December 2003 - cypherpunks-legacy

[RRE]Conference: Technological Visions
by Robert Hettinga 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

PhilZ Pontificates. Philm at 11. Cheers, Bob Hettinga --- begin forwarded text Mime-Version: 1.0 Date: Wed, 30 Sep 1998 21:43:09 -0800 To: "Red Rock Eater News Service" <rre(a)lists.gseis.ucla.edu> From: duguid(a)socrates.berkeley.edu (Paul Duguid) Subject: [RRE]Conference: Technological Visions Sender: <rre(a)lists.gseis.ucla.edu> Precedence: Bulk List-Subscribe: <mailto:rre-on@lists.gseis.ucla.edu> =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= This message was … [View More]forwarded through the Red Rock Eater News Service (RRE). Send any replies to the original author, listed in the From: field below. You are welcome to send the message along to others but please do not use the "redirect" command. For information on RRE, including instructions for (un)subscribing, see http://dlis.gseis.ucla.edu/people/pagre/rre.html or send a message to requests(a)lists.gseis.ucla.edu with Subject: info rre =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Date: Fri, 25 Sep 1998 23:41:21 +0200 (MET DST) From: Kearney <kearney(a)scf-fs.usc.edu Subject: Technological Visions: Utopian and Dystopian Perspectives CONFERENCE ANNOUNCEMENT: Technological Visions: Utopian and Dystopian Perspectives A USC Annenberg Center for Communication convened by the Annenberg Schools for Communication, University of Southern California and the University of Pennsylvania November 6 and 7, 1998 Davidson Conference Center, University of Southern California Technological Visions: Utopian and Dystopian Perspectives will bring together journalists, academics, cyberculture advocates, policymakers, and science fiction visionaries to examine how technologies have been envisioned throughout history and the social impact of new technologies. The conference will explore ways of considering contemporary new technologies in light of how new technologies were represented and debated in the past. It intends to address the ahistorical nature of the public discourse of new technology and to encourage discussion across the boundaries of the social realms of academic, media, and industry on the impact of new technologies. Sherry Turkle, Professor of Sociology of Science at MIT and author of Life on the Screen will give the keynote speech: Are the discourses surrounding the Internet a better guide to social action than those formulated in the early days of "old" technologies? Have we learned anything from the successes and failures of past attempts to predict what technology will do for us and to us? Panels: The Problems and Potentials of Prediction Privacy and Censorship Communities of Place and Cyberspace Media Discourse on New Technology Technological Visions Confirmed Participants: John Perry Barlow, Lord Asa Briggs, Richard Chabran, Bob Cringely, Wendy Grossman, Katie Hafner, Larry Irving, Peter Lyman, Carolyn Marvin, David Nye, Mitchel Resnick, Romelia Salinas, Vivian Sobchack, Lynn Spigel, Sherry Turkle, Langdon Winner, Philip Zimmermann Conference Organizers: Sandra Ball-Rokeach, Marita Sturken, Douglas Thomas, Annenberg School for Communication Conference Information: The conference is free and open to the public. It will be held at the Davidson Conference Center on the USC campus in downtown Los Angeles. The conference proceedings will be simulcast on the Metamorphosis web site. For further information and updated schedules: www.metamorph.org For more information, contact: Douglas Thomas (213) 740-3937 douglast(a)usc.edu Marita Sturken (213) 740-3950 sturken(a)usc.edu ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Paul Duguid Social & Cultural Studies University of California, Berkeley duguid(a)socrates.berkeley.edu Tel: 510 848 1843 Fax: 510 540 0347 --- end forwarded text ----------------- Robert A. Hettinga <mailto: rah(a)philodox.com> Philodox Financial Technology Evangelism <http://www.philodox.com/> 44 Farquhar Street, Boston, MA 02131 USA "... however it may deserve respect for its usefulness and antiquity, [predicting the end of the world] has not been found agreeable to experience." -- Edward Gibbon, 'Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire' [View Less]

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Re: I thought of an initialy regulated industry!... (fwd)
by Jim Choate 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Forwarded message: > Date: Fri, 02 Oct 1998 07:41:29 -0400 > From: Duncan Frissell <frissell(a)panix.com> > Subject: Re: I thought of an initialy regulated industry!... > A normally operating coal plant releases more radioactive material (carbon > 14) than a normally operating nuclear plant. The largest environment impact issue with a nuclear plant is hot water discharge (which is much larger than the exhaust from a coal plant) and spent fuel storage because of the … [View More]

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Re: I thought of an initialy regulated industry!... (fwd)
by Jim Choate 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Forwarded message: > Date: Thu, 1 Oct 1998 10:46:05 -0700 > From: Tim May <tcmay(a)got.net> > Subject: Re: I thought of an initialy regulated industry!... My original quote: > >I'd like to hear from any free market mavens who might want to use the > >nuclear industry as an example of how things could be so much better with no > >regulation regarding construction, operation, or waste disposal. Partial quote of Tim: > "Regulation" of the nuclear power … [View More]

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EduFUD: Computers, software can harm emotional, social development
by Robert Hettinga 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

