Big Brother is Watching You

[O Really]

You do like to take things to the last leaping ledge of logical extension, don't you? But sure, let's go with it. If you get caught dropping off Bonnie and Clyde at their hideout, I think it's a reasonable precaution to think you might be a member of the Barrow gang. Doesn't mean you'd actually go to jail if you didn't know who they were or they took you at gunpoint. It would be negligent not to ask (investigate) though.

[O Really]

Russian resident Snowdensky feels "vindicated" because one federal judge, ignoring long-standing precedents to the contrary, thinks the NSA data collecting is "probably" unconstitutional because "times have changed."
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nati ... n/4045387/

[O Really]

... and those who claimed that there were no 4th Amendment violations going on were in the wrong.

Not yet, m'friend. Only according to one decision voluntarily stayed pending appeal. Numerous legal minds far more knowledgeable and expert in these areas than I say there is practically no chance of this decision being upheld.

[O Really]

Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know you had such a high belief in the inerrantcy of one judge that his one decision could prove everybody with a different opinion wrong. Whatcha gonna do when some other court in a couple of months rules it's not unconstitutional? Say, oh me, I guess I've been shown in the wrong? I don't think so. The constitutionality of the data collection will remain "undetermined" until the Supremes decide, or decide not to decide. Until then, I won't admit to being "wrong" either.

[Boatrocker]

Tell your Senator: We need real reform of the NSA, not Senator Feinstein’s sham bill

The petition reads:

"The NSA's mass surveillance programs are unconstitutional and need to be reined in. Please oppose Senator Feinstein's FISA Improvements Act, which is reform in name only and does nothing to stop the rampant violations of our rights by the NSA and other agencies."

Details, arguments and citations at the link.

I am probably not the only one to suspect that any such bill would be bullshit. The NSA has most likely done a real J. Edgar Hoover on virtually all congresscrooks, enough to ensure they all behave.
The imp is out of the bottle.

[O Really]

Sheesh, my post was conditional and thus accurate all along. If another court rules differently it will no longer be the case. Why are you freaking out about it?

I have rarely if ever caught any of your comments being innaccurate, when looked at within a specific context. It's not you causing my "freak out" although I'd prefer to think of it as a pissedoff. Without doubt, those who think there are 4th Amendment violations here are entitled to consider themselves with a first quarter touchdown. Although, given the very limited scope, it's more like a first down.

Most of the articles I've read are pretty accurate about the decision, if you read far enough. But practically every headline skips to something like "NSA Snooping Unconstitutional" - which is of course all most people read. And then we've got Snowdensky gloating and trying to cut a deal with Brazil, which just pisses me off even more. But I should be a better sport - go ahead, enjoy that decision while it lasts. I'll un-freak.

[O Really]

Agreed, there are lots of credible experts that feel that the NSA is indeed violating the letter of the 4th Amendment and far more that feel it's violating the spirit of it. There are a lot who disagree on both points, as well as those who may agree on the latter but consider only the former matters in law.

What's the World Cup?

[O Really]

Well, maybe not racist, exactly, but Ghana's "Black Stars" are possibly more descriptive than some would like. And those that refer to the Mexican team as "Los Ratones Verdes" may not be showing proper respect. Maybe somebody should have told Bosnia and Herzegovina that Zlatni Ljiljani (the Golden Lilies) isn't the most fierce name on the pitch.

[O Really]

Netherlands - ...La Naranja Mecanica (Clockwork Orange)

OK then! Now I know who I'd root for if I actually cared if anyone ever played another soccer game.

Not only is Amsterdam one of my favorite cities ever, but way back in the day when everybody had CB radios, I drove an orange Bimmer 2002 and went by the handle "Clockwork Orange," one of my favorite movies.

[O Really]

Brasil is royally irked by the NSA snooping and is one of the few countries big and strong enough to successfully withstand US retribution. Plus, the World Cup would overcome any negative Snowden PR before long. I wonder if he's gotten positive hints or if it's just a Hail Mary?

Irked, maybe, but not enough to turn a US turncoat and Russian exile into a Brazilian turncoat.
http://world.time.com/2013/12/17/brazil ... en-asylum/

[O Really]

Great - I'll theoretically root for the Orange, and you can watch and tell me if they win.

[O Really]

Probably, but the door may still be open with the, 'He hasn't asked yet,' rap.

.

I'm guessing the message is, "don't bother to apply." They have a more realistic perception of Snowdensky than my friends and colleagues at ACLU have.

[O Really]

So I've got an app that serves comics to my mobile. One of my old favorites was "Bloom County," that hasn't been active since 1989 or so. Here is today'd strip... http://www.gocomics.com/bloomcounty#.UrEbT9JDuSo

Damn, surprising that the world hasn't ended in the last 25 years or so.

[O Really]

No, Brazil doesn't have any reason to be pissed off at Snowdensky. He's not actually relevant to their world. But spooks aren't trustworthy to begin with, and spooks who flip against their own are even worse. Why would anybody trust him? Same principle in spooks as in personal relationships - once a cheater, always a potential cheater.

[O Really]

Ah, so you're now saying that we shouldn't give them so much power, cool.

I think may have inferred what I did not imply.

You know how people running for office always know exactly what the incumbents are doing wrong, and exactly how to fix everything simply, cheaply, and overnight? I'm betting if you put Anthony Romero actually in charge of US intelligence agencies, he'd have a different view. I'd be willing to go for that.

[O Really]

Here's a "material support" case for you... http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/12 ... ndia?lite=

[O Really]

So what harms more people worse, NSA recording phone data or shopping at Target from the Friday after Thanksgiving through December 15? Personally, I lucked out. I like Target, and went into the store a week or so ago. But they didn't have what I was looking for and thus they didn't get my card. http://money.msn.com/saving-money-tips/ ... ata-breach

[O Really]

Sounds like he knowingly and directly supported violence. I'm fine with prosecuting folks that do that.

Well, that's part of the conundrum, isn't it? People get all up in the air about what could happen, but when you read real cases, they're mostly solid. It's like the people who shriek about malpractice suits because they found some instance where somebody sued for twenty million over a wart removal gone wrong, and never bother to see that the vast majority of high dollar malpractice cases involve somebody who really is a veggie or something similar.

[O Really]

"mostly solid"

That would be subject to interpretation, wouldn't it? I mean most of the cases are solid, not that individual cases are mostly solid.

[O Really]

Hmmm, "Mission Accomplished" where have I heard that before?