Schneier on Risks of Data Reuse

In a typically cogent and lucid fashion Schneier examines some fundamental questions in this essay on the risks of data resuse:

History will record what we, here in the early decades of the information age, did to foster freedom, liberty and democracy. Did we build information technologies that protected people's freedoms even during times when society tried to subvert them? Or did we build technologies that could easily be modified to watch and control? It's bad civic hygiene to build an infrastructure that can be used to facilitate a police state.

Earnest Spam

I found this amusing:

Hello my friend!

I am ready to kill myself and eat my dog, if medicine prices here (http://XXXXXXXXXXXXX) are bad.

Look, the site and call me 1-800 if its wrong..

My dog and I are still alive :)

HELLP!!

Can anyone find the origin of the quote, "I really screwed the pooch. *arf* I mean 'made love'".

CIA Family Jewels Online

This might not be considered riveting reading by some, but I thought I would share the link.

Somewhat related to Daigidan's Cthulhu stuffed animal (and other plush toys), dolls I would play with.

And this chick is way too obsessed with mazes. And some other interesting photos.

I watched a movie called The Salton Sea, which got me wondering where the Salton Sea is. It's evidently a man made lake in SoCal. It's also a great photographic spot, being that it's a mostly deserted desert with a lake that kills. I would like to take a trip there someday.

The Yes Men Strike Oil!

Attendees of the National Petroleum Council's Exposition were treated to a wonderful presentation the other day by what they thought were legitimate speakers from the Petroleum Council. The presentation focused on current energy policies leading to calamities which might disrupt oil supplied. To "keep fuel flowing," the presenter urged, "transforming the billions of people who die into oil."

Yes Man Mike Bonnano, posing as an Exxon representative named Florian Osenberg, added that "With more fossil fuels comes a greater chance of disaster, but that means more feedstock for Vivoleum. Fuel will continue to flow for those of us left."

The impostors led growingly suspicious attendees in lighting Vivoleum candles made, they said, from a former Exxon janitor who died from cleaning a toxic spill. When shown a mock video of the janitor professing his desire to be turned in death into candles, a conference organizer pulled Bonanno and Bichlbaum from the stage.

I want to be a Yes Man when I grow up. :]

Smorgasbord

• Cory Doctorow has a wonderful essay up on Forbes.com right now, "Snitchtown," treating on the ever-increasing surveillance in our society.
• Was Bush's watch stolen when he recently visited Albania? Watch the video and judge for yourself.
• Finally, Extreme Japanese custom vans!