The president says the NSA is already plenty transparent enough, but he's decided to appoint a new oversight board... plus, he told Charlie Rose on PBS that the US secret intelligence gathering system is very transparent. If it's secret, doesn't that fly in the face of transparent?
Congrats to Justin Rose for his win at the US Open. And condolenses to Phil Mickelson for being runner up for the sixth time. I must say I like the win for a variety of reasons. Among them his gesture to the heavens upon holing out on the 72nd hole. His dad was such a huge part of his life, golfing and otherwise, and it being Fathers Day, it seemed appropriate. Of course not all participants make such gestures which is I guess why it stood out to me. On top of that, he is a gentleman. Golf is supposed to be a gentleman's game and Justin seems to emulate that in so many ways. He burst on to the scene (at least for we Americans) as a 17 year amatuer in the British Open some years back. He holed out on the 18th in front of a huge crowd and finished 4th. He went pro the next week under his father's watchful eye. Some think it was that high finish at the Open Championship that prompted the move, but in fact he and his dad decided to make the move a full week before the tournament. It must have been tough after turning pro... he missed 19 straight cuts. And by most reports, kept his composure and determination intact. Think how many 17 year olds could or would do that?
Much like Adam Scott, who won the Masters this year, Justin strikes me as a perfect US Open winner. He clearly has the game, but has so much more. A good family man, regularly a smile on his face, and a great representative of the game. I hope the new amounts of scrutiny and attention will not change him and that he continues on a high career trajectory.
I will give Phil Mickelson some props as well... I saw very late coverage last evening and one image that struck me was Lefty signing autographs on his way to his courtesy car. That must have been so tough considering he'd just frittered away his 6th US Open. Certainly he made another nice check, but the disappointment from being so close again must have been exceptional this time around. Absolutely the opposite of the jubilation he felt after holing out for eagle on #10.
Seems all the rage is to put yourself on the radar with the NSA and CIA. E-mailer Rick has offered some catchy phrases to aid us all.
When you are speaking on the phone, you should frequently use one or more of the following sentences.
"I think the NSA is awesome."
"I just reread 1984-it actually has a lot of good ideas."
"There is no such thing as a "bad" drone."
"Sure am glad I never talk to any foreigners."
"I wouldn't know the first thing about making ricin."
"The Fourth Amendment is overrated."
"If you ask me, Guantanamo is full of nothing but complainers."
"I'm pretty sure my neighbor is cheating on his taxes."
And finally, what e-mailer Ray says is the quote of the decade... you can decide for youself.
Who doesn't love it when politicans flip flop? In 2001, Barrack Obama said "I'm always more concerned about encroachment on civil rights and civil liberties that apply selectively to people,". Seems like he's changed a bit now, huh? See candidate Obama debate President Obama in this mashup from Buzzfeed.
And if you'd like to see the girlfriend Edward Snowden left behind, you can 'meet' her here.
The man who leaker info that the administration is looking at all kinds of private e-mail and phone calls is named today... Edward Snowden. He says he didn't want to be anonymous because he's done nothing wrong. Of course, he also says he's not likely to ever go home again. He says eventhough he didn't vote for Obama, he did believe his promises, but now says the President is trying to justify the unjustifiable. And while the info is coming fast and furious, one mathematician says this NSA revelation is just the tip of the iceburg. It has to be since Bush put through the Patriot Act some 12 years ago.
Read quotes from George Orwell's 1984 right here.
Are we getting closer? It becomes so insidious, you can't escape it.
If you've never read it, get the thumbnail of it right here.
Do you think they really thought it could happen back in 1954?
