December 2003 - cypherpunks-legacy

Command confirmation request cancelled
by L-Soft list server at EDS (1.8b) 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Your command: SIGNOFF COOL_TRAVELS has remained unconfirmed for more than 48h and is being cancelled. If you did want it executed but were unable to send the confirmation in time, just re-issue the command to get a new confirmation code. The one you were sent before can no longer be used.

1 0

COOL_TRAVELS: UNSUBSCRIBE US
by Mullen Patrick 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

This message was received by cypherpunks at toad.com. This is a mailing list. If you look at the To: line in its header, you will see "Cypherpunks Suck". If this isn't a clear sign of a forgery, I don't know what is. Please remove this account, cypherpunks(a)toad.com from your distribution. Thank you for your time and prompt response to this matter. Thank you, Patrick Mullen and other members at cypherpunks(a)toad.com _______________________________________________________________________________ From: COOL_TRAVELS-request(a)plwils00.xweb.eds.com on Sat, Oct 26, 1996 5:47 Subject: You are now subscribed to the COOL_TRAVELS list To: Cypherpunks Suck Sat, 26 Oct 1996 02:03:21 Your subscription to Continental Online (COOL) Travel Specials has been confirmed. Please keep this E-mail as it contains important infomation about the list you've joined. There are two distinct e-mail addresses that you should be aware of. 1. listserv address: LISTSERV(a)LISTSERV.XWEB.EDS.COM. 2. mailing list address: COOL_TRAVELS(a)LISTSERV.XWEB.EDS.COM. The first address: LISTSERV(a)LISTSERV.XWEB.EDS.COM: This is a non-human, administrative, automatic-reply address. This address works similar to a telephone voice response system. You dial a specific number to connect to the voice response system, enter the command/option to complete a specific task. There is not an option to chat with the voice response system. Similarly, the address above does not recognize anything but pre-defined commands. When you send E-mail to LISTSERV(a)LISTSERV.XWEB.EDS.COM, with a command in the message body, LISTSERV(a)LISTSERV.XWEB.EDS.COM will reply to you with a pre-defined response to your command. Commands are not case sensitive, and the "subject:" field does not matter. Here are some useful commands. subscribe cool_travels firstname lastname (To subscribe to the mailing list cool_travels or overwrite your existing account with new information) unsubscribe cool_travels (To unsubscribe the cool_travels list) For security reasons, when you unsubscribe/signoff the list will ask you for a confirmation. When you receive the confirmation, use your mailer's "reply" feature and type OK, and nothing else, in the reply message. This is meant to verify that you really do want to be removed from the list. LISTSERV will notify you once the operation is successful. Please *DO NOT* include the original confirmation message in your OK reply. Again, send commands only to LISTSERV(a)LISTSERV.XWEB.EDS.COM. The second important address is: COOL_TRAVELS(a)LISTSERV.XWEB.EDS.COM: This is the mailing list that will bring you discounts and promotions from Continental Airlines. This is a one-way, announce-only mailing list. It does not accept mail postings from the subscribers. Please do *NOT* reply to the messages sent to you from this mailing list. If you need any assistance, please send an E-mail to: WEBMASTER(a)MAIL1.FLYCONTINENTAL.COM with COOL_TRAVELS in the "subject:" field. We will be happy to assist you. ------------------ RFC822 Header Follows ------------------ Received: by mail.ndhm.gtegsc.com with SMTP;26 Oct 1996 05:47:08 -0400 Received: from toad.com by delphi.ndhm.gtegsc.com with SMTP; Sat, 26 Oct 1996 9:43:28 GMT Received: (from majordom@localhost) by toad.com (8.7.5/8.7.3) id AAA19773 for cypherpunks-outgoing; Sat, 26 Oct 1996 00:03:37 -0700 (PDT) Received: from plwils00.xweb.eds.com (plwils00.xweb.eds.com [205.240.248.140]) by toad.com (8.7.5/8.7.3) with SMTP id AAA19763 for <cypherpunks(a)TOAD.COM>; Sat, 26 Oct 1996 00:03:32 -0700 (PDT) Received: from plwils00 by plwils00.xweb.eds.com via SMTP (950911.SGI.8.6.12.PATCH825/940406.SGI) for <cypherpunks(a)TOAD.COM> id CAA15495; Sat, 26 Oct 1996 02:03:21 -0500 Message-Id: <199610260703.CAA15495(a)plwils00.xweb.eds.com> Date: Sat, 26 Oct 1996 02:03:21 -0500 From: "L-Soft list server at EDS (1.8b)" <LISTSERV(a)plwils00.xweb.eds.com> Subject: You are now subscribed to the COOL_TRAVELS list To: Cypherpunks Suck <cypherpunks(a)toad.com> Reply-To: COOL_TRAVELS-request(a)plwils00.xweb.eds.com X-LSV-ListID: COOL_TRAVELS Sender: owner-cypherpunks(a)toad.com Precedence: bulk

