December 2003 - cypherpunks-legacy

Some Other Friends of Mine
by Jeff Davis 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Some other friends of mine I've been involved with since their inception. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- WHAT'S NEW . . . The following article was published recently in GLOSAS NEWS. We've had a few folks request this information and thought that others (and particularly new subscribers) might find the information in this article of interest so we are republishing this in today's issue of the Digest. GLOSAS News is the electronic bulletin of the GLObal Systems Analysis and Simulation Association in the USA (GLOSAS/USA). It is distributed free of charge by fax and electronic mail. *************************************************************************** WWW: "Friends and Partners" *************************************************************************** From Russia and America comes a new information service called "Friends and Partners" -- one of the first such information systems jointly developed by citizens of these two nations. Its purpose is to help facilitate the creation of a "human network" across cultural and political boundaries by utilizing resources of the increasingly global Internet computer network. A special emphasis is placed on building relationships between people of the United States and people of the former Soviet Union -- countries and cultures isolated from each other for most of the 20th century. This new service was 'born' with an announcement on the Internet on Wednesday, January 19, 1994. It is only 3 months old but growing up rather quickly. With almost 700 regular subscribers to its daily mailing list service and over 90,000 file retrievals from people representing over 40 countries, it has become a quite active service. But it is best considered for the moment as a very new and immature creation -- a 'framework' for an information system with more 'heart' than substance -- but with lots of promise. The task at hand is to help others build upon the framework -- to create and link together information on our nation's histories; our art, music, literature, and religion; our educational and scientific resources; our business and economic opportunities; our geography and natural resources, our languages; and our opportunities for communicating, travelling, and working together. The 'end product' should be an evolving and continually changing information resource that will hopefully help bridge the gulf of understanding that exists between our nations and that will provide a common 'meeting place'. What are the practical uses of this service? Scientists should be able to use the service to find information about funding opportunities and exchange programs, access various databases and library resources, and locate potential colleagues and co-workers. Teachers and educators at all levels should be able to find and contribute interesting and up-to-date material to assist in their instruction -- making their courses more 'alive' and more pertinent to real world issues. Business people should be able to learn about the economic environments and opportunities in both countries as well as the rules and laws pertaining to conducting business. Artists (and their patrons) should be able to learn about, meet and work with each other. This effort hopes to build upon the excellent work already being accomplished by our governments and by the various groups, centers, institutes and individuals who have been working for so many years towards the same goal of building cooperation and friendship. Perhaps the main difference from other efforts is the use of the World Wide Web on the Internet as the method of communicating information. The World Wide Web was chosen because of its ability to handle mixed media (text, graphics, audio, and, someday soon, video), the excellent graphic and non-graphic browsers available for free on the Internet, and its ability to 'integrate' information from all of the best Internet-based tools and utilities -- Usenet news, Gophers, WAIS indexes, FTP archives, telnet sessions, etc. The Friends and Partners server already makes use of some of the multi-media capabilities -- with several graphic images and maps available for display and at least one example of music which can be played by computers connected to the Internet (much more digitized music will be available soon). The service currently consists of several primary 'sections' including: (1) History ; (2) Geography; (3) Art and music; (4) Literature; (5) Language; (6) Related Internet Resources; (7) Education; (8) Science; (9) Funding and Exchange Opportunities; (10) Economics and Business; (11) Tourism and Travel; (12) "Life" (includes health and medical issues, cuisine, etc.); (13) News and Weather; (14) USA Demographics; (15) Russia Demographics. These sections point to information all over the world. This 'hypertext' capability makes it very simple for the user to access information globally but from a single, easy-to-use environment. While we hope that, over the coming weeks and months, all of these areas will be developed by those with appropriate interest, there are several areas on which we are currently focusing attention. These include: (1) development of a computer searchable "annotated white pages" directory which will focus on people and organizations within the Former Soviet Union and on people and organizations elsewhere who are working or wish to work in this area. We are hoping to work with the IREX organization on this and have just recently received approval by the Citizen's Democracy Corps (CDC) to place their NIS email directory on-line; (2) creation of a vast collection of information resources dealing with business and economics -- including material to help business-people in the FSU create and manage successful business enterprise and to help others who wish to conduct business in the FSU; (3) further development of a top-notch news service; (4) development of a comprehensive base of funding opportunity information; (5) development of a medical / health issues forum; (6) creation of a network for the exchange of research and education information. Our primary development emphasis during the time since the server was announced has been to collect ideas and correspond with the many people who have offered to help with this effort. The outpouring of support from around the world has been quite remarkable and most encouraging. The project demonstrates the potential for good that exists with this wonderfully chaotic, global resource we call the Internet -- which makes possible and simple the communication of information anywhere within its vast reach throughout our world. This information resource is at least as significant a development as the printing press was several centures ago -- the creation of global 'virtual communities' will undoubtedly prove to be one of the most significant events of human history. It has been asked "why do this?". The authors had a discussion several months ago about experiences growing up in the 1960s, about fears both had regarding the potential both countries had to destroy each other, and about how effectively our nations had planned and allocated resources to help create weapons of destruction that could realistically eliminate life in our world. Given the immensity of this effort and the success with which it was carried out, we both agreed (perhaps naively) to help focus attention on the enormous good our nations could do if they applied even a fraction of the resources to more constructive work together. We feel that creating a joint information service could be a useful aid in furthering the often invisible but very real infrastructure which supports cooperative and constructive endeavor. To visit the WWW server using the Mosaic software, use the URL: http://solar.rtd.utk.edu/friends/home.html . If you cannot use Mosaic, just telnet to solar.rtd.utk.edu and enter 'friends' at the login: prompt (in all lowercase and without the quotes). To join the listserv with which we post email and notices of new developments on the server, just send a one line e-mail message to listproc(a)solar.rtd.utk.edu consisting of: SUBSCRIBE FRIENDS firstname lastname We are 'rank amateurs' -- currently unfunded, untrained in political theory or economics. But both authors are experienced with the collection and dissemination of information and the construction of tools to enable more effective use of information. With the active participation and assistance of others, we believe we can further the cooperative infrastructure that already exists between our nations. This is our hope and our ambition for this effort. Natasha Bulashova, Pushchino, Russia Email: natasha(a)ibpm.serpukhov.su Greg Cole, Research Services, The University of Tennessee 211 Hoskins Library, Knoxville, TN 37996 Phone: (615) 974-2908; Fax: (615) 974-6508 Email: gcole(a)solar.rtd.utk.edu ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -- PGP PUBLIC KEY via finger! JAFEFFM Speaking & Thinking For Myself! * eagle(a)deeptht.armory.com email info(a)eff.org * *** O U T L A W S On The E L E C T R O N I C F R O N T I E R **** ***** Committed to Free Public Internet Access for World Peace *****