As the FUD snowballs. The Globe gets Rimmed again... The edutocracy (and the Boston Globe :-)) finally notices that all that artillery parked at the foot of their ivory tower actually *does* blow great big rocks into tiny little bits... In another context, Carl Ellison has this great story about how, when firearms were invented, peasants could finally kill knights in armor from a comfortable distance. When the church reminded them that killing knights was a sin, peasants started killing … [View More]knights on weekdays and confessing those sins in church on Sunday. Frankly, I've learned more on the net in the last few years than I ever would have in an equivalent time in school. I credit it with a several-point increase in my IQ, even. Woops. We don't count IQ anymore, now do we?... :-). I guess I know too many stone geniuses who've had computers since they were children -- most of the people on this list were raised that way, I would bet -- to take this crap too seriously, reduced attention "spans" or not. By the way, "span" is the wrong word for ADD. I was hardly raised on TV, much less computers, (I had my face in science fiction books throughout most of my childhood), and I've been known to focus on something "inappropriately" for hours. While I certainly have varying degrees of control of my attention, but I just don't see that a "handicap" anymore. My attention is event-driven, rather than processed in neat organized batches, and I've learned to like it that way, even if it did give me trouble when I was chained in the aforementioned tower's dungeon for most of my formative years. Besides, even if computers cause people to have event-driven attention rather than in nice neat industrial batches, that's probably a Good Thing(tm). Consider it evolution in action. Farmers and mechanics may need "control" of their attention, but in an information "hunter" like myself, most of the people who do anything useful on the net, it's a selective disadvantage. Cheers, Bob Hettinga --- begin forwarded text From: Somebody To: "'rah(a)shipwright.com'" <rah(a)shipwright.com> Subject: FW: Computers, software can harm emotional, social development Date: Thu, 1 Oct 1998 13:28:41 -0400 X-Priority: 3 Status: U > -----Original Message----- > From: Somebody else > Sent: Thursday, October 01, 1998 8:41 AM > To: a whole buncha education "professionals"... > Subject: Computers, software can harm emotional, social > development > > > > Computers, software can harm emotional, social development > > By Barbara F. Meltz, Globe Staff, 10/01/98 > > Short attention span. Needs instant gratification. Can't > focus. Doesn't apply > himself. > > If this is what you're hearing from your child's first- > or second-grade teacher, > before you panic and think learning disabilities or > attention deficit disorder, > consider something external: your family computer. > > Educators have long intuited that early exposure to > computers doesn't give > children an educational edge. Now researchers have data > to show it can > actually be harmful, potentially undercutting brain > development, interfering > with the way a child learns, intruding on social and > emotional development, > and putting health at risk. ''There is no reason to give > a computer to a child > under 7,'' says educational psychologist Jane M. Healy. > If she had her way, > she'd throw computers out of preschool and early > elementary classrooms > and keep kids off them at home. Her > sure-to-be-controversial new book, > ''Failure to Connect: How Computers Affect Our > Children's Minds, for > Better and Worse'' (Simon & Schuster), is eye-opening > reading. > > Many researchers agree with her. ''For children under 7 > or 8 who have not > reached the age of abstract reasoning, computer exposure > changes the way > they absorb material. Some of us think this is quite > frightening,'' says > educational policy analyst Ed Miller of Cambridge. > > Technology researcher Douglas Sloan, a professor at > Teachers College at > Columbia University, says, ''It's something of a scandal > that it's taken us so > long to figure this out.'' > > Some of the troubling trends Healy identifies: > > Kindergartners who don't want to draw with markers and > crayons > because ''it isn't as pretty as my computer drawings.'' > > First-graders who are so used to a computer game's > reward for doing > something easy, they don't want to try anything hard. > > Kindergartners who are nonverbal and don't know how to > play with > peers because of too much time alone at the computer. > > First-graders who are unable to understand what they > read because they > lack a rudimentary language base they typically get from > peer and adult > interaction. > > ''In putting little kids at the computer, you take them > away from peer play,'' > says Sloan. ''That compromises social development and > imagination.'' Not > only that, but a child is being provided with someone > else's visual images at > precisely the time when he needs to be developing his > own image-making > capacities. ''That's what leads to intellectual growth > later,'' Sloan says. The > same thing is true with too much TV time, but studies > show parents monitor > TV more. ''We've come to ascribe almost magical > educational qualities to > the computer,'' he says. He researches how to protect > children from > computer misuse. > > Problems with computer exposure aren't limited to early > childhood. Bill > Schechter, a history teacher at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional > High School, says > he knows the Internet has the capacity to be a > tremendous tool for research, > but so far he hasn't seen how. > > ''I'm getting to the point where I'm not going to accept > Internet research,'' he > says. ''The technology for cheating far outdistances a > teacher's ability to > recognize it. All I'm seeing is lazy Internet use, where > kids use it as an excuse > not to open a book, not to check sources, not to go to > the library.'' > > Software researcher Howard Budin says one of the > problems is the vastness > of the Internet. Last year, his son's sixth-grade > research project required two > Internet sources. ''When he did a search for `panda,' he > turned up 54,000 > entries! If I hadn't been there with him, he would have > been totally > frustrated,'' he says. Most of the entries were for > schools with pandas for > mascots, but it took even an experienced navigator like > Budin a half-hour to > get to appropriate sites. > > Budin, who is director of the Center for Technology and > School Change at > Columbia, says exposure to the Internet should start in > third or fourth grade, > not before. ''Introduce it as a source of information, > not entertainment,'' he > says. > > Even so, it can lead to the kind of problems teachers > like Schechter see. > > ''Who's teaching these kids how to use it and where the > information comes > from and what it means?'' asks Sloan. > > He says that in the rush to wire classrooms, these > critical questions are > largely ignored. ''Data itself is not knowledge,'' says > Sloan. ''It's only > knowledge when you connect it thoughtfully and > critically to curriculum.'' > > In many schools, the problem is lack of human > infrastructure, says > technology researcher Vicki O'Day, of the Xerox Palo > Alto Research > Center. She speaks admiringly of a new principal at an > elementary school in > California who had the courage to shut down the computer > lab for two years > until she had technical support and curricula-links. > > She says a school needs to fund two positions, a > technology coordinator > who keeps equipment up and running and is not a teacher, > and a curriculum > development person who is a teacher but not in the > classroom. ''You can't > expect a classroom teacher to be knowledgeable about > software and the > Internet in addition to what she already does,'' O'Day > says. > > She also tells schools to put computers in the > classroom, not in a computer > lab; they're more likely to be integrated into the > curriculum and to be seen as > one more tool, along with a dictionary and pencil > sharpener. ''We used to > think kids should do computer just for the sake of doing > computer,'' says > O'Day. ''Uh-uh. It should always be used for a > purpose.'' > > For parents, this means restricting the computer to > what's useful and > forgetting about what's entertaining. > > Healy, who's a purist about this, would limit a young > child's access to e-mail > to write to grandpa, or to sitting on your lap while you > download pictures of > her favorite animal or truck. > > Steve Bennett, who reviews software and is author of > ''The Plugged-in > Parent'' (Times Books), tells parents to think of > themselves as ''parentware.'' > He defines that as an involved parent. ''It's just as > important as software,'' he > says. > > In his home, the computer is one resource among many and > it's not used as a > babysitter or as entertainment. He enforces limits on > screen time - his kids, 8 > and 11, can have two half-hour sessions a day, after > homework, although he > says they hardly ever use it - and restrictions on > software: no ''drill and grill'' > games, shoot'em-ups, or Internet surfing. Budin has > similiar restrictions for > his children; his sixth-grade son spends his computer > time on spread sheets, > graphic programs, and 3-D renderings. > > In addition to setting limits on software, Sloan says, > parents should avoid > what he calls an adulatory attitude toward the computer. > If your child is > young and you're just starting out, ''Look at it as an > appliance,'' he says. > > And if you already have a 4- or 6- or 9-year-old who's > hooked on > computer games? > > It's never too late to talk about family values, even to > say you've made a > mistake about allowing certain games. ''The ultimate > challenge and most > successful counter,'' says Sloan, ''is to provide such a > rich environment in > your home that the games seem dull compared to whatever > else is going on.'' > > AFTERTHOUGHT - Recommended reading for 3- to > 7-year-olds: ''How > to Take Your Grandmother to the Museum'' (Workman > Publishing), by Lois > Wyse and her granddaughter, Molly Rose Goldman. > > Child Caring appears every Thursday in At Home. Barbara > F. Meltz > welcomes letters and comments and can be reached via > e-mail at > meltz(a)globe.com. > hmm! > > This story ran on page F01 of the Boston Globe on 10/01/98. > (c) Copyright 1998 Globe Newspaper Company. --- end forwarded text ----------------- Robert A. Hettinga <mailto: rah(a)philodox.com> Philodox Financial Technology Evangelism <http://www.philodox.com/> 44 Farquhar Street, Boston, MA 02131 USA "... however it may deserve respect for its usefulness and antiquity, [predicting the end of the world] has not been found agreeable to experience." -- Edward Gibbon, 'Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire' [View Less]

