Quote by Raine:
This will make everyone happy.

Quote by Raine:
and this will frighten the hell out of everyone!

Quote by Raine:

Quote by wickedpam:

Quote by Raine:
WTF? He is saying he's scared for his life and Snowden is giving a LIVE Q&A -- ONLINE?

the more moves he makes the more hinky he seems and the more he looks like a spy for China or Russia

plus why the hell is he leaking British secrets?

Did you read Jonathan Capehart's column from last week?

Quote by Raine:

Quote by wickedpam:
oh yes, that the other word I have to Snowden - coward. Bradly Manning didn't run away when he leaked stuff. I can respect that. But Snowden - he planned it all out and ran away. And to looks more and more like he's trying to get the US into a fight with China and the rest of the world.

I'll give Manning, That Mala -- he didn't run away.

What we have here is a man that is giving away state secrets. That's just not cool.

Quote by Raine:
I also believe the voting rights case will be announced next week, or maybe thursday.

@mcbc 1m
The Supreme Court doesn't rule on gay marriage/rights, affirmative action or voting rights. Tune in Thursday or next week ... #scotus

Quote by Mondobubba:

Quote by Scoopster:
Morning all & Happy Mondee...

Here have some d'awwwHOLYSHIT!

Kitteh doesn't like lizards at all!

if I were a Chinese spy, why wouldn't I have flown directly into Beijing? I could be living in a palace petting a phoenix by now #AskSnowden

Quote by Scoopster:

Quote by Raine:
I now see why we have a low level of snark in das blog.

Mondo just posted he is in urgent care for a possible sinus infection.

Oh goodness..!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Healin' Vibes for Senor Mondo! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Quote by wickedpam:
as the "English Language" to get a green card - I have to say I kind of agree that someone must speak and understand the language of the country they are wanting to live in or become a citizen of. I think that of any place in the world. In my book that's a sign of respect for the people you have chosen to be a part of.

Quote by clintster:

I think we can relate this back to education, and how we are … continuing to try to strive to... figure out how to create jobs right now. That is the biggest problem. And I think, especially the men are … um … seen as the leaders of this, and so we need to try to figure out how to create education better so we can solve this problem. Thank you.

Wut?

In a live chat with The Guardian on Monday, Snowden suggested that he believed all government spying was wrong.

"When NSA makes a technical mistake during an exploitation operation, critical systems crash. Congress hasn't declared war on the countries — the majority of them are our allies — but without asking for public permission, NSA is running network operations against them that affect millions of innocent people," Snowden wrote.

"And for what? So we can have secret access to a computer in a country we're not even fighting? So we can potentially reveal a potential terrorist with the potential to kill fewer Americans than our own Police? No, the public needs to know the kinds of things a government does in its name, or the 'consent of the governed' is meaningless.

Quote by Raine:

Quote by wickedpam:

Quote by BobR:

Quote by wickedpam:
as the "English Language" to get a green card - I have to say I kind of agree that someone must speak and understand the language of the country they are wanting to live in or become a citizen of. I think that of any place in the world. In my book that's a sign of respect for the people you have chosen to be a part of.

It's required to pass a basic English competency exam to gain citizenship, but not to get a green card. The requirement for the green card seems premature to me.

I don't know, just seems so hard to communicate with people these days - heck we can't even get people to stop working on cars in the parking lot at home when we tell them in both Spanish and English its just very frustrating trying to get to the root of issues if we can't even communicate

This is my Achilles heel conservative issue, I admit that, but it comes more from a place of wanting the best for everyone and being able to get those things that people need for them.

does any of that make sense or is it coming off really badly?

It makes sense -- but I would have to say that the idea of forcing someone to learn english BEFORE they get a green card is kinda stepping on the toes of other nations.

Are we forced to learn another nations language before we leave on a long term basis?

Quote by TriSec:
"You in America now. We no speaka the Italian".

My Great Grandmother, circa sometime in the 1950s. It's why my mother's generation lost the language, except for a few snippets.

But that said, when my Great Grandmother stepped onto Ellis Island, she didn't speak a word of English. (Yes, I realize immigration was different then.)

But I think you get my point.

Quote by wickedpam:


I see what you guys are saying - and I understand that.

I guess all I can say is that if I were going to live in another country, who had a native language different then mine, I would try very hard to start learning it before I got there out of a sign of respect to the citizens of that country. Its the people who don't even bother to even try to assimilate (to whatever the culture is) that bug the crap out of me.

Quote by TriSec:
*grunt*. Well, I need Mondo.

Schoolkids in Florida need a retina scan to ride the bus???

(Fox Link)

Quote by TriSec:
You know, I'm increasingly irritated, you know, by the number of times somebody says, you know, "You Know" during a radio interview, you know?

Quote by Mondobubba:
As much of mobaphile as I am, this is snoresville.

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Quote by TriSec:

Quote by wickedpam:


I see what you guys are saying - and I understand that.

