December 2003 - cypherpunks-legacy

RE: The Ebonic Plague
by blanc 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

From: Timothy C. May Democracy has run amok in this country. There is no hope for reforming at the ballot box, as democracy only makes things worse. Only a crypto reign of terror can purge this land of the scum. ...................................................... Just how would this take shape in "real life" - what would constitute this reign of terror; how do you envision such an event in action? And which are the scum who would be purged? .. Blanc

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EBONIC.ORG
by Chuck 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Lets stop complaining and do something to promote dialectic harmony. How about an online Ebonics/English dictionary? Yesterday, I acquired the domain <ebonic.org> for this purpose (ebonics.org and com were already assigned). In the spirit of inter-dialectic cooperation, I hereby offer it for use as an online dictionary. This is, of course, a time-consuming effort to both design and maintain, so offers of help will be greatly appreciated. It seems to me that a guestbook-type function might be the best way to allow interested parties to add words, their definitions and pronunciation guides to the dictionary. What do you think? We might want to consider an opportunity for illustrations too. It seems to me that many of the Ebonics expressions I've heard are emphasized through the use of gestures - often with multiple digits pointing in various directions. In order not to be seen as uncaring, I think it would be nice to ask the Oakland School District to help. After all, if anyone should know the dialect, it would be them. Of course, this will be an ongoing effort, considering that the dialect will change with each new malapropism spouted by some thirteen-year-old rap star with a learning disability. Lets be clear about this. It will certainly be in the best interest of every American citizen to understand Ebonics. Had this issue been raised prior to the last election, my guess is that we would have all heard Clinton campaigning in Ebonics. Without an understanding of Ebonics, or a translator, we might not have been able to understand him. Think of what we would have missed! And that's not all. Suppose that while stopped at a traffic light, an Ebonics speaker approaches your car to ask to borrow it. He says something on the order of "gheeowtdakamuthafucka!". You respond with "say what?". Bingo, what we got here is a failure to communicate. The next thing you know, you're shouting at each other. Pretty soon, shots are fired and a crowd gathers around your car. The car begins to rock, glass begins to break. You are arrested for leaving the scene of an accident and for violating the civil rights of the Ebonics speaker. All because you didn't take the time to understand his language. Having an unabridged Ebonics/English Dictionary available on the net could help to save untold numbers of people from having such an experience. I hope the site will be up in a week or so, in the meantime, you may communicate via the list or directly to me at <chuck(a)ebonic.org>. Remember, we be needin yo hep.

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RE: The Ebonic Plague
by John Young 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

From: Timothy C. May Democracy has run amok in this country. There is no hope for reforming at the ballot box, as democracy only makes things worse. Only a crypto reign of terror can purge this land of the scum. ...................................................... From: Blanc Just how would this take shape in "real life" - what would constitute this reign of terror; how do you envision such an event in action? And which are the scum who would be purged? ...................................................... Follow precedents of the anarchist tradition: Name a target, build a bomb, light a fuse, heave it, run like hell -- into manacles of the provocateur's payers, then to gallows. Wait a generation, repeat.

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Re: Ebonics
by Matthew J. Miszewski 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- At 08:01 PM 12/20/96 -0800, Timothy C. May wrote: >Yeah, Matt, in a free society I wouldn't have to "speak Ebonics." > Are you talking about the School Board requirements? Are you still in High School, Tim? ;-) I have never heard you speak of children, so you might have a valid complaint if you have them in public schools (although home schooling is still an option). [Tim's Critique of currently failing attempts at social justice elided] I realize you dont agree with the tactics of some black leaders in this country, but I dont understand why you have this need to cloak your arguments in such antagonizing language. You, of course, are free to do so, I just find it counter-productive albeit sometimes humourous. Matt -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 2.6.2 iQCVAwUBMrx3kbpijqL8wiT1AQE8MgP/dQIEwHGQJK68+dXjTD1Tfpc+ll/cRw59 h8bidDczb0eTqcE9SliY+3D+0eUx4OcYOR3HsKcEQjFl5vgVpUeqaywpnh9clHBU QOLLqCpGw1plNzqjzZNc7e0SsCvVudpv93jDJdPInF/MHELxflhAJ32DRfIyt90Q ry0EvNMfAnc= =00J2 -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

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Re: Privtool 0.87
by Alex de Joode 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Mark Grant sez: : I've finally released a new version of Privtool -- my PGP-aware X-windows : mailreader for Linux, SunOS, FreeBSD and Solaris. Version 0.86 is : available on utopia.hacktic.nl in the incoming directory (and possibly : elsewhere) and I'll be uploading 0.87 shortly. For more details and : screenshots see http://www.c2.org/~mark/privtool/privtool.html. : Mark It is available from: (utopia.hacktic.nl = ftp.replay.com) ftp.replay.com/pub/replay/pub/pgp/utils/privtool/ ftp.replay.com/pub/replay/pub/pgp/utils/pgptools/ bEST Regards, -- Alex de Joode http://www.replay.com/people/adejoode I have a linux emulator for Win95: it's called "loadlin" ... *g*

