December 2003 - cypherpunks-legacy

Cypherpunks cap?
by Lucky Green 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Does anybody know who might be willing to sell one of the old Cypherpunks baseball caps? I need one for an outfit I am putting together. Thanks, --Lucky --Lucky Green <shamrock(a)netcom.com> PGP encrypted mail preferred. DES is dead! Please join in breaking RC5-56. http://rc5.distributed.net/

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US and EU at odds on data protection
by Theodor.SCHLICKMANN＠bxl.dg13.cec.be 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Internet: US and EU at odds on data protection THURSDAY JULY 10 1997 By Neil Buckley -- Begin Differences between US and European Union laws on personal data protection have emerged as a potentially serious barrier to creation of a global free market for commerce on the internet. The European Commission yesterday urged the US to strengthen its laws on data privacy to bring them into line with European equivalents, or risk seeing curbs on exchange of information. The latest hurdle to development of a worldwide internet marketplace emerged at a meeting between Mr Ira Magaziner, senior adviser to President Bill Clinton and architect of last week's US report on electronic commerce, and Mr Hans Beseler, Commission director-general for trade policy. It came a day after differences emerged between EU ministers and the US at a conference in Bonn over the unrestricted use of encryption technology on the global computer network. A recently adopted EU directive on data protection makes it illegal after October 1998 for EU businesses to "export" personal data for commercial purposes to countries which lack comparable privacy laws. Such a ban could prevent the sale of customer information, or even exchanges of marketing databases between subsidiaries of international companies. The clause has already been cited by financial services groups as a potential barrier to trade. Commission officials said they were concerned that consumers would refuse to buy products or services on the internet if they were not confident that personal data they provided would be secure, and that they would not be bombarded by unsolicited marketing. Brussels wants the US to introduce European-style privacy laws. "The creation of a federal privacy body with powers to hear and investigate complaints, and act as interlocutor for European data protection authorities, would be a big step in the right direction," a Commission official added. But the US fears heavy-handed privacy rules could stifle trade, and prefers industry self-regulation. Mr Magaziner suggested internet traders should develop a voluntary code of conduct, with "seals of approval" for companies pledging to respect privacy and security of personal information. "Industry and consumer groups have the same incentive as we have to protect privacy, because they won't do business unless people feel their privacy is protected," he said. "Ultimately the power rests with consumers. They can buy or not buy, go to one web site or not go." Mr Magaziner suggested it would be a mistake for the EU to isolate itself by applying the clause in its data protection directive next year. © Copyright the Financial Times Limited 1997 "FT" and "Financial Times" are trademarks of The Financial Times Limited. -- End We are not amused Theodor Schlickmann

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Gene Engineered Drug Production
by Jim Choate 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Hi, The topic of producing recreational pharmacuticals via gene engineered organisms is an interesting topic and one we discussed at least briefly 3-4 years ago. Might be worth reviewing the archives. There are some issues that I believe have kept this from being a commen practice: * Other than Marijuana and Cocaine most of the street pharmacuticals base chemicals take too much post-production to get them to a usable result. Either the process is something without an analog in the cellular systems or else it requires chemicals that don't occur in nature in great quantities and are such that you wouldn't want it produced inside the person taking the material. * Marijuana's complete gene map has only been available for a little over 2 years. * Educational and commercial institutions are not going to allow those with access either time or supplies to complete the project. * The LEA's and drug cartels would hunt the original designer(s) down and most likely terminate with extreme prejudice. You would be taking money from their mouths (so to speak). * Currently there is no country who has a legal structure such that they would be an acceptable haven. * Where's the profit? The person who creates it most definitely will not get rich. Just imagine filing your patent app. * E. coli or cooking yeast seem to be the best target. Both are fully mapped and acceptable to human systems. * In the case of Marijuana the chemicals produced by the genes are further processed and THC gets produced at this stage. This means the entire 2-tier process must be moved over. Neither yeast or E. Coli have this process in place (both being animals that isn't a surprise). This complicates the process greatly. * We are just waiting for some bright sole who believes that not only should "information be free" but so should drugs and is willing to spend 20 years or so on the run. * Regulation of production is a big unsolved problem. Assume for a moment that you have ingested some yeast that is producing TCH. How do you turn the regulation up or down? How do you keep the production from running away? Most drugs LD50 is simply way too low for such ad hoc regulation, drugs like TCH and LSD have ingestion levels of such magnitude that LD50 becomes a side issue. LSD would have a self regulating effect so it would be mediated irrespective of the level produced. THC on the other hand if not regulated would keep you in a sleepy daze most of the time. ____________________________________________________________________ | | | _____ The Armadillo Group | | ,::////;::-. Austin, Tx. USA | | /:'///// ``::>/|/ http:// www.ssz.com/ | | .', |||| `/( e\ | | -====~~mm-'`-```-mm --'- Jim Choate | | ravage(a)ssz.com | | 512-451-7087 | |____________________________________________________________________|