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Re: early reports from Austria: possible crypto stalemate (fwd)
by Robert Hettinga 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

--- begin forwarded text To: cryptography(a)c2.net Cc: M Taylor <mctaylor(a)privacy.nb.ca>, djones(a)efc.ca Subject: Re: early reports from Austria: possible crypto stalemate (fwd) Date: Thu, 01 Oct 1998 14:04:23 -0400 (EDT) From: Don Beaver <beaver+(a)transarc.com> Sender: owner-cryptography(a)c2.net M Taylor writes: > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > P.S. If anyone happens to be fluent in German, maybe you could help us > by translating, or summarizing, … [View More]in English: > > http://www.mediaweb.at/akmg/news/wassenaar.html Disclaimer: I don't make any claim to real fluency in German (I never took a class), so there may be mistakes. But I think this is pretty accurate. --Don Beaver <H2> Journalist Trade Union Protests the Cancellation of Special Arrangements for Encryption Programs in the Wassenaar Agreement </H2> <H3> At a meeting of experts on the Wassenaar Agreement in Vienna, the cancellation of exceptions for cryptographic public-domain software and shareware was negotiated. The real goal of the agreement is the control and transparency of transfers of military and so-called dual-use goods - products and technologies that can be used for both military and civilian purposes. The Wassenaar Agreement lists Information Security and encryption technology, in the form of software encryption programs or hardware, under the Dual Use category 5.2. </H3> <P> There are to be further efforts to eliminate the exceptions for public-domain cryptographic software and shareware (usually free over the Internet or by CD-ROM distribution), and thereby place each kind of encryption software under the monitoring and restriction of the Wassenaar agreement. <P> The journalist trade union is protesting vehemently, because free access by journalists and the media to encryption programs is threatened. Encryption programs play a rapidly increasing role in the protection of electronic network communications for the media and jounalists. It is not difficult to monitor electronic mail automatically and make copies without recipients or senders ever taking notice. Investigative journalism on organized crime, corruption, and illegal arms trafficking, for example, may be endangered by the lack of protected communication, because the privacy of research is not ensured, especially when it takes place internationally. <P> Not only will editorial privacy be damaged but also the protection of information sources, as well as the protection of the private sphere. Not only must the protection of communication between journalists and media be ensured but also between journalists and media and their information sources, which cannot be limited to a special circle of acquaintances. <P> Attempts to permit programs that just encode with a key whose duplicate is placed with authorities cannot provide a way out. With such duplicate keys, all encoded messages can be decoded. But there is no guarantee that this duplicate key will not arrive in the unauthorized hands of organized crime, for example, or that is it not used by individual members of the authority or intelligence services in an unauthorized manner. <P> The information surrounding the Wassenaar Agreement is also precarious: at present, each discussion in the Wassenaar Agreement falls under the privacy of "privileged diplomatic communication" (Point IX) and the application of resolutions are to be implemented using "national discretion" (Point II.3). Thus, the targets of the Wassenaar Agreement are counterproductive(?): companies whose doubtful weapons shipments were forbidden remain spared from public criticism, just like failed decisions. <H3>Therefore the journalist trade union demands:</H3> <UL> <LI> Elimination of cryptography from the list of "dual-use" goods entered by the Wassenaar Agreement. No limitation of cryptography to insecure (respectively, key duplication/escrow) encryption techniques. <LI> Democratic control/monitoring of the Wassenaar Agreement: No modification of the rules and jurisdiction of the Wassenaar Agreement without prior public discussion. <LI> Obligatory public reporting on activities in the context of the Wassenaar Agreement. </UL> --- end forwarded text ----------------- Robert A. Hettinga <mailto: rah(a)philodox.com> Philodox Financial Technology Evangelism <http://www.philodox.com/> 44 Farquhar Street, Boston, MA 02131 USA "... however it may deserve respect for its usefulness and antiquity, [predicting the end of the world] has not been found agreeable to experience." -- Edward Gibbon, 'Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire' [View Less]

