensor."

Not the last time I saw driver software for a webcam.

Wzrd1 Silver badge

Re: Laptops in the bath?

"BUT all webcams I know have a light on them to indicate if they are active... "

Not really, I recall some ancient malware that activated a webcam and didn't turn on the indicator light. Memory recalls something about Yahoo messenger, though the years could be betraying me.

Wzrd1 Silver badge

Re: Laptops in the bath?

"My other half does this. Now, to hack into her webcam... oh, or I could just wait until she gets out of the bath."

Strange notion. I would just join her in the bath.

Of course, that would end up necessitating another bath.

But then, we have a large bathtub and keep that ancient iron thing for just that reason.

No webcam needed. :)

Icelandic biz baron: 'I have a private jet waiting in China for Snowden'

Wzrd1 Silver badge

Re: Good practice

In other words, you advocate for summary execution and the murder of between 80 and 300 innocent passengers.

How civilized of you!

So, which does your nation give to the world? Apple pie or blood pudding?

Wzrd1 Silver badge

Re: Just be careful what plane you get on.....

Dunno, when I was hopping across the pond, I was on a US Airways flight that had the first class seats duck taped together and an inoperable in flight entertainment system.

Funny thing, US school buses have more foot room than a US aircraft. As does a Turdis.

Wzrd1 Silver badge

First, I'll agree with your first and second sentences.

For your third paragraph, you obviously don't have any knowledge on how security clearances are granted. Hence, in your ignorance, you blame an agency, rather than a process that is operated by OPM to grant a security clearance.

As for the Islamist nonsense, you somehow link a gaff on the part of OPM in granting a clearance to recruitment of terrorists. Again, displaying your abject ignorance on anything relevant to the topic at hand.

But then, you've obviously never held a security clearance or dealt with Islamists. I have.

For your last sentence, that is also quite true. We've always been our own worst enemy.

But, as Churchill said, "The Americans will do the right thing. After exhausting every other possibility."

Wzrd1 Silver badge

Re: direct route

Not a troll here.

When asked by those who know me and my rather lengthy US military career about this man and his misdeeds, I had one comment.

It is possible to do the right thing in the wrong way.

The *right* way would have been to pick a few trusted senators and representatives and give them file identifiers to find the evidence in their house of Congress' SCIF.

*NOT* releasing the information to a foreign news service.

Sorry, but he didn't even attempt to do something legal first. He instead, did an alleged Manning.

Hence, he rightfully should be in an adjacent cell to Manning.

BTW, for civilians, no charge that Snowden faces would be a capital offense. Only military can face capital punishment for espionage, treason, sedition or mutiny.

Wzrd1 Silver badge

Re: Assange will be mightily pissed off

Let's see now. The US is turning over diplomatic stones after Snowden. Not even shaking the brush for Assange.

Why would that be?

Oh, wait. Assange didn't violate any US law, as any US law that he did "violate" was outside of US jurisdiction, hence not a violation. Just as the US doesn't attempt to prosecute the king of Saudi for bigamy.

Snowden violated US national security laws and a sworn and signed NDA.

Of course, one ponders about a man who sold secrets about the SR-71 to the USSR, but was never prosecuted.

Crud, bad example, that man went on to return to the US and shoot JFK.

Wzrd1 Silver badge

Re: Sounds sorta familiar...

Interesting, as he is not anywhere near China this morning.

Turned on the news and apparently, he was in Russia, attempting to move to Cuba.

The US trying to pressure Russia, probably by telling them that we'd forbid Russian adoptions or something.

Oops, that was tried by Russia.

Still, if he goes to Cuba, the US will end up isolating Cuba and refusing to trade with them at all.

Crud, already tried, with only one nation not trading with Cuba.

Seriously, too much stupid, too much speculation, zip for facts. About the only thing that is certain is that the US government is extremely miffed with the man.

Giving greater credibility to his words...

NASA probe will ease through Saturn's ring to grab Earth snapshot

Wzrd1 Silver badge

Tomorrow will be the wonderful news that we won WWII or something.

Later, that I acquired the ability to submit handwriting or something.

