December 2003 - cypherpunks-legacy

Re: Tim May's offensive racism
by John Young 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Dimitri, Thanks for reposting Kent's slur of toads. Where to begin defense of toadism? Why not with Toad, (see from above) the mother of toads, the nodehome of thousands of Toadies, year after year, even now for few, until ... well, no need for that again. How about the newly built To, the safehome of www.cpunks. Toto? Maybe a stretch. Request-Remailing-To:? Now, that's close family. Reply to: X-post to: And forward to: Come on, Kent, why deny the fundamental purpose of the Net: Send to: Spoof to: Lie to: Obnox to: Joke to: Friendly crowds of to-addicts.

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the art of fighting without fighting
by nobody＠REPLAY.COM 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Bruce Lee film. Scene on a sailing ship headed for island where tournament is to be held. Thug karate type hassles Mr Lee, picking a fight. Thug asks: "so what kind of karate do you fight." Mr Lee: "the art of fighting without fighting." Thug asks for fight. Mr Lee: "not here, on that island over there," points. OK says thug eagerly and climbs down into rowing boat. Mr Lee unties end of rope and hands to children playing, leaning over edge of ship. Thug screams obscenities from row boat, trys to pull himself in but children threaten to let go of rope. Mr Lee walks off camera unperturbed with smug look. Moral of story: fight smart. That's what cypherpunks tactic is. Multiplies your efficacy. Anonymous decries talk of violence on list. Understand anonymous, we are not the aggressors, we are the aggressed. It is annoying being on the receiving end of aggression especially where the aggressor is the local force monopoly and you have no recourse. Hence talk of nuking DC, and of capital punishment for criminal government officials. There is certain poetic karmic value to these expressions of annoyance. Helps spread the dissatisfaction with government. However, the fact that criminal officials deserve punishment does not mean that any of us are interested to actually deliver that punishment. There are more efficient methods of utilising our available resources: write crypto code, hasten crypto-anarchy. Have the government collapse through lack of funding, have it's power eroded. Let's get to it. Amad3us -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 6.6.6 iQCVAwUBNG9DLvKMuKFNFivhAQEwQgP9E/gJyEqdczO9epkmXJ35swOcDId2W+N4 lpLX8fsE3g7PTxMGb4CMCOftqRPbYZ5F5ZLeFKjQGQG5/7D99n8dWiNFERRM5/Go s6CSIYzM3jKXVYrW7NxbjCvw/IfDv9QGLZphU7ZK41efU/4Y0OXydQJAO+AHsFFk 1end8q1QRPM= =hc+j -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

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kiwi not home (was: getting premail)
by bureau42 Anonymous Remailer 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Igor Chudov wrote: > > Bill Stewart wrote: > > > > At 11:11 PM 11/13/1997 -0600, Igor Chudov @ home wrote: > > >Anyone know of a WORKING site where I can download premail from? > > >kiwi...berkeley is refusing connections. > > > > http://atropos.c2.net/~raph/premail.html > > > > Also look at www.publius.net > > Nope, all of these sites refer me to kiwi, which is refusing > connections. kiwi is NOT refusing connections. It is just not there. There's a difference. The host: http://kiwi.cs.berkeley.edu/ does not respond to connection requests to port 80, nor 8080, nor 8001. Ping yields "Host lookup failed - Non-authoritative host not found." The browser indicates it is trying to contact, which can mean anything up to and including that it is awaiting a cascading name lookup, but has not yet opened a TCP connection to the target. I'm guessing kiwi is Raph's computer in Computer Science and that maybe it is hosed. Maybe Raph has been hosed... "(WHAP!) Tell us the name of your leader! (WHAP!) Talk! (WHAP!)" Maybe Raph will turn up one of these days writing plaintive notes of contrition. Maybe... oh, never mind. Oddly, while Raph has a home page at www.cs.berkeley.edu and at atropos.c2.net/, all the critical roads seem to lead to kiwi, including the mixmaster list. Search engines show precious few references to critical remailer files except in the links that point to the dead host. Is it really this easy to make the whole remailer network go stale -- like cutting off jet fighter spare parts to suddenly unfriendly nation-states? Wouldn't it be prudent to mirror the remailer lists, keys and stats at a few dozen places scattered around the world? Would it take more than a few percent of the effort and time that have recently been pissed down a hole writing and reading the flames that have consumed the list of late? Hmmmm?

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Politically Correct Riding Hood
by Eric Cordian 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Author Unknown (to me at least) but it fits in well with our current discussion of how not to offend various minority groups. ----- There once was a young person named Little Red Riding Hood who lived on the edge of a large forest full of endangered owls and rare plants that would probably provide a cure for cancer if only someone took the time to study them. Red Riding Hood lived with a nurture giver whom she sometimes referred to as "mother," although she didn't mean to imply by this term that she would have thought less of the person if a close biological link did not in fact exist. Nor did she intend to denigrate the equal value of non traditional households, although she was sorry if this was the impression conveyed. One day her mother asked her to take a basket of organically grown fruit and mineral water to her grandmother's house. "But mother, won't this be stealing work from the unionized people who have struggled for years to earn the right to carry all packages between various people in the woods?" Red Riding Hood's mother assured her that she had called the union boss and gotten a special compassionate mission exemption form. "But mother, aren't you oppressing me by ordering me to do this?" Red Riding Hood's mother pointed out that it was impossible for womyn to oppress each other, since all womyn were equally oppressed until all womyn were free. "But mother, then shouldn't you have my brother carry the basket, since he's an oppressor, and should learn what it's like to be oppressed?" And Red Riding Hood's mother explained that her brother was attending a special rally for animal rights, and besides, this wasn't stereotypical womyn's work, but an empowering deed that would help engender a feeling of community. "But won't I be oppressing Grandma, by implying that she's sick and hence unable to independently further her own selfhood?" But Red Riding Hood's mother explained that her grandmother wasn't actually sick or incapacitated or mentally handicapped in any way, although that was not to imply that any of these conditions were inferior to what some people called "health". Thus Red Riding Hood felt that she could get behind the idea of delivering the basket to her grandmother, and so she set off. Many people believed that the forest was a foreboding and dangerous place, but Red Riding Hood knew that this was an irrational fear based on cultural paradigms instilled by a patriarchal society that regarded the natural world as an exploitable resource, and hence believed that natural predators were in fact intolerable competitors. Other people avoided the woods for fear of thieves and deviants, but Red Riding Hood felt that in a truly classless society all marginalized peoples would be able to "come out" of the woods and be accepted as valid lifestyle role models. On her way to Grandma's house, Red Riding Hood passed a woodchopper, and wandered off the path, in order to examine some flowers. She was startled to find herself standing before a Wolf, who asked her what was in her basket. Red Riding Hood's teacher had warned her never to talk to strangers, but she was confident in taking control of her own budding sexuality, and chose to dialogue with the Wolf. She replied, "I am taking my Grandmother some healthful snacks in a gesture of solidarity." The Wolf said, "You know, my dear, it isn't safe for a little girl to walk through these woods alone." Red Riding Hood said, "I find your sexist remark offensive in the extreme, but I will ignore it because of your traditional status as an outcast from society, the stress of which has caused you to develop an alternative and yet entirely valid world view. Now, if you'll excuse me, I would prefer to be on my way." Red Riding Hood returned to the main path, and proceeded towards her Grandmother's house. But because his status outside society had freed him from slavish adherence to linear, Western-style thought, the Wolf knew of a quicker route to Grandma's house. He burst into the house and ate Grandma, a course of action affirmative of his nature as a predator. Then, unhampered by rigid, traditionalist gender role notions, he put on Grandma's nightclothes, crawled under the bedclothes, and awaited developments. Red Riding Hood entered the cottage and said, "Grandma, I have brought you some cruelty free snacks to salute you in your role of wise and nurturing matriarch." The Wolf said softly "Come closer, child, so that I might see you." Red Riding Hood said, "Goddess! Grandma, what big eyes you have!" "You forget that I am optically challenged." "And Grandma, what an enormous, what a fine nose you have." "Naturally, I could have had it fixed to help my acting career, but I didn't give in to such societal pressures, my child." "And Grandma, what very big, sharp teeth you have!" The Wolf could not take any more of these specist slurs, and, in a reaction appropriate for his accustomed milieu, he leaped out of bed, grabbed Little Red Riding Hood, and opened his jaws so wide that she could see her poor Grandmother cowering in his belly. "Aren't you forgetting something?" Red Riding Hood bravely shouted. "You must request my permission before proceeding to a new level of intimacy!" The Wolf was so startled by this statement that he loosened his grasp on her. At the same time, the woodchopper burst into the cottage, brandishing an ax. "Hands off!" cried the woodchopper. "And what do you think you're doing?" cried Little Red Riding Hood. "If I let you help me now, I would be expressing a lack of confidence in my own abilities, which would lead to poor self esteem and lower achievement scores on college entrance exams." "Last chance, sister! Get your hands off that endangered species! This is an FBI sting!" screamed the woodchopper, and when Little Red Riding Hood nonetheless made a sudden motion, he sliced off her head. "Thank goodness you got here in time," said the Wolf. "The brat and her grandmother lured me in here. I thought I was a goner." "No, I think I'm the real victim here," said the woodchopper. "I've been dealing with my anger ever since I saw her picking those protected flowers earlier. And now I'm going to have such a trauma. Do you have any aspirin?" "Sure," said the Wolf. "Thanks." "I feel your pain," said the Wolf, and he patted the woodchopper on his firm, well padded ass, gave a little belch, and said, "Do you have any Maalox?" -- Eric Michael Cordian 0+ O:.T:.O:. Mathematical Munitions Division "Do What Thou Wilt Shall Be The Whole Of The Law"

