Thursday, July 11, 2013

The Freedom of Speech and Expression: The Jester and Anonymous

My friend called and said, "ya know, you don't have to publish all those comments about the Jester.  You can just ignore them. "  She is absolutely right, but I do believe in the freedom of speech and expression and that we are accountable for our words and actions, so I have not censored anything that comes in, and I don't require that anyone leaves a name or number.

The Jester's work fires people up and there really aren't many places where you can write about it, discuss it, etc.  The arguments are circular, though, so, at some point (now), I need to move on.






The Final Word

I  support free speech and expression.  Jester's work is his expression.  The courts will decide, if the time ever comes, whether his expression violates laws concerning hacking (and many thanks to the person who laid the law out - FANTASTIC information!) and whether his expression violates the civil rights of others.  I find it refreshing that someone is standing up and saying "this is what I believe in" and "this is what I am doing about it."  I wouldn't do it that way, but I don't use hacking as a form of protest.  I don't think it is unethical or illegal to admire the work of a lone wolf.  I don't have to agree with his work to admire it just as I don't have to "like" a particular piece of music or art to agree that is genius.  Most importantly, I am not his press agent, his legal counsel, his agent, or his mother.

Where Next?

The Jester isn't the only hactivist that I follow.  The other ideology that fascinates me is the work done under the name Anonymous.  The trouble with writing about Anonymous is that there isn't one particular theme or person or message since anyone can use the umbrella.  In talking about Jester, there is one person doing a specific set of activities; this isn't true for Anonymous.

Since I can't really discuss the technical side of hacks done under the name Anonymous, I will just focus on the activism part.  College students, in particular, are drawn to the masks and the fanfare.  So, this non-group is most fascinating to me.

I follow several Anon accounts on Twitter, and, truthfully, I learn so much from their tweets that I would not have known about.  For example, today a collection of Anonymous folks are supporting #OpGuzoo.  I would never have known about these poor animals tortured at a Canadian zoo had it not been for Anonymous.  Their information gathering and dissemination process is fantastic, and the reader can decide which causes to support.

The issues with Anonymous have already been identified.  When you allow anyone into the club -everyone will flock to the club, and there are all kinds of people - with good and bad intentions - that will show up at the door. Since it isn't a club, there isn't one person that can speak for the group when some goof ball does something on his or her own under the umbrella name.

That said, I have found the tweets of the Anons I follow to be educational (even if I don't agree with a cause or concern), and they link to direct sources.  I appreciate the voice they have even if I don't agree or support some of the causes supported by some of their followers.

The Connection

Interestingly, the Jester is the most anonymous of any of the hactivists but he opposes the overall Anonymous movement.  The only cause they have both agree upon is their joint disgust at the Westboro Baptist Church.  In his Twitter profile, Jester makes it clear that he is not associated with the Anonymous movement.  The Anonymous movement often supports whistle blowers and leakers that release sensitive and compromising information about our troops, our defense and offense tactics, etc.  The Jester opposes anything that he believes violates the safety of our troops or is considered an enemy to the US.

The Freedom of Speech and Expression

Back in the 60s, you could grab up your sign and go on a protest march.  There was a chance you would get beat down.  Nothing really has changed.  If one idiot in the crowd throws a paper cup at a police officer, the whole crowd is considered a mob and police have the responsibility to stop violence before it becomes a mob scene.  Hactivism bypasses all that hoopla.  Go in, write a little code, apply a little code, walk back to the kitchen and grab a bag of chips.  I give credit to the Anonymous protestors that still march in real time and real places.  And, truthfully, the masks are effective - they signify the acceptance that we are all one voice and that no one person is greater than another.  However, wearing the mask on the top of your head defeats the purpose, so if you are going to be Anonymous - be, well, anonymous.  Wear the mask or don't, but he honest about what you want at the end of the day.  If you want to be known as a protestor for a particular cause, pony up and own it.  If you want to join a throng of voices and don't need recognition, grab your mask and wear it proudly.

I believe that we all have a duty to "be the change" that "we want to see in this world."  For right or wrong, I believe both the Jester and his fans and the Anonymous followers are doing this - they are speaking up and trying to make a difference.  After all is said and done, apathy is what will kill us all, and these two factions are working toward beating apathy.