Washout 2012 summer, melty Greenland 'nothing to do with Arctic ice or warm oceans'

Wzrd1 Silver badge

Re: Overpopulation

Other research suggested the very same conclusion when I was still in diapers.

JFK was still alive back then.

Did the cold war thing, wasn't much fun.

Managed to miss Gulf War I. No biggie.

Didn't miss Gulf War II, real biggie, didn't agree with it, but some oath and contract thing and all.

Later, got to see Afghanistan. Far, far, far prefer home. Nicer climate. Won't go into more, it's unpleasant and not worthy of mixed company or something.

OK, it sucked, killing, buddies getting killed, carnage, dead guys who tried to kill...

Still, we're still plowing crops under and feeding the nation and a hell of a lot of the world.

But, we're overpopulated.

Or something.

COLD BALLS OF FLAME light up International Space Station

Wzrd1 Silver badge

Wow! I figured the converse of NASA

Add in additional dimensions, the fire would be even more controllable an even more important, release less harmful gasses.

No, I'll not permit them to try lighting fire to my TARDIS. Let them make their own.

Besides, some Doctor stole the damned thing.

Yahoo! joins! rivals! in! PRISM! data! request! admission!

Wzrd1 Silver badge

Re: Don't they realise that the cat ...

"Even so, matching up PGP keys to everyone's inboxes and then cracking keys across multiple platforms and applying them to the right email streams is going to be a rather greater hurdle for the NSA to clear than simply splicing some fibre at the Googleplex or at Hotmail HQ and reading it all in plaintext."

You forget a few things. First, the mail at Googleplex and Hotmail would be stored in encrypted form, not unencrypted. You don't decrypt your mail when you send it, you encrypt it and send it encrypted. It gets decrypted when read. Hence, the tap would get encrypted data.

However, consider some well known facts about the NSA.

They hire the largest number of mathematicians in the world. They hire the top of the class from various educational institutions as programmers. They also have multiple supercomputers.

Wzrd1 Silver badge

Re: Don't they realise that the cat ...

If the VPN isn't at both endpoints, it's useless, as one simply plugs into a switch port and monitors away.

PGP/GPG is as secure as the keyserver and the endpoints. Compromise any one, own the system.

An example is, a FISA letter generates a warrant that is presented to a keyserver owner. Software is placed in the middle to provide false key information to the requesting client, information designed to permit a MiM attack.

Compromise the private and public keys on one endpoint, have a wedge to gain further access.

The US DoD thought using smartcards for logon, digital signing and encryption was the be all and end all of security for computer access. In spite of warnings that it is only one component by the vendor and IA personnel.

It was later found that a foreign actor had acquired access to a workstation, used the middleware for the smartcard in dos mode to authenticate in and begin exfiltrating data.

Proving what was first said, no single component does a system make. One uses a layered approach in protecting one's computer, one's data and one's traffic.

Wzrd1 Silver badge

Re: And probably only 2 were FISA requests...

And the FISA requests are classified at TS/SCI/NOFORN/ORCON, etc.

Hence, never see the light of day.

Though, Congress can see them in their house SCIF, if they know that they exist.

There is a right way to report something one finds improper, there is a wrong way. Snowden started out using the wrong way, which should have been a final backup and not his first action.

Wzrd1 Silver badge

Re: Really

"Oh and ignore that CCTV behind your shower curtain. Nothing to see here, move along please."

That's nothing that a violet wand couldn't fix. To cover audio transmitters, the same wand with an antenna does nicely.

There are tricks to amplify the noise as well.

Raises merry hell with television reception, but then, I recall hearing of ways to bug a room using a television speaker or even monitor screen.

Wzrd1 Silver badge

Re: Really

Strong encryption, VPN or even better, HAIPE encryptors end to end on one's distant communications channels.

Wzrd1 Silver badge

Re: How do they know why they're being requested?

"Apparently a D notice has been issued in regards to the PRISM program now in the UK.

http://www.andmagazine.com/content/phoenix/13003.html"

How's the weather at Airstrip One today? :/

House bill: 'Hey NASA, that asteroid retrieval plan? Fuggedaboutit'

Wzrd1 Silver badge

Re: Flip-flop

Regrettably, you are far off of the mark. Their egos are up there in their considerations, however, the special interests that pumped in over 8 billion dollars in campaign contributions in the last Congressional race and a like amount in the Presidential race are of paramount interest. Lest they lose the source of their campaign funding in favor of someone who will tend to their master's wishes and desired.