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Re: Naziworld
by Dave Van Domelen 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Which link? And which Naziworld are you referring to? There's lots out there in comics, fiction and gaming. Dave

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Citizenship, soverignty and insular areas
by Steve Schear 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

A very interesting report just published which, while explaining to a Congressional Committee about the legal status of certain small U.S. possessions and territories, touches on differences in the application of U.S. law and citizenship in these areas. Interestingly, "The Constitution does not apply in its entirety to territories solely by virtue of the fact that those territories have come under the possession and control of the United States. Whether rights under the Constitution apply to a territory and, if so, to what extent depends essentially on either of two factors, according to a series of Supreme Court decisions called the Insular Cases.15 The first is whether the right in question is considered to be "fundamental" or not; the second is whether the Congress has taken legislative action to extend the Constitution to the territory." In particular, federal income tax does not apply to many of these possessions (e.g., Saipan) and have become tax havens for some U.S. citizens. - U.S. Insular Areas: Application of the U.S. Constitution. OGC-98-5. 13 pp. plus 7 appendices (58 pp.) November 7, 1997. http://www.gao.gov/new.items/og98005.pdf

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House Panel Questions FBI Implementation of Wiretap Law
by Steve Schear 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

I doubt any of these revelations will come as a shock to list members. --Steve ------------------ Excerpt from ACLU News 10-26-97 House Panel Questions FBI Implementation of Wiretap Law FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, October 23, 1997 WASHINGTON -- Amid growing concerns about privacy implications and costs, a House subcommittee today questioned FBI implementation of a controversial 1994 law that forced telephone companies help law enforcement agencies gain access to digital phone lines for surveillance operations. During the four-hour hearing before the Crime Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee, two Republicans -- Bob Barr of Georgia and Steve Chabot of Ohio -- were harshly critical of the 1994 law, has implemented it, saying it represents an enormous invasion of privacy and could lead to a system of ongoing government surveillance. Seconding those criticisms, the American Civil Liberties Union said that safeguards originally implemented in the legislation have failed to protect the American public. "The hearing today clearly revealed that the FBI is embarked on a scheme to undermine the privacy of every law-abiding American," said Donald Haines, a Legislative Counsel with the ACLU's Washington National Office. "From the very beginning, the FBI has flagrantly violated both the process and the requirements set out in the legislation," Haines added. "The FBI has repeatedly sought to coerce the telecommunications industry into changing its technology so that law enforcement agencies could increase their wiretapping." The 1994 telecommunications act is far from the only effort by the FBI to gain backdoor access to private communications. In another ongoing Congressional debate, the FBI is trying to impose restrictions on the use of privacy-protecting encryption technology. "Congress must squarely confront this persistent pattern of FBI and law enforcement intrusions into our privacy," Haines said. "Congress should act immediately to repeal the 1994 law, or, at an absolute minimum, refuse to fund any implementation activities."

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Re: The Electronic Privacy Papers
by John Young 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Thanks to David Spector's praise and pointer for: "The Electronic Privacy Papers: Documents on the Battle for Privacy in the Age of Surveillance" by Bruce Schneier and David Banisar we offer its 10-page detailed TOC, foreword, preface and epilog: http://jya.com/tepp.htm (49K) The 747-page volume is an excellent read and rich resource of once secret documents, legislation, regulations, letters, memos, names, events, policies, opinions and disputes of the surveillance age and crypto battles. Subscribers to this list are amply represented. In addition to the Amazon URL provided by David: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ats-query/9615-8912043-502933 Bruce offers a 15% discount off the $60 price at: http://www.counterpane.com/privacy.html B&N sells it in Manhattan for $39.95, hardcover.

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Re: PGPsdk is now free for non-commercial use
by Bill Stewart 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

[I'm also posting this to coderpunks, but cypherpunks is probably a better place for discussions.] At 10:13 PM 11/15/1997 -0800, Bill Frantz wrote: >At 1:06 AM -0800 11/15/97, phelix(a)vallnet.com wrote: >>Well, PGP has come to it's senses and is allowing non-commercial >>developers to use the sdk for free. I didn't notice anything too >>ominous in the license agreement, and they promise a new >>licensing/prices for shareware and small commercial developers. >> >>Perhaps nobody is buying the sdk at it's current highly >>inflated licensing price. > >Much more likely is that more than a few cypherpunks discussed >the issue with PRZ at the last SF Bay Area Physical meeting, >and that discussion is bearing fruit. I'm pleased to see PGP Inc. permitting development of freeware, but at leased from a first reading of the license, it's a _really_ restrictive definition of "freeware" - not only does the software have to be free, but it can only be used in extremely restrictively non-commercial activities. It's far more restrictive than RSAREF (though more precisely defined.) Here's an excerpt from the web page at http://www.pgp.com/sdk/sdklicencefree.html For purposes hereof, the term "non-commercial" shall mean that the application (a) has been distributed or otherwise made available at no charge (direct or indirect) and (b) is not used for any commercial purpose, which includes, but is not limited to, any activity engaged for the purpose of generating revenues (directly or indirectly). For example, a commercial purpose includes the use of the application within a commercial business or facility or the use of the product to provide a service, or in support of service, for which you charge. Commercial purpose also includes use by any government agency or organization. Examples of non-commercial purposes include use at home for personal correspondence, use by students for academic activities, or use by human rights organizations. First of all, it sounds like it can only be used by students at non-government-run universities, but not at Berkeley, and if Random MIT Student develops PGPwidget using the toolkit, students at U.C.Berkeley can't use it for academic use either, except perhaps on their PCs at home (if they live off-campus.) (Do any of the UK universities count as non-government-run?) But "within a commercial business or facility" is far more restrictive. I use a laptop for my home and work email, and carry it around. It sounds like I can't use PGPwidget or PGPsdk for encrypting personal email at lunchtime when my laptop is at the office, and perhaps not from a hotel (at least if I'm there on business)? I probably can't start PGPwidget at home and leave it running when I carry the laptop to work. I probably can't use PGPwidget when I'm reading my work email at home, though perhaps it's ok to use it on personal mail that someone sent to my work MSExchange, assuming it's not a widget that competes with a PGP product. This is frustrating - today, I can use PGP 2.6.2, and maybe 5.0, at work, though I can't sell it without a license, and it's not very clear whether I can run a commercial service without a license (I probably need a license from RSA, but not PGP, and non-RSA keys probably don't require that.) And I can certainly write programs that use PGP command-line interfaces to encrypt things without any restrictions on my code. Thanks! Bill Bill Stewart, stewarts(a)ix.netcom.com Regular Key PGP Fingerprint D454 E202 CBC8 40BF 3C85 B884 0ABE 4639

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Apologies to Joichi Ito
by dabi-do＠juno.com 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Mr. Ito: Apologies for misspelling your surname. Ito-san was what I had in mind. Dabi-do dabi-do(a)juno.com

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Re: Exporting crypto from Japan
by Nobuki Nakatuji 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Do you readJapanese import & export law book? If you don't read at yet,You must read it. ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

