From Drudge. You knew this had to happen. All perfectly normal, perfectly legal and according to State Department policy, you must understand.
State Department BlackBerry devices issued to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s aides Cheryl Mills and Huma Abedin have likely been destroyed or sold off, the department said in a court filing on Wednesday.
Mills and Abedin “were each issued BlackBerry devices,” department Executive Secretary Joseph Macmanus wrote in the filing.
The department, however, “has not located any such device,” and believes that they would have been destroyed or removed from the department’s control.
“Because the devices issues to Ms. Mills and Ms. Abedin would have been outdated models, in accordance with standard operating procedures those devices would have been destroyed or excessed,” Macmanus added.
State Department spokesman John Kirby confirmed later on Wednesday afternoon that the two former officials’ devices were returned to the department after they left office.
“They belong to the United States government, and when you leave an agency you just turn it in,” Kirby said. “So yes, they were turned in. Where they are now I couldn’t begin to tell you.
“A new study suggests that joining a religious group could do more for someone’s “sustained happiness” than other forms of social participation, such as volunteering, playing sports or taking a class.
A study in the American Journal of Epidemiology by researchers at the London School of Economics and Erasmus University Medical Center in the Netherlands found that the secret to sustained happiness lies in participation in religion.
“The church appears to play a very important social role in keeping depression at bay and also as a coping mechanism during periods of illness in later life,” Mauricio Avendano, an epidemiologist at LSE and an author of the study, said in a statement. “It is not clear to us how much this is about religion per se, or whether it may be about the sense of belonging and not being socially isolated.”
Researchers looked at four areas: 1) volunteering or working with a charity; 2) taking educational courses; 3) participating in religious organizations; 4) participating in a political or community organization. Of the four, participating in a religious organization was the only social activity associated with sustained happiness, researchers found.”
This whole thing is appalling on so many levels, for all parties involved. And not just Duggar and the website. There’s a whole lot of @whitehouse.gov and @un.com and numerous institutions of higher learning. Disgusting.
“Names, ages, addresses, phone numbers, credit card details and detailed sexual fantasies have been leaked.
Hackers from a group called ‘the Impact Squad’ posted the 9.7 gigabyte file called ‘Time’s Up!’ on the dark web claiming ‘cheating dirtbags do not deserve anonymity’.
More than 10,000 users were found to be registered under .gov and .mil email addresses – the official domain names of the American military and government.
Other institutions rocked by the leaks include famed educational institutions like Harvard and Yale, and global bodies such as the Vatican and the UN.
Employers from powerhouse companies such as Boeing, JP Morgan, Bank of America and Sony were also said to be part of the list.”
========================
The sad thing is the chance of a public shaming, which in the past kept many a spouse and high official in line, is minimal at best. Except for the religious Duggar types on the list. They’ll be shamed because they still can be, and the left enjoys doing so in their case.
For most, shame is dead, a throwback to a bygone era. It’s motivational properties are gone for most. Our culture killed it. I watched it die in my lifetime, It’s been a slow and painful death too.
I know nothing about this website, but as I read the article, I thought, why was this even allowed through the government filters? The irresponsibility continues.
But as we were praying this morning, I thought, what would a nation look like that had systematically turned its back on God for a long long time? The abortion issue is on my mind at least, and could God really bless a proud nation that had not only participated but encouraged the killing of 55 million fetuses over 40+ years? How could he?
We’re reaping what our nation has sown. I can only imagine it will get worse and I’m so very sorry.
So, my prayer changed today to prayers for salvation for people who are in a desperate position–people I actually know who don’t believe–and for myself that I would be God’s credible witness in a total desert of belief. What is our calling what we live in Sodom? How do we glorify God in this situation?
Chas – standard operating procedure for corporate and government: electronically empty and clean all cell phones after employees leave and reissue to new employees. If model is outdated, its destroyed. They never leave the company once acquired. Im sure any cell phone over two years old will shredded in some fashion. Convenient maybe but standard.
