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And I thought he meant the DARPA Grand Challenge Conference, the competitor's meeting for the Department of Defense race for robot offroad monster trucks. It's this Saturday, in LA. It's going to be wierd.

This is the type of comment that, given appropriate airtime, could really help George Bush, John Ashcroft, Don Rumsfeld, and Tom Ridge plan a beautiful future for this country. In fact, I bet they have a team out looking for examples of ridiculous statements like this one made against counterterrorism efforts, as material to use in debates when rational people challenge the equally polarized and ridiculous statements the Administration makes in support of its counterterrorism agenda.

The people affected by the 9/11 attack were much more diverse than those of us who worked in lower Manhattan and had our lives turned upside down for a few months afterward. If one counts those people who were affected by the U.S. equity markets being shut down for four days, airline travel interruptions that lasted for weeks, and telecommunications in and out of the northeast being disrupted for months, the circle is much, much larger. And this was one incident, of which there will certainly be more. Contrary to what misterhaan thinks, if you are an American citizen, terrorism will most likely affect you, eventually if it hasn't already.

All that being said, I don't believe stocking up on duct tape, developing comprehensive data surveillance systems, or banning model rockets are appropriate responses to the problem. But I support better airline and customs security, better immigration systems, and the Patriot Act, among other things, as necessary steps to avoid the type of lifestyle currently enjoyed in places like Israel and Afghanistan.

Circuits/Sensors/Antennae on PAPER
+
Missing Children "Have you seen me" postcards
=
Total Information Awareness

or...
In Bush's America, your mail reads YOU!

Some people are speculating that Columbia wreck was cause by the new slammer worm that affected the shuttle backend systems. Slammer worm took unpatched systems by surprise the week before descent of shuttle...

but I think it is not true..

P/S is used by research labs all over the world, as well as by several DARPA funded projects in the US. The program manager (an official agent of the Man) has always been extremely cool about the OS nature of the project. He immediately understood that by staying OS we could pool the resources of hundreds of researchers, most of whom were not being paid by DARPA, to solve a pressing need for network-friendly robot interfaces and re-usable code. A good deal for everyone.

Additional support was provided by DARPA under contract MDA904-98-C-A933

Must be for that new lean, mean killing machine they've been asking for.

If such a system gets built, how likely do you think that it will get compromised, how quickly will this happen and what techniques do you think would be used?

Also worth pointing out is that there are high tech applications which will never be outsourced: Government ones.

Of course, there's the "National Security" projects which can't be outsourced (that would be about the only way to make Total Information Awareness look worse); and most high-tech research projects at NASA, etc. (even if they work with Universities) are secured. In fact, few IT contracts the Fed authors will allow foreign nationals (H1B or no) to work on them).

The important things in life?

Well right up there, behind health and safety of your family, must be the right to go about your life without being forced to live your life under an oppressive surveillance society. For it surely is oppressive, knowing this information could be used against you for any purpose the authorities wish.

This is quite part from the minor fact it is very leaky - example seen here in UK news today: Revenue staff selling tax secrets. Quote, "There have been a number of instances of celebrity-browsing or looking up details of family or friends out of idle curiosity. But there is also evidence that some people are using the information maliciously, for example finding out how much an ex-spouse earns and passing the information to the Child Support Agency, or even selling the information to outside agencies. This is a clear breach of customer confidentiality and the Data Protection Act." ... "But the Board had become aware about the levels of unauthorised browsing of customer records. They realised the Department needed to draw together a policy to clarify the rules on computer usage and to tighten up the disciplinary consequences of misuse."

The main thing is this - Not enough importance is placed on our Liberty.

Why can't everybody see the blatant use of propaganda, when it is so clear?

I have placed the following on this board many times - the regulars must be sick of it by now - sorry for that :-)

Subject - Ask Security Services to deny this:

First - a quote from the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency: "The goal of the Total Information Awareness (TIA) program is to revolutionize the ability of the United States to detect, classify and identify foreign terrorists -- and decipher their plans -- and thereby enable the U.S. to take timely action to successfully preempt and defeat terrorist acts."