Hence, the blocking of Earth Science, lest further evidence of climate change be revealed.

In the military, we had an old joke. "When the revolution comes, the VA is against the wall right after Congress."

Yes, the US military.

Wzrd1 Silver badge

Re: Flip-flop

Too late. The PRC is already producing more scientists and engineers than the US is. They're also essentially the world's manufacturing base. Quite soon, they'll not need to spy and steal designs, they'll be postured to be the R&D and manufacturing capitol of the world.

Years ago, Reagan suggested we turn into an R&D center for the world. Bush the Greater decided to move us to a service economy.

The problem with a service economy is one is servicing oneself and not generating profit. An R&D economy could have licensed all manner of new designs and products to be produced by whoever wishes to build them.

New material enables 1,000-meter super-skyscrapers

Wzrd1 Silver badge

Re: Any rope is the problem

That was part of my thoughts, add in that the more likely place to build such a tram would be on the outside of the building, obliterating the possibility of a decent view through a window. Add in the significant incline to ascend a floor, it becomes highly problematic.

Wzrd1 Silver badge

Re: Any rope is the problem

Failsafes would be simple. A centrifugal system that, when a predetermined velocity is reached, signals a fall and engages brakes on a rail system that guides the elevator.

Wzrd1 Silver badge

Re: Any rope is the problem

The problem with magnetic systems is the immense amount of electrical energy required to move the load. Elevators are far from light, they do have to endure the stresses of carrying their cargo, be it human or furniture/equipment.

That massive amount of current needed to shift an elevator car ends up producing immense amounts of heat, requiring cooling and further adding to the already massive electrical load of the system. Indeed, it could easily use more energy than the entire office tower occupants needs.

Great idea, thought of it myself, briefly. However, our current technology limits such magnetic devices quite heavily.

Boffins build headless robo-kitties

Wzrd1 Silver badge

Re: With a convenient carrying handle.

Actually, that "handle" appears to be a spine linking two halves. I wondered about it briefly, then took a closer look.

Did a bit of mental math on it and found, a cat it is not. A cat is far more flexible.

Boffins find evidence Atlantic Ocean has started closing

Wzrd1 Silver badge

Re: compass points

I re-checked my re-checking of my compass. Apparently, the author has difficulties with the cardinal directions of the compass.

But then, the author of the paper had difficulty understanding that there already is a plate collision in the Caribbean.

Or that it's been extremely well observed and measured that the Atlantic is still spreading and Africa is still on the move. Or that the Red Sea is part of a plate separation.

Come to think of it, it seems that the author of that paper shall fail peer review quite early on.

It's a complicated set of processes, the author seems to be oversimplifying matters and his theory suffers for it.

Google launches broadband balloons, radio astronomy frets

Wzrd1 Silver badge

Re: Radio astronomers bleating for the front page...

"Now. Let's get on with the future. "

Understanding the physics of the universe is part and parcel of moving on with the future. If you reject that, stop being a hypocrite and cease using that fancy, high tech physics device in front of you, your computer.

As for flimsy design, please try to learn a little bit about radio in general, then a mite about radio astronomy. The signals are miniscule, small enough that even the atmosphere can interfere with them, let alone an aircraft or a radio signal made by man. The radio telescopes are sited in locations away from road travel, man made radio signals and air traffic corridors.

The troubling thing isn't the the level of ignorance displayed her, what troubles me is that the ignorant also vote their opinion, with predictable results.

Wzrd1 Silver badge

Re: Air traffic?

Years ago, I researched weather balloons. They're radio-reflective, so they stand out quite well on radar. They're also the right color to see when flying.

As commercial aircraft have collision avoidance radar and air traffic control has radar and the windscreen is clear, avoiding the balloons on their way up or down is trivial.

As evidenced by the marked lack of collision of aircraft and weather balloon in over three generations and counting.

Hubble spies unlikely planet being born in hostile neighborhood

Wzrd1 Silver badge

That would be one terribly cold sphere!