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Major International Credit Card
by markdan＠nt1.azone.net 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

A lot of others talk about it! THEY DID IT! $5000.00 Major International Credit Card GUARANTEED UNSECURED! Regardless of Credit History Even Bankruptcy! No Social Security Number Needed! No Credit or Bad Credit? It doesn't matter! Everyone Qualifies! Complete Financial Privacy! Guaranteed approval from Offshore Financial Institution 6.95% starting Minimum $5,000.00 Credit Limit! Maximum $15,000.00 Line of Credit! This is a Legitimate Offer! Registered with Better Business Bureau Last year 20 million were turned down by banks for credit cards...even if you don't need or don't want a credit card, thousands of people do! And as a Bonus An Opportunity to Make More Money! Everyone you refer you make $25.00 Checks paid weekly. With a filled matrix you receive $4,841.24 MONTHLY Must be 18 years or older For Enrollment And Information Packet <A HREF="http://rensaw.com/dls/creditcard.html ">Click Here</a> or visit: http://rensaw.com/dls/creditcard.html

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The Recent Trend in "Collective Contracts"
by Tim May 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

I'm not a lawyer, but I am interested in the various ramifications--and the constitutionality--of recent "sweeping contracts" between vendors, lawmakers, consumers, etc. Two recent example: 1. The "tobacco agreement." Supposedly a deal involving the transfer of $360 billion from some number of tobacco companies in exchange for dropping of liability suits, immunity from future claims, voluntary restrictions (!) on advertising, etc. (And the "etc." is especially complicated in this huge case.) 2. The "voluntary ratings" agreement being announced today by Al Gore and some of the television networks. (Earlier "voluntary agreements" were implemented, but, according to supporters of censorship, "failed." Hence the new push for newer voluntary restrictions.) The issue, it seems to me, is that ordinary concepts of illegality and civil liability are being swept aside in favor of these huge "deals" to reduce liability in exchange for various actions. Well, who is bound by these deals? If "Tim's Tobacco Company" starts up next year, after this deal is "signed," is his company bound by this deal? If Tim the Smoker develops lung cancer, is he blocked from suing? (Caveat: My personal and libertarian view is that lawsuits against cigarette companies are wrong and should not be supported in a free society. And lawsuits by various states to "recover health care costs" are especially bogus. By this logic, McDonald's could be sued by California because California paid out more health care benefits to meat-eaters than it did to vegetarians. Utterly bogus.) Anyway, the free speech aspects of these deals are also worrisome. The "voluntary restrictions" on advertising, for example. Would the aforementioned "Tim's Tobacco Company," not a party to this Grand Deal, be somehow bound by a deal wherein it could not sponsor sporting events? Or advertise? Or even speak out against the deal? Imagine the implications for cryptography, using the logic of these kinds of deals: "The voluntary agreement reached between the cryptography industry and Washington calls for companies to voluntarily limit key sizes to 64 bits unless a key recovery scheme is used. And Washington agrees to drop RICO charges against PGP Inc. and RSA Data Security Inc. in return. Book publishers, who became part of the negotiations last summer, have agreed to limit the information published in books in exchange for relaxations on the export requirements for computer media. " Far fetched? Perhaps. But note the similarities to these other "collective contracts." And in many ways the Telephony Act, aka CALEA (Communications Act for Law Enforcement Access), was just such a deal. When the various telecom companies essentially said "we can live with this bill," they were tacitly committing themselves to just such a collective contract. (What happens when a new telecom company starts up and finds that it has been "bound" to provide wiretap points into its switches?) It seems to me that these contracts are going to collapse completely when the Supreme Court points out that they bind nonparticipants to terms which limit their constitutionally protected rights. (Quibblers can claim that "corporations have no constitutional rights," but the publishing companies which publish newspapers would take exception to this. And so on. There are many cases where corporations are enjoying the fruits of the Constitution. As it should be.) These huge mega-deals are a crummy way to interpret the U.S. Constitution. I fear the "Grand Compromise" deal that the telecom and crypto companies are being drawn into. --Tim May There's something wrong when I'm a felon under an increasing number of laws. Only one response to the key grabbers is warranted: "Death to Tyrants!" ---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---- Timothy C. May | Crypto Anarchy: encryption, digital money, tcmay(a)got.net 408-728-0152 | anonymous networks, digital pseudonyms, zero W.A.S.T.E.: Corralitos, CA | knowledge, reputations, information markets, Higher Power: 2^1398269 | black markets, collapse of governments. "National borders aren't even speed bumps on the information superhighway."