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IP: Clear and present danger: FIGHT AGAINST NATIONAL ID CARD
by Vladimir Z. Nuri 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

From: "A.C." <angie(a)computerhut.net> Subject: IP: Clear and present danger: FIGHT AGAINST NATIONAL ID CARD Date: Thu, 01 Oct 1998 01:22:50 -0700 To: ignition-point(a)majordomo.pobox.com >>http://www.house.gov/barr/p_doj.html >> >> >September 17, 1998 BARR TAKES FIGHT AGAINST NATIONAL ID CARD TO HEARINGS, SPEARHEADS EFFORT WITH GRASSROOTS GROUPS WASHINGTON,… [View More] DC -- At a news conference before a hearing on federal attempts to establish a national identification system, U.S. Representative Bob Barr (GA-7) released the following statement. The hearings, which will be held later today by the Government Reform and Oversight Committee's Subcommittee on National Economic Growth, Natural Resources, and Regulatory Affairs, will focus on this issue. "One of the most precious liberties Americans possess is the ability to live their lives without a big-brother government, with vast power, looking over their shoulders at every opportunity. Our federal government is already too powerful, too expensive, and too intrusive. We should be working to reduce its size and cost, rather than expanding it. "Our Founding Fathers intended to create a system with division of power between three branches of government and between the state and federal governments in order to protect our rights. These moves to centralize power in the executive branch of the federal government by establishing a national identification card system represent an effort to disrupt the balance of power that has served our nation so well for so long. We must put a stop to these initiatives, begun in 1996 when legislation authorizing a national i.d. was snuck into an omnibus spending bill with no debate, public input, or vote, before it is too late to do so." "I thank all of the groups that have been involved in this effort for their continued support. I also appreciate the willingness of State Representative George Grindley (R-Marietta) and others to take time away from their jobs and families to testify this morning. These hearings are part of a continuing effort by Barr and others to stop several recent intrusive government proposals. He has introduced legislation to stop federally-mandated standardization of state drivers' licenses, end a move to create a national health identifier, and led the effort to halt FBI moves for new wiretapping authority and the ability to track cellular phone users and lawful gun owners. Barr, a former United States Attorney, serves on the House Judiciary and Government Reform Committees. --30-- BACK TO PRESS RELEASES BACK TO MEDIA INFORMATION BACK TO MAIN PAGE > ********************************************** To subscribe or unsubscribe, email: majordomo(a)majordomo.pobox.com with the message: (un)subscribe ignition-point email@address ********************************************** www.telepath.com/believer ********************************************** [View Less]

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Re: I thought of an initialy regulated industry!...
by Anonymous 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

> Personally, I favor the "Pournelle Solution": acquire a 10-mile by 10-mile > region of the Mojave Desert. Not in an "ecologically interesting" area of > Death Valley, but just out in the vast scrublands. Erect a double fence > around it, and perhaps even a minefield (if one is worried about thefts of > nuclear waste). Pile the spent fuel rods, medical gear, gloves, etc. on > pallets separated by wide roads from other pallets. This "solves" the > waste problem for at … [View More]

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Re: I thought of an initialy regulated industry!... (fwd)
by Jim Choate 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Forwarded message: > Date: Thu, 1 Oct 1998 21:22:24 +0200 > From: Anonymous <nobody(a)replay.com> > Subject: Re: I thought of an initialy regulated industry!... > > Personally, I favor the "Pournelle Solution": acquire a 10-mile by 10-mile > > region of the Mojave Desert. Not in an "ecologically interesting" area of As was pointed out it does rain out there. Though there is a more insidious issue that makes such attempts worthless. Here's how it works... Humidity … [View More]

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IP: [Part 1 & 2] THE IMPERIAL PRESIDENCY By David M. Bresnahan
by Vladimir Z. Nuri 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