Wzrd1 Silver badge

Re: Planetary formation theories...

Considering the size of the cleared zone and the distance from the star to that orbit, the object is most likely at a minimum, a frost giant, at maximum, a brown dwarf.

Hmm, they should be able to get IR measurements of that object.

Wzrd1 Silver badge

Re: They keep spreading false info and fake science...

Why, you are absolutely right. We have no way to see distant objects and observe them, can't measure them because Issac Newton didn't exist, Einstein didn't exist, therefore we no nothing of gravity, mass or energy.

Indeed, stars aren't fusion powered, they're powered by pixie dust or something, because fusion doesn't exist, nor does fission. The latter was a great shock to the folks at Nagasaki and Hiroshima.

It is science, just because you're too dull to understand it doesn't make it invalid.

Wzrd1 Silver badge

Re: CGI

One problem, just to have fun with this one.

The OP mentioned geostationary orbit, which is not low Earth orbit, where the ISS hangs out.

So, having fun and running with the ball, it would still be probable. Save for the bit where CGI didn't exist during the Apollo program and the astronauts not really walking on the moon, they largely hopped and fell down, shuffled a bit, no walking.

Wzrd1 Silver badge

Re: Caused by a nearby sister star?

That was my thought, a possible brown dwarf sweeping up the debris. It's about the right distance to not be a planet, but a brown dwarf sister.

Microsoft botnet smackdown 'caused collateral damage, failed to kill target'

Wzrd1 Silver badge

What I see here is an objection to national sovereignty. Some seem to wish to do their own thing, re-invent the wheel, ignore it of bribed, heaven knows what else.

In reality, Microsoft, for a change, is behaving like a comic book superhero, Ironman, if you will (Sorry, my wife is hooked on part of that franchise, probably also due to Hulk being present, as Incredible Hulk and Incredible Bulk are trivially confused).

Microsoft is playing Ironman. Some nations seem to object to someone not from their land enforcing laws that they refuse to enforce or at least get credit for enforcing.

Others benefit from non-enforcement.

PRISM snitch claims NSA hacked Chinese targets since 2009

Wzrd1 Silver badge

ROFLMAO!

Want to know what is so funny?

The *only* people who didn't know this is the public of the world.

The PRC knew it far too well. So did the US of what the PRC was doing.

Don't know, nor care, who started it, but it's like the hottest part of the cold war right now online.

As part of my network security role, I reviewed the daily intelligence briefs on known threats and actors. Due to those readings, I'd learn of a new attack in the works and, in phishing instances (many were phishing or spear phishing, targeted on DoD personnel), I'd adjust our mail filter to trap them.

In one instance, I went on vacation and checked my webmail at the base. I saw over 300 attacks and climbing in the logs, so I made an international call to my partner and inquired if he saw it and if it was the attack warned about.

It was. After significant examination of the quarantine, there were zero false positives.

A five second regex entry defeated the most effective and successful PRC cyber unit.

One interestingly enough, who I knew the name, address, phone number, photographic image of the commander and his girlfriend's picture, address, phone number and place of work. As well as said commander's work address.

No, I'll not reveal the source. I don't want to be sitting in the cell next to Manning. But, it was totally laughable.

I'll give the PRC due credit, they have folks who speak fluent American. They're incredibly clever. Worse, they have people who think outside of the box, whatever that thing is.

I'd still be doing that job, but my father started to ignore both his medications and congestive heart failure. So, I returned home from my contract, after I retired from wearing tree looking clothing.

A much preferable employment. Nobody tried to kill me, save on the highways, I didn't try to kill anyone. In short, a parent's paradise. Peace and quiet.

Save when a round came tumbling through my car window one morning, but then, that nation recently permitted a gun shop to open. With predictable results.

No, not an increase in armed robberies, an increase in idiots shooting and thinking that lead dissolves after passing some imaginary boundary or something.

Well, good night all, or good day to you across the pond. It's insanely late here and I need my four hours of sleep. Have to take my father to his first doctor's appointment after a lengthy hospitalization and rehabilitation.

