December 2003 - cypherpunks-legacy

Re: Start up costs and paying for speech...
by Joe Thomas 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

On cypherpunks, Peter Wayner <pcw(a)access.digex.net> writes: > Each month, the > smartest and wittiest would be taxed and their > success redistributed to the new and the > epistolarily challenged. > > Ack... I don't know if digital money is such a > great idea. A worl d without it seems so free. I wouldn't worry about either. I don't see how enforcement of copyright will be possible under crypto-anarchy any more than taxation will be. If one person pays for a posting, what's to keep him from sharing it anonymously with whomever he wants? Is there any way that crypto-anarcy won't bring the death of "intellectual property"? Joe

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From the LA Times story
by cme＠ellisun.sw.stratus.com 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Robert Lee Hotz did a good job with this one -- except he tripped over my favorite soapbox, as do most people. Is he on the list? Does anyone know how to reach him? He wrote: "Not so many years ago, powerful encryption techniques were the monopoly of military and intelligence agencies." If this was true, it was for a short span of years -- perhaps 1932 to about 1975 -- but even then, Vernam's one-time-tape was published in 1920 and you can't get any stronger than that. What *was* true is that the gov't agencies and the press made it sound like real encryption was the property of the governments while we peons played around with simple substitution preserving word separation. I wish more people would read the history chapters of Kahn...especially the one about the dominance of the amateurs (in the early polyalphabetic days). Ah, well..... - Carl

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Possible Change In Crypto Export Controls
by ssteele＠eff.org 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

I haven't had time to confirm this yet, but I thought everyone here would want to see it ASAP. I'll get back to the list with confirmation. Shari >Date: Wed, 6 Oct 1993 15:06:09 -0400 >From: Christopher Davis <ckd(a)kei.com> >To: editors(a)eff.org >Subject: [alt.security.pgp] Possible Change In Crypto Export Controls >X-Attribution: ckd > >------- Start of forwarded message ------- >Newsgroups: talk.politics.crypto,alt.security.pgp,comp.org.eff >From: dave(a)blackjoke.bsd.uchicago.edu (Dave Griffith) >Subject: Possible Change In Crypto Export Controls >Organization: University of Chicago -- Academic & Public Computing >Date: Thu, 30 Sep 1993 20:26:43 GMT > > >What I know: > Yesterday, Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown presented to Congress a report on > >export policy, including proposals for legislation. Included in this was a >proposal for updating the Export Control Act to allow export of many items >currently restricted for out-dated security purposes. The Commerce Department > >estimates that $40 billion per year in sales are lost to such restrictions. > Attempting to get a copy of this report lead me into a bureaucratic maze, >eating up an unknown amount of telephone charges and producing no results. > >What I want to know: > Is crypto on the suggested list of changes? If not, whose office should we >call to get it on such a list? > >In any case, it seemed like something the EFF would want to know about, hence >the crossposting. > >- -- >Dave Griffith, Information Resources, University of Chicago, >Biological Sciences Division dave(a)delphi.bsd.uchicago.edu >Will build secret weapon for food. > >------- End of forwarded message ------- > >

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oops!
by ssteele＠eff.org 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Sorry about that last post -- just noticed the date. Now I realize what they were talking about. Please disregard. Shari