1 0

Announcement
by Robert Hettinga 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

--- begin forwarded text Comments: Authenticated sender is <trotterf(a)[172.16.1.10]> From: "Frank O. Trotter, III" <ftrotter(a)marktwain.com> Organization: Mark Twain Bank To: Robert Hettinga <rah(a)shipwright.com> Date: Mon, 28 Oct 1996 08:55:14 -5 Subject: Announcement Reply-to: ftrotter(a)marktwain.com Priority: normal Bob: Here is an official announcement that can be found at http://www.marktwain.com/prs1096c.html We feel that there is much positive to come from this on the electronic commerce front and will be filling you in more later. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MERCANTILE BANCORPORATION INC. TO MERGE WITH MARK TWAIN BANK ST. LOUIS, October 28, 1996...Mercantile Bancorporation Inc. (NYSE: MTL), an $18.2 billion asset bank holding company, and Mark Twain Bancshares, Inc. (NYSE: MTB), a $3.1 billion asset bank holding company, both headquartered in St. Louis, jointly announced today that they have signed a definitive merger agreement. The transaction will be a tax-free exchange valued at approximately $855 million. "This merger of Mark Twain with Mercantile brings together the strengths of two high-performing organizations and solidifies Mercantile's position as the largest locally managed, and independently owned banking operation in St. Louis and the state of Missouri," said Thomas H. Jacobsen, chairman and chief executive officer of Mercantile Bancorporation Inc. "It is a compelling transaction that will harness the middle market lending and other specialty businesses of Mark Twain with the power and breadth of Mercantile's operation," Jacobsen added. "Both institutions are generating strong revenue growth, increasing market share and earnings momentum. We're convinced that the synergies between our two institutions will create a highly competitive banking organization with long-term benefits for our customers, employees and shareholders." "This is great news for St. Louis and Kansas City at a time of rapid change in the financial services industry. We are very pleased to partner with Mercantile Bancorporation and form a merged banking entity in which everyone benefits," said John P. Dubinsky, president and chief executive officer of Mark Twain Bancshares, Inc. "Customers of Mark Twain will benefit from the extensive array of consumer products and services developed by Mercantile. Both organizations have outstanding CRA records and together will continue to provide civic leadership in the region," Dubinsky said. Mark Twain Directors unanimously approved the transaction and have indicated that they will vote their shares in favor of the merger. Under the terms of the agreement, Mark Twain shareholders will receive .9520 shares of Mercantile common stock for each share of Mark Twain common stock. The merger is structured as a tax-free exchange and will be accounted for as a pooling of interests. Based on Friday's closing price for Mercantile common stock of $52.125, the transaction is valued at $49.62 per share of Mark Twain common stock. In addition, both Mercantile and Mark Twain will rescind all previously announced share repurchase programs. Mercantile may repurchase up to 700,000 shares in the open market from time to time depending upon market conditions and other factors. Mark Twain Bancshares, Inc., one of the highest performing banks in the country, has 39 banking locations in the St. Louis, Kansas City and Belleville, IL areas. Mark Twain's related financial services companies include: Mark Twain Capital Markets Group; Mark Twain Brokerage Service, Inc.; Mark Twain Commercial Finance Division; Mark Twain International Division and Mark Twain Trust. The merger strengthens Mercantile's presence in the three largest Missouri markets, increasing market share in the Kansas City Metropolitan area from fourth to third; and moving Mercantile to a stronger second in market share in the St. Louis area. Mark Twain's pending acquisition in Springfield, Missouri will further increase Mercantile's market share by approximately 20% in the Springfield area. Upon completion of the merger, Alvin J. Siteman, chairman of Mark Twain Bancshares, Inc., will become Chairman of Mercantile Bank of St. Louis, and will join the Mercantile Bancorporation Inc. Board of Directors. In addition, John P. Dubinsky, will become president and chief executive officer of Mercantile Bank of St. Louis and a member of Mercantile's management executive committee, reporting to Thomas H. Jacobsen. Peter F. Benoist, executive vice president, banking division, Mark Twain Bancshares, Inc., will join Mercantile Bank of St. Louis as a key member of the management team. Joseph E. Hasten, the current president of Mercantile Bank of St. Louis, will assume the position of chairman and chief institutional banking officer of Mercantile's Corporate Bank serving the specialized financial needs of Mercantile's commercial customers throughout the Midwest, reporting to W. Randolph Adams, senior executive vice president of Mercantile Bancorporation Inc. Plans call for the merger, which is subject to the approval of Mercantile and Mark Twain shareholders and all appropriate regulatory agencies, to be completed in the second quarter of 1997. Mercantile Bancorporation Inc., an $18.2 billion multi-bank holding company headquartered in St. Louis, operates banks in Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Illinois and Arkansas. The company has mergers pending with Today's Bancorp, Inc., First Financial Corporation of America, and Regional Bancshares, Inc. Mercantile's non-banking subsidiaries include companies providing brokerage services, asset-based lending, investment advisory services, leasing services and credit life insurance. Contact: Keith Miller (314) 889-0799 millerk(a)marktwain.com Frank O. Trotter, III Senior Vice President Director International Markets Division Mark Twain Bank ***************************************** mailto:ftrotter@marktwain.com http://www.marktwain.com Fax: +1 314 569-4906 --- end forwarded text ----------------- Robert Hettinga (rah(a)shipwright.com) e$, 44 Farquhar Street, Boston, MA 02131 USA "The cost of anything is the foregone alternative" -- Walter Johnson The e$ Home Page: http://www.vmeng.com/rah/