The declared GOAL is to, quote: "identify foreign terrorists" - what rubbish. They know you are American citizen, not even a suspect foreigner - yet want to know what you buy, where you travel - everything. They want to profile you, like a criminal. I find it hard to believe that U.S. politicians are that dumb to go along with this violation of the American Peoples Rights. Looks like TIA initials stand for Totally Ignorant Acceptance (for their propaganda).

Okay then -

Ask Security Services in the US, UK, Indonesia (Bali) or anywhere for that matter, to deny this:

Internet surveillance, using Echelon, Carnivore or back doors in encryption, will not stop terrorists communicating by other means - most especially face to face or personal courier.

Terrorists will have to do that, or they will be caught!

Perhaps using mobile when absolutely essential, saying - "Meet you in the pub Monday" (meaning, human bomb to target A), or Tuesday (target B) or Sunday (abort).

The Internet has become a tool for government to snoop on their people - 24/7.

The terrorism argument is a dummy - total bull*.

INTERNET SURVEILLANCE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO STOP TERRORISTS - THAT IS SPIN AND PROPAGANDA

This propaganda is for several reasons, including: a) making you feel safer b) to say the government are doing something and c) the more malicious motive of privacy invasion.

Government say about surveillance - "you've nothing to fear - if you are not breaking the law"

This argument is made to pressure people into acquiescence - else appear guilty of hiding something illegal.

It does not address the real reason why they want this information (which they will deny) - they want a surveillance society.

They wish to invade your basic human right to privacy. This is like having somebody watching everything you do - all your personal thoughts, hopes and fears will be open to them.

This is everything - including phone calls and interactive TV. Quote from ZDNET: "Whether you're just accessing a Web site, placing a phone call, watching TV or developing a Web service, sometime in the not to distant future, virtually all such transactions will converge around Internet protocols."

"Why should I worry? I do not care if they know what I do in my own home", you may foolishly say. Or, just as dumbly, "They will not be interested in anything I do".

This information will be held about you until the authorities need it for anything at all. Like, for example, here in UK when government looked for dirt on individuals of Paddington crash survivors group. It was led by badly injured Pam Warren. She had over 20 operations after the 1999 rail crash (which killed 31 and injured many).

This group had fought for better and safer railways - all by legal means. By all accounts a group of fine outstanding people - with good intent.

So what was their crime, to deserve this investigation?

It was just for showing up members of government to be the incompetents they are.

As usual, government tried to put a different spin on the story when they were found out. Even so, their intent was obvious - they wanted to use this information as propaganda - to smear the character of these good people.

Our honourable government would rather defile the character of its citizens - rather than address their reasonable concerns.

The government arrogantly presume this group of citizens would not worry about having their privacy invaded.

They can also check your outgoings match your income and that you are paying enough tax. What do you think all this privacy invasion is for? The War on Terrorism? You poor dupe. All your finances for them to scrutinize; heaven help you if you cannot account for every cent.

The authorities try make everything they say sound perfectly reasonable.

e.g. Officials from US Defence Department agency have said they want, quote: "the same level of accountability in cyberspace that we now have in the physical world".

Do they keep record of all the people that you send letters and faxes to (and receive from)? Worse still - record the text? Do they record your phone conversations? Do they keep a record of peoples houses, shops and establishments you visit - or the magazines and books you pick up to browse? Do they keep record of books you take out of library? Do they keep record of purchases you make from the shops?

Indeed - do government currently keep records of everything that you say, touch and do in the physical world to analyse?

No they do not. So then - is that the same level of accountability?

They wish to keep an electronic tag on you, like some kind of animal. Actually it is even worse than this - like some pervert sex offender - a child molester that they have to keep track of.

Would ANY person of intelligence call that accountability?

Do not believe the lies of Government - even more of your money spent on these measures will not protect us from terrorists. Every argument they use is subterfuge - pure spin.

In UK, the RIP Act is unjust - dim-witted ill-informed MPs believed governments 'experts'. Remember - they will get everything about you, your phone calls, emails, TV viewing - everything. It would be like having a spy living in your house.

Americans - the Total Information Awareness plan, USA Patriot act and Homeland Defence - you are generally more technologically aware, are you really that easily misled?

I cannot stress enough - all your personal thoughts, hopes and fears will be open to them. I know from experience, as fact, they have no morals and will purposefully twist this information to use against you. I have documentary evidence of this - actual government agency case notes. Should government take legal action to deny that they pervert how personal information is used, then these documents may be viewed in a court of Law.

