Cloud computing - full of hot air?

This is not new or news to me, as I happen to work for a very successful tech company where one of their main business functions is cloud computing.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2008/sep/29/cloud.computing.richard.stallman

Unfortunately, I also have a lot of "Google-y" stuff in my life besides the basic on line search engine.  I have a Gmail account, I'm on Google+, and my phone and tablet are both by Samsung, which is hugely tied to Google on various portable computer devices. Seems I can't win. 

And with the way things are going, you really can't go "off grid" even if you wanted to; so much is now tied together, if you happen to close one door, you risk being unable to open several others because of it.

The Big Bad NSA

Since 9/11, security in our nation (and the world) has had a pardigm shift.  Everyting and everyone now seems suspect...for some reason or another. How better to keep tabs on it all than, as this whistleblower states in this article from the (UK) Guardian:

"Over the next three years, he learned just how all-consuming the NSA's surveillance activities were, claiming 'they are intent on making every conversation and every form of behaviour in the world known to them.'"


http://tinyurl.com/pt8td5j

ONE. STEP. CLOSER

Not that you have to swear allegiance to anyone...yet...but it's just another step closer to doing so:  http://tinyurl.com/p48rhye