9:30a - Some scary/interesting news going 'round the
infochannels. The Feds are working on some software for hacking
terrorists. Most people don't encrypt their e-mails because they
don't feel it's necessary. Those recipes you're sending grandma
aren't that private. But, when terrorists encrypt their attack
plans to circumvent the government's existing monitoring tools (called
Carnivore), then there is trouble.
So now they're working on something they've dubbed "Magic
Lantern" which will be able to track everything a would-be
terrorist types on their computer in hopes of tracking down the private
key. Private key?! you say.
OK, I should probably explain briefly how encryption works.
When you want to encrypt something so only you and the recipient can
read it, you use your private key to encrypt it. Your private and
public keys work in harmony to secure the communications. Your
public key is what the person on the other end uses to decrypt the
message. Getting that person your public key is another matter of
its own because if that gets intercepted... well, you know.
So anyway, the Magic Lantern crap is supposed to monitor a bad guys
computer and gather info that would then allow the gov't to peep the
goods. I mentioned Carnivore up at the top there, that is the
current system the gov't uses to capture all of a suspects e-mail.
Here's Magic Lantern coverage from MSNBC
and Ars.
So today is the day. Thanksgiving Eve at the Pickle. I
always pump these things up in my head and then get let-down when it
actually happens, that's silly of me. It happens. I'm
probably gonna head up there a little early so I can grab a table, setup
shop.
Next week Michael Jordan returns to Gund Arena to play the Cavs on
the 27th. I tried ordering tickets the day they went on sale but
the fuckin' Ticketmaster web site was giving me all kinds of trouble and
I had to run. I was ready to snap. Then I get an e-mail a
day or two later telling me how I was eligible to order tickets in
advance since I'm an American Express cardholder. Do'ah!
Here's a neat note. The Mars Global Surveyor has sent back it's
100,000th picture. Here's
the story in CNN's Space section.
More news from way above our heads, the crews of the ISS
(International Space Station) are having to deal with high noise levels
during their stays in space. All of the equipment is making it
very loud, at some points comparable to a freeway. Imagine that on
a constant basis! The Russian-built module is the worst, but this
comes as no surprise considering everything they've done so far has been
sub-par. CNN has the
details for ya on that one too.
OK, so it's now 10am and I haven't gotten anything done yet, so I'm
outta here!
Word up g's,
Jr.
1p - Some little old lady in Maine has the inhaled form of
anthrax. She lives out in the middle of nowhere from the sounds of
the stuff I read (Plain Dealer). How 'bout them apples?
They're really confused about how she could have come in contact with
it.
Just after the September 11th attacks I predicted a casualty rate of
20,000 for the World Trade Center buildings. Man was I WAY
off. Within the last few days they've dropped it to around
3,900. This is still a huge loss of life, and it doesn't change a
thing. I'm just glad at how wrong I was. I'm actually
shocked it's that low, but I guess after that first plane crashed in to
the building, most of the people inside started on their way out.
I know a guy I went to high school with was in the second building, and
they were told to go back to work after the first crash. He wasn't
having any of that.
I just talked to Nina, she's gonna stop by with her computer 'cause
it is in need of some serious fixin'. Sounds like a nasty virus
wiped out her hard drive. That's no fun. Plus, she got a
ticket on the way home from OSU, so that's no fun either. Who's
got extra $$ layin' around to pay a ticket during Xmas season!
I've been having a lot of dreams lately. I was chattin' with a
girl I met on HotorNot about
dreams, and at the time I couldn't remember the last time I had a
dream. Last night I was dreamin' all night long and I remember
lots of it! I was even dreaming stuff, waking up, going back to
sleep, and continuing the dream. That's messed up. Who knows
what the hell is going on inside my head, 'cause I sure don't.
:( They weren't bad dreams though, just those funky ones that
bring together a whole bunch of stuff and kinda mash it all together in
to some weird storyline.
I've got the Forrest Gump soundtrack playin' on my PC
right now, what an awesome collection of music. Every time I watch
that movie I'm moved 'cause it's just that good. Tom Hanks is
great. "Lieutenant Dan!" lol
IB5000g
Jr.