It should be noted that the UK government will be violating the Universal Declaration of Human Rights - which we have adopted.

Article 12 states: "No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks."

Could we be constantly tracked through our clothes, shoes or even our cash in the future?

In order to carry out tracking on the scale that Declan suggests - of a every citizen, on a nationwide scale, - you would need to deploy a vast array of sensor networks.

DARPA has put a high priority on developing such networks in their drive to digitize the battlespace under the "Persistence over the battlefield" philosophy that dominates current military thinking.

Cebrowski sums this doctrine up:

We are seeing the emergence of sensor-based warfare. The reality is, the world knows if we can sense it, we can kill it.

- Retired Navy Vice Adm. Arthur Cebrowski,
[Office of Force Transformation, February 5, 2002]

First take: Check out DARPAs IXO - The Information Exploitation Office:
http://dtsn.darpa.mil/ixo/

in particular, Dr. Sri Kumar's Sensor Information Technology (SensIT) Program:

http://dtsn.darpa.mil/ixo/sensit.asp

. . The SensIT program will create the binding between the physical world and cyberspace. Today's information systems focus on human input or computer generated data for fodder, but the future will build on continuous streams of real-world physical data. The SensIT program is founded on the concept of a networked system of cheap, pervasive platforms that combine multiple sensor types, embedded processors, positioning ability and wireless communication. Specifically the mission of SensIT is to develop all necessary software for networked microsensors.

Incidentally, seems to me, one corollary of the Cebrowski doctrine might be, if you can't sense it . . .

http://go.openflows.org/admin.pl?op=edit&sid=03/01 /14/1033209

Ubiquitous Sensor Networks, Next 10 years:

2000: 100 million image sensors sold worldwide (Cahners In-Stat Group)

2006: 1 billion 'mobile' sensors on 21 million telematic-enabled cars in US (Telematics Research Group)

2006: 2.5 billion devices on the Internet (Dr. Vinton Cerf)

2010: 60 trillion wireless sensors deployed worldwide (Ernst & Young)

RF Micro Devices Opens Sales And Customer Support Office in China
One Billion Smart Cards

Could we be constantly tracked through our clothes, shoes or even our cash in the future?

In order to carry out tracking on the scale that Declan suggests - of a every citizen, on a nationwide scale, - you would need to deploy a vast array of sensor networks.

DARPA has put a high priority on developing such networks in their drive to digitize the battlespace under the "Persistence over the battlefield" philosophy that dominates current military thinking.

Cebrowski sums this doctrine up:

We are seeing the emergence of sensor-based warfare. The reality is, the world knows if we can sense it, we can kill it.

- Retired Navy Vice Adm. Arthur Cebrowski,
[Office of Force Transformation, February 5, 2002]

First take: Check out DARPAs IXO - The Information Exploitation Office:
http://dtsn.darpa.mil/ixo/

in particular, Dr. Sri Kumar's Sensor Information Technology (SensIT) Program:

http://dtsn.darpa.mil/ixo/sensit.asp

. . The SensIT program will create the binding between the physical world and cyberspace. Today's information systems focus on human input or computer generated data for fodder, but the future will build on continuous streams of real-world physical data. The SensIT program is founded on the concept of a networked system of cheap, pervasive platforms that combine multiple sensor types, embedded processors, positioning ability and wireless communication. Specifically the mission of SensIT is to develop all necessary software for networked microsensors.

Incidentally, seems to me, one corollary of the Cebrowski doctrine might be, if you can't sense it . . .

http://go.openflows.org/admin.pl?op=edit&sid=03/01 /14/1033209

Ubiquitous Sensor Networks, Next 10 years:

2000: 100 million image sensors sold worldwide (Cahners In-Stat Group)

2006: 1 billion 'mobile' sensors on 21 million telematic-enabled cars in US (Telematics Research Group)

2006: 2.5 billion devices on the Internet (Dr. Vinton Cerf)

2010: 60 trillion wireless sensors deployed worldwide (Ernst & Young)

RF Micro Devices Opens Sales And Customer Support Office in China
One Billion Smart Cards