Talking email troubling and stupidity. The troubling but pragmatical aspect of the Ashley Madison fiasco is the stupidity exhibited by ordinary adults. They used their workplace email…..people in government and the corporate world using workplace email for illicit purposes…..people in major corporations, govt and other sectors responsible for decisions that affect me can be that dumb….there really is no hope for this planet.
As for shame. You need to live in a village for that to work but seem to think social media should work. Theyre wrong for reasons fiest suggested by andy warhol
HRW – Social media may not exactly be a village, but some people have been ruined, losing their jobs & friends over stupid things that go viral. Look at that dentist who shot Cecil the Lion – he’s in hiding due to death threats, & his practice was shut down for a while. (I was glad to see that it was open again, especially for his employees & patients.)
I have been kind of distressed to see opinions on Facebook by a couple friends that, because they hate what he did, they applaud what the social media lynch mob has done, & because he’s rich, he deserves to lose his livelihood. I pointed out to one that that’s why we have laws & a justice system, & don’t need lynch mobs. (She didn’t reply.)
Agreed. Although some would view the cecil the lion incident as appropriate village style shaming. Similar to the pros and cons of village shaming, social media shaming has its con not least is the anonymous harassment of middle school kids which i see at work.
Michelle good point on filters. Previously, nothing got by our school board filters but the latest version is pitiful. Tbe board has stated its up to the teacher to monitor. As schools now have wifi im not sure how im supposed to monitor cell phone, ipad etc personal usuage.
“The AP’s investigation found that subscribers included at least two assistant U.S. attorneys, an IT administrator in the Executive Office of the President, a division chief, an investigator and a trial attorney in the Justice Department, a government hacker at the Homeland Security Department and another DHS employee who indicated he worked on a U.S. counterterrorism response team.”
Maybe the IT guy in the President’s office had something to do with that.
Also see this one. The military is investigating possible UCMJ violations. So the only govt employees who will be punished for it are non-union soldiers. Not that they shouldn’t be, they just shouldn’t be the only ones.
“The data release could have severe consequences for U.S. service members if found to be real. Several tech websites reported that more than 15,000 email addresses were government and military ones.
The Pentagon said it was aware of reports that military email addresses were among those posted earlier in the week.
Defense Secretary Ash Carter told a Pentagon news conference that different service branches were looking into the matter.
“I’m aware of it. Of course it’s an issue because conduct is very important. We expect good conduct on the part of our people,” Carter said. “The services are looking into it, as well they should be, absolutely.”
U.S. military culture emphasizes faithfulness to family and family life, values seen as particularly important in an environment where troops often have to spend months deployed away from their spouses and children.
Adultery is a violation of military law, punishable under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, but it is difficult to prosecute because of the high standards of evidence required and sometimes shows up instead as conduct unbecoming an officer.”
===================================
As the first commenter mentioned, the sin of homosexuality is permitted, but not adultery. Both are conduct unbecoming, but only one is punished in our fabulous new gayed up military. So will “married” gay troops get a pass? I don’t doubt it, them being a protected class and all. 🙄
This is exactly the type of person foreign govts seek to turn, using this type of info to blackmail them. That person is a threat to national security given his office of employ.
The military shouldnt bother prosecuting adultery or other such offenses. The opportunity for blackmail arises becauses its a punishable offense — let spouses sort it out.
As for the IT guy; he cant be too bright at IT if he used his workplace email.
Wandering Views 
From Drudge. You knew this had to happen. All perfectly normal, perfectly legal and according to State Department policy, you must understand.
State Department BlackBerry devices issued to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s aides Cheryl Mills and Huma Abedin have likely been destroyed or sold off, the department said in a court filing on Wednesday.
Mills and Abedin “were each issued BlackBerry devices,” department Executive Secretary Joseph Macmanus wrote in the filing.
