Spooky Thoughts and Reality

Ok, I got ahead of myself yesterday, and should have waited for today for some really interesting stuff. What? What's so interesting it couldn't wait a day? Like, Yeah Dude. Or somesuch stupid, off-hand response by someone sitting in front of a computer with a dumb look on their face, like "WTF, Dude". Ok, onward.

I've been listening to WHYY's (NPR) radio show Fresh Air. You should listen to Wednesday's (4/2/08) show about the Bush Adminstration's illegal warrentless wiretap (NSA) program, and Tuesday's (4/1/08) show about Osama bin Laden and the bin Laden family, it's history, buildup to be one of the richest in the world, and its connection to the Bush family.

There is a lot there to absorb, with the author Steve Coll of "The Bin Ladens: An Arabian Family in The American Century" and with author Eric Lichtblau of "Bush's Law: The Remaking of American Justice". It wakes you up to the world about what's going on all around you when you're not paying attention.

They are paying attention, and likely to you, if only just in passing. What's the best case scenarios for anyone? Be a joke to NSA's surveillence of you. No one pays attention to someone funny except as a joke.

On top of that, how about the article in the Washington Post about intelligence centers around the country consolidating personal information about everyone. So next time a law enforcement officer, detective or some such person talks to you and says, "We know all about you.", you can probably bet it's true.

The trick here is simply act as if you are public so when confronted with the information, you can pull a Cheney, "So?" - the comment he made when asked about the public disapproval rating (66%) of the war in Iraq.

This one is interesting. You may not even be able to walk down the street anymore, lest the electronic information about you in your wallet or billfold. There's something to being hermit?

Ok, on a ending but still significant note, Julie Sweeney's blog. She's not scary or spooky, but way cool in many ways. Some of her work I could leave, but much of what she says is alright with me, and it's funny in the way it makes you stop and think. And that's even more cool. Thanks Ms. Sweeney for being and being the balance to the spooky and scary world it is.