From: Kepi <kepi(a)netdoor.com> Subject: IP: [Part 1 & 2] THE IMPERIAL PRESIDENCY By David M. Bresnahan Date: Wed, 30 Sep 1998 23:37:09 -0500 To: ignition-point(a)majordomo.pobox.com For those who may have missed this report; all others, please disregard. Kepi <>< ...........<Begin Forwarded Message>........... >X-Sender: cabhop(a)mail.highfiber.com >X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Light Version 3.0.5 (32) >Date: Wed, 30 Sep 1998 11:57:22 -0600 >To: (… [View More]Recipient list suppressed) >From: Robert Huddleston <cabhop(a)highfiber.com> >Subject: THE IMPERIAL PRESIDENCY [ Part 1 & 2 ] By David M. Bresnahan > > >http://www.worldnetdaily.com/exclusiv/980929.exbre_clintons_secr.html >http://www.worldnetdaily.com/exclusiv/980930_exbre_clintons_secr.html > >SEPTEMBER 29 & 30, 1998 > > >THE IMPERIAL PRESIDENCY >Clinton's secret war games >He's scheming for strike to make him international hero > > >This is the first of a two-part series on the >revelations of military computer expert Curt Tomlin. > >By David M. Bresnahan >Copyright 1998, WorldNetDaily.com > >President Bill Clinton is playing war games >on a top secret computer to come up with a >way to be an international hero, according to >the man who designed the system. > >According to Rev. Curt Tomlin, a former >member of the battle staff of both presidents >John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson, >Clinton is a desperate man who is like an >animal trapped in a corner. He will do >anything to regain his credibility and deflect >criticism from his impending impeachment >hearings, he says. He also is driven by his >desire to create a positive legacy of his time in >the White House, according to various >reports. > >Clinton's motivations are dangerous to the >security of our nation, according to Tomlin. It >was Tomlin who designed and perfected the >Pentagon's first war games computer system, >the top secret "Single Integrated Operating Procedure." > >The "SIOP" computer is a method of targeting >a military attack and evaluating the most >likely response to that attack, according to >Tomlin. Highly classified intelligence >information is gathered from all over the >world by the CIA and other sources, placed in >the computer, and then accessed by Clinton to >play his own personal war games. > >"The decisions he's making right now are >totally illogical and irresponsible," Tomlin >told WorldNetDaily in an exclusive interview. >"Looking at the power and everything he's got >at his finger tips. That's a dangerous situation >for a spastic individual." > >Tomlin has maintained silence about the top >secret program for many years. He has been >called out of retirement three times and has >served in the Navy, Air Force, and Army for a >combined total of just over 24 years. He has >also been hired by government contractors to >assist in computer intelligence systems >designed to improve security for military >computer systems. > >"I could be sticking my neck on the chopping >block for a number of reasons," said Tomlin of >his decision to make his information public. >"Number one is, I'm still under some lifetime >restrictions on security clearances. For >example two of the clearances I had above top >secret was ESI and category 7 and 9. That was >three above that. Those are lifetime. So I have >to be a little bit careful about what I put in >print. I think people have to be aware of this, >regardless of the consequences on my end. I >feel that I would be guilty of the military >crime of negligence of duty if I did not bring >this to somebody's attention," explained >Tomlin. > >Clinton had tried to become an international >hero by destroying hundreds of terrorists >being trained by Osama bin Laden in >Afghanistan and a chemical weapons plant in >Sudan. Those two missile attacks were chosen >through use of the SIOP computer to which >Clinton has access, according to Tomlin. > >The computer predicted the result of the >attacks would bring about the death of >hundreds of terrorist forces and eliminate a >chemical weapons factory. Someone >intervened to change the results, according to >an intelligence source who spoke only on >condition of anonymity. > >Reports in European newspapers after the >attacks by Clinton corroborate what that >source claimed. "There were no dead >terrorists, and the chemical weapons plant >was an innocent pharmaceutical plant. Instead >of being a hero, Clinton is an international >laughing stock. The terrorists were tipped off >and cleared the area. The real chemical >weapons plant was two miles away. It was a >combination of bad intelligence and >purposeful intervention," said the source. > >Clinton has been searching the SIOP system >ever since the failure in an effort to find >another opportunity to prove himself to the >world and become the international hero he >envisions for his legacy, according to the >source. Tomlin agrees. > >"There's no choice. He's either going to sink or >try again. We can look for some very >unpleasant responses, depending on the >target he chooses," says Tomlin. > >When Clinton actually succeeds at inflicting >damage to a group of international terrorists, >many experts believe there will be swift and >deadly retaliation. Americans are in danger of >massive chemical and biological attacks in >major metropolitan areas, as well as similar >attacks on large military bases. >Tomlin says he is personally aware of >unprotected water supplies to domestic >military bases that could provide terrorists an >opportunity to poison the drinking water >used by most of the nation's military. >"When you contaminate a water supply ... >that's almost beyond my comprehension," he >remarked. The open borders of the United >States make it a simple process for terrorists >to come into the country and bring their >weapons of mass destruction with them >without detection," he says. "They can come >and go as they please with any kind of cargo. >That border is literally wide open, regardless >of what INS tells you," warned Tomlin. > >Tomlin believes there are many terrorist >agents already located in the United States >waiting for orders to strike. Other sources >have independently confirmed that claim but >were unwilling to be identified. > >"There's no doubt that the U.S. is currently in >the greatest danger of massive domestic >attack from an external enemy than ever >before in our nation's history," agreed one >intelligence source who is equally concerned >about Clinton pushing such terrorists to the >point to massive retaliation. "They just need >an excuse," he said. > >"Of course, the president has available to him >an awesome military force that he can use to >launch a first strike on any target in the >world," explained Tomlin of the top secret >system available to Clinton. "One of the things >I have been real concerned about recently is >the type of response that we can expect from >these various targets