The Winter Olympics are usually noted for sequin-bedecked ice dancers and toothless Czech hockey goons, not to mention the corporate sponsors and inexplicably strange opening ceremonies. This year however, the winter games might be known for another interesting little nugget... the U.S. government using it as an opportunity to read up on your tweets and snarky blog comments.

According to ABC News' Blotter blog, the Department of Homeland Security will be monitoring the comments and posts on various websites and social media networks for any information regarding possible terror threats in Vancouver. Sites such as Drudge Report and The Huffington Post will be monitored by DHS' National Operations Center to "provide situational awareness" in case of any natural or "man-made" disasters.

So, if you're planning on taking the Swedish curling team hostage at any point over the next two weeks, it might not be a great idea to tweet about it.

"The Olympics are a potential target for [acts of terrorism]," the DHS noted in a statement prepared by Chief Privacy Officer Mary Ellen Callahan. "The aggregation of data published via social media sites will likely make it possible for the NOC to provide more accurate situational awareness, a more complete common operating picture, and more timely 2010 Winter Olympics-related information for decision makers."

The DHS noted in its statement that any personally identifiable information collected during these monitoring procedures will promptly be destroyed, as per department guidelines. DHS also claims that it will not be monitoring Facebook since it would require officials to log in.

Of course it seems slightly curious that a federal agency charged with helping prevent terrorist attacks is incapable of creating a Facebook account, a task your mom probably mastered sometime in 2008, but that is neither here nor there. Bottom line: discussing pending Swedish curling team kidnapping plot on Twitter = bad idea. Creating "I plan on kidnapping the Swedish curling team" group on Facebook = good idea.

DHS isn't the only federal agency taking an active role in security at the games. The FBI, Customs and Border Protection, and Coast Guard will all be assisting Canadian agencies both in Vancouver and at the 2010 Olympics Coordination Center just over the border in Washington State. Of course, should the U.S. and Canadian hockey teams face-off with gold on the line you can expect these alliances to quickly crumble.

You may now return to your catty tweets about Johnny Weir and Lindsey Jacobellis... just try to keep the violent threats to a bare minimum; you are being watched after all.