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Re: Ebonics
by Matthew J. Miszewski 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- At 03:02 PM 12/21/96 -0500, Mark M. wrote: [snip] >There is a logical correlation between intelligence and being able to follow >English grammatical rules. Why is it that personal freedom, sometimes expressed by choice of dialect or language, seemingly has such arbitrary limits? Many on the list complain that they are subject to too many rules, and yet, seem to chime in on multi-linugual issues in this way. Crypto angle, here? Much of Ebonics has been based upon a need or desire to communicate in a private way. "5-0" was initiated as a way to communicate the presence of a police officer. Surely, we are not arguing against the development of a low-level way to scramble language. Or in fact, are you arguing that attempts to curtail the police should *not* be encouraged? This seems odd coming from some members of the list (Collapse of Governments and all) ;-). Matt -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 2.6.2 iQCVAwUBMrx7eLpijqL8wiT1AQGfmAQAnwxX/ks/LmKIrvSZi1q7PfjlU3n+/rob 05JSMNl8Qg5sj7Xsd/mdxvVwIUWd3mzz3PCyr1CKSDNVsE9miSYwnIoWCRkxOzle dJUdEAACFX5csk/rpGMWTBpxyucmPfSugt9o6bikVWAP7Gh6YSIJobvQh6KvLMEQ XhZErmf1vHk= =azuR -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

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Legality of requiring credit cards? (fwd)
by gimonca＠skypoint.com 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Forwarded message: > Date: Sun, 22 Dec 1996 15:43:28 -0500 (EST) > From: Michael Gurski <mgursk1(a)umbc.edu> > Subject: Legality of requiring credit cards? > > It's that wonderful season again, when all the assholes are out in > force, and people feel obligated to purchase merchandise to give to > each other. For various reasons, I don't believe in credit cards, and > yet, trying to pay for something by personal check at the local > Hecht's, they either *require* a credit card, or go through the Nazi > check-warranty company Equifax. > Equifax does business by tracking reputations, as do all credit reporting companies. That's how a free market handles bad checks.

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Re: Ebonics
by drose＠AZStarNet.com 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Matthew J. Miszewski writes: >Why is it that personal freedom, sometimes expressed by choice of dialect >or language, seemingly has such arbitrary limits? Many on the list >complain that they are subject to too many rules, and yet, seem to chime in >on multi-linugual issues in this way. Mr. Miszewski: As an attorney, you may be acquainted with the concept of "reasonableness." I can certainly express my personal freedom by passing wind at home (subject only to the possibly vociferous objections of my family). Were I to fart in church or in a board meeting, that would be a horse of a different color, nicht wahr?

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RE: some clarification of jurisdiction in Berstein (long)
by blanc 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

From: attila The DOJ is not interested in either justice or the Bill of Rights. Federal attorneys are striving for high conviction rates, like Vietnam body counts --and are enforcing the policies of the administration, not the courts, the constitution, or the people. ........................................................... (I just read this message, even though Attila posted it this past Thursday.) I wanted to comment that it was a quite interesting post, because it deals with elements of courts and law which really baffle me - all the talk about which District Court stated this, and whether this will apply only in Northern California, and whether Judge Patel's ruling will be observed elsewhere or appealed to a higher court - I think to myself, sheesh, this is like being in a maze and trying to find the way out: If you go through this corridor, will you be on the straight path out, or is there perhaps a dead end around to the left of that edge up ahead, so maybe you should instead try going around that wall on the right? And how do you know how close you are to the exit? How do you know you aren't on a circuitous path going around & around, going nowhere? There are so many detailed decisions, so many objections, such meticulous, scrupulous study of every word & potential meaning therein, and all the judicious players appear so knowledgeable of what is or could not be valid, what is or could not be moral and therefore supportable, of which decision made by which judge on what year relating to what number on a document this all relates back to. It appears that there is a reason for the extreme concern for propriety and the extreme complexity in the assessment of it in a courtroom, in courtroom after level of courtroom. It appears that judges and lawyers and courts are deeply concerned about life proceeding in a moral way, and that they would play the role of catching it from degrading into corruption, affecting the quality of life in the US. Yet if the individual whose actions are in questions goes to jail, the atmosphere of intelligence or mental ability suddenly disappears, the delicacy towards morality and quality of behavior cuts off and there is no similar meticulous examination the institution wherein they are incarcerated, to continue ensuring that all processes there are aligned in the direction of goodness. Therefore what was it all for? If the quality of Truth and Morality is being saved from corruption by these Judges of Law, then why is one person's decision valid only in North California, but not as soon as one travels south (what's the boundary line for "North" California)? Or why does it "hold" in that state, but not anywhere else on the continent? I always think in the same terms used in the Constitution - about human nature and other such categories of thought. Not about where that human nature happens to be residing at any particular time, but what it is per se, and what is or is not right for it per se, regardless of whether it is in North or South Rhode Island. In terms of governmental roles, I'm aghast that they relate their judgements back to each other rather than back to principles. Because this means that, in the end, we are subordinate to the reasoning of some appointed individual, and subject to the lucidity of their mind at the particular moment that we come to their attention, as during a dispute regarding the publication of source code. We could never refer back to valid principles of thought or the Laws of Nature in determing what is right or what not to do, because overriding those considerations would be the calculations of some public overseer. I realize that not all lawyers & judges are this way, but it is still very unsettling to realize just how superficial is the 'honor' which accrues to them. Thanks for the elaboration on this, Attila. .. Blanc

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Re: Credentials without Identity--Race Bits
by jim bell 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

At 10:50 PM 12/20/96 -0800, Bill Stewart wrote: >At least they weren't doing most of this paranoia when I visited my >sister earlier this summer, bringing a couple pounds of Silly Putty >in my luggage as presents for her kids, packed near the alarm clock.... ># Thanks; Bill For years, Radio Shack has sold an indoor/outdoor thermometer with max/min temperature function. Going on a long trip and carrying a 5-pound loaf of cheese? Stick the outdoor thermo pickup in the cheese before you depart, to ensure that it wasn't exposed to damaging temperature excursions! I'm sure this looks wonderful on an X-ray. Jim Bell jimbell(a)pacifier.com

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