The department, however, “has not located any such device,” and believes that they would have been destroyed or removed from the department’s control.
“Because the devices issues to Ms. Mills and Ms. Abedin would have been outdated models, in accordance with standard operating procedures those devices would have been destroyed or excessed,” Macmanus added.
State Department spokesman John Kirby confirmed later on Wednesday afternoon that the two former officials’ devices were returned to the department after they left office.
“They belong to the United States government, and when you leave an agency you just turn it in,” Kirby said. “So yes, they were turned in. Where they are now I couldn’t begin to tell you.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Want sustained happiness? Get religion.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2015/08/14/want-sustained-happiness-get-religion-study-suggests/
“A new study suggests that joining a religious group could do more for someone’s “sustained happiness” than other forms of social participation, such as volunteering, playing sports or taking a class.
A study in the American Journal of Epidemiology by researchers at the London School of Economics and Erasmus University Medical Center in the Netherlands found that the secret to sustained happiness lies in participation in religion.
“The church appears to play a very important social role in keeping depression at bay and also as a coping mechanism during periods of illness in later life,” Mauricio Avendano, an epidemiologist at LSE and an author of the study, said in a statement. “It is not clear to us how much this is about religion per se, or whether it may be about the sense of belonging and not being socially isolated.”
Researchers looked at four areas: 1) volunteering or working with a charity; 2) taking educational courses; 3) participating in religious organizations; 4) participating in a political or community organization. Of the four, participating in a religious organization was the only social activity associated with sustained happiness, researchers found.”
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
This whole thing is appalling on so many levels, for all parties involved. And not just Duggar and the website. There’s a whole lot of @whitehouse.gov and @un.com and numerous institutions of higher learning. Disgusting.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3204050/REPORT-Josh-Duggar-paid-1-000-multiple-Ashley-Madison-accounts-search-oral-sex-one-night-stands-sex-toy-experimentation-more.html
“Names, ages, addresses, phone numbers, credit card details and detailed sexual fantasies have been leaked.
Hackers from a group called ‘the Impact Squad’ posted the 9.7 gigabyte file called ‘Time’s Up!’ on the dark web claiming ‘cheating dirtbags do not deserve anonymity’.
More than 10,000 users were found to be registered under .gov and .mil email addresses – the official domain names of the American military and government.
Other institutions rocked by the leaks include famed educational institutions like Harvard and Yale, and global bodies such as the Vatican and the UN.
Employers from powerhouse companies such as Boeing, JP Morgan, Bank of America and Sony were also said to be part of the list.”
========================
The sad thing is the chance of a public shaming, which in the past kept many a spouse and high official in line, is minimal at best. Except for the religious Duggar types on the list. They’ll be shamed because they still can be, and the left enjoys doing so in their case.
For most, shame is dead, a throwback to a bygone era. It’s motivational properties are gone for most. Our culture killed it. I watched it die in my lifetime, It’s been a slow and painful death too.
LikeLike
I know nothing about this website, but as I read the article, I thought, why was this even allowed through the government filters? The irresponsibility continues.
But as we were praying this morning, I thought, what would a nation look like that had systematically turned its back on God for a long long time? The abortion issue is on my mind at least, and could God really bless a proud nation that had not only participated but encouraged the killing of 55 million fetuses over 40+ years? How could he?
We’re reaping what our nation has sown. I can only imagine it will get worse and I’m so very sorry.
So, my prayer changed today to prayers for salvation for people who are in a desperate position–people I actually know who don’t believe–and for myself that I would be God’s credible witness in a total desert of belief. What is our calling what we live in Sodom? How do we glorify God in this situation?
I can’t think of anyway else to pray.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Chas – standard operating procedure for corporate and government: electronically empty and clean all cell phones after employees leave and reissue to new employees. If model is outdated, its destroyed. They never leave the company once acquired. Im sure any cell phone over two years old will shredded in some fashion. Convenient maybe but standard.