1 0

Remailer traffic
by Bill O'Hanlon 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

To whoever is sending the piles of messages through my remailer that contain the "Do-Inject:" header line: You might as well leave the remailer at rebma.mn.org out of whatever it is you are doing. Your mail is not making it through. I'm not directly on the Internet. If your goal is to supply bogus traffic to make traffic analysis impractical, I applaud your thinking, but not your implementation. You're filling up my disk drive, dude.

1 0

Elliptic Curve response
by Matt Thomlinson 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

After seeing the post about elliptic curve encrytion (mentioning neal koblitz as an authority) I took the liberty of forwarding it to him and asking for his response as well as a good reference. Here's the response. (I'd never heard of elliptic curve crypto. I have now.) ---- Date: Thu, 28 Apr 94 16:10:39 -0700 From: Neal Koblitz To: phantom(a)u.washington.edu Subject: reply Matt, Thanks for the message. The guy is basically correct in what he says (except for minor inaccuracies in terminology and so on). The best source on this subject is the recent book: ``Elliptic Curve Public Key Cryptosystems'' by Alfred Menezes, Kluwer Acad. Pub., 1993. Regards, Neal ------ Matt Thomlinson University of Washington, Seattle, Washington. phone: (206) 548-9804 Check my home page -- ftp://ftp.u.washington.edu/public/phantom/home.html PGP 2.2 key available via email, or finger phantom(a)hardy.u.washington.edu

1 0

WSJ editorial email or fax address?
by Phil Karn 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Anybody know if the WSJ accepts letters to the editor by fax or email? I've drafted the following letter to the editor, but I couldn't find anything but a snail mail address in today's paper. I *did* send a copy to Mr. Bulkeley's MCI mail address, so please do NOT forward it to him again...Phil 7431 Teasdale Ave San Diego, CA 92122 karn(a)unix.ka9q.ampr.org April 28, 1994 Editor Wall Street Journal Re: "Cipher Probe: Popularity Overseas of Encryption Code Has the US Worried", WSJ 4/28/94, Page 1. Sirs: The Zimmermann case is as much about the First Amendment as it is about privacy and irrational US export controls on encryption. Recently I obtained a formal ruling from the US State Department that a new textbook, "Applied Cryptography" by Bruce Schneier, could be freely exported anywhere in the world -- even though it prints actual source code from Pretty Good Privacy (PGP). The State Department applied a "public domain" exemption to my request. Indeed, the First Amendment demands such an exemption. Dozens of other books and journals on cryptography, many with similar source code listings, enjoy the same protection. However, the State Department has so far refused to approve my request to export a floppy disk containing the same exact source code that appears in Schneier's book. And they still insist that "publishing" cryptographic software on the Internet is illegal. Why the distinction? Do they seriously believe that only Americans can program a computer, much less type? No, not even the government is THAT stupid. They're using fear and intimidation in a desperate attempt to delay the inevitable, no matter what the consequences. Philip R. Karn

