Re: Ed Snowden's email provider shutting down to fight USG pressure   
     By: BOB KLAHN to DAMON A. GETSMAN on Wed Aug 14 2013 02:23:08   
      
    >  Damon, that's not allowed in this echo. I believe it's the   
    >  only political discussion echo were personal attacks are not   
    >  allowed.   
      
   	Thanks.  I was out of line with that, I believe I went into that,    
   but I'll try to not post before I've had enough coffee.   
      
    >  I doubt Obama ever sees a word about Fidonet. Many years ago   
    >  there were people on Fidonet I am quite sure were watched by the   
    >  Feds, and some of them clearly provoked it. However, it's too   
    >  small and boring for that now.   
      
   	The whole discussion was sarcastic, actually.  At least from my    
   end; if it wasn't on Lee's end, then I'm glad to have finally located    
   someone (other than a usenet loon) who is more paranoid than myself.  ;)   
   	BTW:  On my way out of the Army I was investigated by the Secret    
   Service.  And yeah, I served meritoriously and I have an honorable    
   discharge, in case you're wondering, as people always are when I bring    
   that up.  So, for whatever it's worth, I'm watched by the feds, so now you    
   know another.   
   	All in all, though, I agree with you.  I'm sure there's at least    
   one poor sap at the NSA that has to read through Fidonet on a daily or    
   weekly basis, but no, except perhaps in a numerical statistic regarding    
   general public opinions, he doesn't see any of that.   
      
    >  Chilling out a bit wouldn't hurt you.   
      
   	Yeah.  I've been working on that for awhile.  You might want to    
   try the same.  I'm only following your lead here in straying off of    
   allowed topical content in this area right now, btw (as far as this    
   particular paragraph is concerned).  We'd only exchanged a few messages    
   when you had accused me blatantly of being a racist.  A few other folks    
   piped up at that point and said that it was one of your standard fallbacks    
   when presented with a viewpoint that you did not share.  I'm inclined to    
   agree.  I'm pretty sure my son doesn't think I'm racist, and as much as    
   his mother hates me, I'm pretty sure she doesn't think I'm racist either.     
   I'll take their opinions over yours.  My son's mother is full-blooded    
   Kikuyu tribe from Nirobi, Kenya.  She's not even African American, she's    
   straight up African.  I was planning on marrying her, and deeply in love    
   with her.  The issues with immigration and bringing her to this country,    
   especially after my blatant lack of [what is standard] assistance from the    
   Army in this matter, ended up destroying our relationship after several    
   years together.  In hindsight, it's for the best; it was after my son was    
   conceived that I realized how deeply her alcoholism went, and the fact    
   that she believed in corporeal punishment to an extreme that is quite    
   illegal in most first world countries.  I thank the heavens that I was    
   able to take custody of him (at her request) before he got old enough to    
   start remembering and truly comprehending what was going on around him.   
   	Anyway, I don't know why I'm typing this crap right now, either.     
   I guess it's because I like promoting discussion, and I'm suffering the    
   nocturnal version of what I was that morning that I replied to Lee.  I'm    
   suffering a bit of insomnia right now.   
   	I was a dick, yes.  I was, however, and you may not believe what I    
   say here, trying to promote a little bit of clarity in this discussion    
   forum.  I've found replies that respond to a citation in this manner    
   responsible for a lot of misperception before, and I point it out every    
   time I can and have the energy to do so.  I will, however, try to do it in    
   a less confrontational manner next time.   
   	Peace out.   
      
   -The opinions expressed are not necessarily an advocation of any of the   
   aforementioned ideologies, concepts, or actions.  We still have the freedom of   
   speech, for now, and I enjoy using it in a satirical or ficticious manner to   
   amuse myself-   
      
   "In times of universal deceit, telling the truth will be a   
   revolutionary act." --  George Orwell   
      
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