Today on CNN - Military robots well trained for war

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is offering a $1 million cash prize to the winner of a planned robot vehicle race between Los Angeles and Las Vegas known as DARPA Grand Challange. The course will feature both on-road and off-road portions and will include extremely rugged, challenging terrain and obstacles. The purpose of the race is to stimulate interest in and encourage the accelerated development of autonomous ground vehicle technologies that could be used by the US military. See the DARPA website for Grand Challange Rules and details... For more news, refer to articles on these websites - Forbes, ABC, TOI

Today on CNN - Military robots well trained for war

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is offering a $1 million cash prize to the winner of a planned robot vehicle race between Los Angeles and Las Vegas known as DARPA Grand Challange. The course will feature both on-road and off-road portions and will include extremely rugged, challenging terrain and obstacles. The purpose of the race is to stimulate interest in and encourage the accelerated development of autonomous ground vehicle technologies that could be used by the US military. See the DARPA website for Grand Challange Rules and details... For more news, refer to articles on these websites - Forbes, ABC, TOI

Today on CNN - Military robots well trained for war

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is offering a $1 million cash prize to the winner of a planned robot vehicle race between Los Angeles and Las Vegas known as DARPA Grand Challange. The course will feature both on-road and off-road portions and will include extremely rugged, challenging terrain and obstacles. The purpose of the race is to stimulate interest in and encourage the accelerated development of autonomous ground vehicle technologies that could be used by the US military. See the DARPA website for Grand Challange Rules and details... For more news, refer to articles on these websites - Forbes, ABC, TOI

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is offering a $1 million cash prize to the winner of a planned robot vehicle race between Los Angeles and Las Vegas known as DARPA Grand Challange. The course will feature both on-road and off-road portions and will include extremely rugged, challenging terrain and obstacles. The purpose of the race is to stimulate interest in and encourage the accelerated development of autonomous ground vehicle technologies that could be used by the US military. See the DARPA website for Grand Challange Rules and details... For more news, refer to articles on these websites - Forbes, ABC, TOI

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is offering a $1 million cash prize to the winner of a planned robot vehicle race between Los Angeles and Las Vegas known as DARPA Grand Challange. The course will feature both on-road and off-road portions and will include extremely rugged, challenging terrain and obstacles. The purpose of the race is to stimulate interest in and encourage the accelerated development of autonomous ground vehicle technologies that could be used by the US military. See the DARPA website for Grand Challange Rules and details... For more news, refer to articles on these websites - Forbes, ABC, TOI

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is offering a $1 million cash prize to the winner of a planned robot vehicle race between Los Angeles and Las Vegas known as DARPA Grand Challange. The course will feature both on-road and off-road portions and will include extremely rugged, challenging terrain and obstacles. The purpose of the race is to stimulate interest in and encourage the accelerated development of autonomous ground vehicle technologies that could be used by the US military. See the DARPA website for Grand Challange Rules and details... For more news, refer to articles on these websites - Forbes, ABC, TOI

Here is the story submitted to /. but was ignored:

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is offering a $1 million cash prize to the winner of a planned robot vehicle race between Los Angeles and Las Vegas known as DARPA Grand Challange. The course will feature both on-road and off-road portions and will include extremely rugged, challenging terrain and obstacles. The purpose of the race is to stimulate interest in and encourage the accelerated development of autonomous ground vehicle technologies that could be used by the US military. See the DARPA website for Grand Challange Rules and details... For more news, refer to articles on these websites - Forbes, ABC, TOI

Here is the story submitted to /. but was ignored:

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is offering a $1 million cash prize to the winner of a planned robot vehicle race between Los Angeles and Las Vegas known as DARPA Grand Challange. The course will feature both on-road and off-road portions and will include extremely rugged, challenging terrain and obstacles. The purpose of the race is to stimulate interest in and encourage the accelerated development of autonomous ground vehicle technologies that could be used by the US military. See the DARPA website for Grand Challange Rules and details... For more news, refer to articles on these websites - Forbes, ABC, TOI

Here is the story submitted to /. but was ignored:

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is offering a $1 million cash prize to the winner of a planned robot vehicle race between Los Angeles and Las Vegas known as DARPA Grand Challange. The course will feature both on-road and off-road portions and will include extremely rugged, challenging terrain and obstacles. The purpose of the race is to stimulate interest in and encourage the accelerated development of autonomous ground vehicle technologies that could be used by the US military. See the DARPA website for Grand Challange Rules and details... For more news, refer to articles on these websites - Forbes, ABC, TOI