And get a referral to have his hand and wrist x-rayed for a possible fracture after I helped him up after he fell after a dialysis session. Probably nothing, but his discomfort is something worthy of concern, as I've witnessed him being hit flat on by a backhoe bucket and thrown two meters (had to translate over ten feet in American here), whereupon he got up, picked up his shovel, looked at the cab with resolve and the operator ran off and wasn't to be found for three days.

Now, I'm uncertain if the crepitus I felt was due to his osteoarthritis or due to a significant mechanism of injury, my hand grasping his to help him up.

I suspect it's simple bruising, due to his last bone density scan.

But, one cannot be certain with geriatric patients.

Something I learned in my years visiting villages as a US military serviceman, running a small clinic. Wearing a green hat that didn't hide the sun, was heavy when it rained, was worthless as a hat for anything but parades.

A badge it was, one that proved that we were slightly smarter than a bag of hammers and incapable of quitting.

Scientists investigate 'dark lightning' threat to aircraft passengers

Wzrd1 Silver badge

Re: Compare to Dental X-Ray

SOMETHING should be studied.

On occasion, NOTHING should be studied.

The entire point of the study is peer review.

Hopefully...

I'll await a peer review. Been there, done that, sucked to be there, moved on.

Why can't YOU?

NSA: 'Dozens of attacks' prevented by snooping

Wzrd1 Silver badge

Re: Reality for the brainless people

AC, it's more like, "If I pay someone to mow my lawn, then huzzah: he gets money, I get a mowed lawn.", but he either only or also puts cameras on every damned window, facing in.

And offers no rights to whatever you and yours does inside of your formerly private home, but has exclusive rights to those activities.

The truth is always what it's been. The US Constitution is whatever the current government decides it to be, rights also variable, regardless of enumeration.

Indeed, for much of the existence of the US Constitution, the "Bill of RIghts" was exclusively for the states.

Apparently, the states only had the right to freedom of religion, press, speech (not the populace) or even later, the right to not be forced to incriminate oneself and more.

It was literally turned 180 degrees out of phase with the desire of those who signed the Constitution.

Today, we have a mixed bag in the SCOTUS. Strict Constitutionalists (what it says is what it means, screw linguistic and cultural drift), Progressive types (what is intended and advances as culture, society and even humanity moves foreward) and various change nothing at all types.

Me? I'm a progressive literalist.

But then, in my early teens, I lived in Philadelphia, during the bicentennial celebrations. To say that I was steeped in our Constitution is to make an anemic comment.

I'm also not a conservative in the form of blaming a victim, starving anyone who disagrees with me to death (see McCarthyism) or any other insane thoughts.

Our Constitution says that church and state are separate, I'm great with that. Hasn't happened yet, but I'd love it to be so.

I can speak my mind in public, as long as there is no threat of imminent lawless action. I'm cool with that, I don't have any desire to cause a riot.

I have the right to keep and bear arms. I literally own a dozen firearms, half inherited. Of those, two are notable for historic reasons, one is just accurate. My own firearms are either hunting rifles, a rusty single shot shotgun or precision shooting competition models of both pistol and rifle.

There is a right to own artillery or machineguns or other absurd things, but I have to prove that I am worthy of trust to possess such insanely harmful weapons.

I can trivially do so. I just lack the will to do so, as it is a waste of money and time.

Besides, I had my fill in the military.

I have the right to refuse to quarter a soldier in my home, both involuntarily and without compensation. Honestly, one could be forced to quarter, if one is compensated. :/

Operable is:

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

The fourth amendment.

ALL of the constitution is inviolable or the entire thing falls.

Since the very same Constitution grants the courts, Congress, the SCOTUS and POTUS and binds the rest of the nation, there shouldn't be an issue.

Pity that there is.

Wzrd1 Silver badge

Re: Let 'em die

The reality being:

WAR IS PEACE, FREEDOM IS SLAVERY, and IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH.

Wzrd1 Silver badge

Re: NSA New Proposals

Silly talk!

If we summarily execute everyone upon first evidence of thought, such as attempts to speak, we'd be free from all attacks, if our borders (or is it the American "boarders" or some other illiterate shit?).

Honestly, after serving nearly 28 years in the military, this shit makes me want to actually pick up my gun.

Then, put it in my mouth and pull the trigger.

This is NOT the nation our Constitution says we should be.