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Digital Revolution!
by nobody＠REPLAY.COM 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

~~~ IMPORTANT NOTE ~~~ This is NOT a chainletter, it is an ANTI-CHAINLETTER! This message has gone to everyone in the world with a computer, and we are asking you to go to the homes and businesses of ten people you know, and delete it. ~~~ IMPORTANT NOTE ~~~ I am proud to announce the formation of the DIGITAL MAJORITY TAX FREE FOUNDATION for the purpose of serving as the voice of people with ten fingers, across the face of the earth. As a one-person operation, the DIGITAL MAJORITY TAX FREE FOUNDATION will be able to voice opinions representative of all ten-fingered people for a fraction of the cost of the bloated bureacracies which bleed charitable people around the world dry through a multitude of sham organizations catering to narrowly focused self-interest groups which have spread like a plague throughout the DEXADIGITAL community. As the sole member of the Digitally United Membership Board, I will be in a position to speak for practically everyone, everywhere, on all issues, and getting stinking rich while still bleeding the mass of humanity of their hard-earned money at a mere fraction of the cost of the current unweildy network of tax deductible rights and freedoms organizations. The DIGITAL MAJORITY believes in equal charitablization for those with equal digitization, as well as many other vague concepts under which all DexaDigital people can stand under the flag of freedom on the distant shores where bells ring for liberty and all mankind. To save the life of a single child, send your contributions to: DIGITAL MAJORITY, BOX 281, BIENFAIT, SK. CANADA S0C 0M0 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This message sponsored by: Modern Motels of Bienfait Conglomeration "Modern, in the traditional sense of the word." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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Re: PGPsdk is now free for non-commercial use
by Lucky Green 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

At 06:25 PM 11/16/97 -0800, Bill Stewart wrote: >I'm pleased to see PGP Inc. permitting development of freeware, >but at leased from a first reading of the license, >it's a _really_ restrictive definition of "freeware" - >not only does the software have to be free, but it can only be used >in extremely restrictively non-commercial activities. The idea is simple: you make money from software that costs the authors lots of money to develop or use their software in a business environment (=to make money), you have to pay the people that spent time, effort, and, yes, money, on making it happen. Sounds reasonable to me. -- Lucky Green <mailto:shamrock@netcom.com> PGP encrypted mail preferred "I do believe that where there is a choice only between cowardice and violence, I would advise violence." Mahatma Gandhi

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ACM Washington Update 1.7
by USACM Washington Office 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

____________________________________________________________ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ ACM WASHINGTON UPDATE U.S. Office of Public Policy of the Association for Computing __________________________________________ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ November 14, 1997 Volume 1.7 _____________________________________________________ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ CONTENTS =+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ INTRODUCTION USACM ACTIVITIES USACM Signs Amicus Brief in Cryptography Case Leading US Science Groups Protest Crypto Restrictions USACM Meets With Congressional Staff USACM To Sponsor ACM Policy 98 Conference POLICY BRIEFS Congress To Re-Think U.S. Science Policy New Net Decency Bill Introduced in Senate Copyright Legislation Introduced NRC Solicits Comments on Information Literacy Proposed Database Protection Legislation National Research Investment Act of 1998 Introduced Digital Signatures Discussed in Congressional Committees Federal Involvement Seen as Crucial to Science Education Reform President's Commission Releases Infowar Report. Nominations and New Appointments __________________________________________________________ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ INTRODUCTION =+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ The Association for Computing is an international professional society whose 75,000 members (60,000 in the U.S.) represent a critical mass of computer scientists in education, industry, and government. The USACM provides a means for promoting dialogue on technology policy issues with United States policy makers and the general public. The WASHINGTON UPDATE will report on activities in Washington which may be of interest to those in the computing and information policy communities and will highlight USACM's involvement in many of these issues. To subscribe to the ACM WASHINGTON UPDATE send an e-mail to listserv(a)acm.org with "subscribe WASHINGTON-UPDATE" (no quotes) in the body of the message. Back issues are available at http:/www.acm.org/usacm For information about joining the Association for Computing, see: http://www.acm.org/membership/join.html _________________________________________________________ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ ACM POLICY 98 CONFERENCE =+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ ACM POLICY '98 "Shaping Policy in the Information Age" May 10-12, 1998 Washington Renaissance Hotel Washington, DC + Electronic Commerce + Intellectual Property + Learning Online + Universal Service Sponsored by USACM in cooperation with SIGCAS, SIGGRAPH, and SIGCHI. For Conference and Registration information see: http://www.acm.org/usacm/events/policy98/ _________________________________________________________ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ USACM ACTIVITIES =+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ USACM SIGNS AMICUS BRIEF IN CRYPTOGRAPHY CASE USACM has joined 14 other groups and three distinguished computer security experts and cryptographers to sign a brief on encryption submitted to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in the Bernstein v. State Department case. The case challenges the constitutionality of export controls of encryption. In a lower court decision issued in August, Judge Marilyn Patel ruled that source code is protected by the First Amendment. http://www.acm.org/usacm/crypto/bernstein_brief.html LEADING U.S. SCIENCE GROUPS PROTEST CRYPTO RESTRICTIONS On September, 24 the leading U.S. scientific, mathematics, and engineering societies sent a united message to Congress protesting proposed U.S. cryptography policies that would maintain export restrictions limiting the open exchange of scientific information and the progress of scientific research and development. In addition, these organizations warned that new requirements for domestic key recovery raise serious scientific and technical problems that undermine its viability as a policy alternative. In a letter to the House Commerce Committee, the societies indicated that the policies will "diminish the scientific reputation of the United States and weaken us economically." This is the first time these highly influential societies have united to inform Congress how cryptography policies will effect the future of scientific research and development in the U. S. Until now, the debate has focused on commercial, civil liberties, and national security/ law enforcement interests. The letter urges the Committee to reject restrictive proposals or " U.S. leadership in many areas of science and technology is likely to be jeopardized with no discernible benefits to our National Interests." http://www.acm.org/usacm/crypto/societies_crypto_letter_1997.html USACM MEETS WITH CONGRESSIONAL STAFF On October 9 and 10, USACM Chairperson Barbara Simons met with staffers from Sen. Boxer, Sen. Feinstein, Sen. Kerry, Rep. Eshoo, and Rep. Campbell's offices to discuss U.S. cryptography policy. Simons discussed both California Resolution SJR29 which sets forth the Legislature's vigorous disagreement with the Administration's crypto export policy and the letter from the scientific societies. http://www.acm.org/usacm/crypto/usacm_cal_resolution.html USACM TO SPONSOR ACM POLICY 98 CONFERENCE USACM is sponsoring the ACM Policy '98 Conference to be held May 10-12 in Washington DC. The purpose of the conference is to increase the influence of computer professionals in shaping the future of computing by establishing a discourse between computer professionals and policy makers. ACM proposes to exert leadership in this area through USACM and SIGCAS by bringing together relevant audiences from academia, government, industry, and journalism. Leading experts in the field will be invited to discuss, debate, and develop policies to manage the impact of these technologies to produce outcomes beneficial to society. The co-chairs of the conference are Ben Shneiderman, USACM and C. Dianne Martin, SIGCAS and the conference is being held in cooperation with SIGCAS, SIGGRAPH, and SIGCHI. The conference will feature discussions on Universal Access, Electronic Commerce, Intellectual Property, and Learning Online. The panel coordinators are USACM members David Farber, Jim Horning, Pam Samuelson, and Chuck Brownstein. http://www.acm.org/usacm/events/policy98/ __________________________________________________________ =+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ POLICY BRIEFS =+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ CONGRESS TO RETHINK U.S. SCIENCE POLICY On Oct. 23, Congressman Vern Ehlers (R-Mich), Vice Chairman of the House Science Committee, began an effort to redefinine U.S. Science Policy for the next century. The project was initiated by Rep. Newt Gingrich, who requested that the House Science Committee develop a new, post-Cold War, paradigm for national science policy. Ehlers convened a meeting of distinguished policy experts including the Presidents of the National Academies of Science and Engineering; the President, Vice-President, Chairman, plus a Senior Fellow from the Council on Competitiveness; leaders of the Sandia and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories; the retired President of Hewlett Packard Corporation; and the President of MIT. This project offers novel opportunities for scientists and science policy makers to be involved in the creation of a new paradigm for US science policy. Vice Chairman Ehlers has set up a web site that will provide information on this year-long effort and where he will solicit comments on developing the new policy outline. First, he is planning to post a mission/challenge statement and then will begin fashioning a draft science policy statement. Beginning in the early summer 1998, he will hold hearings on the statement. Subsequently, he will submit the final science policy document and it will hopefully be adopted as a concurrent resolution of the Congress. http://www.house.gov/science/science_policy_study.htm =+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ NEW NET DECENCY BILL INTRODUCED IN SENATE Senator Dan Coates (R-IN) introduced S. 1482 on November 8. The bill criminalizes commercial distribution of materials "harmful to minors" on the Internet. Under the statute, commercial online distributors of material deemed "harmful to minors" could be punished with up to six months in jail and a $50,000 fine unless they have developed age verification or credit card processing systems. This is a second iteration of the Communications Decency Act which the Supreme Court held unconstitutional this past summer. http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c105:S.1482.IS: =+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ COPYRIGHT LEGISLATION INTRODUCED Sen. John Ashcroft (Mi.) has introduced Digital Copyright Clarification and Technology Education Act of 1997, S. 1145, a comprehensive bill that provides implementing legislation for the WIPO Copyright Treaty passed last year. The bill contains three separate titles covering, OSP/ISP Liability, Technology for Teachers and Librarians, and WIPO Implementation. The OSP/ISP Liability section would clarify that merely providing network services and facilities for transmitting an electronic communication will not result in liability under the Copyright Act; confirm that providing a site-linking aid, a navigational aid (including a search engine or browser), or the tools for creating a site-linking aid will not result in liability under the Copyright Act; clarify that Internet and on-line service providers will not be liable for third-party copyright infringement unless they have received notice and have a reasonable opportunity to limit the third-party infringement; and confirm that an employee of an educational institution, library, or archives will not be deemed to have received notice and thus will not be required to "take down" an allegedly infringing work if she believed the use was a fair use or otherwise lawful. The WIPO Implementation title implements provisions of two international copyright treaties adopted by the World Intellectual Property Organization. The WIPO treaties oblige signatory nations to offer legal protection against circumvention of technology intended to protect copyrighted material against infringement, but do not require the broad prohibition of software or devices that might be used by infringers. Section 1201 would only create liability for a person who--for purposes of infringing a copyrighted work--knowingly circumvents the application of an effective anti-copying measure used to protect a work in a digital format. Section 1202 would create liability for a person who knowingly provides false copyright management information or who removes or alters copyright management information without the authority of the copyright owner. http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c105:S.1146: =+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ NRC SOLICITS COMMENTS ON INFORMATION LITERACY The Computer Science and Telecommunications Board (CSTB) of the National Research Council is undertaking a project "to explicate the various dimensions of what might be called information technology (IT) literacy, i.e., what everyone needs to know about information technology. A major part of the project's task is to develop a consensus for the appropriate definitions of "everyone", "know", and "information technology"." The committee responsible for this project is chaired by Larry Snyder, professor of computer science and engineering at the University of Washington. Because the subject of IT literacy is subject to many differing opinions, the committee has developed a number of questions for which it hopes to generate a broad response. Sets of questions have been developed for computer and communications scientists and engineers, employers and labor professionals, librarians, K-12 educators, and other groups. The committee invites you to submit your answers to these questions in the form of a short position paper. For more information, see http://www2.nas.edu/cstbweb/549a.html =+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ PROPOSED DATABASE PROTECTION LEGISLATION Chairman Coble has introduced H.R. 2652, the Collections of Information Antipiracy Act. This database bill is designed as a misappropriation bill, not a sui generis protection bill which had previously been proposed. In other words, it in theory does not create a property right in the database; it simply prohibits the unfair use of the data one has collected. As this bill is drafted, however, there is little to distinguish it from a sui generis protection bill. Historically, the misappropriation approach in the U.S. is based on the Supreme Court's holding that the state common law of misappropriation was not preempted by the copyright law when it covered *hot news.* This doctrine was explained in the recent NBA v. Motorola case, where the Court listed five conditions for misappropriation not to be preempted. However, H.R. 2652 appears far broader than the traditional misappropriation doctrine. Significantly, traditional misappropriation is limited to time sensitive information, while H.R. 2652 applies to all information. Also, the definitions in the statute are extremely vague. The bill contains several exceptions and exclusions, but they appear limited. Finally, H.R. 2652 contains civil and criminal penalties ($500,000 penalty and 10 years in jail). H.R. 2652 expressly does not extend to computer programs, but this exclusion "does not apply to a collection of information directly or indirectly incorporated in a computer program." There are numerous interpretations to that language. For example, would a command structure be viewed as a collection of information incorporated in a program? Or, what about a look-up table for translation purposes? One could argue that the phrase "collection of information ... incorporated in a computer program" refers to information related to the application rather the functioning of the program itself. For example, in a program designed to determine structural stress, the engineering constants in the program would be protected, while the interface specifications would not. This interpretation, however, is not clear from the face of the statute. http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c105:H.R.2652: =+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ NATIONAL RESEARCH INVESTMENT ACT OF 1998 INTRODUCED On November 7, Sens. Lieberman (D-Conn.) and Gramm (R-Texas) introduced S. 1305, the National Research Investment Act of 1998. The Act is designed to reverse a downward trend in the federal government's allocation to science and engineering research by authorizing the doubling of federal research spending over the next ten years. According to Sen. Lieberman, "...Publicly funded science has shown to be surprisingly important to the innovation system. A new study prepared for the National Science Foundation found that 73 percent of the main science papers cited by American industrial patents in two recent years were based on domestic and foreign research financed by governments or nonprofit agencies." He continued, "Yet, despite the demonstrated importance of publicly funded scientific research, the amount spent on science and engineering by the Federal Government is declining. Senator Gramm has already noted that in 1965, 5.7 percent of the Federal budget was spent on non defense research and development. Thirty-two years later, that figure has dropped by two-thirds to 1.9 percent." On November 12, S. 1305, was discussed at a conference in Washington. A member of Senator Gramm's staff indicated that passage of S. 1305 is "going to be very difficult." That is why the Bill supports a ten yearperiod during which federal spending on R&D will continue to grow until it is doubled in 2008. S. 1305 differs from Gramm's previous bill because of its bipartisan support. Having both a Democratic and a Republican original cosponsors will help to reassure other senators. Also participating in this session were speakers from the AAAS and the Office of Management and