Talking email troubling and stupidity. The troubling but pragmatical aspect of the Ashley Madison fiasco is the stupidity exhibited by ordinary adults. They used their workplace email…..people in government and the corporate world using workplace email for illicit purposes…..people in major corporations, govt and other sectors responsible for decisions that affect me can be that dumb….there really is no hope for this planet.
As for shame. You need to live in a village for that to work but seem to think social media should work. Theyre wrong for reasons fiest suggested by andy warhol
LikeLike
HRW – Social media may not exactly be a village, but some people have been ruined, losing their jobs & friends over stupid things that go viral. Look at that dentist who shot Cecil the Lion – he’s in hiding due to death threats, & his practice was shut down for a while. (I was glad to see that it was open again, especially for his employees & patients.)
I have been kind of distressed to see opinions on Facebook by a couple friends that, because they hate what he did, they applaud what the social media lynch mob has done, & because he’s rich, he deserves to lose his livelihood. I pointed out to one that that’s why we have laws & a justice system, & don’t need lynch mobs. (She didn’t reply.)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Agreed. Although some would view the cecil the lion incident as appropriate village style shaming. Similar to the pros and cons of village shaming, social media shaming has its con not least is the anonymous harassment of middle school kids which i see at work.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Michelle good point on filters. Previously, nothing got by our school board filters but the latest version is pitiful. Tbe board has stated its up to the teacher to monitor. As schools now have wifi im not sure how im supposed to monitor cell phone, ipad etc personal usuage.
LikeLike
Michelle,
“I know nothing about this website, but as I read the article, I thought, why was this even allowed through the government filters?”
Welllllll……
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/cheating-website-subscribers-included-wh-congress-workers/ar-BBlVOD7?ocid=U142DHP
“The AP’s investigation found that subscribers included at least two assistant U.S. attorneys, an IT administrator in the Executive Office of the President, a division chief, an investigator and a trial attorney in the Justice Department, a government hacker at the Homeland Security Department and another DHS employee who indicated he worked on a U.S. counterterrorism response team.”
Maybe the IT guy in the President’s office had something to do with that.
LikeLike
Also see this one. The military is investigating possible UCMJ violations. So the only govt employees who will be punished for it are non-union soldiers. Not that they shouldn’t be, they just shouldn’t be the only ones.
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/more-ashley-madison-affair-website-data-leaked-online-report/ar-BBlWiuL?ocid=U142DHP
“The data release could have severe consequences for U.S. service members if found to be real. Several tech websites reported that more than 15,000 email addresses were government and military ones.
The Pentagon said it was aware of reports that military email addresses were among those posted earlier in the week.
Defense Secretary Ash Carter told a Pentagon news conference that different service branches were looking into the matter.
“I’m aware of it. Of course it’s an issue because conduct is very important. We expect good conduct on the part of our people,” Carter said. “The services are looking into it, as well they should be, absolutely.”
U.S. military culture emphasizes faithfulness to family and family life, values seen as particularly important in an environment where troops often have to spend months deployed away from their spouses and children.
Adultery is a violation of military law, punishable under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, but it is difficult to prosecute because of the high standards of evidence required and sometimes shows up instead as conduct unbecoming an officer.”
===================================
As the first commenter mentioned, the sin of homosexuality is permitted, but not adultery. Both are conduct unbecoming, but only one is punished in our fabulous new gayed up military. So will “married” gay troops get a pass? I don’t doubt it, them being a protected class and all. 🙄
LikeLike
And about that IT guy….
This is exactly the type of person foreign govts seek to turn, using this type of info to blackmail them. That person is a threat to national security given his office of employ.
LikeLike
The military shouldnt bother prosecuting adultery or other such offenses. The opportunity for blackmail arises becauses its a punishable offense — let spouses sort it out.
As for the IT guy; he cant be too bright at IT if he used his workplace email.
LikeLike