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TAL Press Releases
by dewayne＠netcom.com 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Peter: I thought that you would be interested in our rollout press releases from Monday. We are now ready for prime time. Best, -- Dewayne TETHERLESS ACCESS LTD. ANNOUNCES STRATEGIC ALLIANCES FOR WIRELESS MAN DEPLOYMENT October 4, 1993, Fremont, California-Tetherless Access, Ltd. (TAL), a leader in the development of user-provided wireless metropolitan area networks (MAN), today announced the formation of three separate strategic business and technology alliances. The alliances envision the provision of wireless access, applications development, packet radio hardware development and new services for wireless connectivity to the worldwide Internet. TAL has developed a "plug-and-play" interface for the Macintosh platform for the unlicensed operation of packet radio systems. The systems enable peer-to-peer wireless connectivity over AppleTalk networks within a MAN environment. The system software also provides transparent connectivity to TCP/IP networks and to services available on the worldwide Internet. User-provided wireless networking allows anyone within range of another system to automatically make a network connection. This "ad hoc" network means that each node not only generates its own traffic, but also relays the transmissions of nearby nodes. Each system owner becomes a "de facto" member of the network. The system provides a low-cost connectivity solution for community networks, libraries, schools, businesses, telecommuters, and an easily deployed communications infrastructure for developing countries. "In association with our strategic alliances we will deploy wireless MANs on a worldwide basis with a focus on providing access to the Internet" said Dewayne Hendricks, President of TAL. Pandora Systems of San Francisco, CA, a software development and network operations company, will design Internet-based wireless networking products and services. Pandora's principals have been involved in the establishment of PeaceNet, GreenNet, The WELL and have developed numerous Internet applications including Veronica, one of the most popular and useful navigation tools available on the Internet today. "The Internet and wireless communications are both experiencing dramatic growth. The combination of these environments offer unparalleled applications development opportunities" said Mark Graham, President of Pandora Systems. InterNex Information Services, Inc. of Menlo Park, CA, a provider of high bandwidth connectivity to the Internet, will provide wireline access points to the Internet for wireless MANs in major metropolitan areas throughout the U.S. InterNex and TAL will jointly market network services to businesses, educational institutions, communities and individuals. Cylink of Sunnyvale, CA, the leading worldwide supplier of commercial communications security products and spread spectrum wireless modems and systems, is cooperating in the supplying of spread spectrum radios for deployment in TAL's MAN packet radio systems on a worldwide basis. Cylink's founders are leading authorities in encryption and spread spectrum technologies, and the company currently services customers in over 40 countries. Tetherless Access, Ltd., based in Fremont, California, is a leader in the development and deployment of "plug-and-play" wireless metropolitan area networks. The company's products allow customers to achieve efficient, low-cost, flexible, high-quality wireless data communications in metropolitan network environments and to the worldwide Internet. TETHERLESS ACCESS, LTD. ANNOUNCES NET/MAC PRO WITH SUPPORT FOR POWERTALK October 4, 1993, Fremont, California-Tetherless Access, Ltd. (TAL), a leader in the development of user-provided wireless metropolitan area networks (MAN), today announced NET/Mac Pro, a new version of its NET/Mac Internet Protocol application for packet radio environments. NET/Mac Pro adds support for a personal gateway that allows PowerTalk users to exchange mail with SMTP servers over a TCP/IP network. PowerTalk is Apple's new mail and messaging technology, built in to System 7 Pro. This combination provides convenient Internet access for Apple® Macintosh® users through wireless Metropolitan Area Networks. TAL's standard products have led the way for wireless TCP/IP network access on the Macintosh. Now, with System 7 Pro, this access is simplified even more by not having to use a separate SMTP client program to transfer mail. "The PowerTalk universal mailbox and drag send capability integrated with our NET/Mac Pro product allows our users to deploy wireless MANs on a worldwide basis with a focus on providing easy access to the Internet mail services" said Dewayne Hendricks, President of TAL. TAL has formed strategic alliances with InterNex Information Services, Inc. of Menlo Park, CA, Cylink of Sunnyvale, CA and Pandora Systems of San Francisco, CA. Together the four companies will provide hardware, software and services which can be used to provide low-cost MAN connectivity solutions for community networks, libraries, schools, businesses, telecommuters, and an easily deployed communications infrastructure for developing countries. "In association with our strategic alliances we will deploy wireless MANs on a worldwide basis with a focus on providing access to the Internet" said Dewayne Hendricks, President of TAL. Tetherless Access, Ltd., based in Fremont, California, is a leader in the development and deployment of "plug-and-play" wireless metropolitan area networks. The company's products allow customers to achieve efficient, low-cost, flexible, high-quality wireless data communications in metropolitan network environments and to the worldwide Internet. Apple and Macintosh are registered trademarks and PowerTalk and System 7 are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. ----------- Dewayne Hendricks, WA8DZP ! CIS: 75210,10 AppleLink: D6547 Tetherless Access Ltd. ! Packet Radio: WA8DZP @ K3MC.#NOCAL.CA.USA.NA 43730 Vista Del Mar ! AOL: HENDRICKS Fremont, CA 94539-6250 ! Internet: dewayne(a)netcom.com Phone: (510) 659-0809 ! Fax: (510) 770-9854 -----------

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Unsubscribe
by mandk＠aol.com 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Please Unsubscribe me. M AND K(a)aol.com

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Re: Start up costs and paying for speech...
by habs＠panix.com 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