I guess all I can say is that if I were going to live in another country, who had a native language different then mine, I would try very hard to start learning it before I got there out of a sign of respect to the citizens of that country. Its the people who don't even bother to even try to assimilate (to whatever the culture is) that bug the crap out of me.

I'd stay out of Miami, then. Parts of our fair Southern City are entirely Cuban, with no English spoken for miles. They don't even try.

(And that said, I look more Latino than Mrs. TriSec does - whenever we travel in more Hispanic parts of the country, the locals always try to talk to me in Spanish. I know enough to say, "I'm sorry, I don't speak Spanish, but my wife is Cuban." Which always gets funny looks.)

Ditto Chinatown in NYC

Quote by Raine:
the Q&A is published -- I am already seeing a few holes in this story.

Quote by wickedpam:

Quote by Raine:
the Q&A is published -- I am already seeing a few holes in this story.

it sounds like Randi is all in for this guy

1) Define in as much detail as you can what "direct access" means.

2) Can analysts listen to content of domestic calls without a warrant?

Answer:

1) More detail on how direct NSA's accesses are is coming, but in general, the reality is this: if an NSA, FBI, CIA, DIA, etc analyst has access to query raw SIGINT databases, they can enter and get results for anything they want. Phone number, email, user id, cell phone handset id (IMEI), and so on - it's all the same. The restrictions against this are policy based, not technically based, and can change at any time. Additionally, audits are cursory, incomplete, and easily fooled by fake justifications. For at least GCHQ, the number of audited queries is only 5% of those performed.

2) NSA likes to use "domestic" as a weasel word here for a number of reasons. The reality is that due to the FISA Amendments Act and its section 702 authorities, Americans’ communications are collected and viewed on a daily basis on the certification of an analyst rather than a warrant. They excuse this as "incidental" collection, but at the end of the day, someone at NSA still has the content of your communications. Even in the event of "warranted" intercept, it's important to understand the intelligence community doesn't always deal with what you would consider a "real" warrant like a Police department would have to, the "warrant" is more of a templated form they fill out and send to a reliable judge with a rubber stamp.

Glenn Greenwald follow up: When you say "someone at NSA still has the content of your communications" - what do you mean? Do you mean they have a record of it, or the actual content?

Both. If I target for example an email address, for example under FAA 702, and that email address sent something to you, Joe America, the analyst gets it. All of it. IPs, raw data, content, headers, attachments, everything. And it gets saved for a very long time - and can be extended further with waivers rather than warrants.

Signals intelligence satellites are designed to detect transmissions from broadcast communications systems such as radios, as well as radars and other electronic systems. The interception of such transmissions can provide information on the type and location of even low power transmitters, such as hand-held radios. However, these satellites are not capable of intercepting communications carried over land lines, such as under-sea fiber optic cables (nor can they detect non-electronic communications, such as the spoken word).

Quote by Raine:

Quote by Mondobubba:
Raine, I think, but I could be wrong, but I think they have combined the collections from Walter Reed, Bethesda Naval, the National Library of Medicine and some stuff from NIH. Some of the exhibits at NIH and NLM were way cool.

I got the hedz up from here.

Quote by wickedpam:

Quote by Will in Chicago:
Raine, BobR, and Mala, it looks like your governor is in even more trouble, according to the Washington Post:

Mansion spending records indicate improper billing by Virginia governor and his family
By Laura Vozzella, Published: June 16

RICHMOND — Virginia Gov. Robert F. McDonnell ® and his wife, Maureen, have used taxpayer money for a range of small personal items they should have paid for themselves under state policy, according to spending records.

The McDonnells have billed the state for body wash, sunscreen, dog vitamins and a digestive system “detox cleanse,” the records show. They also have used state employees to run personal errands for their adult children. In the middle of a workday, for example, a staffer retrieved Rachel McDonnell’s newly hemmed pants at a tailoring shop nine miles from the governor’s mansion. Another time, a state worker was dispatched to a dry cleaner 20 miles away to pick up a storage box for Cailin McDonnell’s wedding dress.

About six months into the governor’s term, the official who oversees mansion spending told the McDonnells that they should not have charged taxpayers for a number of expenses, including deodorant, shoe repairs and dry-cleaning their children’s clothing. The official asked the McDonnells to pay the state back more than $300, which they did, and also gave them a refresher on what the state will and won’t provide for occupants of the governor’s mansion.

But since that time, state records show that the McDonnells have continued to let taxpayers pick up the tab for numerous personal items, including vitamins, nasal spray and sleep-inducing elixirs.

My hope is that Virginia will send the Republicans packing.

Gov's only get 1 term in VA - we're just trying to keep Cuchenelli(sp) from taking his place - he's tea bag crazy

Quote by Mondobubba:
Me, I come from a long line of English speakers on both sides of my family. I am so relentlessly WASPy it isn't funny. I am so WASPy that gin and tonic is a genetic imperative.

