December 2003 - cypherpunks-legacy

GhostMarks
by Matt Thomlinson 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

The trading of ghostmarks has begun. I've personally been party to a half-dozen transactions from my own personal account, and have more than 20 clients. It's time for trade to begin large-scale. I've placed the names of those clients who agreed to be publicly listed on my finger info: phantom(a)stein.u.washington.edu These are people (although not the only ones) that are ready and willing to begin transactions. Each of them has some sort of supply of ghostmarks. Let the grand experiment begin. Matt Executive Director The Phantom Exchange ("I'm not only the director, I'm also a client!") 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

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Re: This is an abstract from a talk at Cornell University...
by Hal 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

From: jamesd(a)netcom.com (James A. Donald) > Peter Wayner writes > > Richard Feynman and others have challenged the traditional Turing > > machine model of computation. A new model of computation based > > on quantum mechanics has recently been proposed. It is too early > > to know whether quantum computers will be practical. However, it > > is shown that quantum computers can factor integers and compute > > discrete logarithms in polynomial time. > > It is news to me that a quantum computer can do this, but > is seems plausible that it could. > > Factoring is a member of a class of problems for which it > is plausible that quantum computers have capabilities > fundamentally superior to classical computers. I would be surprised if quantum computers had the capability to factor in polynomial time. The special capabilities that I have seen claimed for quantum computers have a probabilistic component, so that, in effect, you can do a calculation n times faster but have only a 1/n chance of getting an answer. (This is an oversimplification but gives the idea.) In the context of the Many-Worlds interpretation of QM, you might say that the various instances of the quantum computer spanning the multi- verse can be made to work together, but by a sort of conservation of information production, only a fraction of the individual universes of the multiverse get the answer. The one loophole that I see is that this term "quantum computer" covers a lot of territory. They might sneak in some infinities in addition to adding the strictly quantum capabilities. It is known that ordinary computers which can hold arbitrarily-large numbers (and do arithmetic on them in one time step) can factor in polynomial time. If the definition of your quantum computer is so broad that you can squeeze in some outrageous capability like this, then the claim of polynomial-time factoring is more plausible. Hal

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DigiCash Announcement
by Black Unicorn 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- - -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- - - -- For Immediate Release -- In an agreement between The Phantom Exchange and UniBank, we are proud to announce the opening of a digital currency server and exchange service at unicorn(a)access.digex.net. UniBank will begin circulating DigiFrancs at 1:38pm EST Tuesday May 10, 1994. (The moment of peak coverage in the annular eclipse of the sun) DigiFrancs are backed by 10 cases of Diet Coke, located at the UniBank "vault" reserves in Washington, DC. DigiFrancs are redeemable for their equivalent value in 16 oz Diet Coke cans (unchilled) on demand FAS Washington, DC. This arrangement implies no agreement between any of the parties and Coca-Cola company. The Phantom Exchange and UniBank have launched a cooperative effort to exchange information and establish realistic floating rates of exchange between our two currencies. As a result PhantomMarks and DigiFrancs will be freely interchangeable at the spot rate. Exchange rates will also be offered for Tacky Tokens from mpd(a)netcom.com's digital bank. Tacky Tokens are exchangeable at UniBank at the current rate subject to some restrictions. No exchange fees will be assigned for the month of May. Current rates of exchange are available via finger at unicorn(a)access.digex.net. - -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 2.3 iQCVAgUBLc8uahibHbaiMfO5AQG7HQP+NChh9+fcegBBdUfiwAt/flUKZBvSEkn/ eNBnuNmRJmm1GLQVn51IWCF8rip17cEvLSSKhV4jBldHOgwFGd5a7jBsHN5bXncC zkDWe6O0q1ftQpGV87smm0NpLUw0Sl7HnXx9SBndcAeUxdEjqag0ROunoCeakcc6 R6HGM2HvlSQ= =Z0Io - -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- Matt Thomlinson, Executive Director, Phantom Exchange 23:30 PST 5/9/94 -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 2.2 iQCVAgUBLc8Yi2SGfFo1zsA5AQGtpwQAuahasIOjAqQ9gcJ3vuXNlr6mH2GU70jd MGC1GpmmhJW+L9LtkabCLYyLOXxA7GjQ0XJZm9nWcPZNOFBTpSNgdGG8kUcw5enU tU19EH2b5Q38KI4ICwz38t4/cbsop23TMJGATG977IKwpzOnvzh5nW88/Q4EoUC2 M8MFz01aqH4= =EJmD -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- unicorn(a)access.digex.net: Director/Operator, UniBank phantom(a)u.washington.edu: Executive Director, Phantom Exchange