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Electronic Commerce Book
by Ravi Kalakota 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Announcing a new book on Electronic Commerce -------------------------------------------- Electronic Commerce: A Manager's Guide by Ravi Kalakota and Andrew Whinston -------------------------------------------- ISBN: 0-201-88067-9, softcover, 440 pages, 1997 PUBLISHER: Addison-Wesley (1-800-822-6339) -------------------------------------------- This book is a manifesto for a new set of managers who seek to reap the elusive rewards of the online marketspace. This book offers a multitude of real-world scenarios and lessons for building value and creating the competitive edge. The book answers strategic questions such as: - What business models are competitors using in the various industry segments of e-commerce? - What are the key management questions that need to be addressed in order to create an effective buisness online? - How should companies be organized using Intranets to manage the external commerce? If you lead a small startup or work in a Fortune 1000 firm, whether your company has an established online presence, or is just starting out, The Manager's Guidemay be the most important book you read this year. Table of Contents: ------------------ 1. Introduction to Electronic Commerce Defining Electronic Commerce Brief History of Electronic Commerce Forces Fueling Electronic Commerce Electronic Forces Marketing and Customer Interaction Forces Technology and Digital Convergence Implications of Various Forces Electronic Commerce Industry Framework The Information Superhighway Multimedia Content and Network Publishing Messaging and Information Distribution Common Business Services Infrastructure Other Key Support Layers Putting the Framework into Action: Microsoft Corporation Types of Electronic Commerce Inter-organizational Electronic Commerce Intra-organizational Electronic Commerce Consumer-to-Business Electronic Commerce Intermediaries and Electronic Commerce Key Questions for Management Competitive Pressure External Threat Incorporating Changes Designing New Organizational Structures Managerial Options and Priorities Summary 2. The Internet and the Access Provider Industry Internet Service Providers Key Market Drivers for the Internet Who Is Making Money on the Internet Clarifying Internet Terminology Companies Providing Internet Access Internet Topology Differentiating Market Segments: Commercial versus Consumer Internet versus Online Services Open versus Closed Architecture Controlled Content versus Uncontrolled Content Metered Pricing versus Flat Pricing Innovation versus Control Predicting the Future of the IAP Market Convergence Leading to Competition Service and Capacity Management Customer Service, Loyalty, and Retention Marketing Customer Education Changing Technology behind Internet Access Changing Technology behind the Access Provider Summary 3. World Wide Web--Applications Brief History of the Web What Exactly Is the Web? Why Is the Web Such a Hit? The Web and Ease of Use The Web and Ease of Publishing The Web as a New Distribution Channel The Web and Network-Centric Computing The Web and New Intra-Business Applications The Web and Electronic Commerce The Web and Intra-Business Commerce Other Intranet Applications Intranet Advantages and Disadvantages Management of Intranets Understanding the Intranet Architecture Summary 4. World Wide Web--Concepts and Technology Key Concepts behind the Web Overview of the Web's Technical Architecture Interactive Web Applications Interactive Applications Interactivity and Information Integration Web Extensions for Interactive Applications Web and Database Integration Web Database Products HTML Forms and CGI Programs Web Software Developmental Tools Need for Better Programming Languages New Programming Language: Java Technically Speaking: What Exactly Is Java? Role of Java in Electronic Commerce How Does Java Work? Business Reasons for Using Java Multimedia Web Extensions Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML) RealAudio Internet and Web-based Telephony Directories and Search Engines Lycos Summary 5. Firewalls and Transaction Security Firewalls and Network Security Types of Firewalls Firewall Security Policies Emerging Firewall Management Issues Transaction Security Types of Online Transactions Requirements for Transaction Security Encryption and Transaction Security Secret-Key Encryption Public-Key Encryption Implementation and Management Issues World Wide Web and Security Netscape's Secure Sockets Layer Security and Online Web-based Banking Summary 6. Electronic Payment Systems Overview of the Electronic Payment Technology The Online Shopping Experience Limitations of Traditional Payment Instruments Electronic or Digital Cash Properties of Electronic Cash Digital Cash in Action Electronic Checks Benefits of Electronic Checks Electronic Checks in Action NetCheck: A Prototype Electronic Check System Electronic Check Project Online Credit Card-Based Systems