Thank you Google

Google may be tightly linked the National Security Agency (NSA), otherwise know as the nerds that like reading our e-mail and listening to our phone calls, but their apps are very useful and economical. In the spirit of full disclosure I do own Google stock, and this blog is published using a Google tool. No, not the tool between the chair and the keyboard. I am talking about Blogger.

The real reason I thank Google is their set of Software As a Service (SAS) apps that they provide, supported through advertisement. One of the services is Google Talk with voice service. This service now includes free phone calls to any US phone number. Sorry President Clinton, 1-900 numbers are not included. But what it does include is my wife's phone number. So while I am out of the country, I am still in touch anywhere I can find an open WIFI connection. That has come in handy, not just because of the expense of calling the US from Uruguay. But because of the hassle of figuring out what 12 digit passcode I need to enter after dialing the international trunking number, the country code, and the billing code.

So what if the NSA was able to more easily listen into the phone call than if I had used a calling card. I have no secrets to keep from the government. That does not mean that I am happy to let them eavesdrop whenever they wish. I still make sure that I can send encrypted messages whenever I want. Plus I have an encrypted connection to my server at home anytime I need to share private files with my wife. So let the things that are open remain open, but be ready to encrypt when you you need to.

Enough geek talk. Thank you Google. You have made my life easier.