Monday, May 28, 2007
No Stranger to Danger
A while ago Scott told the story of finding the White House phone number in a Trivial Pursuit game, and trying it out to see if it was legit. It worked. Apparently CSIS called him to follow up on this phone call. It was flagged as unusual.
Now it seems weird that they would be so concerned that a "nobody" call the White House. This incident, when told by itself, seems like a piece of trivia itself. But this week I found out more.
You see, Scott was already in the CSIS database, and a repeat violation of protocol would have escalated their concern, prompting immediate response.
When he was in grade 5, one assignment was to write an essay on any country of his choice. Many of his classmates chose the United States, England, and other "safe" countries. These were the years of the Cold War and the Iron Curtain, which made Soviet nations
unappealing. Of course, not to Scott, who loves conspiracies and the history of human conflict.
Not satisfied with education from books alone, Scott found the Ontario phone number for the Russian embassy and called it. They were more than happy to send him maps, tourism information, brochures. They were so glad to have someone want information (someone without a Russian accent for a change) and were extremely helpful.
The day after the phone call two men in suits came to visit at the house. CSIS. This was particularly disturbing for his dad, because he was in the Canadian Armed Forces. The government doesn't like spies or double agents.
I have married a hunted man.
Now it seems weird that they would be so concerned that a "nobody" call the White House. This incident, when told by itself, seems like a piece of trivia itself. But this week I found out more.
You see, Scott was already in the CSIS database, and a repeat violation of protocol would have escalated their concern, prompting immediate response.
When he was in grade 5, one assignment was to write an essay on any country of his choice. Many of his classmates chose the United States, England, and other "safe" countries. These were the years of the Cold War and the Iron Curtain, which made Soviet nations
unappealing. Of course, not to Scott, who loves conspiracies and the history of human conflict.Not satisfied with education from books alone, Scott found the Ontario phone number for the Russian embassy and called it. They were more than happy to send him maps, tourism information, brochures. They were so glad to have someone want information (someone without a Russian accent for a change) and were extremely helpful.
The day after the phone call two men in suits came to visit at the house. CSIS. This was particularly disturbing for his dad, because he was in the Canadian Armed Forces. The government doesn't like spies or double agents.
I have married a hunted man.
// posted by Annette @ 10:03 p.m. 
