Oh come on...
...You're not even trying. And putting HOLD DO NOT PUBLISH in the headline to make it look accidental?
EDIT: Full marks for the 3 page level of commitment though.
An earlier version of this article was published in error carrying a sub-editing note which, if taken out of context, could have implied that we had offered line by line copy approval to an individual named "Sir Iain". We'd like to clarify that this is actually a friendly nickname for one of our editorial staff and that we did …
EDIT: Full marks for the 3 page level of commitment though.
Yes. However it became increasingly obvious April Fool's the longer it went on. First page alone would've been much better. Bit like Andrew's blatantly obvious article which again decided to hammer the point, that it is April Fool's, until it was impossible to think otherwise.
I prefer the old style April Fools articles that are just on the edge where they could almost be plausible. Of course that does require some intelligence on part of the reader, but surely that is not a bad thing?
I like to think the inspiration for this article came a couple of months ago. If so, thanks for picking up the ball and running with it so entertainingly, Reg.
This has actually been done before! When the Welsh philosopher and drug dealer Howard Marks was asked how his memory was good enough after decades of dope smoking to write his autobiography, he said he just submitted a Freedom of Information request to the FBI, who gave him all the notes they had been keeping on him for years.
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I enjoyed it - easy to spot but cheered me up on a dull Tuesday!
I also enjoyed this one as well on IPv5, which is a bit more subtle originally, descending further as the article goes on, yet seems to have actually fooled a lot of people!
http://www.itnews.com.au/News/381353,bulletproof-trials-cloud-only-ipv5.aspx
Thanks for the big laugh, nice working out of the joke.
Raises another question for me, though.
Who do I trust more?
The Government or Facebook? At least I can vote for the government.
If they did offer a free service....Sounds a bit sinister in some ways, but you never know.
Ben
I suspect though given the NSA's narrow definition of an ordinary citizen that we can all expect our data to be de-duped to say about 1 pB worth of mince with the remaining non-conformists offered another NSA service that finds them & brings them in for a face to face meeting.You won't find me signing up for love nor money!
--------------------------I'm glad those fools are trying to be seen to do something to improve their image. :)
"It's completely turn-key in nature - we can start as soon as you ask us. In fact we'll probably know you're going to ask us, certainly if you mention it to anyone using any form of electronic communications, and you'll find we've already started before you get in touch."In fact, hey, there's no need to contact us at all. Just tell someone you're thinking of giving us a try - and we'll call you.
Quite brilliant, if it works properly, John Lewis. Let’s give it a try, NSA/GCHQ/MuI7, for it is something that I’ve been thinking about for not an inconsiderable length of time. And obviously would have all necessary contact information, for it is not as if anything is secret, is it.
Ding-a-ling-a-ling-dong-bell. Is there anyone with future intelligence out there and in there too. Y’all could certainly be doing with especial help, and one doesn’t need to be Einsteinian to realise and virtualise that pretty obvious fact.
And what an ab fab fabless opportunity for someone to make IT work, if it doesn’t work as floated above, which is sort of semi-autonomously/para-militarily.
Not to me .. I was just on the point of signing up for this when I saw the comments. The thinking being that -
a. I trust GCHQ and the NSA with my data a bit, actually a lot, more than Facebook, Google, Linkedin, and hotmail.
b. since they are going to store it anyway why not let me have access to a copy.
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Go here, grab free code, use on your site. They're such an oldie, people stopped mentioning them.
But for those worried about NSA and spyware, seeing those little graphics with their IP, ISP, browser, OS, and perhaps their town or one nearby, really makes them wonder how much they need better security.
Are you trying to get a user or relative to upgrade security, or at least start using it? Show them these signs, let the paranoia set in.
Look, my opinion: Why not. They have everything anyway, why not make use of it and earn some money. It would make the whole thing "self sustaining", and then the government wouldn't need tax $$$'s to "make it so". Aren't there lots of "CIA Fronts" lying around, why not a nice "NSA Front". OH, wait, maybe there already is one (or two).
Nice touch anyway.