Budget. AAAS recently calculated that total federal R&D for FY 1998 increased 3.9% over last year. Basic research support increased by 4.0% (both figures subject to change as remaining appropriations bill are passed.) The OMB official predicted that previously forecasted dramatic cuts in federal support for R&D seem unlikely, as is a doubling of future federal support. =+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ DIGITAL SIGNATURES DISCUSSED IN CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES The Senate Banking and House Science Committee held hearings on October 28 on digital signatures. The witnesses at the hearings recommended that any bill proposed be limited in its scope. They argued that since many companies are using digital signatures for different reasons, it would be premature for Congress to pass far- reaching legislation. Andrew Pincus from the Commerce Department noted "it seems unlikely that the market will settle on one universal authentication mechanism." Senator Robert Bennett (R-UT) announced that he is planning to introduce legislation early next year. =+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ FEDERAL INVOLVEMENT SEEN AS CRUCIAL TO SCIENCE EDUCATION REFORM Efforts are being made to improve U.S. K-12 science and math education. An October 29 House Science Committee hearing reviewed the federal role in improving science education and asked the question: is the federal government coordinating its many programs for maximum effectiveness? Committee Vice Chair Vern Ehlers (R-MI), who has run this series of hearings, blamed the lack of a national consensus for the current "fragmented, mile-wide and inch-deep science and math curricula" that students face. He believes the federal government should play a role in correcting this trend. At an October 8 hearing in the same series, three experts in the field of science education were invited to discuss the lessons learned from TIMMS, the Third International Mathematics and Science Study which analyzed international achievement in math and science at several grade levels. The TIMMS results showed that US fourth-graders performed above the international average in math and were second only to South Korea in science. But by eighth grade, US students performed only slightly above the international average in science and below the average in math. This drop in achievement from fourth to eighth grade, said TIMMS National Research Coordinator William Schmidt, demonstrated that "US students don't start out behind the rest of the world, but fall behind during the middle school years." All three witnesses attributed this failing of US math and science education to the lack of a national consensus on what should be taught at each grade. =+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ PRESIDENT'S COMMISSION RELEASES INFOWAR REPORT The President's Commission on Critical Infrastructure Protection released its final report on November 5. The report recommends increased spending for computer security and training and warns that currently, most major U.S. infrastructures which depentd on computer systems are unprotected. In a controversial section, it recommended that key escrow/recovery systems be adopted. The report was heavily criticized by industry representatives in hearings before the House and Senate. USACM member Peter Neumann testified about the report before the House Science Committee on November 6, 1997 criticizing numerous findings of the Commision.. The President's Commission on Critical Infrastructure Protection was established in July 1996 to examine both physical and electronic cyber threats to eight key U.S. infrastructures (energy, telecommunications, banking and finance, transportation, gas and oil storage, water supply systems, government services and emergency service). The Commission will develop a comprehensive national strategy for infrastructure assurance. The full report is available at http://www.pccip.gov =+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ NOMINATIONS AND NEW APPOINTMENTS The President's National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee was established under Executive Order 12382 to provide the President with technical information and advice on national security telecommunications policy. The committee is composed of no more than 30 members who have particular knowledge and expertise in the field of telecommunications and who represent elements of the Nation's telecommunications industry. The President appointed Mr. Charles R. Lee and Mr. Van B. Honeycutt to the Committee. The Advisory Committee on High Performance Computing and Communications, Information Technology, and The Next Generation Internet will provide valuable guidance and advice on all areas of high performance computing, communications, and information technologies to the President, the Office of Science and Technology Policy, and the Federal agencies involved in the Computing, Information, and Communications R & D, including the Next Generation Internet Initiative. They will also provide valuable guidance on the Administration's efforts to accelerate development and adoption of Information technologies that will be vital for American prosperity in the 21st century. The President announced his intent to appoint Mr. David W. Dorman, Dr. Joe F. Thompson, Dr. Irving Wladawsky-Berger, and Dr. John P. Miller to the Committee. President Clinton announced his intent to appoint Dr. Jeffrey Jaffe, Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton, Norman Mineta, and Joseph Holmes as Members to the Advisory Committee to the President's Commission on Critical Infrastructure Protection. The Advisory Committee, which is made up of infrastructure industry executives and private-sector leaders will advise and support the President's Commission on Critical Infrastructure Protection. ________________________________________________________________________ =+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+= Washington Update is a biweekly publication of the U.S. Public Policy Office of the Association for Computing http://www.acm.org/usacm 666 Pennsylvania Ave., SE, Suite 302B, Washington, DC 20003. 202/298-0842 (tel), 202/547-5482 (fax). ________________________________________________________________________

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Re: PGPsdk is now free for non-commercial use
by Alan Olsen 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

At 06:53 PM 11/16/97 -0800, Lucky Green wrote: > >At 06:25 PM 11/16/97 -0800, Bill Stewart wrote: >>I'm pleased to see PGP Inc. permitting development of freeware, >>but at leased from a first reading of the license, >>it's a _really_ restrictive definition of "freeware" - >>not only does the software have to be free, but it can only be used >>in extremely restrictively non-commercial activities. > >The idea is simple: you make money from software that costs the authors >lots of money to develop or use their software in a business environment >(=to make money), you have to pay the people that spent time, effort, and, >yes, money, on making it happen. > >Sounds reasonable to me. I can see where they want to make a profit, but the licence makes the software virtually undistributable by normal shareware channels. >From what I have read of the license it is against the license agreement to ship the libraries on a CD of shareware products for which a price is charged. If I were to create a program using the libraries and upload them to Simtel or one of the other big archives, it could not be distributed on a Simtel CD-ROM that someone was charging money for. (Ignoring the usual export issues.) I see this as a big problem. --- | "That'll make it hot for them!" - Guy Grand | |"The moral PGP Diffie taught Zimmermann unites all| Disclaimer: | | mankind free in one-key-steganography-privacy!" | Ignore the man | |`finger -l alano(a)teleport.com` for PGP 2.6.2 key | behind the keyboard.| | http://www.ctrl-alt-del.com/~alan/ |alan(a)ctrl-alt-del.com|

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cryptx spam - des-based program.
by Bill Stewart 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

I got spammed by someone selling Cryptx, a DES-based encryption program. I'm assuming they know they're spamming; at least the person who sent the email did, though perhaps the vendor doesn't understand it. In addition to selling crypto, their web page says they also sell an "Automates the process of submitting your URL's to over 370 sites!" which is at least on the borderline tacky side. Their web page doesn't look like snake oil, though they _really_ need to emphasize the importance of good keys (they talk about DES having been cracked once by the distributed internet crack, and neglect to mention that DES with easy-to-guess keys has been cracked regularly for years. So not only do the Bad Guys abuse the level of effort of the crack, but so do well-meaning but clueless people.) I'd guess they don't do anything like generating a random high-entropy session key and encrypting it with a passphrase. Also, they promise an "Update to 448-Bit encryption", which says that even if there's no snake oil now, there may be soon. Upgrade so you can email your encrypted files right through Cryptx. You will never have to worry about sending uncompromised email again. All of the domain names in the SPAM are from directsend.com Info World PO BOX 92223 City of Industry, CA 91715-2223 except of course than nrply.com is non-existent. The web page gives its identity as PBD Technologies 13502-H Whittier Blvd. Suite 304 Whittier, CA 90605 Their web page also says they have offices