Harvesting Your Online Information

New Scientist is reporting that the Pentagon's National Security Agency is funding research to harvest information that people post online in social networking sites such as MySpace. Assuming that the blogosphere will be included, your blog could be monitored by the NSA for your political affiliations or activitist activities.

"You should always assume anything you write online is stapled to your resumé. People don't realise you get Googled just to get a job interview these days," says Jon Callas, a security expert interviewed for the article.

I certainly understand that - In my quest to be more authentic as a writer, I've often struggled with my public persona, especially when I was marketing myself as a life coach. I finally decided to just be myself and let the chips fall where they may. At this point, I have no desire whatsoever to run for political office, and on a given day my worst vice is eating too much cheese.

Though, I will just state something for the record: I have had sex, and I did inhale. Shh. Don't tell my parents.