Image Source

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

My Spin on Snowden

Here is my spin on the Snowden drama, for what it is worth:

The Libertarian

As a Libertarian, I hate the government poking around in my personal business.  Not that my personal business is exciting; it's not.  But, that isn't really the point.  I believe in Henry David Thoreau's sentiment "that government is best which governs least"(Civil Disobedience).  So, from this position, I thank Snowden for confirming what I already believed - we are being watched on every level.  Not only can I get a ticket for an illegal turn on red (which I did), they now can see that sometimes I send funny quotes to my various Fb friends.  Fortunately, I am not of any great interest; I post about education, children, and post pictures of trees and dirt.  So, the person assigned to me has a dreadfully boring job.  But, I appreciate knowing that my government is doing it.  I appreciate that someone stood and up and said "HEY!  LOOK!"  So, for that small part, I could support Snowden.

The Mom

But, then I think to myself...wow, my kids came home safe from school today.  I was able to ride the train into NYC and didn't have to stop in an ER first to find my other leg...see, those NSA documents aren't looking for ME, they are looking for bombers, terrorists, people out to kill innocent people.  And, for every single day that I am safe, I am thankful that someone is keeping an eye on it all.  When I was in college, I was a life guard.  I was responsible to watch the whole pool.  It didn't matter that Suzy would never ever dunk another kid or drown; I still had to watch her to make sure that no one dunked her.  If she would have been dunked and drowned as a result, I would have been responsible.  So, you can't have it both ways.  You can either watch and know or not watch, not know, and still be responsible.  As a Mom, I want someone watching. 

The Execution

The biggest problem I have with Snowden is how he did what he did.  Yes, I understand that he felt like he had limited options.  Yes, I think our government is capable of horrible things (hellllllo G-Bay).  But, if you are so convicted, you will find a way to blow a whistle while you are on the field.  Running to England, Hong Kong, outer Bolivia?  It shows me that you are a coward.  I can not believe Geraldo wouldn't have snapped up the story.  CNN?  Fox?  No one?  Really, running away makes it look like you are in it for other reasons.  THEN you add to the mix that the NSA whistle blow wasn't the only data gift.  You have given the gift of our intelligence, our military outposts, etc.  You have threatened the lives of people willing to serve this country even if they don't agree with the mission.  Those are innocent people.  Those aren't government overlords; they are soldiers now compromised.  

The End of the Day 

At the end of the day, I am still dumbfounded.  I believe the government's only job is to protect the civil liberties of its people, but what if the only way to protect those liberties is to stomp upon them?  

I simply don't have an answer. 



Image Source

Monday, July 8, 2013

Jester's Angels

Jester's Angels

There are so many good titles out there for this post...like...What I Learned on my Summer Staycation, and Only Fools Rush In: The Study of Crazy People

Today, I head back to my real life; Staycation 2013 is officially over.  Mostly, I did lots of stuff with my kids and pretended to clean the house in earnest.  But, this weekend, I got a sliver-glimpse of the Twitter world and its finery.  The best part of band camp was always the last two days.

While my concerns will turn elsewhere now that I am back to my real life, my weekend as part of Jester's Angels was fun.  Not that he needs Angels, and not that he works in a crew or needs a crew to work.  But, I had fun blasting haters with Beth J, Rachel, and Stephanie.  These are fantastic women, and it has been an honor to serve with them.  They are fun, witty, and refreshing.  Thanks, ladies - you are all rock stars.  I met some really nice guys, too, but the names are very confusing.  You know who you are (and thanks for sending me links to the videos on the NarcoTroll).

I have learned that most of the people that oppose the work of Jester really have no substantive argument to share.  In one tweet, they will say he isn't a hacker, and in the next tweet, they will say his work is ruining The American Way.  In one tweet, they will claim he has no influence, and in the next claim they have turned him into the "authorities."  If he is nobody, why do you spend all of your time trying to unveil him?

All I asked for was proof.  

Tell me how the legal system defines hacking.  Tell me how what Jester does doesn't fit the law.  Tell me why you say he is only a propaganda whore, and show me proof that he hasn't given credence to the work he has done.  Calling me names and telling me that I send my panties to the guy makes you sound like a dumbass.  If you claim to do research for a career, be prepared to share your "research."  Telling me to lick an extension cord is slightly original, but, alas, not a defense.

The weekend was, indeed, enlightening.  But, I prefer tweeting with educators.  They share lots of great stuff, and they work toward celebrating good work. So, I salute The Jester and his Angels.  Thank you for an awesome ride ;p

PS.  The thong is mine.  I believe Rachel sent the hipsters.  You bake the cupcakes.