Types of Credit Card Payments Secure Electronic Transactions (SET) Other Emerging Financial Instruments Debit Cards at the Point of Sale (POS) Debit Cards and Electronic Benefits Transfer Smart Cards Consumer, Legal, and Business Issues Summary 7. Electronic Commerce and Banking Changing Dynamics in the Banking Industry Changing Consumer Needs Cost Reduction Demographic Trends Regulatory Reform Technology-based Financial Services Products Home Banking History Why Will It Be Different This Time? Home Banking Implementation Approaches Home Banking Using Bank's Proprietary Software Banking via the PC Using Dial-Up Software Banking via Online Services Banking via the Web: Security First Network Bank Open versus Closed Models Management Issues in Online Banking Differentiating Products and Services Managing Financial Supply Chains Pricing Issues in Online Banking Marketing Issues: Attracting Customers Marketing Issues: Keeping Customers Back-Office Support for Online Banking Integrating Telephone Call Centers with the Web Summary 8. Electronic Commerce and Retailing Changing Retail Industry Dynamics Overbuilding and Excess Capacity Demographic Changes Consumer Behavior Technology Improvements in Electronic Retailing Online Retailing Success Stories Online Retailing: Peapod's Experience CUC International Wine on the Web: Virtual Vineyards Web-based Travel Agencies Mercantile Models from the Consumer's Perspective Distinct Phases of a Consumer Mercantile Model Prepurchase Preparation Purchase Consummation Postpurchase Interaction Management Challenges in Online Retailing Come Up with a Retailing Strategy Manage Channel Conflict Learn to Price Online Products/Services Deliver a Satisfying Shopping Experience Design the Layout of an Online Store Manage Brands Create the Right Incentives Summary 9. Electronic Commerce and Online Publishing Why Online Publishing? Online Publishing Strategies Online Publishing Approaches Full-Text and Bibliographic Databases Personalized and Customized News Business Information and News Delivery Edutainment = Education + Entertainment Online Publishing Success Stories PointCasting Time Warner's Pathfinder Disney Online Integrating TV and Data Streams: Intercasting Advertising and Online Publishing An Online Publishing Missing Piece: Measurement Digital Copyrights and Electronic Publishing Online Copyright Protection Methods Summary 10. Intranets and Supply-Chain Management Supply-Chain Management Fundamentals Pull versus Push Supply-Chain Models Elements of Supply-Chain Management Integrating Functions in a Supply Chain Managing Retail Supply Chains The Order Management Cycle (OMC) Supply-Chain Application Software Software for Supply-Chain Management Recent Trends in Application Software What Is the Business Market? Understanding the Application Software Architecture Future of Supply-Chain Software Intranets and Network-Centric Computing Intranets and Application Software Impact of the Web on Application Software Elaborating on the Intranet Architecture What Remains to Be Done? Summary 11. Intranets and Customer Asset Management Why Customer Asset Management? Challenges in Implementing Customer Asset Management Customer Asset Management and Supply Chains Online Sales Force Automation What Is Sales Force Automation? Elements of Online Sales Automation Intranets and Sales Automation What Are the Management Issues? Online Customer Service and Support The Web and Customer Service The Role of Technology in Customer Service What Are the Business Requirements? The Enabling Intranet Technology Technology and Marketing Strategy Marketing Decision Support Systems Marketing Decision Support Applications Summary 12. Intranets and Manufacturing Defining the Terminology Integrated Logistics Agile Manufacturing Emerging Business Requirements Customer-Driven Manufacturing Rapid Internal Response to Demand Changes Efficiently Managing Supply Chain Complexity Manufacturing Information Systems Discrete versus Process Manufacturing Market Types of Manufacturing Information Systems Intranet-Based Manufacturing Customer-Driven Manufacturing Real-Time Decision Support Intelligent Process Management Logistics Management Problems with Traditional Logistics Management Case Study: Microsoft Corp Integrated Logistics Objective of Modern Logistics Function Forecasting Purchasing Distribution Management Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Benefits of EDI EDI in Action Why Has EDI Adoption Lagged? Summary 13. Intranets and Corporate Finance Intranets and Finance What Exactly Are Financial Systems? What Do Financial Systems Do? Financial Intranets Understanding the Different Software Modules Transaction Accounting and Electronic Commerce Financial Analysis and Management Accounting Inventory Accounting Payment Management Treasury and Cash Management Human Resources Management Systems HRMS Functions Size/Structure of Financials Software Market Product Strategy Financial Data Warehouses How Are Firms Using the Web for OLAP? Desirable Software Requirements Summary