We are planing on adding pay for use features to the Extropian Mailing List software. However it is a bit on the back burner. However, If there is serious interest on using a digi-cash system for pay-as-you post mailing list we should "TALK." Hal do you have any free time? /hawk -- Harry S. Hawk ON Vacation

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Re: Quantifying similar graphic images (was Re: criminal gif upload)
by cme＠ellisun.sw.stratus.com 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

>Message-Id: <cggmhoe00VolIKwEcW(a)andrew.cmu.edu> >Date: Wed, 6 Oct 1993 16:32:52 -0400 (EDT) >From: Matthew J Ghio <mg5n+(a)andrew.cmu.edu> >Subject: Quantifying similar graphic images (was Re: criminal gif upload) >"Pat Farrell" <pfarrell(a)gmu.edu> writes: > >> We can prove statistical insignificance of duplication using strong >> hashing functions. Can we find a way to statistically prove "looks like" >> on a numerical basis? > >Yes. If you were to take an image and divide it into let's say about 20 >sections horizontally, and 20 sections vertically, and then average the >intensities of all pixels in each of the 400 rectangles formed, you >would create a fuzzy low-resolution version of the original picture >which could be used to compare other pictures You would have a better chance if you took just the low frequency components of a 2D Fourier transform of the pictures in question -- perhaps at only certain frequencies -- to get a vector describing features of the picture. You'd have to choose your 2D frequencies and build a set of such indicators and then look to see what distance between two vectors suggests that the pictures are the same. You'd want to use only the magnitude of the transform, to remove translation effects. You could use a sum around a circle of frequencies to remove rotation effects. The low res picture by averaging is easily confused by any translation or rotation of the image. - Carl

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FOIA requests reworded
by Paul Goggin 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Thought this might be of interest to us cypherpunks and the EFF, in case you have not heard. Excerpted from the most recent issue of ALAWON. *************************************************************************** JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ISSUES NEW FOIA POLICY On October 4, President Clinton and Attorney General Reno rescinded a 1981 rule which encouraged federal agencies to withhold information requested under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) whenever there was "a substantial legal basis" for doing so. In its place, agencies are directed to apply a "presumption of disclosure." A memorandum from President Clinton urged agencies to take a fresh look at their administration of the FOIA, to reduce backlogs of requests, and to enhance public access to information. (See below for the full text of the memorandum.) In a memorandum sent to heads of departments and agencies, Attorney General Reno stated that ...we must ensure that the principle of openness in government is applied in each and every disclosure and nondisclosure decision that is required under the Act....It shall be the policy of the Department of Justice to defend the assertion of a FOIA exemption only in those cases where the agency reasonably foresees that disclosure would be harmful to an interest protected by that exemption. Where an item of information might technically or arguably fall within an exemption, it ought not to be withheld from a FOIA requester unless it need be. At a Department of Justice briefing, Associate Attorney General Webster Hubbell acknowledged that there was a huge backlog of FOIA requests, and said the Department of Justice wanted to hear of the problems requestors were having. He said that the Department would review all pending FOIA lawsuits, but would not provide additional funding to fill FOIA requests. When asked about FOIA access to electronic records, John Podesta, White House Staff Secretary, replied that agencies would work with users to get information to them in a usable way. He added that OMB, the White House, and the Department of Justice were all committed to making information available. One person at the briefing asked about privacy issues, and noted that the FBI would not search for records on an individual because of concerns about privacy. Hubbell replied that the FBI should ask the individual first, but that the new FOIA regulations presumed disclosure. He added that the Department of Justice would discuss the matter with the FBI director. *************************************************************************** TEXT OF FOIA MEMO ISSUED BY THE WHITE HOUSE The White House Washington October 4, 1993 MEMORANDUM FOR HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES SUBJECT: The Freedom of Information Act I am writing to call your attention to a subject that is of great importance to the American public and to all Federal departments and agencies -- the administration of the Freedom of Information Act, as amended (the "Act"). The Act is a vital part of the participatory system of government. I am committed to enhancing its effectiveness in my Administration. For more than a quarter century now, the Freedom of Information Act has played a unique role in strengthening our democratic form of government. The statute was enacted based upon the fundamental principle that an informed citizenry is essential to the democratic process and that the more the American people know about their government the better they will be governed. Openness in government is essential to accountability and the Act has become an integral part of that process. The Freedom of Information Act, moreover, has been one of the primary means by which members of the public inform themselves about their government. As Vice President Gore made clear in the National Performance Review, the American people are the Federal Government's customers. Federal departments and agencies should handle requests for information in a customer-friendly manner. The use of the Act by ordinary citizens is not complicated, nor should it be. The existence of unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles has no place in its implementation. I therefore call upon all Federal departments and agencies to renew their commitment to the Freedom of Information Act, to its underlying principles of government openness, and to its sound administration. This is an appropriate time for all agencies to take a fresh look at their administration of the Act, to reduce backlogs of Freedom of Information Act requests, and to conform agency practice to the new litigation guidance issued by the Attorney General, which is attached. Further, I remind agencies that our commitment to openness requires more than merely responding to requests from the public. Each agency has a responsibility to distribute information on its own initiative, and to enhance public access through the use of electronic information systems. Taking these steps will ensure compliance with both the letter and the spirit of the Act. (signed) William J. Clinton *************************************************************************** ALAWON (ISSN 1069-7799) is an irregular publication of the American Library Association Washington Office, 110 Maryland Avenue, N.E., Washington, DC 20002-5675. Internet: alawash(a)alawash.org; Phone: 202-547-4440; Fax: 202-547-7363. Editor and List Owner: Fred King (fdk(a)alawash.org) All or part of ALAWON may be redistributed, with appropriate credits. -- R O All Comments Copyright by | Technofetisht A N Paul S. Goggin (1993) | Cypher, Cyber, Chaos V Information Broker | Ergoflux, Interzone E chaos(a)aql.gatech.edu | Carpe Diem: Stop the Clipper wiretap chip Finger account for latest _Phrack_ | Public Key: PGP and RIPEM available For anonymous communication:---> anon32940(a)anon.penet.fi ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Title 18 USC 2511 and 18 USC 2703 Protected -- Monitoring Absolutely Forbidden