that the president can >choose from. For example, if he chose to hit >target A, the computer system would come >back and tell him what kind of response he >can expect. Will that response be in the nature >of an explosive response like blowing up an >embassy? Will it be in the form of a chemical >or biological response, or a combination of the >two? And it will also tell him, will the >response be a psychological or political >response, or a combination of any of these? In >other words, the system will come back and >tell him exactly what he can expect the owners >of that target to do in retaliation," explained >Tomlin, the father of that real-life computer >war game. > >"We got an awful lot of our information >through CIA on site sources where these >various targets were located," Tomlin says. >"We could tell you anything you wanted to >know about that target. How thick the walls >were, if it were a structure, how far under >ground it goes. How many megatons of >explosives it would take to wipe it out totally, >or give you 50 percent destruction, or 75 >percent destruction. We could just tell you >anything you wanted to know about that >target." >The highly advanced computer system as >well as the automated launch and attack >systems enable Clinton to initiate an attack >without the knowledge of very many other >individuals. Such decisions could be made by >Clinton alone, or with just a few political >advisers. Military and security advisers could >be left in the dark. > >"That's what bothers me today," says Tomlin. >"Given the fact that the man in the White >House now has his finger on the trigger, and >he can launch those forces which still consist >of atomic warheads on any intercontinental >ballistic missile. He can create a situation that >could be very detrimental to this country. >There are certain things that I'm really >concerned about at this point in time >concerning the highly probable responses that >the president can expect as the result of >striking certain targets." > >With SIOP, Clinton can sit at his private >computer and play war games until he finds >the situation he likes best. He can literally >type in various attacks around the world and >the SIOP computer will tell him what will be >the likely results of such an attack. With the >push of a button he can turn the computer >simulation he likes best into reality. > >"The ones I am concerned about now is the >possibility of a chemical or biological >response to a specific strike that he would >initiate," said Tomlin of his fear. "Simply >because an explosive response is limited in >scope. It's a token. It's a warning. But when >you drop a very small amount of biological or >chemical agents into the water supply of a >large city of Dallas or Houston, my friend, we >have a problem in that area. You can bring >these agents through customs on our southern >border almost undetected. There's just very >little possibility of these things being detected >coming through Customs or just walking >across the border in a deserted area." > >Tomlin created the SIOP computer back in >1963 when he served on the Kennedy battle >staff. He continued to serve on the Johnson >battle staff as well. Since then he has helped >the military work on numerous top secret >defense projects and information systems. > >Tomlin did his work in the top secret >underground "site R," as well as in the >Pentagon war room. His work was considered >so critical that he had a 24-hour armed Marine >guard watching over him. > >Although Tomlin is now retired, he still lives >by Fort Hood in Texas and has many >neighbors who are current and former >military. He claims there are many who are >getting out of the service because of Clinton. > >"Unfortunately," says Tomlin, "that's the >sentiment that is running rampant among >military people in this area. If you cannot >trust your leader, then we have a problem. >This man cannot be trusted. They are >deserting (their careers). I'm talking about our >combat experienced veterans. They're giving >up 18 years, 17 years and so forth and getting >out because they can no longer trust their >leader. They don't want to be a part of what he >might create." >Tomlin expects Clinton to launch an attack >very soon that will bring devastating >domestic retaliation to the U.S. >"If I were still on active duty, either as an >enlisted man or as a commissioned officer, >knowing what I know now, looking at all of >the information I have available to me, I >would have no choice but to resign my >commission or terminate my enlistment >simply because there is no way that I could >now trust my commander in chief," said Tomlin. > >THE IMPERIAL PRESIDENCY >Clinton's secret war games -- part 2 >He has the power to disable electronics >anywhere in the world > >This is the second of a two-part series on Clinton's secret >war games and the concerns of the man who helped invent >them. > >By David M. Bresnahan >Copyright 1998, WorldNetDaily.com >We are living in a new age of electronic warfare >which could make every electrical device from >military tanks to clock radios inoperative, according >to one of the people responsible for such weapons >systems. > >President Bill Clinton could enter a few key strokes >on a computer and selectively disable all electronics >anywhere in the world, including within the U.S., >using a top secret satellite system known as "LEO." >That ability is not unique to the U.S., however. Other >countries and even terrorists could knock out >electronics equipment anywhere in the world. > >Rev. Curt Tomlin, 65, is a retired Army major with 24 >years combined service in the Navy, Air Force, and >Army. He was a member of the battle staff for the >Kennedy and Johnson administrations and >developed top secret computer systems for the >Pentagon. His unique expertise prompted the >military to bring him out of retirement three times to >put his skills to use in the development of war >games computers, security computer systems and >the testing of electronics warfare. >Tomlin gave an exclusive interview to >WorldNetDaily to express his concerns about >national security. He says the U.S. is in grave danger >because of a president who is desperate to hang on >to his position of power at all cost. > >In an exclusive WorldNetDaily article yesterday, >Tomlin detailed his fears that Clinton is using a war >games computer to find a new target he can attack. >Clinton's goal, according to Tomlin, is to become an >international hero. Tomlin, who created the nation's >first computer war game system, known as "SIOP," >for the Pentagon, fears that Clinton's actions will >bring devastating retaliation from terrorists who are >just waiting for an excuse to activate their plan of >domestic attack against the U.S. > >Although Tomlin believes the greatest danger to the >U.S. is from biological and chemical weapons, he is >also concerned about electronic warfare. Tomlin >believes