Sunday, July 7, 2013

A Message to Haters

So yesterday's post helped me makes lots of new friends and sent me spiraling into a whirlwind of haters.  For my own sake, and to the benefit of haters who should hate me for a good reason, here are some lecture notes:

  1. I like the work of the The Jester.  His work is direct and clean cut.  It isn't random.
  2. I am not a hacker, and I don't speak the language.  If you are going to insult me, use plain English (or be creative and use Latin).
  3. While I adore The Jester and his work, I don't follow him blindly.  I am wicked smart, you see, and am fully capable of forming my own opinions on a whole range of topics. 
  4. I am, politically, a Libertarian.  This isn't a big deep dark secret.  A hundred years ago in college, I interned for both a Senator and a Congressman, and both of them were Republican.  I didn't go into a life of politics as a result. 
  5. My focus is steady; I am not on Twitter, or this planet, to support the work of hackers or politicians; I am on this planet to serve others.  Period.  My passion - the driving force of my career - is to make education accessible to all.  Part of that mission is to educate educators.  My interest in hacking stems from a desire to teach faculty and administrators how to manage "protest" hacking on campus; it has absolutely nothing to do with fan worship or cult following.
So, there you have it. 

To the jackass that thinks he can scare me, let me say this...no, I won't even give you props by mentioning your name.  You are a dolt.  But, fear not, mon cheri, you can call my husband at any hour and tell him about my crush on (the concept of) The Jester.  He already knows, and he thinks it is cute. And, while I appreciate your parenting advice, mind your own business.   But, most importantly, I am not scared of you.  I was raised by a steelworker, a bartender, a gaggle of brothers and their friends...so even though I love kittens, old people, and the color pink, trust this...if you try to come through my front door, you won't go out without a police escort or an ambulance. 

Image Source

Saturday, July 6, 2013

Who is The Jester?

Right, so, I guess to be considered a blogger, you have to blog more than once a year.  I will work on that.

Lately, I have been interested in the twisty under current of hacktivism. Giving voice to the voiceless is a passion, and hactivism, whether right or wrong, is giving voice to something.

In studying hactivism, I have stumbled over most of the famous groups, ideologies, and movements.  They are all fascinating, and they all do something a little different or champion something unique.

My favorite among them is The Jester.

So, to clear up the obvious, I have a total crush on the concept of The Jester.  He is a super hero in a world full of villains.  But, he could be a she.  And he could be a 13 year old.  I have no idea.  No one has an idea.  The mastermind of Jester is that no one knows anything about him, and that is the way it should be.

His Identity

There are people out there devoted to unmasking The Jester.  I am not one of them.  If he showed up in my hotel room, I would hope he'd wear a mask or make me wear a blindfold; I totally don't want to know.  He is magical the way he is (and, I don't actually think he is a girl or a 13 year old).  He can't do the work he does if we know who he is...and the work he is doing is important.

So, who is The Jester? Well, in my fantasy, he is about 35 and is built like a marine and wears army pants and a black tee shirt.  He has a great tan, too. Oh, and he wears combat boots and has a picture of his Mom on the back of his dog tags.  But, that's just me.

In reality?  Who cares?  Let his work speak for him.

His Work

The Jester is a single focus operation - he takes down terrorist websites.  He is patriot hacker and only hacks those things which he believes pose a threat to American soldiers or the American spirit.  He mostly focuses on taking down Jihadist sites, but occasionally goes after anti-American hate groups like the Westboro Baptist Church, and, more recently, Ed SnowdenNewsweek did a great story on him, and even the military seems to recognize his capabilities.  To date, he is the only hacker that has successfully stopped major leaking movements like WikiLeaks (skip to minute 28).



So, should we unmask Jester?  Will someone get a fancy car or get all the girls if they know his identity?  Someone tweeted that we are giving him too much power; others tweet that our government doesn't even know who is he or what he is doing.  If that were true, Newsweek wouldn't care to write about him, and the military wouldn't mention him.  They care; they know what he is doing, and he can do it a heck of a lot faster without the red tape of organizational structure.

Uncle Ben would tell Jester that "with great power comes great responsibility."  Jester seems to know that already.  If he takes down a site because they are going to shelter Snowden, he brings it back up once the government changes its mind. He doesn't go after random enemies; he doesn't run around defacing random websites.  He seems to recognize his role; hell, the guy defined it.

So, to those folks trying to unmask The Jester, get a life.  Go after the bad guys. 

Image Source