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Domain names and "The Network $olution", from The Netly News
by Declan McCullagh 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

*********** http://pathfinder.com/netly/opinion/0,1042,1155,00.html The Netly News Network (http://netlynews.com) July 10, 1997 The Network $olution by Declan McCullagh (declan(a)well.com) It could have been the perfect way to liberate the Net from the much-reviled monopoly of Network Solutions Inc., the company that handles almost all U.S. domain name registrations. Backed by well-regarded groups such as the Internet Society, the seven-page proposal promised to reduce prices, increase choices -- and best of all, really put the screws to everyone's least favorite domain name registrar. But a month before the curtain is set to lift on a host of new domains to supplement .com and .org, the ambitious plan suddenly seems as doomed as the recently extirpated Communications Decency Act. Not only did just one government, Albania, sign the "Memorandum of Understanding" (MoU), but the U.S. actively opposed it. So did Network Solutions, after they realized with gut-wrenching dismay the consequences of losing their lucrative monopoly on .com. Yesterday another group of MoU critics met in Washington to form the Open Internet Congress, which hopes to wrest control of Net governance from "hobbyists" and "volunteers" and haul it into the mainstream. "I don't want a bunch of volunteers playing around and trying to run the show. I don't want petty battles over who's in charge and who's keeping the lights on," says Andrew Sernovitz, the president of the Association for Interactive Media, which organized the summit. Sernovitz envisions a ruthlessly commercialized cyberspace that's safe for companies like IBM, Intel, NBC and Time Warner (Netly's corporate big brother) that cough up $9,000 a year to be governing members of AIM. The talk yesterday was of revolution. Sernovitz spoke about holding an Internet "Constitutional Convention" this fall. He passed out supportive columns quoting from "Common Sense" by Thomas Paine. I even heard folks call the MoU the move that will spark the online equivalent of the Boston Tea Party. (Led, presumably, by firms like Time Warner? Since that media giant also owns CNN, you can be sure the revolution will indeed be televised.) [...]

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Submit Your Web-Site to 200+ engines/indexes
by FutureGate Web Services 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

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No Subject
by Mix 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Timothy Mayhem's father, an idiot, stumbled across Timothy Mayhem's mother, an imbecile, when she had no clothes on. Nine months later she had a little moron. ---- '@ *> Timothy Mayhem |\ 7 / `-- _

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Re: More PGP volunteers needed
by Mark Grant 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Lucky Green wrote: > It would speed things up if more non-US citizens living outside the US > willing to proofread source were to contact Stale Schumacher at > <stale(a)hypnotech.com> to volunteer some time. You can wait for the source > to show up on your favorite ftp site, or you can make it happen. Your > choice. Well, when I mailed Stale about it a week or two ago he said he already had over seventy volunteers. The problem may just be latency; my hundred pages took about twelve hours of mind-numbing work to correct (mostly spent getting the right number and combination of spaces and tabs in strings), so while I was able to do it in two days I could certainly understand some people taking a week or more to finish theirs. Plus, of course, the inevitable delays from sending the pages out by snail-mail. Mark

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