in Portland and Toronto, presumably including the person named in the whois for crypt-x.com Mark Weber CRYPT-X-DOM 4534 SE 17th Ave. Ste. 153B Portland, OR 97202 US Administrative Contact: Weber, Mark MW3634 coolio(a)AIMARKET.COM 503-235-9442 (FAX) 503-235-9254 > Return-Path: <cryptx(a)ultra-mail.com> > Received: from digital-coupons.com ([206.84.21.30]) > by ixmail2.ix.netcom.com (8.8.7-s-4/8.8.7/(NETCOM v1.01)) with ESMTP id NAA21132; ; > Sat, 15 Nov 1997 13:50:22 -0800 (PST) >From: cryptx(a)ultra-mail.com >Message-Id: <199711152150.NAA21132(a)ixmail2.ix.netcom.com> >Received: by digital-coupons.com (8.8.7/8.8.5) with SMTP id QAA07327; > Sat, 15 Nov 1997 16:48:59 -0500 (EST) >Date: Sat, 15 Nov 1997 16:48:59 -0500 (EST) >Received: from by (8.8.5/8.7.3) with SMTP id XAA02678 for ; Sat, 15 November 1997 13:38:59 -0700 (EDT) >To: GetProtected(a)nrply.com >Subject: Protect your data from prying eyes! > >Hello - >Do you have information that is vulnerable? Do you >utilize Email, FTP, HTTP, or just browse the Net? >If so, your personal and business information is accessable >to those who know how to find it. Now you can have the most >powerful Data Security program, Cryptx, completely encrypt >your data to keep out prying eyes. Why take the chance? Get >your information completely secured and keep everyone from >children to co-workers OUT of your private data. For more >information and to get your FREE, fully-functional, Demo today >simply go to our website at: >http://www.ultra-mail.com/cryptx >For questions or information on Dealer opportunities, please >send a message to: cryptx(a)ultra-mail.com >Thanks- >Cryptx Staff > >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ >to be permanently removed, please send a message >to: remove(a)ultra-mail.com > > Thanks! Bill Bill Stewart, stewarts(a)ix.netcom.com Regular Key PGP Fingerprint D454 E202 CBC8 40BF 3C85 B884 0ABE 4639

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[FWD] Technology and Privacy: The New Landscape
by Steve Schear 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Date: 06 Nov 1997 07:58:03 -0800 (PST) From: Phil Agre <pagre(a)weber.ucsd.edu> Subject: Technology and Privacy: The New Landscape Feel free to post where appropriate. Technology and Privacy: The New Landscape edited by Philip E. Agre University of California, San Diego Marc Rotenberg Electronic Privacy Information Center MIT Press, 1997 Hardcover ISBN: 0-262-01162-X $25.00 Available through the EPIC Bookstore: http://www.epic.org/bookstore/ Excerpts from the introduction can be found at: http://communication.ucsd.edu/pagre/landscape.html MIT Press Web site: http://mitpress.mit.edu/ Privacy is the capacity to negotiate social relationships by controlling access to personal information. As laws, policies, and technological design increasingly structure people's relationships with social institutions, individual privacy faces new threats and new opportunities. Over the last several years, the realm of technology and privacy has been transformed, creating a landscape that is both dangerous and encouraging. Significant changes include large increases in communications bandwidths; the widespread adoption of computer networking and public-key cryptography; mathematical innovations that promise a vast family of protocols for protecting identity in complex transactions; new digital media that support a wide range of social relationships; a new generation of technologically sophisticated privacy activists; a massive body of practical experience in the development and application of data-protection laws; and the rapid globalization of manufacturing, culture, and policy making. The essays in this book provide a new conceptual framework for the analysis and debate of privacy policy and for the design and development of information systems. The authors are international experts in the technical, economic, and political aspects of privacy; the book's strength is its synthesis of the three. The book provides equally strong analyses of privacy issues in the United States, Canada, and Europe. Contributors: Philip E. Agre Beyond the mirror world: Privacy and the representational practices of computing Victoria Bellotti Design for privacy in multimedia computing and communications environments Colin J. Bennett Convergence revisited: Towards a global policy for personal data protection Herbert Burkert Privacy enhancing technologies: Typology, vision, critique Simon G. Davies Re-engineering the privacy right: How privacy has been transformed from a right to a commodity David H. Flaherty Controlling surveillance: Can privacy protection be made effective? Robert Gellman Does privacy law work? Viktor Mayer-Schoenberger Generational development of data protection in Europe David J. Phillips Cryptography, secrets, and the structuring of trust Rohan Samarajiva Interactivity as though privacy mattered

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Re: PGPsdk is now free for non-commercial use
by phelix＠vallnet.com 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

On 16 Nov 1997 22:18:39 -0600, Alan Olsen <alan(a)clueserver.org> wrote: >>From what I have read of the license it is against the license agreement to >ship the libraries on a CD of shareware products for which a price is charged. > >If I were to create a program using the libraries and upload them to Simtel >or one of the other big archives, it could not be distributed on a Simtel >CD-ROM that someone was charging money for. (Ignoring the usual export >issues.) > >I see this as a big problem. This, unfortunately, is a non-issue. I just reread the license agreement and noticed the following: Non-Commercial Distribution License. Subject to all the terms and conditions of this Agreement, PGP hereby grants to you or your organization a limited, nonexclusive, nontransferable license (a) to incorporate [... stuff deleted ...] and (b) to reproduce and distribute the Bundled Freeware Application to end users solely by electronic means (for example, posting on networks or Internet sites for others to download), So, the only way to really (legally) distribute this would be on your own web site, or a web site that will never be picked up on a cdrom distribution. The as of yet unreleased shareware licensing agreements will probably cover cdrom distribution. -- Phelix (ps. always read anything written by lawyers twice)

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[FWD] Finding a Face in the Crowd
by Steve Schear 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

From: Jeffrey Waters 000-000-0000 <WATERSJ1(a)mail.firn.edu> Date: 06 Nov 1997 08:23:26 -0500 (EST) Subject: Finding a Face in the Crowd Found this on a visit to "Science NEWS - EurekAlert! Public Contents" at http://www.eurekalert.org . Interesting to note that the technology was developed with US military funding and is commercially marketed in the EU. Oh well Mr. Orwell, you've never believe how far we've come... "Mugspot" Can Find A Face In The Crowd - Award-Winning Face-Recognition Software Prepares to Go to Work in the Streets Computer "eyes" are now up to such tasks as watching for fugitives in airline terminals and other busy locations. A sophisticated face-recognition system that placed first in recent Army competitive trials has been given the added ability to pick out faces in noisy or chaotic "street" environments. The new "Mugspot" software module developed at the University of Southern California automatically analyzes video images, looking for passers-by. When it finds them, it picks out the heads in the images and then tracks the heads for as long as they remain in the camera's field. Throughout this tracking process, the software is watching for the best possible view of the subject's face -- the one that shows him or her looking most directly at the camera. It selects the best view presented and passes it on to the main face-recognition program. This face-recognition software, developed at USC and the University of Bochum, Germany, and now in commercial use for clients such as Germany's Deutsche Bank, is robust enough to make identifications from less-than- perfect face views. It can also often see through such impediments to identification as mustaches, beards, changed hair styles and glasses -- even sunglasses. <...snip...> Cameras mounted in airports and bus stations, or aimed at oncoming cars at traffic intersections, might continuously watch for known fugitives, von der Malsburg says. Bank surveillance cameras could identify persons seen at previous bank robberies. The Mugspot system can scan eight video frames per second in real time, and takes about 13 seconds to select the best view, process it for identification, compare it to the several hundred faces in its memory and decide whether it has found a match. The three research associates who developed Mugspot with von der Malsburg -- USC graduate student Egor Elagin, postdoctoral researcher Hartmut Neven and Bochum University visiting graduate student Johannes Steffens -- believe further refinement of the system can shorten that time by half. Mugspot is only the latest improvement in the USC/Bochum face recognition software, developed with funds from the Army Research Laboratory (ARL) and marketed commercially in Europe under the trade-name ZN-Face. <...snip...> The USC/Bochum system also shone in tests conducted under substandard lighting conditions: It lost only a small fraction of its accuracy, while competitors showed drastic falloffs in less-than-brilliant illumination. The USC/Bochum system uses an unusual approach that mimics the technique scientists believe the brain uses to recognize images. Von der Malsburg, whose principal research interests lie in the investigation of living brains, in fact carried out much of the original research on the system as part of an attempt to understand human face recognition. His research led to creating a computer model of the way the brain's visual cortex processes information. EM.MALSBURG3 -USC- NOV. 5, 1997 For Immediate Release: 5 November 1997 Contact: Eric Mankin mankin(a)usc.edu 213 740 9344 from the University of Southern California News Service 3620 South Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90089-2538 Tel: 213 740 2215 Fax: 213 740 7600 http://www.usc.edu