1 0

FDA_dis
by John Young 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

10-28-96. WaPo: Dissing Declan's Hotwired slam of the FDA conference on regulating Internet advertising and promotion: "Ultimately, this debate isn't about speech. It comes down to how much regulation we want." Declan, singe dis negro inquisto, si? ----- http://jya.com/fdadis.txt ftp://jya.com/pub/incoming/fdadis.txt FDA_dis

3 2

copyright violations
by jacobs＠tfn.com 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

FYI, American Banker and all sister publications are copyrighted material. As such, only very few select third parties have permission to redistribute our material. Please notify us immediately of any third party contacting you with our material so that we may protect our copyright. Do not redistribute any information you receive from a third party.

2 1

First Union Ahead of Curve with Sun's "JavaStation"
by Copyright Violator 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

When Sun Microsystems unveils today what it is touting as a radical advance in business computing, First Union Corp. will be in the vanguard of those adopting it. The announcement, at a media event in New York, will center on a hot trend that Sun reduces to three words: Java Enterprise Computing. Sun invited First Union, which has already deployed the technology in its capital markets operations, to share the spotlight with other Java innovators such as CSX, Federal Express, and British Telecom. Rarely has a bank company been so much a part of high-tech hype, which makes the First Union case and what it says about the potential impact of Java computing that much more noteworthy. Based on a programming language -- Java -- that came out of Sun Microsystems but is for practical purposes in the public domain, this new approach exemplifies what technologists call "network-centricity." It is widely seen as an antidote to the difficulty and expense of upgrading and maintaining vast numbers of personal computers in large organizations. First Union bought into the idea long ago and views Java computing as "a natural evolution," said Peter Kelly, senior vice president of the company's lead bank in Charlotte, N.C. After about five months of development and use, he reported "a dramatic reduction in both time and cost for training, administration, and maintenance." Participating in the announcement today, he said, First Union is less interested in glory or in endorsing Sun Microsystems -- the bank is drawn to Java because it is "vendor-neutral" -- than it is in "supporting a good business solution." In the network-centric model, processing and programming power reside away from the desktop on computers known as servers. Today's personal computers can be reduced to, or replaced by, less expensive "thin clients." These rely on "fat servers" for what analyst Jean S. Bozman of International Data Corp. calls "the heavy lifting." The computer press has recently given much attention to thin client opportunities in the home, such as an inexpensive appliance for Internet access that Oracle Corp., a leading advocate, dubbed the Network Computer, or NC. Sun's initial appeal is decidedly to the corporate community, where it believes revolutions happen first. "This may be the beginning of an incredible 10-year change in the way we do computing," Sun Microsystems Computer Co. president Edward J. Zander said in an interview last week. A thin client called JavaStation, along with an "easy administration" server, is to be included in Sun's announcement today. First Union is using the station to link a variety of desktop equipment with numerous data bases and files; Java breaks down the barriers between previously incompatible systems. Mr. Kelly said the bank would likely explore the technology's applicability outside of capital markets. Mr. Zander, who is based in Mountain View, Calif., said Java Enterprise Computing is especially and immediately applicable to "what we call fixed-function applications." These include many back-office and customer-service activities in financial services that can be managed and administered centrally and delivered through specialized thin-client screens. But what really attracts technologists' and business managers' attention is the economics. Sun projects 50% to 80% reductions in "the cost of ownership" of PCs, which can be tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars, depending on the size of a corporate network. Hype it may be, but it is hard to find anybody to argue against it. International Business Machines Corp., Microsoft Corp., Oracle Corp., and Netscape