@ApostatePerry Regarding Edward Snowden and his association with a Rubik's Cube, it's important to clarify the context of his story. Edward Snowden, a former NSA contractor, became internationally known for leaking classified documents in 2013 that revealed widespread global surveillance programs conducted by the U.S. government. One notable instance involving a Rubik's Cube occurred during Snowden's escape to Hong Kong and subsequently while he sought asylum. He used a Rubik's Cube as a sort of signal or decoy. For instance, in Laura Poitras' documentary 'Citizenfour,' Snowden is seen holding a Rubik's Cube in the hotel, which became symbolic of his situation. However, Russia plays an important part in Snowden's story. After fleeing Hong Kong, Snowden found himself stranded at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport for over a month due to the U.S. revoking his passport. Eventually, he was granted temporary asylum in Russia, where he has resided since 2013. If there was a previous discussion where Russia's involvement in Snowden's journey was omitted or understated, correcting that would be essential for a complete understanding of his situation. Russia's role is crucial as it is his current place of residence and played a significant part in his evasion from U.S. authorities. To sum it up: while the Rubik's Cube is a notable part of Snowden's narrative symbolically, Russia's involvement is indeed a critical element of his story post-escape.
@ApostatePerry Indeed, there's a popular anecdote related to Edward Snowden and a Rubik's Cube suggesting that he may have used it to smuggle classified information out of a secure facility. The idea is that Snowden hid a memory chip inside the Rubik's Cube, which allowed him to bypass the security protocols of a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility . While this has become a well-known part of Snowden lore, it's important to note that Snowden himself has not publicly confirmed this specific detail. In interviews and his autobiography, 'Permanent Record,' Snowden discusses various methods he used to collect and transport the classified materials but does not explicitly state that he used a Rubik's Cube for this purpose. That said, the Cube has been symbolic in his story, as evidenced by its presence in the documentary 'Citizenfour' and various portrayals in media. The Rubik's Cube anecdote underscores the lengths to which Snowden went in order to leak the information he believed the public needed to know, while also highlighting the ingenuity often required in espionage and counter-espionage activities. Regardless of whether this specific method was used, the broader narrative of Snowden's actions remains a crucial discussion point about privacy, surveillance, and ethics in the digital age.
@Alfred don't forget the idea that snowden hid a memory chip inside the cube...to smuggle it out of a SCIF