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Re: PGPsdk is now free for non-commercial use
by Alan Olsen 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

At 05:11 AM 11/17/97 +0000, phelix(a)vallnet.com wrote: > >On 16 Nov 1997 22:18:39 -0600, Alan Olsen <alan(a)clueserver.org> wrote: > >>>From what I have read of the license it is against the license agreement to >>ship the libraries on a CD of shareware products for which a price is charged. >> >>If I were to create a program using the libraries and upload them to Simtel >>or one of the other big archives, it could not be distributed on a Simtel >>CD-ROM that someone was charging money for. (Ignoring the usual export >>issues.) >> >>I see this as a big problem. > >This, unfortunately, is a non-issue. I just reread the license agreement >and noticed the following: > >Non-Commercial Distribution License. > > Subject to all the terms and conditions of this Agreement, PGP hereby >grants to you or your organization a limited, nonexclusive, nontransferable >license (a) to incorporate [... stuff deleted ...] >and (b) to reproduce and distribute the Bundled Freeware Application to end >users solely by electronic means (for example, posting on networks or >Internet sites for others to download), > >So, the only way to really (legally) distribute this would be on your own >web site, or a web site that will never be picked up on a cdrom >distribution. > >The as of yet unreleased shareware licensing agreements will probably cover >cdrom distribution. Freeware and shareware often share the same distribution channel. It kind of puts a crimp in distribution if you cannot upload to any archive that might wind up on a cd-rom. (Furthermore, uploads to those archives are not always under the control of the author.) Hopefully they will go back and update the freeware license agreement as well. --- | "That'll make it hot for them!" - Guy Grand | |"The moral PGP Diffie taught Zimmermann unites all| Disclaimer: | | mankind free in one-key-steganography-privacy!" | Ignore the man | |`finger -l alano(a)teleport.com` for PGP 2.6.2 key | behind the keyboard.| | http://www.ctrl-alt-del.com/~alan/ |alan(a)ctrl-alt-del.com|

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Re: Tim May's offensive racism
by Blanc 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Dr.Dimitri Vulis KOTM wrote: >Just having racist thoughts, let alone expessing them, is equivalent to >extreme violence. Remember the student who got suspended for a semester >for laughing while singing "We shall overcome"? ..................................................... Didn't hear about that. Don't care. Cypherpunks should know better. "Cypherpunks acknowledge that those who want privacy must create it for themselves and not expect governments, corporations, or other large, faceless organizations to grant them privacy out of beneficence." Cypherpunks also realize that with the secure privacy they enable, people will be free to exchange not only pornographic thoughts, but all manner of other opinions, including racist misgivings. Most cypherpunks feel pretty free to hold all manner of offensive impressions not only of governments and major software companies, but of each other, as well, and especially feel pretty free to express these personal impressions, not only in private, but in public, even if Interpol is watching. This is not unusual and quite understandable, as most cypherpunks are male and lacking in the delicacy of gentlemanly manners (except for Tim May, who is always careful with his words and focuses mainly on the point of code in the swiftly evolving world of cyberspace). Any list member who hasn't yet realized this needs help and should spend some time communicating with TruthMonger. .. Blanc p.s. and Dimitry, you shouldn't be posting through 'toad' anymore, if you don't want to be identified as a 'toady'.

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(Fwd) NaiF Meeting on Data Mining - MONDAY 11/17
by Blanc 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Thought this might be of interest to some of you in the Puget Sound area. .. Blanc > NORTHWEST ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FORUM > >WHEN: Monday, November 17th, 1997. > No-host dinner: 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. > Social hour: 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. > Training: 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. > >WHERE: The College Club, 5th Avenue & Madison Street, > in Seattle. (Directions later in this notice.) > >TOPIC: Data Mining and KDD: An Introductory Overview > >SPEAKER: Usama M. Fayyad, Ph.D., Microsoft Research > >COST: Public $10, NaiF members free. Complimentary parking > until 9 p.m. for all attendees in the College Club garage. > >ABSTRACT > >Knowledge Discovery in Databases (KDD) and Data Mining are concerned with >the extraction of high-level information (knowledge) from low-level data >(usually stored in large databases). Dr. Fayyad will give an overview of >this rapidly growing area, define the goals, present motivation, and give a >high-level definition of the KDD Process and how it relates to Data Mining. >He will then focus on data mining methods. These methods have their origins >in statistics, pattern recognition, learning, visualization, databases, and >parallel computing. Basic coverage of a sampling of methods will be >provided to give a feel for what the methods are about and how they are >used. > >He will outline the research challenges and opportunities posed by the >problem of extracting models from massive data sets (i.e., much larger than >main memory). Operating under such scalability constraints poses interesting >problems for how models can be built and what methods are practical. He >will use an application in astronomy, done at JPL/Caltech, to motivate the >need for dealing with large databases, to illustrate problems of >classification and clustering with verylarge data sets, and to illustrate >how these techniques can offer powerful novel solutions to significant >problems. > >BIOGRAPHY > >Usama Fayyad is a Senior Researcher at Microsoft Research >(http://www.research.microsoft.com/research/dtg/fayyad) ><http://www.research.microsoft.com/research/dtg/fayyad)> . After receiving >the Ph.D. degree in 1991, he joined the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), >California Institute of Technology, until 1996. At JPL, he headed the >Machine Learning Systems Group where he developed data mining systems for >automated science data analysis. He remains affiliated with JPL as a >Distinguished Visiting Scientist. Dr. Fayyad received the 1993 JPL Lew >Allen Award for Excellence in Research, and the 1994 NASA Exceptional >Achievement Medal. >He was program co-chair of KDD-94 and KDD-95 (the First International >Conference on Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining). He was general chair of >KDD-96, is editor-in-chief of the journal "Data Mining and Knowledge >Discovery," and co-editor of the new MIT Press book (1996) "Advances in >Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining." His research interests include >knowledge discovery in large databases, data mining, machine learning, >statistical pattern recognition, and clustering. > >DINNER & AI > >NaiF members and non-members are invited to come early and order your own >dinner from the College Club's delicious and economical menu. The College >Club offers free beer and some soft drink selections to Club members and >their guests (that includes all NaiF program participants) during their >happy hour" from 5 to 7 p.m. Why not come directly from work (please arrive >by 5:30 p.m.) and join the NaiF Board, NaiF members and friends in a great >dinner before the evening program? To aid in their planning, the College >Club requires a count of the NaiF dinner participants. >R.S.V.P. for the dinner only to Dave Ault (DAAult(a)Brigadoon.com ><mailto:DAAult@Brigadoon.com> , or 206-783-2917) by Noon on Wednesday, >November 12th, 1997. > >SOCIAL HOUR > >Come early (or join us after dinner) and network with other AI professionals >and enthusiasts during our social hour from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. NaiF provides >complimentary coffee and sodas during the social hour and program >presentation. > >DIRECTIONS TO COLLEGE CLUB > >FROM THE SOUTH - >* Take the Madison Street exit from I-5. >* Turn left (west) at the light onto Madison St. >* Turn left (south) at the second light onto 5th Avenue. >* Turn left immediately into the garage under the College Club. > > FROM THE NORTH - > >* Take the Union Street exit from I-5. >* Turn left (south) onto 5th Avenue. >* After Madison St. turn left into garage under the College Club. > > > NaiF BOARD & OFFICERS > > Dave Ault, Ph.D. > Frank Christopherson, Ph.D. > Paul Gianattasio (President) > Robin Gianattasio (Secretary) > Al Leichner, C.P.A. (Treasurer) > Rae Mackay > Dan Mahler (Vice President) > Mike Michaels, Ph.D. > Philip Murphy, Ph.D. > Brian Weisbrod > > > NaiF ACTIVITIES > >* To volunteer for NaiF activities please contact NaiF President Paul >Gianattasio at <Topper(a)Halcyon.com <mailto:Topper@Halcyon.com> >. >* NaiF gives AI practitioners a forum to share their experiences and >results. Interested? Contact Program Director Dr. Dave Ault at ><DAAult(a)Brigadoon.com <mailto:DAAult@Brigadoon.com> >. > >For additional information on NaiF's activities please connect to our WWW >Web Site. > >CONTACTING NaiF > >P.O. Box 181 >Bellevue, WA, 98009-0181 > >World Wide Web Site: > http://www.halcyon.com/topper/naif.htm ><http://www.halcyon.com/topper/naif.htm> >If you know of others who would like to be included on NaiF's e-mail >distribution list, with their permission, please forward their name and >e-mail address to the sender of this message. >David A. Ault, Ph.D. <DAAult(a)Brigadoon.com ><mailto:DAAult@Brigadoon.com> > >P.O. Box 31864 >Seattle, WA 98103-1864 (206) 783-2917 > > > >