Quote by Raine:

The McDonnells have billed the state for body wash, sunscreen, dog vitamins and a digestive system “detox cleanse,” the records show.

hmmm.......

The federal probe centers on Jonnie Williams, chief executive officer of Star Scientific Inc. (STSI), a former cigarette maker that has shifted into marketing a nutritional supplement and skin cream. The FBI is examining whether McDonnell and his family took gifts from Williams in exchange for favors that helped promote Star and its dietary products.

Anatabloc® Rare Cellular Facial Crème
Anatabloc® Rare Cellular Facial Crème is a cosmetic product that helps rejuvenate and improve the overall appearance of the skin.

Anatabloc® Revitalizing Serum
Anatabloc® Revitalizing Facial Serum is a cosmetic product specifically formulated to penetrate the skin and target specific skin concerns such as wrinkles, firming, age spots and discolorations.

Quote by Raine:

Quote by wickedpam:

Quote by Will in Chicago:

Quote by wickedpam:

Quote by Will in Chicago:
Raine, BobR, and Mala, it looks like your governor is in even more trouble, according to the Washington Post:

Mansion spending records indicate improper billing by Virginia governor and his family
By Laura Vozzella, Published: June 16

RICHMOND — Virginia Gov. Robert F. McDonnell ® and his wife, Maureen, have used taxpayer money for a range of small personal items they should have paid for themselves under state policy, according to spending records.

The McDonnells have billed the state for body wash, sunscreen, dog vitamins and a digestive system “detox cleanse,” the records show. They also have used state employees to run personal errands for their adult children. In the middle of a workday, for example, a staffer retrieved Rachel McDonnell’s newly hemmed pants at a tailoring shop nine miles from the governor’s mansion. Another time, a state worker was dispatched to a dry cleaner 20 miles away to pick up a storage box for Cailin McDonnell’s wedding dress.

About six months into the governor’s term, the official who oversees mansion spending told the McDonnells that they should not have charged taxpayers for a number of expenses, including deodorant, shoe repairs and dry-cleaning their children’s clothing. The official asked the McDonnells to pay the state back more than $300, which they did, and also gave them a refresher on what the state will and won’t provide for occupants of the governor’s mansion.

But since that time, state records show that the McDonnells have continued to let taxpayers pick up the tab for numerous personal items, including vitamins, nasal spray and sleep-inducing elixirs.

My hope is that Virginia will send the Republicans packing.

Gov's only get 1 term in VA - we're just trying to keep Cuchenelli(sp) from taking his place - he's tea bag crazy

I heard of him and his running mate. Let's say that while I am checking Virginia, I worry about who may become governor.

so do we

A'yup!

This story is kinda chump change compared to this (from the article)

The FBI and a federal grand jury are investigating the $15,000 catering tab at Cailin McDonnell’s mansion wedding in June 2011 that was paid by a McDonnell campaign donor. That same donor, Star Scientific chief executive Jonnie R. Williams Sr., also lent the governor his Ferrari, lakeside vacation home and private jet. A Richmond prosecutor also is investigating whether the governor violated state gift disclosure laws.

This is from 3 days ago, in Bloomberg:

For Cuccinelli, who like McDonnell has links to the targeted businessman, the timing of the investigation’s progression couldn’t be worse: a related trial, which will focus on felony embezzlement charges against the governor’s former chef, is scheduled to be held in mid-October.

This is going to get interesting.

I can totally see Transvag-Bob flipping on the Cooch in order to avoid jail time.

Quote by Mondobubba:
It is hard being Glenn Beck. :weeps:

Quote by Mondobubba:

Quote by clintster:

Quote by Mondobubba:
It is hard being Glenn Beck. :weeps:

Big giant crocodile tears for Big Culty Crazy guy.

I'm still waiting for his explosive bombshell announcement that is going to change the history of America.

Quote by Mondobubba:

Quote by Raine:

Quote by Mondobubba:
Raine, I think, but I could be wrong, but I think they have combined the collections from Walter Reed, Bethesda Naval, the National Library of Medicine and some stuff from NIH. Some of the exhibits at NIH and NLM were way cool.

I got the hedz up from here.

Raine, if the museum is where I think it is which is the old Walter Reed Annex, go! There are all the these really cool buildings from an International Expo held about 100 years ago in Forrest Glen (Gosh I hope they are still there). There is a pagoda and what looks to be Swiss chalet as well.

Quote by BobR:

Quote by Mondobubba:

Quote by Raine:

Quote by Mondobubba:
Raine, I think, but I could be wrong, but I think they have combined the collections from Walter Reed, Bethesda Naval, the National Library of Medicine and some stuff from NIH. Some of the exhibits at NIH and NLM were way cool.

I got the hedz up from here.

Raine, if the museum is where I think it is which is the old Walter Reed Annex, go! There are all the these really cool buildings from an International Expo held about 100 years ago in Forrest Glen (Gosh I hope they are still there). There is a pagoda and what looks to be Swiss chalet as well.

I've seen pictures of those - they are very cool.