On
July 4, 2014 my computer crashed, suddenly and unexpectedly, just as
I was about to post a report for Independence Day. Because of the
timing, I had to consider the probability that the crash was the
result of sabotage. Nothing new here; since 1994 (the year I left
CIA), no less than ten (10) computers have been destroyed. But
whatever the cause, the result was that I was without my computer
from July 4 until I recently managed to get another used machine.
As a result of the crash I lost my e-mail contact information and my (latest) e-mail address is now defunct. So, for anyone who sent e-mail to that address on or after July 4, I would NOT have received your messages. (And please remove that address from your files.)
I've decided that I will no longer be using e-mail for communications with friends, but only for documents that cannot be sent by post. I've never liked e-mail, and it hasn't been reliable (at least not for me). I'm tired of having to keep changing the address, because my PRIVATE address gets exposed by careless people, when sending something to a list (unsolicited); when their address gets hacked, or when my address (stored in someone's book) is added by mistake.
Also, private e-mails have at times been forwarded to third parties, without my knowledge or consent, and I've had enough of all that. Snoops from the government can't mine any data (personal or otherwise) –at least not because I've sent it out by e-mail, though I can't stop them from invading my privacy by accessing my computer directly, which, considering the cutting-edge technology they use, has been happening for decades.
For those who wish to contact me, anyone who had my private e-mail address would most likely also have my new unlisted telephone number. Or, you can send me a note by post at the address given at the top of the front page of my site.
And
lastly, there is another issue I must address. Because for many
years, I've had a PRIVATE e-mail address, people continue to try to
contact me by sending e-mail to “known associates” of Barbara
Hartwell, usually the editors of websites, or hosts of talk shows, who
have featured my work, using their public contact info in efforts to
reach me.
I
don't want my friends and colleagues burdened with this, or used as
messengers, whether they mind, or not.
I
don't use intermediaries and no one is authorized to speak for me. As
I've clearly stated in notices on my website, anyone who wants to
contact me, for any reason, may easily do so DIRECTLY by sending a
note by post.
Thank
you for your consideration.
Barbara
Hartwell Percival
December
7, 2014
http://www.barbarahartwellvscia.com