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Re: Patents on RSA will expire soon....
by norm＠netcom.com 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

The algorithm that factored RSA129 takes about exp(sqrt((log n)(log log n))) steps. Indeed 10^17 instructions is just about how much work was required to factor RSA129--. That formula gives about 10^29 for a 1024 bit number. If computers double in speed every 18 months then they will be only 32 times as fast when the patents expire.

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Majordomo
by Cyber City 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

I'm posting this from Toronto, and I have no direct knowledge of what took the Cypherpunks list down, but here's my guess: The CP list is run my "majordomo" [MJD], a group of Perl scripts. According to the MJD docs: "If you'd like a list with the absolute minimum of maintenance (but also a minimum of security), you could create an "auto" list. All subscription or unsubscription requests will be honored without any input from the list owner. For example, anyone could unsubscribe anyone else." - unsubscribe list [address] This unsubscribes the user (or "address") from "list". This means that anyone could write a message to majordomo(a)toad.com, with the following message: unsubscribe cypherpunks user1(a)some.org unsubscribe cypherpunks user2(a)some.org unsubscribe cypherpunks user3(a)some.org ... and so on. Forgery is unnecessary. MJD permits the use of a password by which the list owner can approve unsubscription requests, but Sendmail displays this password. See: telnet toad.com 25 Trying 140.174.2.1... Connected to toad.com. 220 toad.com Sendmail 4.1/Gnu-smail ready at Mon, 9 May 94 22:12:32 PDT VRFY owner-cypherpunks 250 Eric Hughes <"|/u/hughes/.bin/procmail"> VRFY cypherpunks 250 <"|/u/majordom/bin/wrapper resend -p bulk \ -l cypherpunks -f owner-cypherpunks \ -h toad.com -s cypherpunks-outgoing"> *** password would be displayed here *** ==== What it means ======================================================== -l <list-name> list name -h <host-name> host name -f <from-addr> "sender" (default <list-name>-request) -p <precedence> add "Precedence: <precedence>" header -I <file-list> Bounce messages from users not listed in file in colon-separated <file-list> * -a <passwd> approval password ** -s enable "administrivia" checks * Note that majordomo postings can be limited to those on an approved list, but selected posters can not be excluded. This is not appropriate for the Cypherpunk list, due to anonymous remailers, pseudonyms, etc. ** Note that if there WAS an approval password, it would be visible. Fortunately, version 1.90 of MJD, which is now in beta, fixes this problem by putting the passwords in a configuration file. It is available for ftp.GreatCircle.com. What to do about abusive posters? How about reversing the function of the -I switch? === Here's the PERL code for option -I from 1.90 beta: =============== if ( defined($opt_I) && defined($from) && ! defined($approved) ) { local($infile) = 0; @files = split (/[:\t\n]+/, $opt_I); foreach $file (@files) { if ($file !~ /^\//) { $file = "$listdir/$file"; } if ( open (LISTFD, "<${file}") != 0 ) { @output = grep (&addr_match($from, $_), <LISTFD>); close (LISTFD); if ( $#output != -1 ) { $infile = 1; last; } } else { die("resend: Can't open $file: $!"); } } if ( $infile == 0 ) { &bounce ("Non-member submission from [$from]"); } } === Now, with minimal hacking, this can be reversed, so that if the user === name is in the list, the incoming post is bounced to the list owner, === who can approve it or junk it. So here is a technological fix, where we don't have to go bothering system administators if they have a troublesome user. -- Alex Brock

