Kooks and Terrorists, a sample chapter from the O'Reilly book, Database Nation: The Death of Privacy in the 21st Century, by Simson Garfinkel, provides a very timely backgrounder about how the face of terrorism has changed over the years.

Here's an excerpt quoting James D. Kallstrom, who was the FBI's chief of engineering in Quantico, Virginia, before he became director of the FBI's New York office, before he left the FBI a year later to take a job as a vice president at a major financial institution:

Kallstrom believes that it's entirely possible that a single terrorist attack will kill more than 10,000 people sometime within the next 30 years. "I am not going to predict it, but I think that it would be naive to say it isn't possible," he says. And if it happens, he says, there will be a tremendous backlash on the part of lawmakers and the public to pass draconian laws and institute a virtual police state to make sure that such an attack never happens again.

"Legislators and lawmakers generally don't react to things without a body count and the prediction of a body count--they don't want to hear about it. They want to see the body count. It is not good enough to feel the door and feel that it is warm; you have to have smoke coming from under the door. . . . As we move to this new millenium, the risk of this mentality is terrible." Instead of waiting for the body count and a resulting Congressional attack on civil liberties, says Kallstrom, the United States needs to start preparing now for the unthinkable.

Here's a sneak preview of science fiction writer Cory Doctorow's latest work in progress, Eastern Standard Tribe, courtesy of Mindjack Magazine.

According to this Guardian article by Duncan Cambell (How the plotters slipped US net): "FBI assistant director Ron Dick, head of the US National Infrastructure Protection Centre, told reporters that the hijackers had used the net, and 'used it well'." (Sure, I get it....The same way that a gang of bank robbers "uses the roads, and uses them well" when they drive off in a getaway car...)

More from the story:

NSA has been attempting to keep up with the internet by building huge online storage systems to hold and sift email. The first such system, designed in 1996 and delivered last year, is known as Sombrero VI. It holds a petabyte of information. A petabyte is a million gigabytes, and is roughly equivalent to eight times the information in the Library of Congress. NSA is now implementing a Petaplex system, at least 20 times larger. It is designed to hold internet records for up to 90 days.

Dr Gladman and other experts believe that, unless primed by intelligence from traditional agents, these massive spy libraries are doomed to fail. The problem with NSA's purely technological approach is that it cannot know what it is looking for. While computers can search for patterns, the problem of correlating different pieces of information rises exponentially as ever more communications are intercepted. In short, NSA's mighty technology apparatus can easily be rendered blind, as happened here, if it has nothing to start from.

The new legal plans may therefore do more harm than good. According to Cambridge computer security specialist Dr Ian Miller, bringing back escrow "will damage our security in other ways, and divert an enormous amount of effort that would far better be spent elsewhere. It won't inconvenience competent terrorists in the least.

PGP inventor Phil Zimmermann thinks the penalty of politicians misunderstanding technology will be even more costly. "If we install blanket surveillance systems, it will mean the terrorists have won. The terrorists will have cost us our freedom."

Here's a letter I received from one of Barbara Lee's supporters:

"As one of Representative Barbara Lee's constituents, I am proud of her opposition to issuing the President blanket authorization to respond to the September 11 terrorist attack. I've told her so in a note to her office and I've shared with friends my agreement with her position. The response the people of this nation take to these acts needs to reflect the public will. Giving one man unfettered discretion to determine the response is dangerous and undemocratic."

"The current wave of patriotism is an understandable sentiment. We all feel outraged and violated ... just as we did when we believed one of our ships had been attacked back in 1964. It didn't take long for that sentiment to change once America's youth started coming home in body bags. For once let's take the time to determine all the facts before writing ANY check. The separation of powers concept has worked well for nearly 225 years, let's not abandon it and vote our way into a dictatorship just yet." -- Neil Cook, Attorney, Berkeley, California

Philip Zimmermann (PGP Encryption Software Creator) was recently quoted out of context in a Washington Post article.