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The Illusion of Freedom
by Mixmaster 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Kent Crispin wrote: >On Thu, Nov 13, 1997 at 05:59:51AM -0000, [Nerthus] wrote: >[...] >> >> "I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, >> or give me death." -- Patrick Henry >> >> What is life without liberty? Abject slavery. Any sane man would rather >> die than be a slave. > >It makes nice rhetoric, but this is simply not true, you know. Most >people correctly evaluate that you have no chance for freedom at all >if you commit suicide, whereas a slave *does* have a chance. Assuming he recognizes that he *is* a slave. Most people are oblivious to this fact. >But of course we know from game theory that being completely >predictable can be a weakness. So having a certain percentage of the >population who will behave irrationally is probably necessary for the >health of a society. But if too many people act irrationally, >society will disintegrate. (By "irrational" here I am referring to >behaviour clearly contrary to your own survival.) 'Tis true. War is a perfect example of what happens when too many people act irrationally. I'm interested in avoiding war without becoming a slave in the process. Anyone else? Nerthus -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: PGP for Personal Privacy 5.0 Charset: noconv iQEVAwUBNGz3tuFWwZe05jcJAQFkDQf+L2Xv0bL8zIT6aKZDkPSYYcLnDD1Ky8d8 F6/1NMid0ZSsn/d6QtMH+ToZDHIuXsY2H12RZqmjSxLnaOm6BPsdGvxviuPoMKT2 1OFEszVgCbx0R+6mcZSjHtkbPr03s1+YgfEShdp7HRymmFsKkb71lPGj3naj1Yle p9k6qqJ2r4AMR6tlop6MjC9IgzJxzCDinOAcn2l1+pDkfj3N8KXIJgauPAtVd+zS sbDpNwL4NCuMpmTOeYhfiaD4ODD0LfU4yfYQFSac1OwPq3hG4vt0HmGrh77WvLSF yG1Lm1uSr8InLj1g4Zhkx0H+e7Ut9YgMFLWtfGVHiRb/73t1l0U2/Q== =0zEn -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

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Re: Announcing a disposable remailer
by Benjamin Chad Wienke 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Announcing the Woodwose Remailer! Instructions for Use: Point a web browser to: http://mailexcite.com/ Use the name woodwose and password jaguar7. The buttons for operating the mailer page are clearly marked--I won't bore anyone with trivia. Since the username and password for this account have now been publicly posted, anyone can use this account to send/receive email. Obviously anyone who can log in can read replies to your messages, and delete them too. PGP encrypted replies are highly recommended, and don't count on getting replies too much. The name under which this account was created is not my real name. This is my nym-persistence key: - -----BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK----- Version: PGP for Business Security 5.5 mQENAzRgm1kAAAEIAKuDuhI2L3bR4InCJxzaiPLtLHU+tFaD8NeVWAh+XiYme5Cp aH5oKDUVzPFoSTidYC11xB5VIXRX6yCnjk5MqX3VlKJ+hVv/4vY20ZlVBaDc8IZ5 GvrEc8+iify3OdOkh3p4FuUbT2rgV/QO8n1UPOfwpzPAF/cqznqgUHuupB6+/k1n 7y6vCMQp1GmOZP9LO6MqZOKmtzKbrBNwio+Yp+vGFv0/HDW1ZD1bIIQL+ZhEXVR7 0Px5u8yeGUer6vdmz8S44s76JPnYPGU5z7vprndc5QHMIjQY9ZUWxlvsR43s1RuZ 0r+1f35f4LhxCOyf2FLV6+hI9Rjd9Uu3rrYNJeEABRG0HFdvb2R3b3NlIDxXb29k d29zZUBkZXYubnVsbD6JARUDBRA0YJtZ9Uu3rrYNJeEBAcLbB/90co6BJRGtIrNZ 2BqiA8+VrsGQMzUfCl4cas4i+G0aKigkemW/TlbSUEF7YIk7bh/ZQ49eAGucrfM5 NICAqSSzNQx+3h2pzYn/uN5+55QOLho4PwwJw+qr31o+weuIgyoMuECNb2IZUtGn fwfC3MZtZrqwfSzoXpJRZNQCrj+lZKUc14VEJ9kcw1Vt93+E6dTPd+GgyAlcbZ9v 6thY86iTmccCDMv5tPvrAQ/buPHZif1mFs3Ii2pBZ06gpypj2vVTJ63wp5tfASZL RwfXJT3CmjiCQFpHQIGNDwZmc4YaFaFUGobI47nEJXksdTrE8o1f9ISwrDc2RZIX +VP1+pyo =7OWl - -----END PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK----- This one is included for fun & entertainment: - -----BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK----- Version: PGP for Business Security 5.5 mQENAzRuCjkAAAEIAL/9Rybwp3um7n1fuyasj35/cy9mO4eZEAzamx3wIQkwYoEX jb2soJ5khlksI9lugtYBvSltDO6OmyiP2YRBI9vEh/GSAefvDIka4wtif9YkW9Rx 4lO4tFcWVdoRWkbDVxipp0t9tniWrnpJTNDORBjOmsNQBftqcId8/3E61L6A0iT1 dL/U186h/iBpnmpM1/iPfu1Jj+oD0DIIcNOIUo4QAZ2z3h8LZQnQIkPelboupe6h dNhYHomsN9CUwP50eV2brX3xm9s6vaFWSYzUtB5HksBIxd4zuo210JFgmUn2afjS HbNGzn7XV8NpuHz7ixWYHH4poD1bTBkFV1HV2dcABRG0J0N5cGhlcnB1bmtzIExp c3QgPEN5cGhlcnB1bmtzQGRldi5udWxsPokBFQMFEDRuCjpMGQVXUdXZ1wEBeYsI AJ/VLm2vHLpMhVqRuwaRgI9KDAxPOinLxbXKCGdAXEZeNrUCgcHE7DqoZv/B9R+/ XAiNXyCMZb0fw0XGlsV8OTRaYr7fQj6zZO5TPBksmgwxPoF8oKqUjO4kE7CCIpA2 Gsy4ZDCgKhwxxDVjKlwrRHCYCPYY5Tm6mbia9Ix3HVBOPxUCG8b9c3zTGyqFpgII +a8jn4QOidX5llZDejLMe3E/67Mqv6/n2P2cjDmDhN2V00cpvMHwV8WHh/MebvYp MY1xRTH8Nj5F1o5kWC5dLeGCM0Zgg4N6MluZE6ifOsd2/3PwDwlCMsNuFkzJhnsv bS4G8rUv9I0pQlThE78A78Y= =OcKK - -----END PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK----- -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: PGP for Business Security 5.5 iQEVAwUBNG4RTfVLt662DSXhAQFpaggApc9R6CnTYzTA8BJd+kq94kfQeoK/sNU+ J+CI2t+PXLY+IcjK/qjH4J6h60PNVvHQXtK8mwjj4CgjvnGSsqj8snsSh4AGujyd N/ZXcU0g+KpZhI5XWqNqj9B4I7uosgEd63CrnyEUAFB4Rd4w/+xPa4Hsq06Y7yGO IBwqGQXtXHaolvDFQb4tDLuSiG4YzmjvnAVwWTVMOmv2ZzD/4+vNBvylq4cdbJ8j P1f1GmDcZBXXKijXyIFbdWhbGL5Q47Zmpbflhgt+WjKUhg1d23NbRlelzi/R2ykz VFUGztzyBkRN+QT7Ei2GRD31bzprwYXy7QcmjuE6CjBsE+lQ2aZwPQ== =6lXj -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- Free web-based email, Forever, From anywhere! http://www.mailexcite.com

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Re: Announcing a disposable remailer
by Benjamin Chad Wienke 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Announcing the Woodwose Remailer! Instructions for Use: Point a web browser to: http://mailexcite.com/ Use the name woodwose and password jaguar7. The buttons for operating the mailer page are clearly marked--I won't bore anyone with trivia. Since the username and password for this account have now been publicly posted, anyone can use this account to send/receive email. Obviously anyone who can log in can read replies to your messages, and delete them too. PGP encrypted replies are highly recommended, and don't count on getting replies too much. The name under which this account was created is not my real name. This is my nym-persistence key: - -----BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK----- Version: PGP for Business Security 5.5 mQENAzRgm1kAAAEIAKuDuhI2L3bR4InCJxzaiPLtLHU+tFaD8NeVWAh+XiYme5Cp aH5oKDUVzPFoSTidYC11xB5VIXRX6yCnjk5MqX3VlKJ+hVv/4vY20ZlVBaDc8IZ5 GvrEc8+iify3OdOkh3p4FuUbT2rgV/QO8n1UPOfwpzPAF/cqznqgUHuupB6+/k1n 7y6vCMQp1GmOZP9LO6MqZOKmtzKbrBNwio+Yp+vGFv0/HDW1ZD1bIIQL+ZhEXVR7 0Px5u8yeGUer6vdmz8S44s76JPnYPGU5z7vprndc5QHMIjQY9ZUWxlvsR43s1RuZ 0r+1f35f4LhxCOyf2FLV6+hI9Rjd9Uu3rrYNJeEABRG0HFdvb2R3b3NlIDxXb29k d29zZUBkZXYubnVsbD6JARUDBRA0YJtZ9Uu3rrYNJeEBAcLbB/90co6BJRGtIrNZ 2BqiA8+VrsGQMzUfCl4cas4i+G0aKigkemW/TlbSUEF7YIk7bh/ZQ49eAGucrfM5 NICAqSSzNQx+3h2pzYn/uN5+55QOLho4PwwJw+qr31o+weuIgyoMuECNb2IZUtGn fwfC3MZtZrqwfSzoXpJRZNQCrj+lZKUc14VEJ9kcw1Vt93+E6dTPd+GgyAlcbZ9v 6thY86iTmccCDMv5tPvrAQ/buPHZif1mFs3Ii2pBZ06gpypj2vVTJ63wp5tfASZL RwfXJT3CmjiCQFpHQIGNDwZmc4YaFaFUGobI47nEJXksdTrE8o1f9ISwrDc2RZIX +VP1+pyo =7OWl - -----END PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK----- This one is included for fun & entertainment: - -----BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK----- Version: PGP for Business Security 5.5 mQENAzRuCjkAAAEIAL/9Rybwp3um7n1fuyasj35/cy9mO4eZEAzamx3wIQkwYoEX jb2soJ5khlksI9lugtYBvSltDO6OmyiP2YRBI9vEh/GSAefvDIka4wtif9YkW9Rx 4lO4tFcWVdoRWkbDVxipp0t9tniWrnpJTNDORBjOmsNQBftqcId8/3E61L6A0iT1 dL/U186h/iBpnmpM1/iPfu1Jj+oD0DIIcNOIUo4QAZ2z3h8LZQnQIkPelboupe6h dNhYHomsN9CUwP50eV2brX3xm9s6vaFWSYzUtB5HksBIxd4zuo210JFgmUn2afjS HbNGzn7XV8NpuHz7ixWYHH4poD1bTBkFV1HV2dcABRG0J0N5cGhlcnB1bmtzIExp c3QgPEN5cGhlcnB1bmtzQGRldi5udWxsPokBFQMFEDRuCjpMGQVXUdXZ1wEBeYsI AJ/VLm2vHLpMhVqRuwaRgI9KDAxPOinLxbXKCGdAXEZeNrUCgcHE7DqoZv/B9R+/ XAiNXyCMZb0fw0XGlsV8OTRaYr7fQj6zZO5TPBksmgwxPoF8oKqUjO4kE7CCIpA2 Gsy4ZDCgKhwxxDVjKlwrRHCYCPYY5Tm6mbia9Ix3HVBOPxUCG8b9c3zTGyqFpgII +a8jn4QOidX5llZDejLMe3E/67Mqv6/n2P2cjDmDhN2V00cpvMHwV8WHh/MebvYp MY1xRTH8Nj5F1o5kWC5dLeGCM0Zgg4N6MluZE6ifOsd2/3PwDwlCMsNuFkzJhnsv bS4G8rUv9I0pQlThE78A78Y= =OcKK - -----END PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK----- -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: PGP for Business Security 5.5 iQEVAwUBNG4RTfVLt662DSXhAQFpaggApc9R6CnTYzTA8BJd+kq94kfQeoK/sNU+ J+CI2t+PXLY+IcjK/qjH4J6h60PNVvHQXtK8mwjj4CgjvnGSsqj8snsSh4AGujyd N/ZXcU0g+KpZhI5XWqNqj9B4I7uosgEd63CrnyEUAFB4Rd4w/+xPa4Hsq06Y7yGO IBwqGQXtXHaolvDFQb4tDLuSiG4YzmjvnAVwWTVMOmv2ZzD/4+vNBvylq4cdbJ8j P1f1GmDcZBXXKijXyIFbdWhbGL5Q47Zmpbflhgt+WjKUhg1d23NbRlelzi/R2ykz VFUGztzyBkRN+QT7Ei2GRD31bzprwYXy7QcmjuE6CjBsE+lQ2aZwPQ== =6lXj -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- Free web-based email, Forever, From anywhere! http://www.mailexcite.com

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