Update on Little Eddie Snowden

I did sit down and listen to one of the snippets of the Brian Williams interview with Little Eddie Snowden.  Accountability, you know?  Since I've written something about him, I ought at least hear him out... or at least listen to a few minutes of what it is he has to say to see if there is any value.  While I watched the entire clip, it took me only about 20 seconds to realize he really is a pompous, little, twerp.  The way he inflected his voice every time he said "I," told me the interview was more about self-promotion then anything else.  He really does think he is the ultimate hero, the savior of privacy and freedom, and the citizens of the United States need to give him his due thanks.  What makes his position so ludicrous is that he's living in Russia, that paradise of a country where the government is trying to annex the Ukraine.  One can only wonder if Snowden comprehends that the State Security system in Russia makes the NSA look like a quilting party, where bits and pieces of information gleaned from Verizon, et al. are stitched together in an attempt to create a cohesive picture.  I think not.  In fact, I suspect he is too overwhelmed by his righteous indignation to understand anything which falls outside his tiny orbit.

Just call me pompous

 

Toying with Eddie Snowden

A lot of people have watched Brian William's interview with Edward Snowden.  Evidently, by using #patriot or #traitor, you could vote your opinion and, if I read the chart correctly, patriot beat traitor by a hair.  I didn't watch the interview, nor did I read any transcripts - I just don't find it that interesting.  The fact that the NSA was attempting to collect vast amounts of data on people is not a good thing.  However, the fact that they were going to Google, and Verizon, and Yahoo, and AT & T, just to name a few of the corporations, in order to gather this data pretty much makes the whole thing moot.  You have no secrets from your Internet provider.  They know not only your IP address, but the addresses of every website you look at, and how long you're on those sites.  I'm sure they don't, but if they wanted to, they could speculate whether you're a quickie or not, or whether your favorite color was teal.  Every conversation you make on your phone is digitalized and saved somewhere.  This doesn't mean it's easily located, but it's there.

I will admit to being taken by surprise by one thing.  I noticed it in the picture taken of Mr. Williams and Mr. Snowden, apparently during the interview, that unless Brian Williams is 7 feet tall, Ed Snowden is rather petite.

Now I know there are those of you out there who are going to say that forced perspective was used in order to make him look smaller, more vulnerable, more meek.  Nah, the guy's tiny, probably 5' 4" in heels.  This begs one to wonder if, perhaps, in truth, he's neither a patriot nor a traitor.  Might not he instead be suffering from a Napoleonic Complex, also known as 'short man's syndrome?"  Some men, who find they are staturely challenged, feel the need to do something in a big way in order to make themselves seem 10' tall.  Little Eddie want to be our privacy protector.  You have to admit, he's made a big name for himself.  His broad shoulders will carry the day.

Okay, so they're not that broad.  Remember, in his mind he's saving the United States from a fate worse then death.  Personally, I'd rather he fixed Facebook so I wouldn't be subjected to ads and products I have no desire to buy, or top trending stories that always seem to trend away from my interest.  Maybe he could stop apps from asking for too much personal information.  Do they really need access to my contact list?  Well, they don't all ask for that, only the ones I seem to want.  Of course you know I'm really just toying with Eddie.  I'll bet he's a really nice guy.  

Microsoft, vampires extraordinaire

There's a lot of what I call hubba bubba going on right now about the NSA and its information gathering techniques.  Some groups are shrieking "No. No. No."  Others are more willowy saying "this is what it takes to keep the country safe."  Many are trying to find out as much about Edward Snowden as possible, curious as to why such an unimposing figure might attempt to raise himself to such a level of notoriety.  Too many do not understand by pointing the finger at the Federal Government he has taken it off of the real culprits.  All of the media giants have released statements noting all of the times the NSA has gone to them asking for data.  Wait a minute.  If the Government is spying on American citizens, why does it need to go to Apple, and Yahoo, and Verizon, and Comcast, and Microsoft to get information.  Surely the all powerful government would have that data clenched tightly in its palms.  But that doesn't seem to be the case, does it?  What Edward Snowden did was demonize the NSA  and turn the media giants into victims: poor Apple, poor Yahoo, pure bullshit.  Think about who truly is gathering information about you and your loved ones every time you text or email.  Just think, Edward Snowden might be nothing more then a dupe, a foil, a red herring in the mystery of intelligence gathering.

A dork in the tunnel of information

Who is the real culprit?  The media giants, they are the real players in this game.  If you have bundled your Internet, Cable and Phone service through Verizon, think of all of the data you are supplying to them daily. The same is true with Comcast.  Right now Microsoft is trying to burrow its way into private lives like no other entity in history with the Xbox One.  Just think, it comes with a Kinect, you know, that little device with a built in camera and microphone.  Sure, they have tried to temper fears saying you can pause the Kinect if you want, but how many are going to remember to do that?  Supposedly, when the console is turned off, it's only listening for the command, "xbox on."  So, how many three year-olds are going to walk into a room and say those words without Mommy or Daddy knowing.  Think about it, Microsoft is really trying to be Big Brother.  You know what they say about vampires?  They can't come into your house unless you invite them in.  Guess who's out to suck the blood of your privacy?