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Re: digicash
by wcs＠anchor.ho.att.com 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Yes, as Bob said, digicash *does* sound like play money, as any fiat currency is. Gold and silver are, in many cultures, useful real money, partly because they're useful or decorative, durable, and hard to make more of, occasional gold rushes excepted :-) It's also hard to debase, though some coin-makers have short-weighted their coinage, or even talked people into accepting cheaper metals. Leaves are also pretty and conveniently grow on trees, but aren't good money. Ultimately, it's worth whatever goods and services people are willing to give you in exchange for it. Paper money with numbers on it is easy to print more of; some governments realize that and abuse people's trust of them, leading to mild-to-medium inflation rates in many countries, and hyper-inflation in countries that think they can print it faster than people can switch to less volatile currencies (Israel went through a period where their pound was inflating so fast that most people switched over to dollar-based price indexing until the government started behaving again; governments like the U.S. realize they can steal a lot more money if they do it slowly.) I once saw a board game that used real Nicaraguan 50,000 cordoba notes as money - they were cheaper than printing good-looking play money from scratch :-) Bits are also easy to make more of, though it may be more work if you want them to be prime numbers or whatever. In order to make them useful and not inflated, they either have to be directly pegged to a good or service that people want, and offered by someone reasonably trustworthy, or otherwise tied to something of stable value. Metro or BART tickets are magnetic cards with bits on them, which people are willing to pay money for because they know they'll get subway rides in return for them, and aren't likely to be defaulted on. Telephone cards are easy for the phone to make, but people accept them for the same reason. For digicash tokens that _aren't_ tied to a single service provider, you typically need some other reason to trust the issuers not to make lots of them - people accept EFT, money orders, travellers' checks, and personal checks from a variety of issuers because they know they can get regular cash in return for them, and because business and legal relationships are there to such an extent that people don't usually default on them, though merchants often charge service charges to make up for the costs of redemption and the risk of defaults, especially for foreign transactions. Digicash could work the same way, only instead of Western Union accepting cash at one office and telegraphing a request to pay cash at another office, we're hauling the email around ourselves. Authentication theory is fun, and a good subject for university research, and the economics are important as well, since you'd need to make a profit to bother running all the computation that the system costs, but ultimately, it won't happen until some entrepreneur or group of fanatics :-) decides to get down and do it. Most of the current similar systems either don't give you anonymity, or do so by using pre-paid tokens; anything fancier is cutting into relatively untapped markets. Bill

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