Clinton is very upset with a large portion of >the nation that wants him impeached. He says >Clinton is planning a way to get back at his enemies >in a big way. > >"This man (Clinton) is extremely vindictive and he's >going to get back at the country one way or another," >said Tomlin, who is also concerned about Clinton's >recent attempt to use the SIOP computer to attack >alleged terrorist sites in Afghanistan and Sudan. >Tomlin believes new attacks are imminent in order >to turn the previous failure to damage the terrorists >into a major victory that will make Clinton an >international hero. > >Tomlin expects domestic retaliation from the next >attack by Clinton to be devastating. He says terrorists >are already in the U.S. awaiting orders to attack, a >claim supported by a recently intercepted fax sent >world wide to 5,000 "soldiers" loyal to Osama bin >Laden. The faxed order, reported in London and >Jerusalem newspapers recently, tells the terrorists to >be prepared to attack U.S. and Israel in four ways >very soon. >According to the fax, the attacks would be designed to > >Bring commercial airlines to a halt >Stop all maritime traffic >Occupy U.S. embassies around the world >Shut down U.S. banking > >Such actions would seem difficult to achieve, but >Tomlin says it would actually be easy to accomplish >with access to electronics warfare devices. Although >his greatest concern is chemical or biological attack, >he said he would not be surprised if the attack came >through electronics. Virtually everything from >military aircraft to TV remotes would be disabled, >according to Tomlin. >Tomlin was called out of retirement in 1995 to >participate in a top secret project. He worked in the >10th Mountain Division as a senior test plan analyst. > >"You know that your automobile has an electronic >ignition in it," explained Tomlin. "It also has a >computer inside that. Did you know that we can >immobilize every moving vehicle in this country >with a few key strokes of a computer, all at the same >time? > >"By using the LEO satellites," he described, "you can >disrupt the computers. You can stop that electronic >ignition. It's all electronically based. You can >interfere with it and stop it dead in it's tracks." > >Tomlin also worked on tests dealing with laser >technology and the global positioning system, but he >did not provide details of those tests or their >purpose. He did say the testing was extensive and >was all for military purposes. >It is clear that China and other countries have this >same technology, agreed Tomlin. He believes the >recent intercepted bin Laden fax is evidence that >terrorists have this same ability. Electronic warfare >would make all four of the stated goals easily attainable. > >Tomlin is risking legal action by the Pentagon for >revealing top secret information. That's a risk he says >he is willing to take because of the danger he >believes has been caused by an out-of-control president. > >"The decisions he's making right now are totally >illogical and irresponsible," said Tomlin about his >concerns regarding Clinton. "Looking at the power >and everything he's got at his finger tips. That's a >dangerous situation for a spastic individual." Tomlin >has maintained silence about the top secret program >for many years, but now he feels compelled to speak >out. > >"I could be sticking my neck on the chopping block >for a number of reasons," said Tomlin of his decision >to make his information public. "Number one is I'm >still under some lifetime restrictions on security >clearances. For example two of the clearances I had >above top secret was ESI and category 7 and 9. That >was three above that. Those are lifetime. So I have to >be a little bit careful about what I put in print. >"I think people have to be aware of this, regardless of >the consequences on my end. I feel that I would be >guilty of the military crime of negligence of duty if I >did not bring this to somebody's attention," >explained Tomlin. > >Is this all part of a planned conspiracy? Or is this a >president gone mad? Tomlin said he would not be >surprised by either scenario. > >"If that's the way it turns out, I will not be at all >surprised," he said. "When you put all of the pieces >of the puzzle together you see how it all fits together. > >"The ultimate end product of these programs the >government has been working on is to create a >generation of people who will readily accept sudden >and radical change without question, without >objection, and without opposition. That's the goal of >these programs in a nutshell. This is headed toward >a one-world government without any question >what-so-ever, he warns. These programs have been >going on for a long time. People need to pay >attention to what Outcome-Based Education is all >about, what Goals 2000 is all about, and these other >socialistic programs that are leading in this direction. >It's upon us," warned Tomlin. > >In recent years Tomlin has been teaching and writing >college courses dealing with electronic data >processing. He tells his students, "If you can think of >it, you can do it. Your only limitation is your own >imagination. There are no limitations when it comes >to electronics. > >"Y2K is going to be one of the biggest problems >you've ever seen in your life, coupled with the other >intentional (electronic) interferences we're talking >about." > >Tomlin says he entered a Navy competition back in >1963 for a mystery computer assignment. After two >weeks of competition with many others who wanted >the top secret, undisclosed position, Tomlin was >notified to pack his bags and report to the Pentagon. >"I had no idea what I would be doing until I walked >into the front door. I had to compete for that job. At >that time there were 700 of us in the Navy who had >shown specific talent and progress for designing >information and processing systems. That was Navy >wide because data processing was so new at that >time," explained Tomlin. > >"There was three places we worked out of. Site R, >which was the underground command post, the war >room in the Pentagon -- the JCS war room. We also >had a facility on the North Hampton, which was a >light cruiser. That was also the Presidents alternate >battle site on that cruiser. Later we also had a facility >on the U.S. Wright, which was a converted jeep >carrier from World War II." > >When he first arrived he was the youngest, 30, and >lowest ranked, petty officer, member of the Kennedy >battle staff. No one on the team knew just what they >wanted or expected from Tomlin, so he just observed >and tried to find ways to put his skills to use. > >"Nobody on the battle team was capable of telling >me what they wanted me to do," he said. "So I >iddled around there for a couple of weeks just >watching what the rest of the battle staff did during >their exercises and their presidential briefings and >stuff like that. Kind of with my