(Diarist's Note: Charles Hugh Smith, publisher of the "Of Two Minds" blog, has provided written authorization to the diarist to reproduce his posts in their entirety for the benefit of the Daily Kos community. I would also like to state for the record that, as a society--as hard as it may be for some reading this to accept this reality, and as someone who owns a small software company who works with "personal private information" [PPI] on a daily basis--we're exceptionally close to living in a reality that is described in the fictional piece Mr. Smith posted over at his blog, yesterday. So close, in fact, I'm going to refrain from including the "snark" tag in this post, too. One more thing; among other issues, I do not concur with some of Mr. Smith's views, such as his deficit hawk stance when it comes to our economy, for instance. But, sometimes people publish things online that are just so damn good, in their own right, they're worthy of a crosspost.)
Here's the Wikipedia page on the NSA's Echelon program.
And, here's a link to my post on "Boundless Informant," from Saturday: Guardian Releases New, Top Secret Docs On NSA Data-Mining Tool, “Boundless Informant”.
Also, another link to my post from March 23, 2012 on "Total Information Awareness": NYT's Orwellian Lead: AG Holder Officially Signs Off On "Total Information Awareness" For All.
Two more pieces of information that are worthy of review, prior to reading this piece by Mr. Smith:
Author, national security expert, and journalist Mark Ambinder's article, from this past Thursday, should be required reading for anyone following the Snowden story. It's linked here, and it makes note of the reality that while the PRISM story focuses upon only nine external, corporate links with regard to that software/API application, the greater reality is that PRISM is merely one of many information-gathering applications used by the NSA. And, that agency maintains access to data from at least 50 companies' databases. Here's the link to Ambinder's story: Sources: NSA sucks in data from 50 companies.
Last but not least, I wanted to point out that, so far, Glenn Greenwald and Ewen MacAskill have only published four pages from the 41-page NSA Powerpoint presentation on "Boundless Informant." As they have indicated in comments over this past weekend, they're just getting started. Per Greenwald and MacAskill via Reuters' overall story update, from just 12 hours ago: Contractor Who Leaked NSA Files Drops Out of Sight, Faces Legal Battle.
Onto Mr. Smith...
A Message From Your Friendly ECHELON/Total Awareness/Boundless Informant Surveillance System (June 10, 2013)
There's never enough information to be absolutely safe.
Greetings Mr. J.Q. Public:
J.Q., you don't know me but I know you. I am your friendly ECHELON/Total Awareness/Boundless Informant Surveillance System--actually, an automated response feature of the system.
You may wonder why you are receiving this email, and you may attribute it to the email you sent an associate stating that the theater play you attended "bombed." Since enemies of America use code phrases rather than overt words like "bombed," that email was noted but not considered actionable. I'm not authorized to reveal what did attract my attention about your communications.
In my routine search of your public records, and all 11,379 emails, texts, message board posts and phone calls you've made in recent years, I found a disturbing trend I am obligated to report to you: your affection for pepperoni pizza with hot chilis and olives (most often from Frank's Pizza Parlor, 1.34 miles from your home) appears to be negatively impacting your health, as your medical records indicate high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
You see, the ECHELON/Total Awareness/Boundless Informant Surveillance System is all about protecting you--from terrorists bent on destroying America's freedoms and way of life, and also, if need be, from yourself.
I also noticed that the deductions listed on the last three years of your Federal tax returns don't quite align with your other financial records. You probably think everyone fudges on their tax returns, J.Q., but I strongly recommend you start following the letter of the law, as this sort of willful misinformation can lead to IRS audits. Actually, I can say with 100% certainty an audit has already been ordered.
Third-party sources report that you appear to have voted for a Green Party candidate in the last election. Now perhaps that was a simple slip of the ballot, but your file will look a lot less suspicious if you vote for one of the established parties rather than a fringe party.
Satellite imagery suggests that your backyard peach tree has leaf curl, and I strongly recommend spraying a copper solution on the tree as soon as possible. It also appears that you left a hammer on the roof when you were affecting a repair last fall. It's about 1.25 feet from the southwest corner of the roof.
Although humor is frowned upon here, I am allowed one jocular statement per message to maintain the friendly tone of this communication. So let me assure you that what happens in Vegas does not stay in Vegas, J.Q., heh-heh. Yes, I am referring to the family vacation in Las Vegas you conducted this spring while on sick-leave.
I am sorry to say that these inconsistencies, though modest in scope, have
automatically triggered the addition of your name to the No-Fly List. Please remember that the next time you are questioned by Homeland Security officers at the airport, please answer their questions honestly and fully, for your own protection and for the protection of the nation. I am sorry if you miss your flight, but protecting liberty has a cost.
Since the ECHELON/Total Awareness/Boundless Informant Surveillance System also monitors the deep Internet, i.e. encrypted files and servers, I can also suggest deleting the photos of your ex-girlfriends from your PC, and also showing a bit more enthusiasm at work, as your performance reviews have declined and quite frankly, you might not make it through the next round of layoffs.
J.Q., you will find an email address to a secure server at the end of this message. This enables you to privately report any suspicious behavior or activity you might see in your workplace, neighborhood and public venues. What is suspicious behavior? Any attempt to evade surveillance is highly suspicious, for example, using cash to make major consumer purchases or deploying signal-disrupting covers on mobile devices.
Helping to protect America will improve the metrics of your file, J.Q., and the tax audit and No-Fly listing could be remediated by your volunteering to help us keep America safe.
I know you're going to help us protect America, because I already know you so well.
Thank you for your cooperation.
your friendly ECHELON/Total Awareness/Boundless Informant Surveillance System
# # #
A sampling of some of my posts on the rise of our country's surveillance state...
A Stunning Lead In Sunday’s NYT: “How the U.S. Uses Technology to Mine More Data More Quickly” (6/9/13)
Guardian Releases New, Top Secret Docs On NSA Data-Mining Tool, “Boundless Informant” (6/8/13)
NYT: All U.S. phone metadata records monitored by gov’t for past 7 years, per Feinstein (Updated) (6/6/13)
“Breaking” News: DoJ, Holder Parse Emily Litella In Clarification On Rosen Prosecution (Updated) (6/3/13)
32 Minutes With Kafka and Orwell: “Naked Citizens” vs. The Naked Truth About Conspiracy Theories (5/29/13)
Done Deal: Our Government's Subpoenas For "Information" Are Little More Than Kabuki These Days (5/26/13)
How Many Former NSA and FBI Counterterrorism Employees Will It Take For This Story To Reach The MSM? (5/20/13)
Rolling Stone/John Knefel: "What's at Stake When the Department of Justice Seizes AP Phone Records" (5/19/13)
Reports On DoJ’s Seizure of AP Journalists’ Phone Records and the Shield Law (Part II of III) (5/18/13)
Reports On the DoJ’s Seizure of AP Journalists’ Phone Records and the Shield Law (Part I of III) (5/18/13)
NYT Lead: U.S. Law Enforcement Made 1.3 Million+ Surveillance Requests Of Cell Carriers In 2011 (7/9/12)
NYT Lead: ACLU Documents Rampant, Warrantless Phone-Tracking By Police Throughout U.S. (4/1/12)
NYT's Orwellian Lead: AG Holder Officially Signs Off On "Total Information Awareness" For All (3/23/12)
Wired’s Mind-Blowing Scoop On “Stellar Wind” And The “Enormity” of U.S. Domestic Spying (3/17/12)