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Live on C-SPAN now: NSA Chief Testifies at Cybersecurity Hearing

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Re: Live on C-SPAN now: NSA Chief Testifies at Cybersecurity Hearing

#91

Post by willurd »

contingencies wrote: post #82

Key quotes: "Techno-boondoggles" "The government is very good at spending money" "Protect our domains: .mil, .gov and .com" "This is a committee that is loaded with talent!" "Rarely has a committee had so much talent!" "We are in a cyberwar every day. Every time someone steals our identity." "...continue to warn us against 'cyber', as a continuous threat." "I bring to your attention, the President's budget document"…

I was wondering if anyone else noticed the chairwoman's grin when General Alexander talked about operating lawfully. Made me sick. The whole charade made me sick...

Re: Live on C-SPAN now: NSA Chief Testifies at Cybersecurity Hearing

#92

Post by betterunix »

declan wrote: post #90
betterunix wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is already known that the NSA chief received the questions Sen. Wyden planned to ask him in advance , to give him time to prepare a response, a few months ago. This is said as if it is business as usual (and used to paint him in a worse light, since he lied before Congress after being given time to plan his answers), and I have no reason to think it is not. Yet another reason to vote third party.

It was a clever move by Wyden to try to catch him in a perjury trap.

Maybe so, but the fact that nobody even seemed surprised that someone would be sent questions in advance of their appearance before Congress is what concerns me. This seems to be a normal, expected thing that happens when powerful people are questioned by Congress -- the whole thing is just for show. If you are going to email your questions to the person in advance, you might as well just have them email their responses.

Re: Live on C-SPAN now: NSA Chief Testifies at Cybersecurity Hearing

#93

Post by willurd »

betterunix wrote: post #92
declan wrote: post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It was a clever move by Wyden to try to catch him in a perjury trap.

Maybe so, but the fact that nobody even seemed surprised that someone would be sent questions in advance of their appearance before Congress is what concerns me. This seems to be a normal, expected thing that happens when powerful people are questioned by Congress -- the whole thing is just for show. If you are going to email your questions to the person in advance, you might as well just have them email their respon…

I don't know what I find more disturbing: the complete and utter disregard for the rule of law by our elected and appointed officials, or the fact that some people find no fault with that.

Re: Live on C-SPAN now: NSA Chief Testifies at Cybersecurity Hearing

#94

Post by alex_doom »

jmomo wrote: post #81
cwilson wrote: post #35

This is like watching a super awkward scene in a movie or TV show that just won't end. The word "cyber" has been applied to every noun, and I've apparently been out of the loop on terms like "techno-boondoggle". This is just a little terrifying.

Since about 2001 I've considered anyone who used the word "cyber" to either be internet-illiterate or a politician (usually both).

It always makes me think of the Cybermen from Doctor Who. Fits perfectly.

Re: Live on C-SPAN now: NSA Chief Testifies at Cybersecurity Hearing

#97

Post by ollysb »

cwilson wrote: post #35

This is like watching a super awkward scene in a movie or TV show that just won't end. The word "cyber" has been applied to every noun, and I've apparently been out of the loop on terms like "techno-boondoggle". This is just a little terrifying.

[1]The term arose from a 1935 New York Times report that more than $3 million had been spent on recreational activities for the jobless as part of the New Deal. Among these activities were crafts classes, where the production of "boon doggles[2],"

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boondoggle_(project) [2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scoubidou

Re: Live on C-SPAN now: NSA Chief Testifies at Cybersecurity Hearing

#98

Post by JackpotDen »

nullc wrote: post #71
bilbo0s wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well... No offense... but I wouldn't want the younger crowd sitting around deciding when to launch a nuke. It's fine to put us in charge of the "like" buttons, Farmville tractors, or a web pages like Yahoo or Facebook. But some things are a bit more important. It's fine to have younger aids or advisers. Probably good to have youthful energy INFORM certain decisions. Not so sure it's a good idea, however, to have yout…

There is also a difference between not having younger people (like, ahem, '30') in charge vs not even having them as part of the discussion at all. Experience has value, so does a diversity of backgrounds.

I really want artists to decide solutions to my power and infrastructure problems.

Re: Live on C-SPAN now: NSA Chief Testifies at Cybersecurity Hearing

#99

Post by ollysb »

willurd wrote: post #63
narrator wrote: post #52

It's as if all the important decisions have already been made and they are just going through the motions.

Yeah. They are all reading from scripts. "This is something that we take looks down at script very seriously." Also, it appears that they were all privy to what each other was going to say before the hearing. " looks down at script As you said ..." Does that disturb anyone else?

The delivery was a bit weak though, maybe they should get some professional actors in.

Re: Live on C-SPAN now: NSA Chief Testifies at Cybersecurity Hearing

#100

Post by JackpotDen »

MarkHarmon wrote: post #26

What the heck is a techno boondoggle? What a hillbilly sounding term that only makes me cringe at what kind things the US government is going to cook up for us cyber pros, lol.

>techno boondoggle

A government organisation that wastes money making a piece of technology.

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