This is Stalin's dream.

Hence, why I don't use that gun for anything more than target practice and competition.

Wzrd1 Silver badge

Re: Just remember

Actually, *every* instance was either that or some moron attempting to light either an explosive sandal or explosive diaper.

But that is two. Add in three for the Yemen printer bombing attack.

Then, consider the two initially, then add in well reported cases where idiot was recruited or accepted a suggestion. Idiot then stupidly looked about for boom making things. Idiot eventually found an FBI informant.

Said idiot then attempts a purchase of said boom making things.

Said suspect then is arrested.

From my own count, from one who pays very close attention to the subject, there are far less than suggested by the General.

Wzrd1 Silver badge

Re: Then surely the NSA could justify tying everyone up in their homes all day?

Not here. I've worked with and reported to NSA personnel. I know what and how they do many, many things.

They're far from the CIA working overseas or even the CIA in the 1960's ignoring their charter.

Wzrd1 Silver badge

Re: Security Service 101. (Pay attention, James...!)

Erm, you obviously didn't pay attention to the timeline involved in the end of the cold war and now.

I was military during the cold war and through its end long enough to know the difference.

Can't argue with your point #2, it's well established. Dammit.

#3 would only reap the ENTIRE PLANET that uses telephones, including the US. Not really worth the effort to dispatch, as it was dead on delivery.

Can argue that George Orwell made point #4 an essential in his warning that is now an instruction manual.

For #4, I only recall how the NSA and NRO bragged how they'd be able to monitor every living human in the planet in half a decade. That was fifteen years ago, but only rather recently did OBL manage to get to be found.

For #5, just look up the court records. It worked by agent provocateur or more commonly and annoyingly, by US citizen seeking specific weapons that an informant tipped off the FBI. Doesn't make *their* point, interestingly enough, but the US populace doesn't pay attention to facts, only opinion voiced in the press that agrees with their superior, erm, party.

For #6, there are far too many areas that I'd go with that action, others, I'd suggest other, more transparent means. I and my teams *did* work alongside and parallel with SAS and other teams. Still, there needs to be transparent oversight that doesn't divulge classified information. It isn't *that* hard unless one is attempting trial by press!

For #7, nonsense. Just move toward putting televiewers inside of every party member's home on Airstrip One.

Or something.

The *reality* is, DENOUCEMENT is the key. Denounce thy neighbor and get along OK or better.

Something Stalin and Hitler knew all too well, but the US populace has forgotten.

Wzrd1 Silver badge

Re: A non-defense

Indeed!

Let's try one out for a bit, then another.

Bombarding Sol to force its shutdown would eliminate terrorism.

Thermonuclear bombardment of the *entire* planet would eliminate terrorism.

Think that would fly for even a quarter news cycle?

Now, ask yourself *why* US media outlets are shutting up after AP had its phone records seized. Then, consider who OWNS the US media. THEN, consider who PAYS FOR CAMPAIGNS in the US.

The last two elections cost in excess of eight billion dollars. Doing the math shows it didn't come from the citizens, but from corporations who now have equal rights to citizens.

Next SCOTUS decision is that a corporation has the same vote as the number of employees totally, regardless of nationality or citizenship or something.

Yes, this US veteran has that dim a view of his government and is planning to liquidate and depart soon.

To either a nation I can control or more probably, a nation that respects it's Constitution and the rights of the populace.

I have no desire to reside in a land of cowards.

Wzrd1 Silver badge

Re: $80 Billion divided by HOW many attacks prevented? Mmmm!

Under the math, societal acceptance of summary execution would be cheap.

A return to the days in Texas under Judge Roy Bean.

Who pocketed every penny of fines on top of ignoring anything even vaguely resembling the Constitution.

Wzrd1 Silver badge

Re: NSA

Way, way, way back, when I joined the military, there were still two secret organizations, the NSA and NRO.

Eventually, both became public, generations later.

Today, they're commonplace knowledge.

One ponders what exists that isn't public knowledge today.

I only know of one that I can divulge, the Fractious Agency Recognizing TartS, which is a central agency in NATO. ;)

It's a covert organization that supports the morale of the men and a few women.

Or something. :P:p