Here's a Slashdot article that tries to set the record straight: Slashdot | Philip Zimmermann and 'Guilt' Over PGP.

Man Shoots Hermaphrodite Moose.

I think that says it all. (Thanks Cory).

The Industry Standard's Private Eyes, by Michaela Cavallaro, gives us a few examples of what kinds of government surveillance tactics we can expect in the future.

I took my first flight yesterday since the WTC attack.

How very strange it was to be flying again. The flight was eerily empty and the airline employees sure seemed happy to see us.

As my plane ascended and rose above the pillowy layer of fog that stretched out as far as the eye could see, I suddenly felt both fragile and invincible.

All and all the experience went smoothly. If you are a frequent traveller under normal circumstances, the best thing you could do right now is FLY! I think it's highly unlikely now that something like 9.11 will have the chance to happen again anytime soon. The sooner we all get back to business, the better for our country's economy.

I would still recommend taking the earliest flight of the day so as to avoid delays.

More random tidbits of travel information gleaned from the travel experiences of myself and others over the weekend:

• Carry on luggage cannot exceed 22 lbs (each bag)

• There is such a thing as getting to the airport too early. If you get there sooner than 3 hours before your flight, they won't let you check in your bags. (3 hours should be plenty of time for you to get through security and catch your flight.)

• Many of the flights are only serving coffee and juice, and have dropped their in-flight meals, except in first class, so if you're like me and can't make it 4 hours without a nibble, better bring a banana, eat before you go to the airport or just eat in the long lines after you check in. (You'll probably have time to kill before your flight after you check your luggage and get through security, but be warned: the lines for food in the airport are quite long, and there's even less cream cheese on that overpriced bagel -- but at least the prices don't seem to have gone up yet.)

• Reliable sources have reported experiences of being held up an extra two hours or more during international flights (after boarding the plane) due to the Border Patrol's performing random checks. According to my source, 12 brown-skinned people were escorted off of the plane and about half of them returned. I'm trying to find out more about this. If anyone knows more details, please let me know.

Here's an editorial by Jesse Walker for Reason Online about the Current Situation and one possible long list of options to consider before moving forward: What Happens Next? Six options beyond war and peace. (Thanks Bobby)

I've written an article for CNET that details the current battle going on over in the U.S. Copyright Office over compulsory licenses for webcasts: Hot debate over the future of Webcasting.

Here are a few excerpts:

"After years of big-money litigation, bankruptcy, and polemics, Webcasters, artists, and labels are finally sitting down with the U.S. Copyright Office to hammer out the licenses under which music will be distributed on the Internet. But Webcasters and artists claim that the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), with its deep pockets and high-placed lobbyists, has hijacked the process and is setting up a world where the music industry fox guards the Internet henhouse..."

"The RIAA's petition proposed that SoundExchange would be able to deduct administrative costs from royalties--prior to paying them out to artists--without setting any limitations on these costs. Artists would be required to foot the bill for any independent audits, and SoundExchange would be allowed to absorb any revenue from unclaimed royalties after only three years, despite the fact that the process for copyright holders claiming such royalties hasn't even been decided yet. "

The gripes above are based on the RIAA's petition that it filed with the U.S. Copyright Office and the memorandum that goes with it.

A thinker by Moreover's Nick Denton about the emergence of weblogs and their increasingly important role as part of the reliable media: The atrocity through the eyes of weblogs.

An editorial by InfoWorld's Ed Foster takes a good hard look at how Microsoft's actions are speaking a whole lot louder than its words: A punitive puppeteer?.

The shift in Microsoft's focus from licensing to services will change the way it does business with its customers, both corporate and consumer -- and not necessarily for the better.

For example, the fine print of Front Page 2002's license has been tightened up to stop Microsoft's customers from criticizing it using its own software:

" 'You may not use the Software in connection with any site that disparages Microsoft, MSN, MSNBC, Expedia, or their products or services... ' the license reads in part. Good thing InfoWorld doesn't use FrontPage 2002 to post this column, I guess."

