Utah NSA Data Center May Already Be Up and Running


The NSA's $1.5 billion Utah Data Center, which will be the agency's largest computing center in the world, may already be open.
From The Salt Lake Tribune:
Washington • Don't look for balloons or a big "Grand Opening" sign outside the National Security Agency's new Utah Data Center.
The facility is expected this fall to quietly begin sucking in massive amounts of information for the intelligence community and storing it in the cavernous buildings in Bluffdale, according to NSA officials — and it could be open now even as the agency faces scrutiny over efforts to collect data on Americans domestically.
If the center is already open it is unlikely to be affected by a government shutdown.
From The Hill:
A government shutdown, set for Oct. 1 if lawmakers fail to strike a deal, would be unlikely to impede the National Security Agency's surveillance programs.
"A shutdown would be unlikely to affect core NSA operations," a government official familiar with the plans said.
The Defense Department is set to release its plan for how to handle a potential shutdown on Friday. That plan is expected to be similar to one the department released in 2011 ahead of another congressional showdown that ultimately resulted in a deal to keep the government running.
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$1.5 billion tax dollars. Congress couldn't possibly be expected to keep track of what a small amount like that is exactly being used for.
That's a big toaster.
Now witness the firepower of this fully ARMED and OPERATIONAL battle station!
If only a ragtag group of rebels was attempting to firebomb it.
After years of reading, I signed up as a commenter just so I could make this comment, and you beat me to it.
It's a trap!
The NSA welcomes your participation in this honeypot operation.
Willkommen, bienvenue, welcome!
You fool! Joining the Commentariat is inviting abuse.
I can't think of a more fitting introduction to commenting here, unless maybe your post included a broken link.
Don't worry. It's only metadata.
At some point, they'll be collecting so much data that the actual surveillance threat to any one person will start heading down to zero. Imagine the sheer amount of crap they're collecting, and then remember that the NSA is pretty much on a ceaseless quest to expand how much it's collecting. The problem with scooping up most of the internet is that you end up with literally yottabytes of worthless shit. What they'd end up with is the world's largest collection of dick pics, boob pics, videos of fat girls ranting about weight standards, MRA chatroom discussions about how evil women are, Jenna Haze videos, Freeper chats about how the homos are wrecking America, DUmmie chats about the 1%, LOL OMG LOOK AT THIS CAT messages, and about one zillion Friend requests.
a cat? where??!?!
I too assume I will be protected by the sheer awesomeness of the internet's signal to noise ration.
I encode all my subversive messages by subtly moving background objects in cat photos.
You are mistaken to rely on being just a member of a big herd.
This won't be used to identify targets, so much as it will be used to pursue and destroy targets.
Once they have your name (from the IRS, the DOJ, whoever else is busting heads for the powers that be), they will go into their database and mine (or, perhaps, falsify) your history looking for sticks to beat you with.
This
But why does my government want to beat people?
Because you irked one of the apparatchiks.
This... no one will ever be able to rise up and oppose the government because everyone has skeletons and they will know them....or better yet...they HAVE the POWER to MAKE shit up!!!
You honestly think the government couldn't make up a story about a threat having an affair or beign tired to a murder by saying his GPS/cell phone puts him there with credit card purchases and a photoshopped video of you in the area at an ATM.
We are doomed as a country and the current tyrants have almost enough control to rig the ENTIRE system with the power they have!.
No, it's all searchable. You get on their list for some reason or another and you can be sure they will "see what else we can get him for".
You're on trial for X (rightly or wrongly). They run the check and find you were watching a German Scheisse video of Cartman's mom back in 1998. Goes to character, your honor.
...I'll allow it.
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/.....l#/videos/
Unruly football team is suspended.
They are attending character classes during hours when they previously would have been practicing.
You expect to teach character in a classroom?? You fucking nimrods. If a team lacks discipline, the fault lies with the coach. The coach should be fired. I would think a young adult would learn character through adversity. You know, like at FUCKING FOOTBALL PRACTICE.
If a team lacks discipline, the fault lies with the coach. The coach should be fired.
It was the coach who suspended his entire team. Sounds to me like he's trying to instill discipline the only way that's left. Afterall, it's not like he can make them do up-downs until they puke, or run hills until their legs are jell-o, or yell at them. No, that would be "mean" and might make them feel bad. And we can't have that.
Although I agree with you about trying to teach character in a classroom. One of the dumber things I've heard recently, but probably not the coaches fault that he's not allowed to actually discipline his players any other way.
School has started. Two-a-days are over. The coach had his chance to instill discipline. He is ineffective and should be dismissed.
So the Mormons run the NSA? I did not know that.
Yes, and they have Santa Claus hooked up to the computers in the Utah data center. It was on South Park last night so it must true.
Regardless of any future legislation or announcements of new policies, there is not going to be any changes at the NSA. They will continue just as they have been doing and, as they have been doing, they will continue to lie about it. But, that is not something we are going to know about until the next Snowden comes along.
There are no penalties for government officials who violate the Bill of Rights and there are no penalties for offcials who lie. So why does anyone think they will ever change?
Well, I suppose if Congress started at the top and fired the boss, and stripped him of any pension or benefits he or she had accrued and appointed the next guy, they might (1)stop lying to Congress and (2)respect Congressional authority.
That would be a stunning reversal of a hundred years of Congressional ineptitude and complacence. Still, it could happen (and I could win the lottery).
People would have to be staging riots in the streets and burning down government buildings before anything will change. Of course, thanks to their surveillance programs, the government would easily be able to find out who is leading such an uprising and easily silence them, quickly quelling any disturbance.
The only solution to this facility can be found in three letters.
E.
M.
P.
Wouldn't you need something like a nuclear detonation to create an EMP that could knock this thing out? Hell, you may as well just nuke it.
I don't think 3d printers are advanced enough to print up MIRVs.
I think the most cost effective thing to do is throw rocks at it from a rail gun on the Moon.
At last, I know where to base the Censor.
Let me know when Elon Musk can get us there because NASA sure as shit can't.
Nah, giant laser on the moon. We'll turn the moon into what I like a "Death Star."
*like to call a "Death Star."
Dammit, if I'm going to make a pop-cultural reference, I should at least learn to type.
Do you have a name for this project?
Dunno if you need a nuke to create a sufficient EMP, but if we gotta nuke it, we gotta nuke it.
Then Bill O'Reilly would be right about terrorists and that sort of weapon.
Extremely Meritorious People?
Finally. Terrorism will be wiped out, and life in America will return to normal.
You know who else was up and running.
Ebola victims?
Bill Rodgers?
Michelle Jenneke?
"A shutdown would be unlikely to affect core NSA operations," a government official familiar with the plans said.
I suppose *non*-core NSA operations are things like Agency Day at Six Flags.
Time for a drone strike!