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Ear to the Ground

The NSA: Fostering a New Generation of Code Breakers

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Posted on May 6, 2006
Cryptokids
From NSA.gov

This is the front-page image of the U.S. National Security Agency’s kid-friendly portal.

The presumed next head of the CIA, Gen. Michael Hayden, once ran the National Security Agency. Fine. But check out the home page of the NSA’s website: It’s got a cartoon picture that leads to a kid-friendly site called Cryptokids: America’s Future Codemakers and Codebreakers. It’s filled with decryption games and NSA employment resources.

Huh? Cartoons appeal to 7-year-olds. How many of them are going to be surfing the NSA’s website? And if the agency is trying to recruit high school students, why use a cartoon turtle as a roper?

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By Not Paranoid, May 8, 2006 at 9:28 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

There’s a difference between fostering interest and knowledge versus indoctrination. If you can’t recognise this then your idea of truth is flawed. This country needs talented youth with good scientific grounding and moral outlook if it to remain strong and secure. Finding grand conspiracies and ascribing evil motives to every action of every agency of government will make this country weak and sick.

Healthy skepticism is one thing, paranoid delusion is something else.

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By iPodRob, May 8, 2006 at 7:03 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

Oh this is sick. You do know that the NSA used to stand for “No Such Agency” thats because it was ultra top secret, read this about them…

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NSA

Next thing we know is ECHELON is going to have it’s own website and headed by a pink/green mouse.

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By Vic Anderson, May 7, 2006 at 7:54 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

More like the Youth League Spies, since we’ve crossed the Rubicon of 1984.

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By Kenneth W. Nichols, May 7, 2006 at 10:54 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

The Hitler Youth was mandatory.  No one is being forced to visit NSA’s kids page.  If ou would check further into the NSA webste, you would locate decrypts from the VENONA Project.  Very interesting.  Thank God we have NSA.

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By Sponge Bob (NSA name..."Square Pants"), May 6, 2006 at 8:22 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

The NSA should have done a google search first.

http://www.cryptokids.com/

“Meet the CryptoKids—Zander, Cassi, Theo, Stella, and Marcus. In CryptoMania!, five friends build a Teleporter and head for adventure in real and imagined places, picking up cool Greek and Latin word chunks along the way.

Calling All CryptoKids!

Kim and I are eager to hear from all you CryptoKids out there. We’ll post your riddles and jokes, drawings and photos of your Logomobiles, Teleporters, Roman Numeral machines, and Create-a-Critter critters and more. Tell us your favorite parts of the book and your favorite character. Send us news about how youÂ’re using this book.”

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By Ed Encho, May 6, 2006 at 7:17 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

My God…it’s the vanguard of the new Hitler Youth!

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