Here's how "disparage" is defined at Dictionary.com:

"To speak of in a slighting or disrespectful way; belittle."

"To reduce in esteem or rank."

"To dishonor by a comparison with what is inferior; to lower in rank or estimation by actions or words; to speak slightingly of; to depreciate; to undervalue."

Doesn't leave a whole lot of room for objective criticism or invaluable customer feedback.

Wow! Maybe security measures needed to be ramped up a little. Here's a piece from Michael Moore about the subject: Mike's Message 9/12/2001.

Barbara Lee explains the rationale behind her "lone vote" in her own words on her own website: REP. BARBARA LEE’S (D-CA) VOTES ON LEGISLATION REGARDING THE TERRORIST ATTACKS OF SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 :

"On Friday, September 14, I voted against H. J. Res. 64, which ceded Congress’s future authority to the President regarding the use of military force in response to the terrorist attacks. Our Constitution provides for checks and balances between our branches of government. This resolution does not obligate the President to report back to Congress after 60 days, as was required by Congress during the Gulf War, about the actions our military will take. Additionally, this resolution authorizes an open-ended action and significantly reduces Congress’s authority in this matter. We must bring the perpetrators of this horrific action to justice. But during this period of grief, mourning, and anger, the U.S. Congress has a responsibility to urge the use of restraint so that the violence does not spiral out of control and to consider all of the implications of our actions."

The Authorization for use of Military Force that Congress voted in last week cited two sections from the The War Powers Act of 1973:

"Consistent with section 8(a)(1) of the War Powers Resolution, the Congress declares that this section is intended to constitute specific statutory authorization within the meaning of section 5(b) of the War Powers Resolution."

Section 8(a)(1) of the War Powers Resolution:

"Authority to introduce United States Armed Forces into hostilities or into situations wherein involvement in hostilities is clearly indicated by the circumstances shall not be inferred (1) from any provision of law (whether or not in effect before the date of the enactment of this joint resolution), including any provision contained in any appropriation Act, unless such provision specifically authorizes the introduction of United States Armed Forces into hostilities or into such situations and stating that it is intended to constitute specific statutory authorization within the meaning of this joint resolution... "

Section 5(b) of the War Powers Resolution:

"Within sixty calendar days after a report is submitted or is required to be submitted pursuant to section 4(a)(1), whichever is earlier, the President shall terminate any use of Untied States Armed Forces with respect to which such report was submitted (or required to be submitted), unless the Congress (1) has declared war or has enacted a specific authorization for such use of United States Armed Forces, (2) has extended by law such sixty-day period, or (3) is physically unable to meet as a result of an armed attack upon the United States. Such sixty-day period shall be extended for not more than an additional thirty days if the President determines and certifies to the Congress in writing that unavoidable military necessity respecting the safety of United States Armed Forces requires the continued use of such armed forces in the course of bringing about a prompt removal of such forces. "

I'm not sure what exactly this all means yet, but these citings seemed relevant.

Here's the official Authorization for Use of Military Force that was agreed to by the house last week.

Apparently, we still aren't sure who "those responsible" is, but when we find out, the President is now officially authorized to kick their ass:

"To authorize the use of United States Armed Forces against those responsible for the recent attacks launched against the United States. "

"The President is authorized to use all necessary and appropriate force against those nations, organizations, or persons he determines planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored such organizations or persons, in order to prevent any future acts of international terrorism against the United States by such nations, organizations or persons."

Hey everybody, let's not go willy nilly and throw out all our civil liberties while fighting our new unseen enemy!

Two important documents published recently from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU): ACLU: Congress Should Resist Urge To Quickly Rewrite Wiretap Laws and ACLU Urges Congress to Follow Deliberative Process As It Considers New Measures After Terrorist Attacks .