hands in my pockets. >We had a worldwide battle exercise and I wandered >around the war room and watched them post the >status boards, the maps, and process the 'twixes' as >we called them back then. That's all the messages >and the strikes and the targets. Finally, I concluded >that these guys were doing this the hard way." >Tomlin, accompanied by his armed Marine guard >who was with him 24 hours a day, went to work in >the seclusion of his underground war room at site R. >He began putting together some very simple >procedures using IBM punch cards on the latest and >greatest computer 1963 technology had to offer. >Within just a few weeks another war game was >called and Tomlin was ready to show off his >creation, which he created totally on his own. > >"We had a war game, and while they were doing >heir thing out there, nobody paid any attention to >me and nobody knew I was around. So I went back >and I got copies of all the incoming data and I did >my thing and I threw my shoulders back one day >and just started posting the status boards and >everybody else -- all these lieutenant colonels and >colonels and brigadier generals and everybody else >-- were all gathered around the conference table and >somebody said, 'Tomlin what the hell are you >doing?' I said, 'Well, I'm plotting the results of these >various strikes.' And they said, 'Who told you to do >that?' I said, 'Nobody did.' > >"They got to looking at their conclusions and my >conclusions and they were identical. What took 30 or >40 folks for them to do, well I did it by myself in just >a matter of minutes," described Tomlin of his first >war games computer program. So that got their >attention, and that's where everything started. So the >next time around they used my computerized war >game, which was the first one the Department of >Defense ever had. Then later I got tasked to build a >system for the targets, and then the rate of >production for atomic weapons storage and >accountability, and all that good stuff. It just kind of >exploded (military computer assignments) from >there." > >The military had never called retirees back into >full-time active duty until they needed Tomlin >during the Gulf War. They needed him and didn't >have a policy in place that enabled them to bring him >back, pay him, and give him credit towards his >retirement benefits. >Tomlin is listed as a military resource with critical >skills, so the government made the necessary >changes in policy and got him back for a full year of >service. During that time he worked in the national >records center in St. Louis, MO, to install new >computer systems and redesign internal security for >6.9 million records. The commercial company he >worked with to accomplish the task is owned by >Ross Perot, he pointed out. >As the pioneer of computerized war games, and >other information systems, Tomlin is obviously >proud of his work. He is speaking out because he >believes Clinton is a desperate man trying to save his >position of power at any cost. He believes Clinton is >not acting rationally and is about to subject the U.S. >to grave danger from international terrorists. Tomlin >says he is willing to accept the personal risk he is >taking by revealing sensitive information about >military systems and capabilities. > >Tomlin, is now a minister, and is the director of the >Christian Alert Network. He devotes his time to >informing pastors and concerned Christians of >problems he sees in government schools. He actively >promotes home schooling, private schools and >reform of public schools, which he says are being >used by the government to manipulate the beliefs of >children and take away parental rights. > >"The primary purpose of the Christian Alert Network >(TCAN)," states his web page, "is to inform >individual Christian citizens on specific situations >that adversely impact upon our basic Christian >doctrine, religious freedom and traditional families >and to encourage them to participate in the >governmental process, in obedience to the Holy >Scriptures and according to the intent of our >Founding Fathers." > > > > > > David Bresnahan, a WorldNetDaily contributing editor, >hosts "Talk USA Investigative Reports" and is the author >of "Cover Up: The Art and Science of Political Deception." > His email address is David(a)talkusa.com. > > > > > > <@{{>< <@{{>< <@{{>< <@{{>< <@{{>< <@{{>< <@{{>< > >SOCIALIST > 1. socialism > ( Noun ] > : social organization based on goverment control of the >production and distribution of goods. > ***** > "Gun registration is not enough." > Attorney General Janet Reno, > December 10,1993 (Associated Press) > > "Waiting periods are only a step. > Registration is only a step. > The prohibition of private firearms is the goal." > - Janet Reno > >************************************************* >"But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to >warn the people and the sword comes and takes the life of one of them, that >man will be taken away because of his sin, but I will hold the watchman >accountable for his blood." >Ezekiel 33:6 (NIV) >___________________________________________________________ >New toll-free hotline to Congress >Congress is making a new toll-free number available for >citizens who would like to make their voices heard in >Washington. 1-800-504-0031 >Ask for your Congressman office and let him know >what you think............. >--------------------------------------------------------------- >Join Gun Owners of America [ GOA ] today. >Read more about GOA at : http://www.gunowners.org/ >-------------------------------------------------------------- >Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership (JPFO) >Become a JPFO member, go to: http://www.jpfo.org/member.htm >There you will see a printable member application, along with >info on membership Membership IS open to ALL Law >abiding citizens. >--------------------------------------------------------------- > > ><@{{>< <@{{>< <@{{>< <@{{>< <@{{>< <@{{>< <@{{>< > > > > > > ********************************************** To subscribe or unsubscribe, email: majordomo(a)majordomo.pobox.com with the message: (un)subscribe ignition-point email@address ********************************************** www.telepath.com/believer ********************************************** [View Less]

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Rain in Death Valley (fwd)
by Jim Choate 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Forwarded message: > From: "X" <xasper8d(a)lobo.net> > Subject: Rain in Death Valley > Date: Thu, 1 Oct 1998 13:37:47 -0600 > If the area you refer to is below sea-level, where would the hard-rains > runoff run off to? Let me say one word.... watertable Enjoy drinking the runoff. ____________________________________________________________________ The seeker is a finder. Ancient Persian Proverb … [View More]

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