aphid

From the article: "McDonald said the Slaton Police Department will issue an apology as long as the mother agrees not to file a lawsuit." Having been offered similar terms myself by an American enforcement agency, I am particularly disgusted by that.

So just who is it that wants Snowden's head on a platter? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Booz_Allen_Hamilton#Criticisms_and_controversies

A couple of mine... Witnesses said the Trojan paddles cleared my head by less than 3 feet. The Otter features Heath Haley at the yoke from Skydive Dubai. His nose wheel was even closer to my bald head.

Apparently both you and Mr. Bush must have missed this one: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+12%3A19&version=KJV

The genie is out of the bottle. This gentleman has his take on it, and at the conclusion even offers up possible solutions. http://www.wired.com/opinion/2013/06/why-i-have-nothing-to-hide-is-the-wrong-way-to-think-about-surveillance/

Ironically, I picked up the book mentioned in the link that follows at an airport waiting to catch a plane a month ago. Finally opened it and began reading it three nights ago. Already in the first three chapters, the authors have seemingly released many of the "secrets" that Mr. Snowden is being vilified for. It was published back in 2011 and covers more than just the current items generating such apoplectic rage. "Every day, the National Security Agency intercepts and stores 1.7 billion phone calls, e-mails, and "other types of communications"..." ETA: It also speaks to the intercepts of data on American citizens within the USA, as well as the legal maneuvering to bypass any Constitutional 'problems'. Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_Secret_America PBS's Frontline episode: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/topsecretamerica/#a I recommend reading the book.

Your link leaves me baffled. I was thinking more along the lines of Civil Rights marchers, anti-Vietnam protesters, the Suffragettes.

IMHO, if that remains a prevailing attitude within your citizenry then indeed nothing will ever change or be rectified. Rather than just lower their heads in resigned despair or place blame amongst each other, some in your countries not-so-distant past, at significant risk to themselves, have been willing to collectively stand against various injustices.

From the article: In a statement, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said that programs collect communications "pursuant to section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, " and "cannot be used to intentionally target any U.S. citizen, any other U.S person, or anyone within the United States." (emphasis mine) Giving Mr. Clapper the benefit of the doubt and presuming his statement to be accurate and truthful, the highlighted portion of the policy is certainly counter-intuitive. This then shelters foreign bad-folks who (example) learn to fly aircraft in Florida, or attend university in the Boston area? Aren't these the very types they say they want to target with the data-harvest?

What? You thought America held exclusive license to all the nut-jobs diverse intellects?

Some experts have postulated theories that the primary reason the intelligence / law enforcement communities have failed to prevent crimes like 9/11 or Boston is that there is already so much data and information flooding in that the entire system is becoming unmanageable. I suppose it might be likened to the proverbial "needle in a haystack". If that is indeed the case, perhaps the more data they have, the less likelihood they'll be able to do much with it. On the other hand, if you do upset the wrong people there is the possibility they could manipulate or manufacture data to frame you for damned near anything. But that would be just paranoid thinking.

I don't follow this news story so much... but, wondering out loud... Is it possible that the soldier just isn't very bright? What I mean to say is, did the potential ramifications or the correct methods of disclosing his concerns possibly not even occur to him? Maybe he was just a wet-behind-the-ears kid, not unlike many in the early part of their military service.

First he was a Kenyan. Then a Muslim. Now the Antichrist? Damn, he must have a helluva CV!

Lumberjacks wear plaid. Scots wear tartans.

Do you travel abroad? I know Canada's Foreign Affairs office, and I also believe the US State Department, both strongly recommend against carrying your passport/visa on your person when out of the country, suggesting you keep it locked in a secure location. Purser's safe or hotel safe being just two examples. One exception (of sorts) for me, was at the World Meet in Russia; we were required to surrender ours to the organizers for safe-keeping. Most notably, the American team were pretty agitated about that. When I'm in the States, I sure don't wish to risk being rolled and having it stolen. John

Thank you for the info. Not covered in that detail up here.

The truck was being driven by a fellow from Edmonton, Alberta. I predict this in 3, 2, 1... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOzG7bBylRo

I was under the impression that the people hired to protect in Benghazi were from an independent para-military contractor, not active US military. Am I mistaken?

I interpreted his statement more to the effect that should people choose to speak freely, they should at least try to be more articulate. Anything short of that is perhaps just "noise by rote".

It's rather amusing that the "troubles" for the mayor of Toronto are barely noticed by the rest of Canada, (outside of southern Ontario). Yet, as evidenced even in this thread, many seem to enjoy salacious news and are perpetually prepared to pass judgement. To ensure that no voyeur goes home disappointed, here's some more: http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/05/rob-ford-crack-video-toronto-mayor.html Incidentally, the criticism earlier in this thread, leveled towards the CBC by 'Chuteless' arose from a freaking weekly comedy program. (from the link:) In October of 2011, Ford was met in his driveway by a member of Canadian comedy show This Hour Has 22 Minutes who was dressed like Xena. Ford, finding this absolutely terrifying, went inside and called 911, twice. He reportedly told the dispatcher, "Don’t you fucking know? I’m Rob fucking Ford, the mayor of this city." Ford later apologized "for expressing my frustration inappropriately."

Oh, please. Another morsel of myopia.

Discipline. It can be dispatched in ways other than physically. A personal example: When my son screwed up enough, he was consigned to a corner of the room to place his nose in the corner and to remain there until a pre-determined amount of time lapsed. It was timed with a clock, so no matter how pissed off I was, we both knew the finite quantity of his punishment. A local convenience called once and told me they caught him shop-lifting a chocolate bar and was barred from ever entering the store again. He was about 12 I think. After getting his honest admission that yes, he did take a candy bar, I took him with me to the store. I made him apologize to the storekeeper face-to-face, and pay him the cost of the candy out of his own spending money. That was an insufficient penalty (lesson) in my opinion, so after a conversation about it, the next Saturday, we went to the local school grounds. I sat and supervised by reading a book in a lawn chair while he took garbage bags and picked up trash for three hours. He's 30 now, happily married, practicing corporate law, is a recycling nut, and still mentions how much he hates the smell of wallpaper glue and drywall. He also mentioned the things that hurt him the most was the feeling that he had disappointed me with his youthful transgressions. Just my $0.02. John

I'd like to file a complaint: I saw no unclothed ladies in that video. That would require a password and the url of my posted skydiving ladies nude photo's. Remi could give you a reference if he knows you well enough, but he won't share the password. Now, let's get back to the ISS...

Dear Earth, You're welcome. CANADIAN Space Agency. (Cmdr. Hadfields boss)

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