"Attorney General Ashcroft today asked Congress to adopt and send to the President by the end of the week legislation that would include many provisions to expand federal law enforcement authority in ways that would infringe on civil liberties without any public showing that they will make us safer. Last week, the Senate adopted new wiretapping measures in the middle of the night with little to no debate."

Story from last week that provides an important reminder about protecting our civil rights during the current situation: Civil Liberty the Next Casualty? By Kristen Philipkoski (One of my favorite journalists!)

I'm working on a weblog about this, so I'll be posting a lot of links in this vein.

It's hard to tell if Microsoft actually received some heat for its Flight Simulator 2002 game, or if it's just its marketing department at it again (which would mean it was doing a bang up job, by the way, considering it managed to get a story placed in the New York Times -Microsoft to Change Flight Game ).

(Hmmm. Is it a story or an ad? So hard to tell these days....)

Here's a link to Microsoft's 747-400 Flight Simulator 2002 Demo. Check it out for yourself.

Hmmm. Now it's 200 million! (The Nando Times: More than $200 million in gold, silver buried beneath World Trade Center destruction)

Barbara Lee was the only member of Congress to have enough guts to vote against giving President Bush the power to "wage war against international terrorism". Here's a piece from the San Francisco Chronicle: Lone dissenter in House war vote is Oakland's Lee.

I wonder if the hundred million dollars worth of gold that was stored underneath the World Trade Center is actually still there?
(Yahoo - WTC wreckage guards buried treasure of COMEX gold) (Thanks James)

I got some really good information this morning from my plane reservationist regarding the air travel situation.

She said that over 900 flights were cancelled yesterday and she'd estimate things are running at about 60% today.

Her experience over the last few days has been that, with the threat of an economy collapse looming overhead, many businesses have been cancelling or postponing all travel that isn't absolutely necessary for the next three weeks in an effort to save both money and manpower. Many travelers commented that "conference calls can take the place of face to face meetings for a while."

One of the biggest problems has been with assembling flight crews - many of the pilots and crews require a third-party commuter flight just to reach their positions. (Chicago-based pilots and flight crews that actually lived in Phoenix, for example). The airline industry has been losing 4 billion dollars a day being closed all week. Those companies that can afford to are trying to keep going. Midway handed out pink slips and Continential is laying off over 1,000 people. So it's not that the security measures themselves are to costly, but the revenue lost from being shut down and for the decrease in traffic over the next few weeks. With many of the commuter flights not running to full capacity, or going out of business, it's hard to get everyone there on time.

Prices haven't gone up, and due to the lack of demand, availability isn't too bad. Most airlines are refunding tickets for September and allowing travel after that to be postponed till a later date.

Travelers will need to get to the airport at least 2 hours ahead of time, for early morning flights, and three hours ahead of time for late morning, afternoon and evening flights.

Leander Kahney expands upon the theme of myO'Reilly Network Weblog from Thursday: Amateur Newsies Top the Pros.

Here's a first-hand account from one of the Firefighters that survived: Salon.com | "I felt the wind at my back and knew it was time to dive". (Thanks Cory)

Another thoughful posting on SiliconValley.com - Dan Gillmor's eJournal about the current situation.

I just published a new weblog for O'reilly and Associates -- P2P Keeps the World Connected -- that describes the important role that P2P-enabled communication played after September 11, 2001 "happened".

Meanwhile, some scary international legislation looms on the horizon: New World Order, Copyright Style.

James Love from the Consumer Project on Technology has written a great paper on this subject: What you should know about The Hague Conference on Private International Law's Proposed Convention on Jurisdiction and Foreign Judgements in Civil and Commercial Matters.

Brave story about one of the martyrs of Flight 93: Salon.com News | Passenger hero talks to wife before crash.

Great Flash animation of the plane routes leading up to crashing into the World Trade Center: Oleada de atentados en EEUU. (Click on the numbers along the top edge of the frame to move through the slides.)

The FAA has announced new security measures. (Thanks Cory)

Open Source advocate Eric Raymond had more than a little to say about what happened Tuesday. OpenP2P.com Managing Editor Richard Koman had more than a little to say in response.

