http://www.theatlanticwire.com/national/...searches/67864/

A woman searched on google for "pressure cookers". At about the same time frame her husband was looking for "backpacks ".

They got a visit from the cops.

I'm not really an alarmist type of guy, but this is certainly interesting.

Also, as far as I know i was the only person who was concerned with the way the " aurthorities " were conducting those house to house searches in Watertown. And the amount of fuss that was put on the whole damn thing. And ths from liberals and conservative . Demo and repub. doesn't anyone give a Shhit ?

It appears that anyone willing to do anything about it is tried for espionage or treason.

Rev Dave.

According to her account, at some point she Googled "pressure cooker" while around the same time her husband apparently searched for backpacks. Weeks pass and they get the visit from the authorities, when her husband is asked, among other things, if they own a pressure cooker or had ever searched about how to make a bomb from one ...

Now, I can see where one can make the logical assumption these events are related -- 2+2=4, after all ...

But so does 1+3, 1+1+1+1 and 1+2+1 ... the reason for the visit by the authorities could have only tangentially been related to the family's googling, or perhaps unrelated completely. Apparently her husband didn't ask.

As the article you linked states WAY down the page:

"It is also possible that there were other factors that prompted the government's interest in Catalano and her husband. He travels to Asia, she notes in her article. Who knows."

And then rather stupidly adds: "Which is largely Catalano's point."

No, actually, her point is that she assumes the visit is a result of her family's Googling activities and that therefore the government must be reading her searches ...

... which very well may be true. But so may a lot of other causes and Ms. Catalano's account doesn't offer much in the way of real proof. The real question is what in fact prompted the visit from the authorities? THEN we can start worrying about the government accessing internet searches if that's the reason ...

I would suspect that there is something more going on with this than just some Google searches.

The rest of the "story"

I never agreed with this line , but many "law and order" conservative types used to say," well you have nothing to worry about unless you're breaking the law (done something illegal). "

Now thanks to Bush & Cheney and the creation of the Patriot Act & Homeland security they get their "law and order", and aren't happy with it !!

Like the old saying goes... be careful what you wish for !!

I never liked the Patriot Act & the creation of Homeland security - thought it was a great overreach !! DAMM. . . . I hate it when I'm right !!

Joy of Tech

Personally.. I like what he wrote in his blog.

I thought the pressure cooker story was a lot of "Hot gas" !!

DLC, I'm afraid I'm going to have to dock you 2 points for a forced pun.
But don't worry, you're still in the lead with 1,345,521.

Well, I'm glad I can relax about the whole thing. I hoped there was more to the story. There usually is.

Rev Dave

Oh man !!! .... you're one tough cookie !!