Communications Corp. -- technology leaders often at odds with one other and with Sun Microsystems -- have each jumped on this bandwagon in some way. (In other NC-related developments Monday, Oracle and Netscape announced a strategic alliance, as did an opposing group that included Microsoft, Intel Corp., and Hewlett-Packard Co.) Sun's ebullient Mr. Zander will talk a blue streak about almost anything on the leading edge, as he did last week in declaring, "Java computing is ready for prime time." But he was also careful not to oversell. Given the huge and entrenched population of PCs, he said, network computing is more evolutionary than revolutionary. Regarding Oracle chairman Lawrence Ellison's vision of $500 NCs' replacing virtually all PCs, Mr. Zander saw a lack of realism because PC-based spreadsheet and graphics applications, among others, are likely to persist. "We're not telling people to give up the power of the PC," Mr. Zander said, but to "put the complexity on the server, where it belongs . . . . It will take a couple of years, but it will happen." Mr. Kelly, who is responsible for First Union's capital markets technology and support, described JavaStation as a logical extension of the bank's work with object-oriented computing -- the programming approach that relies on reusable objects, or building-blocks of code -- and C++, the standard programming language from which Java was derived. Investment banking and capital markets gave Sun Microsystems its first major inroads into financial services, which may explain why Mr. Kelly's department has been looking into Java opportunities for more than a year. The stations have recently replaced "fat client" terminals in trade reconciliation, settlement, and clearing. "The redesign of an interface took only two to three weeks because we were already on the server-centric model," Mr. Kelly said. "This won't be the only client equipment we deploy . . . ," he added. "Interoperability is also our goal." The pricing does have a revolutionary ring to it. Sun said it would begin shipping the entry-level JavaStation in December, with miniSparc chip and eight megabytes of main memory, for $740. With keyboard, mouse, and 14-inch color monitor, it will go for $995; with double the memory and a 17-inch monitor, $1,495. A business PC installation rarely costs less than $3,000. And that is only part of what has come to irk corporate technology bosses. System maintenance, upgrades, and other expenses can amount to $12,000 per desktop per year. Java technology allows changes to be "written once and run anywhere" -- meaning "locally" on thin clients with powerful RISC (reduced instruction-set computing) processors embedded. A large corporation with JavaStations, which don't need hard or floppy or CD-ROM drives or moving parts because they depend on fat servers, "can save millions of dollars and deliver the same or better functionality, even if this is implemented by just 10% of your work force," said Gene Banman, general manager of Sun's desktop systems group. Sun executives expect JavaStation sales and related software applications to flourish -- they already count 450 of the latter -- because of the cost factor and the Internet and intranet boom. Java is "a secure universal interface language" designed specifically for broad distribution over such open networks without regard to hardware and operating-system choices, said Jeffrey P. Morgenthal, research analyst at D.H. Brown Associates, Port Chester, N.Y. Chief information officers can install Java "in phases without jeopardizing the existing infrastructure investment," he said. "I'm hard-pressed to believe that somebody is going to come up with an architecture in the near future to wipe this one out." Ms. Bozman, the International Data analyst in Mountain View, said alternative ways exist to shift the PC-support burden to central sites. But Java is gaining momentum. It burst on the Internet scene in the form of simple "applets" such as moving stock tickers but is evolving toward mission-critical corporate and packaged software. "This is not just happening in the Sun world," she said. "Even Microsoft is selling Java toolkits." Sun financial services vice president Rob Hall said he anticipates a rapid spread of Java computing because of the "dramatically lower total cost of ownership while providing flexible, platform-independent solutions. "We are seeing strong interest in our thin-client JavaStation for process-heavy and repetitive tasks such as trade settlement back-office operations and customer service applications in retail banking call centers," Mr. Hall said.

