Edward Snowden, the former NSA employee who informed the world about secret NSA spying, made his first public appearance since fleeing to Russia. His revelations set off a firestorm of protests internationally and here in America when we found out we are all under surveillance by America’s most secret spy agency. He appeared via a video conference at the annual South by Southwest Festival in Austin Texas where thousands crammed into an auditorium to watch and listen. He also answered question posed to him on Twitter.
Snowden’s revelations has sparked controversy here in America. Is he a traitor or a hero…or something in between. Personally I think it is somewhere in between. While I admire him for his bravery and thank him for his revelations about spying on Americans, I worry that he might have given too much information to those people in the world who are trying to destroy us.
It reminds me of the Nixon era when Daniel Ellsberg released the Pentagon Papers that started the slow avalanche leading to the resignation of a President and the end of American involvement in Vietnam. He was vilified back then, but turned out in the end to be a hero. It is people like Snowden and Ellsberg that start the ball rolling for big changes in our own government at the cost of their own futures.
In a related story, Senator Dianne Feinstein of California revealed that the CIA tapped into Senate computers to steal documents related to their own oversight. If true, this is not good. It appears that our own intelligence bureaus are out of control.
In spite of all this bad news, there is some good information here to help you with your computing life. So why not get started. –JRC
Computer News and Opinions
Snowden at SXSW: The NSA set fire to the future of the Internet
In his first extended comments to the public, Edward Snowden calls on the development community at South by Southwest to create more usable privacy and security tools.
Feinstein: CIA searched Intelligence Committee computers
"The head of the Senate Intelligence Committee sharply accused the CIA of violating federal law and undermining the constitutional principle of congressional oversight as she detailed publicly for the first time how the agency secretly removed documents from computers used by her panel to investigate a controversial interrogation program.
A new Windows 8.1 update tries to win back desktop diehards
With its second major update to Windows 8 in less than 18 months, Microsoft is trying to ease the pain for Windows users who are befuddled by the Windows 8 interface on conventional PCs. Here's what you can expect. Will it be enough to calm the troubled waters?
Inside DuckDuckGo, Google's Tiniest, Fiercest Competitor
DuckDuckGo is a search engine offering direct answers to people's queries, rather than merely delivering a list of links
Microsoft patches 23 Windows, IE and Silverlight vulnerabilities
Windows XP's next-to-last Patch Tuesday saw four updates to it. Office 2003 is also going off support, but no updates were released today for it
Computer Tips and Tricks
Stop Using Your Inbox as a To-Do List
Using a separate task manager, one that ties in closely with your email, can help you spend less time sifting through your inbox, and more time getting your most important work done.
How to ditch a laptop for the iPad
Even though laptops are getting thin and light, some folks are determined to get rid of the laptop and go all in on the iPad. These guidelines will help determine if that's feasible for you
Five Offbeat and Oddball Websites to Make You Smile
Not everything in life has to be useful. Sometimes just a little fun is called for. Here is a selection of websites to amuse (or bemuse) you when you want a break.
TaxACT Free Online Tax Filing
Do your 2013 taxes for free on-line. It's true! FREE to prepare, FREE to print, FREE to e-file - no income or age restrictions. Get the fastest tax refund possible with free e-file. Handles simple AND complex tax returns — supports 1040, 1040A, & 1040EZ, and includes all e-fileable IRS forms to handle all filing statuses & life situations.
Three practical reasons to use your browser's private mode
Modern browsers are chock full of powerful hidden features, but one of the most overlooked features is incognito or private mode. If you've heard of this feature, chances are you know it, rather infamously, as "porn mode. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Mobile Computing
Apple releases iOS 7.1 for iPhone, iPad with bug fixes, new features
The latest version for iPhones and iPads landed on Monday, with new features, user interface tweaks, and a number of bug fixes that aims to appease those who have yet to upgrade.
Google Now Launcher explained: what you need to know
Now anyone can re-googlify their Android experience with Google Now .
10 things your iPad can do with a little extra help
On its own, the iPad is capable of accomplishing a great number of day to day tasks. With a little help from an add-on accessory it can do quite a bit more.
41 Hidden Siri Features
After using Siri for a few year’s we discovered a collection of hidden Siri features that only come to light when you get past the basics of setting an alarm and making a phone call.
Tablets have taken over: here's what comes next
The tablet is a relative newcomer on the mainstream computing scene, but everyone is trying to reinvent it. Here are some of the changes to come.
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