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Re: This is an abstract from a talk at Cornell University...
by norm＠netcom.com 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

I recently saw a video tape of a talk by Feynman on quantum computers. It was taped in '86 or '89 I think. It was his presentation of 'balistic' quantum computers. In that talk he refered very briefly to the David Deutch idea of the many worlds computer but was sceptical, but not entirely dismissive of it. In other comments Feynman seemed to think that the many worlds idea was not very useful. It would certainly be useful if it helped design such a computer. I would bet against it.

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MBone cypherpunks session...
by werner＠mc.ab.com 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

>From: an49276(a)anon.penet.fi (Joe Blow) >Date: Mon, 9 May 1994 23:35:41 UTC > >Pls excuse my ignorance, but what is MBONE? If anyone would care to enlighten >me on this, use email to avoid noise on the list. ;-) I would also be interested in this info. Pls send it to me too. tw

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Party Announcement
by bsteve＠zontar.com 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Dear Colleagues; Announcing the 3rd annual.... George Leroy Detweiler Memorial Weenie Roast & Whale Exhibition MONDAY MAY 30, 1 PM - 1 AM * R.S.V.P. * This is our annual pool inauguration. We will be cooking/providing limited quantities of Vienna Beef(tm) hot dogs from Chicago, Home- made cajun hotlinks, South Carolina hotlinks, and some kielbasas; The sausages will be plumped in the *cheapest* available beer and then grilled in the time-honored way. We will provide some limited quantities of snack foods. For the vegetarian diners, we will have some limited quantities of tofu-burgers & garden-burgers. We should have back-up blenders & ice to insure that the we are able to prepare sufficient quantities of Moo-moo drinks, lest we feel the wrath of the Moo-moo gods. We will also provide condiments, picnic gear, some ice for beverages, limited quantities of soft drinks, cheap beer, wine and *good* beer.The pool will be heated as close to body temperature as possible,and the tub will be operational. The tub seats 6-8 regular-sizedpeople and 4-6 extraordinary people. We'll have limited internet access at poolside for those with a requirement for it. We will provide limited crash space if required. WHERE the heck is it? At the home of Steve Blasingame (bsteve(a)zontar.com) and Mihoko Doyama (miho(a)zontar.com) 2608 Totana Court San Ramon, CA 94583 Take I-680 to Bollinger Canyon Road Take Bollinger Canyon Road West about 1/4 mile to Aranda Drive Right on Aranda Drive and 80 feet to Totana Court Left on Totana Court Ours is the light colored ranch with teal trim. If you are lost, the phone number is 510 830 9724. So WHAT do I need to bring? 1) Yourself (if you bring kids, parental discression is advised; this is essentially an adult gathering and when the Moo-moo gods are summoned, young minds may be contaminated) 2) Swimming attire, towel (we have only a limited quantity of towels for guests) 3) Some food item that you deem appropriate for the event; If you bring it, someone else will want to taste it. Chips,Salads,etc. You know the drill. If you wish to join us, drop a note to whale(a)zontar.com. This way we can insure that we provide enough goodies. Steve Blasingame bsteve(a)zontar.com (510) 866-1864 Voice (510) 866-1861 FAX

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RE: C'punks list
by lefty＠apple.com 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

>you need to resubscribe -- somebody (Nalbandian?) wiped the list... Is there the slightest bit of evidence to support this frequently-repeated suspicion? Personally, I don't think he has the spare neurons required. -- Lefty (lefty(a)apple.com) C:.M:.C:., D:.O:.D:.

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NYT op-ed May 8
by peb＠netcom.com 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

I just tuned-in last night...Has anyone discussed the NYT op-ed by David Gelernter (associate prof. at Yale)? It was accompanied by a comic "the first wiretap" and Gelernter says common sense dictates that wiretaps be preserved and he wants the digital telephony bill passed. Paul E. Baclace peb(a)netcom.com

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