1 0

No Subject
by NetSurfer 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

The following anon msg sent to the cpunks list contained your account (ebrandt(a)jarthur.cs.hmc.edu) as the reply to: ============================================================ Date: Thu Apr 28 00:36:57 PDT 1994 From: nobody(a)jarthur.cs.hmc.edu Reply to: ebrandt(a)jarthur.cs.hmc.edu To: cypherpunks(a)toad.com Subject: spooks on cypherpunks NetSurfer <jdwilson(a)gold.chem.hawaii.edu> Robert Mathews <mathews(a)gold.chem.hawaii.edu> be aware ============================================================ Are you the sender? Do you know who the sender is? Why exactly is this person defaming my name with this outrageous accusation? The only recent contact I know of was that Robert Mathews sent a message to soda.berkeley.edu where (for whatever his reason was) he was warning against Sameer's 14.4 link. I personally do NOT know why he (Mathews) felt it necessary to send that message on like he did. The only reason I sent it to him was as part of a discussion of bandwidth/services for a network we are working on which will support multiple users and multiple connect types. But in either case, if this was the source of the msg from nobody(a)jarthur.cs.hmc.edu, it was way off base. -Jim -----BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK----- Version: 2.4 mQBNAi2Ig+EAAAECALImsR18LE9I6NKICf8TVhbV6yJgF95ynGHnWnNo1ERfdqzk Zl3Icl2N5klNM3KQ9zM3uN/z55smi2QOiD3hL80ABRO0L0phbWVzIEQuIFdpbHNv biA8amR3aWxzb25AZ29sZC5jaGVtLmhhd2FpaS5lZHU+ =JTj1 -----END PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK----- ................................ . == = = James D. Wilson. . " " " P. O. Box 15432............................. . " " /\ " Honolulu, HI 96830-5432......Fr. Excelsior........ . \" "/ \" jdwilson(a)gold.chem.hawaii.edu.FRC/FAM/AASR/GWB/OTO. ...................................................................

3 2

Re: Gee...
by snyderra＠dunx1.ocs.drexel.edu 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

At 8:08 AM 4/28/94 -0700, Sandy Sandfort wrote: >Do you think your fastidious compliance with the law will keep them from >branding you a criminal, anyway? Wake up. Errr, no, but they'd still need to prove it. Generally, it is easier to get a guilty verdict when you have committed a crime than when you have not. >The whole purpose of wide-spread availability and use of strong crypto is >to what "others" say or think, irrelevant. Strong crypto means never >having to say you're sorry. I'm not arguing this point. I agree. I just think that people should work to change the current government policy through legal means before resorting to illegal measures. I think we are seeing some sucess in this area, with the hearings on Clipper and the push by at least one legislator to ease the cryptography export restrictions. We are getting reasonable press coverage, which is growing. Just like you only heard a bit about the Internet a few years ago, but now you can't pick up a newspaper or magazine without some mention of the Internet, you are starting to see articles about Cryptography (like the WSJ article, or NPR's piece). Bob -- Bob Snyder N2KGO MIME, RIPEM mail accepted snyderra(a)dunx1.ocs.drexel.edu finger for RIPEM public key When cryptography is outlawed, bayl bhgynjf jvyy unir cevinpl.

