Arlo and Janis by Jimmy Johnson for January 16, 2014

Arlo cares, Janis. Look at that stare.

You were saying Janis?

I think people under 50 or so care less than those of us older. Facebookers care less than people who do not use computers at all.

I am definitely with Arlo.

It’s the old poker rule- Keep your cards close to your vest (or chest!)

You can be legally disappeared any time any place for no given reason. Have a nice day!

Big Arlo is watching you!

Now as to being watched, public places have always been open to being watched. Machines just do a better job of accurately watching and remembering and for way less money than it would cost to station a law enforcement officer on every street corner, looking in all directions..The disputed personal data is that which was sent out through third, fourth, fith parties. The Supreme Court has ruled this is not essentially different from looking at the addresses on letters and packages. Under the Constitution, the Supreme Court is never wrong, is defined as having the final say, so that settles it UNTIL they change their minds.

What bothers me the most: that our government is spending BILLIONS to gather impossibly huge piles of data, and the bigger the piles, the less they will ever be able to sort out to actually protect us from harm. It’s a huge waste of money, and it only serves to ultimately be abused by creeps on staff who want to stalk an ex-girlfriend or celebrity – or gather blackmail on politicians who oppose the NSA.

As Doctor Toon said, a lot of this information is out there on Facebook, etc. And guess who put it there? The very people who are in a swivet about it being seen and “re-processed”. While I really, really feel for kids who are bullied been there, don that) I often wonder why they keep their Facebook accounts open and continue to read these awful things.

What could Janis be looking at that she doesn’t want Arlo to see? Hmmmm.

Please give Janis a life that doesn’t include having her phone surgically stuck to her hands !!!

The issue is not really what you put on Facebook. That is information you have chosen to share. How about your online searches? Did you look at new clothes, size M? Or check out Depends? Any of the medical treatments advertised on the news last night? Or did you use the little “affinity card” on your key chain the last time you made a purchase? everything is stored and searchable. Usually not by people, but it is still out there.

I post and share a lot on Farcebook. If anyone wants to mine that data they’ll determine that I like dogs, particularly dogs in shelters. Good luck with using that to steal my identity or otherwise compromise my life. The issue is what you put out there for others to see.

Anyone else post this on Facebook?

… until it happens to you.

ArcherJade: Very profound. You are right and made an excellent point. I think users don’t consider an onlooker as real, unless that onlooker is physically there.

Out of sight, out of mind. One never notices a computer watching you, but even your spouse staring over your shoulder is enough to creep some people out.

I am of two minds with this. If they can link bad guys and help protect us, obviously good. But the other day I emailed a friend to ask how he liked his XYZ bicycle and an hour later an ad popped up to sell me the exact same bike. Good business on one hand and would I rather have been marketed perfume or a new car? I don’t know. Still weird.

Anybody else feel like getting a credit card with a fake name and then shopping at Target?…..Target really has a problem on their hands…and I really don’t think it’s their fault really…unless their security system was less than stellar I don’t think Target will be around 2 years from now….Fortunately, I’ve never shopped at Target….Hell, I don’t even know what they sell, Hardware? Software? Dry goods? Liquid goods. Victuals? Insurance? Protection? Cattle feed? Oh, that’s right, I guess we can rule out protection….

Online privacy is like surgery, it’s unimportant unless it’s happening to you…