1 0

? for HTML experts...
by Peter Hrabinsky 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Dear Sir/Madam: I am wondering how I can include tags in my HTML form wihtout it screwing up the presentation of old browsers? For example, when I get my mail-to form mailed to my server, I want it ready to be clipped into an HTML format. For example: First Name: (or Nick Name) <blockquote> <input type=text size=25 maxlength=256 name="Name/Nickname"> Ok, so if you look at my name="" area I include a and tag so that it automatically formats the form that is submitted to me... The problem is that IE 3.0 and the new Netscape browsers can handle it, older browsers cannot. So is there anyway to include tag text in a form without screwing everything up? Thank you for your help! I look foraward to your reply! Peter

1 0

Australia's Advance Bank Promises Christmas Ecash 10/25/96
by Joseph M. Reagle Jr. 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

>Date: Mon, 28 Oct 1996 13:20:02 -0500 >From: reagle(a)rpcp.mit.edu (Joseph M. Reagle Jr.) >To: reagle(a)rpcp.mit.edu >Subject: Australia's Advance Bank Promises Christmas Ecash 10/25/96 > > > >SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA 1996 OCT 25 (NB) -- By Stuart Kennedy, Computer Daily >News. Come Christmas, electronic cash should begin jingling around the >Australian side of the global Internet. The Sydney-based Advance Bank >has signed on for Netherlands-based DigiCash's "Ecash" system and >expects to be issuing Australian denominated Ecash by the end of the >year. > >The deal puts Advance a further step ahead of its Australian rivals in >the Internet-based banking transaction game. Most other Australian banks >are still dabbling with information-only Web pages while Advance has >been offering its customers Internet-transacted account information, >account transfers, bill payments and now Ecash. > >It also makes Advance the first bank in the Asia Pacific region to >employ an Internet-based digital money system and Australian currency >the fourth in the world to get the digital treatment, DigiCash claims. > >Other DigiCash licensees are Mark Twain Bank (US), Deutsche Bank >(Germany), Merita Bank (Finland) and Posten (Sweden). > >"We would like to see more than one Australian bank take up the system. >We have been talking to other (Australian) banks, " says DigiCash >Australia's managing director, Andreas Furche, who has also had chats >with the Australian Reserve Bank over the implications of Ecash for the >Australian economy. > >The big task for Advance (and affiliate BankSA) is convincing merchants >to sign up for the new electronic cash system which could catalyze an >Australian online economy. > >This week Advance's Web pages were already featuring electronic sign-up >forms for merchants. The bank has yet to finalize transaction charges >for the system, but costs should be lower than the credit card >transactions currently used for most Net-based retail commerce. > >Digicash established its Australian operation in March. The corporation >claims the Ecash system provides transactions that are as secure and >secret as interbank transactions. A user draws money from an account >and stores it in software as "Ecash." When a purchase is agreed, Ecash >transfers electronic "coins" from the PC, sealed into an electronic >"envelope" which goes to the nominated bank for authentication. > >The bank cannot see the details of the transaction. Once authenticated, >the payment goes to the payee, who receives a credit. > >(19961025) > > > _______________________ Regards, What we hope ever to do with ease, we must learn first to do with diligence. -Samuel Johnson reagle(a)mit.edu E0 D5 B2 05 B6 12 DA 65 BE 4D E3 C1 6A 66 25 4E

1 0

Re: slander and call for lawyers. :)
by frantz＠netcom.com 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

At 11:28 PM 10/25/96 -0700, Sandy Sandfort wrote: >Pledge partners, how say >you? I am quite willing to transfer my pledge of $50 (which was given in the hope that the event would attract Attila, not Dimitri) to Ray's legal defense fund. I want to be clear that this transfer is only valid for defense. If the fund will be used to legally attack Dimitri, I'd like my money back. That falls in the category of inviting the courts to rule on net-disputes, something I would like to discourage. (Attacking Dimitri seems also to fall into the category of bullshit suits, something else I would like to discourage.) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bill Frantz | Tired of Dole/Clinton? | Periwinkle -- Consulting (408)356-8506 | Vote 3rd party. I'm | 16345 Englewood Ave. frantz(a)netcom.com | Voting for Harry Browne | Los Gatos, CA 95032, USA

3 3

Jonatahan Wallace on ISP-TV Monday Night
by ISP-TV Main Contact 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

*** ISP-TV Program Announcement: Jonathan Wallace Interview *** *** Monday, Oct. 28 *** *** 9:00 PM ET *** Jonathan Wallace will be the guest on this week's "Real Time" interview series. Wallace is co-author of the book "Sex, Laws, and Cyberspace", which describes the genesis of the Communications Decency Act. Wallace is also editor of the Ethical Spectacle, a web newsletter discussing ethics, law, politics, and their intersection. This video interview can be viewed on the ISP-TV main CU-SeeMe reflector at IP 205.197.247.33, or other ISP-TV affiliate reflectors listed at http://www.digex.net/isptv/members.html See URL http://www.digex.net/isptv for more information about the ISP-TV Network To obtain Enhanced CU-SeeMe software, go to: http://goliath.wpine.com/cudownload.htm

1 0