2 1

Re: Apology
by rishab＠dxm.ernet.in 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

"Jim Sewell" <jims(a)Central.KeyWest.MPGN.COM>: > I want to apologize to the fine folk on this list that are not Americans > for my self-centered phrasing. In everyday life you generally don't > think of other countries and as such I've probably offended someone. > > I in no way meant to imply that everyone is American, that we are the > most important, or that our political system is the best. > > If I offended anyone I apologize and will try to be more cautious with > my wording in the future. That's very good of you, Jim, but we non-Americans are quite used to Americans forgetting that there's something beyond the 50 states ;-) The thing about Clipper, DT, etc, is of course that though it will affect the rest of the world (America leads the world into the information society...), it *is* hapenning in the US. My signature, that of a non-US citizen, non-US resident, on an Anti-Clipper petition to the US congress is not likely to be very useful! Eventually, all of us aim for a world where, to quote Tim's .sig, national borders are but speed bumps on the information superhighway. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rishab Aiyer Ghosh rishab(a)dxm.ernet.in Voicemail +91 11 3760335; Vox/Fax/Data 6853410 H-34C Saket New Delhi 110017 INDIA The National Short-Sleeved Shirt Association says: Support your right to bare arms! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1 0

Rings of Saturn
by Jeff Davis 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Y'all are doing real well with the satellite discussion. It may interest some of you to know that the rings of Saturn were found to be braided in 4's. This blew the hell out of the direction they were going on unified field theory which predicted they would be braided in 3's. With no atmospheric refraction to contend with, this was still a rather accomplished feat. Some of you are thinking very solid on intel sats. Think eliptical orbits with a pass "on the deck" over 2 target areas, and think multiple mirrored geosynchonous orbits. With a large target area, enhancement of specific sections can be acomplished. Also, quit limiting your thinking to the visible light spectrum. Electomagnetic waves are electromagnetic waves- just a bunch of rolling circle turns actually. In case someone eats my lunch on the geosynchonous multi-mirrored suggestion, take a look at multiple coverage of primary target areas with large general surveillance able to be enhanced to specific detail in selected sectors in mind. BTW- pretty much anything Russkii and nuclear leaks like a seive... -- PGP PUBLIC KEY via finger! JAFEFFM Speaking & Thinking For Myself! * eagle(a)deeptht.armory.com email info(a)eff.org * *** O U T L A W S On The E L E C T R O N I C F R O N T I E R **** ***** Committed to Free Public Internet Access for World Peace *****

4 3

Cypherpunks as lobbying/propagandizing group
by dmandl＠lehman.com 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

From: "Jim Sewell" <jims(a)central.keywest.mpgn.com> > I agree with Julie that we need some P.R. for this. I also think we > should do it by writing and getting the word out. > > However, I think we should form a small informal group of people seriously > interested in putting together a well thought out document that is factual > and without emotional flair that a member of the press would respect, could > understand, and might pass on to the public. > > I want to propose that this small group develop a document to the best of > their abilities, refine it, and when they think it is ready post it to the > list for a "final lookover". [etc., etc.] > Let me know what you think, I think this is a very bad idea and not the purpose of the cypherpunks list. --Dave.

4 3

Secure Device updated to 1.2
by MIKEINGLE＠DELPHI.COM 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

>Path: news.delphi.com!noc.near.net!howland.reston.ans.net!pipex!uknet!EU.net!sun4nl!tudelft.nl!liberator.et.tudelft.nl!dutetvd!arthur >From: arthur@dutetvd (Arthur Helwig) >Newsgroups: sci.crypt,alt.security.pgp >Subject: SecureDevice 1.2 available (bugfix) >Followup-To: sci.crypt >Date: 30 Apr 1994 20:08:06 GMT >Organization: Delft University of Technology, Dept. of Electrical Engineering >Lines: 27 >Message-ID: <2pudr6$836(a)liberator.et.tudelft.nl> >Reply-To: A.W.S.Helwig(a)ET.TUDelft.NL >NNTP-Posting-Host: dutetvd.et.tudelft.nl >X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL1] >Xref: news.delphi.com sci.crypt:19554 alt.security.pgp:11466 SECDEV12.ARJ SecureDevice version 1.2 by Max Loewenthal and Arthur Helwig Version 1.1's MKVOLUME.COM had a bug when creating volumes bigger than 8 MB. Version 1.2 is a bugfix that solves this problem. Sorry for the inconvenience. WHERE TO GET IT: Secdev12.arj is available from: wuarchive.wust.edu : /pub/MSDOS_UPLOADS/cryptography/secdev12.arj I've also uploaded it to ftp.funet.fi, but I don't know in what subdirectory it will be placed. You can use 'SITE FIND secdev' to search the ALL_FILES database there on your ftp> prompt. You can also download or file-request SECDEV12.* from Fido node 2:512/56 (+31-15-568396 - 14k4 line) I probably won't be able to read mail or news for the next 3 months. Max Loewenthal will be monitoring my mail for me, and reply to all your questions or comments about SecureDevice. Yours, Arthur Helwig (A.W.S.Helwig(a)ET.TUDelft.NL)

1 0