Comments on: No Such Agency...

No Such Agency...

ehintz — Mon, 15 Mar 2004 16:29:45 -0800

is a really fascinating read of one fellows experience while attempting to pass a security clearance for employment with the National Security Agency. Ironically enough I have to wonder if perhaps you need to be just a little bit crazy to do it. But of course crazy in a NSA/DOD friendly way, as opposed to standing on a table clucking like a chicken...

By: quonsar

quonsar — Mon, 15 Mar 2004 16:30:44 -0800

that *would* be the NSA/DOD friendly way... beGAWK!

By: strangeleftydoublethink

strangeleftydoublethink — Mon, 15 Mar 2004 16:38:06 -0800

quonsar, get off my table! Uh, that was a mighty long PDF. Care to pull a few choice quotes for us ADD types?

By: ehintz

ehintz — Mon, 15 Mar 2004 16:50:47 -0800

Well, I liked this bit: I’ve never been convicted - let alone arrested - of any misdemeanor or felony, I don’t do drugs, and I don’t even have any points on my driver’s license (knock on wood). Stable marriage, couple of kids. Get along with the neighbors, etc. I thought “Hey, I’m a decent person. Clearance should be pretty straightforward. What could go wrong?” P.J. O’Rourke posed the following question in his book Parliament of Whores: “Our Government: What the f#ck do they do all day, and why does it cost so godd@mned much money?” The security clearance process is a partial answer to that question, and in-turn the government ponders a similar question about you. Really though, it's worth the time to read. Besides being informative, it's entertaining as well... If it's any consolation, the meat of the paper is in pages 1-18, the rest is bibliography. Still long, but not as bad as it looks at first.

By: swerve

swerve — Mon, 15 Mar 2004 18:37:54 -0800

[this is good]

By: Be'lal

Be'lal — Mon, 15 Mar 2004 19:06:07 -0800

I really enjoyed reading this, thanks.

By: Civil_Disobedient

Civil_Disobedient — Mon, 15 Mar 2004 19:14:57 -0800

Now this is what the FPP is all about. [This is fucking awesome.]

By: stonerose

stonerose — Mon, 15 Mar 2004 19:46:31 -0800

Oh my god - CONTENT! On the interweb! Thanks very much, ehintz. That was better than what was on TV tonight.

By: dg

dg — Mon, 15 Mar 2004 20:13:53 -0800

[this is good] No wonder the security services around the world seem to be in so much trouble. Indeed, the process sounds like it is "designed to retain only the most bland" at a time when lateral thinking and creative solutions are needed more than ever.

By: gd779

gd779 — Mon, 15 Mar 2004 21:04:19 -0800

[this is good]

By: Dasein

Dasein — Mon, 15 Mar 2004 22:17:58 -0800

great post

By: CunningLinguist

CunningLinguist — Tue, 16 Mar 2004 06:55:56 -0800

No biggie, but I would have liked a pdf warning. I'll go read now...

By: Hankins

Hankins — Tue, 16 Mar 2004 10:08:43 -0800

Thank you for this.