The L.A. Times has posted quite an interesting story by William C. Rempel and Richard A. Serrano about what may be some pivotal developments in the situation, but no one else seems to be reporting it. Weird. (Later this morning a story popped up on the BBC.

Still, the story was far more facinating than anything I'm watching on tv this morning :-)

On a sadder note, the hate crimes are already starting up all over the country. Damn. (Thanks Cory)

Here's cool Wired News story by Leander Kahney citing some cools sites for information about yesterday's events: Who Said the Web Fell Apart?. (Boing Boing is mentioned.)

This NY Times article by Amy Harmon makes some interesting observations about the web's role in helping communities connect yesterday: Web Offers Both News and Comfort.

Here's a thoughtful editorial from Dan Gillmor's eJournal.

On yesterday's tragedy

What we have here is a situation. I don't like calling it an act of war because that implies that there is a country somewhere that we can retaliate against. And that might not be the case.

We don't know that this isn't some outside party that no one has heard of yet. Maybe whoever is behind this has made their point and isn't necessarily going to harm us any more, now that they've got our attention.

I am not condoning these acts of violence in any way, but I must admit that this experience has got me thinking about what it's like to go about your daily activities when you no longer feel "safe" anymore. It's hard to imagine going on like this for days much less years.

So I ask you a favor America: stay level headed. As the facts of the situation unfold, let's not jump to any conclusions that could lead to punishing other innocents in an act of blind revenge. That would be an even greater tragedy.

For now the one way you can have a direct effect on saving the lives of human beings is to give blood. We're going to need to step up our blood supply in order to have enough to assist the victims in New York and Washington DC and replenish our reserves.

The Red Cross website seems a bit overloaded, so I recommend using the telephone or phone book to locate your local donation center.

Here's another Wired News report: Trade Center Gone; Pentagon Hit.

Bad day for the USA. Here's an article from Wired (Apocalypse in New York City).

I'll be trying to find out what I can and posting links here.

Here's an informative article by Jack Mason for MIT's Technology Review - Reactive Glass.

According to the article: Sol-gel has many of the properties of glass, except that it is 20% water by weight and "honeycombed with microscopic pores that can absorb biomolecules such as protiens or enzymes and release them in response to environmental stimuli."

Here's a brief Introduction to Sol-gel from Bell-Labs.

Here's a NY Times book review (Just Like Ants, Computers Learn From the Bottom Up) of a new book (EMERGENCE The Connected Lives of Ants, Brains, Cities and Software, by Steven Johnson - Scribner, 2001).

I just bought the book so I'll let you know how it is after I read it.

I'm becoming increasingly facinated by emergence (in general). Here's a quote from the review that I I think does a pretty good job of explaining it:

"In his latest book, "Emergence," Mr. Johnson, who is the editor in chief of the online magazine Feed, focuses on a subject he touched on, in passing, in that earlier book — namely, the phenomenon of self-organization, represented by feedback systems and intelligent software that anticipates our needs. This phenomenon, known as emergence, is embodied by "bottom-up" systems that use "relatively simple components to build higher-level intelligence." Ants build complex colonies; city residents create distinct neighborhoods; simple pattern recognition software learns to recommend new books or music based on our previous choices. In each case, developments proceed not from some central authority dictating plans from above but from the cumulative actions of low-level agents below." -- Michiko Kakutani

Here's a facinating book about drug law reform from Judge James P. Gray: "Why Our Drug Laws Have Failed And What We Can Do About It: A Judicial Indictment Of Our War On Drugs" (2001).

Judge Gray has been in the press a lot recently too. Here's an L.A. Times article and another one from the NY Times.

I got my first nigerian scam letter. I'm told these things are quite common and I found a good article, I crave your distinguished indulgence (and all your cash), by Douglas Cruickshank (Salon), and a US Secret Service website on the subject. (Thanks Cory)