Absolutely! Lets make a repair license! Better yet, why not make a USER license, allowing only people who have such, to buy and or use a computer.... Better yet, Library licenses! or for those more in tune with Amerika's new direction, Knowledge access licenses! We can start teaching children only what they NEED to KNOW, can't be too careful you never know one of them might become a terrorist. Come ON! We live in a free country right? We don't want to snoop on our neighbors, And we dont want to watch everyone And we'd never ask the traveling public for ID like former eastern block countries.....

Black helicopters are so '90s! Black trucks are the choice of the New Generation.

Quote from the U.S. Defense advanced Research Projects Agency:

"The goal of the Total Information Awareness (TIA) program is to revolutionize the ability of the United States to detect, classify and identify foreign terrorists -- and decipher their plans -- and thereby enable the U.S. to take timely action to successfully preempt and defeat terrorist acts."

They want to, quote: "identify foreign terrorists" - what rubbish. They KNOW you are American citizen, not even a suspect foreigner - yet want to know what you buy, where you travel - everything. They want to profile you, like a criminal. I find it hard to believe that U.S. politicians are that dumb - to go along with this violation of the American Peoples Rights. Looks like TIA initials stand for Totally Ignorant Acceptance (of propaganda).

I have said this many times - and have yet to hear reasoned argument against it:->

Ask Security Services in the US, UK, Indonesia (Bali) or anywhere for that matter, to deny this:

Internet surveillance, using Echelon, Carnivore or back doors in encryption, will not stop terrorists communicating by other means - most especially face to face or personal courier.

Terrorists will have to do that, or they will be caught!

Perhaps using mobile when absolutely essential, saying - Meet you in the pub Monday (meaning, human bomb to target A), or Tuesday (target B) or Sunday (abort).

The Internet has become a tool for government to snoop on their people - 24/7.

The terrorism argument is a dummy - total bull*.

INTERNET SURVEILLANCE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO STOP TERRORISTS - THAT IS SPIN AND PROPAGANDA

This propaganda is for several reasons, including: a) making you feel safer b) to say the government are doing something and c) the more malicious motive of privacy invasion.

Government say about surveillance - you've nothing to fear - if you are not breaking the law

This argument is made to pressure people into acquiescence - else appear guilty of hiding something illegal.

It does not address the real reason why they want this information (which they will deny) - they want a surveillance society.

They wish to invade your basic human right to privacy. This is like having somebody watching everything you do - all your personal thoughts, hopes and fears will be open to them.

This is everything - including phone calls and interactive TV. Quote from ZDNET: Whether you're just accessing a Web site, placing a phone call, watching TV or developing a Web service, sometime in the not to distant future, virtually all such transactions will converge around Internet Protocols.

"Why should I worry? I do not care if they know what I do in my own home", you may foolishly say. Or, just as dumbly, "They will not be interested in anything I do".

This information will be held about you until the authorities need it for anything at all. Like, for example, here in UK when government looked for dirt on individuals of Paddington crash survivors group. It was led by badly injured Pam Warren. She had over 20 operations after the 1999 rail crash (which killed 31 and injured many).

This group had fought for better and safer railways - all by legal means. By all accounts a group of fine outstanding people - with good intent.

So what was their crime, to deserve this investigation?

It was just for showing up members of government to be the incompetents they were.

As usual, government tried to put a different spin on the story when they were found out. Even so, their intent was obvious - they wanted to use this information as propaganda - to smear the character of these good People.

Our honourable government would rather defile the character of its citizens - rather than address their reasonable concerns.

The government arrogantly presume this group of citizens would not worry about having their privacy invaded.

They can also check your outgoings match your income and that you are paying enough tax. What do you think all this privacy invasion is for? The War on Terrorism? You poor dupe.

All your finances for them to scrutinize; heaven help you if you cannot account for every cent.

The authorities try make everything they say sound perfectly reasonable.

e.g. Officials from US Defence Department agency have said that they want, the same level of accountability in cyberspace that we now have in the physical world.

Do government currently keep records of everything that you touch in the physical world to analyse?

No they do not. So then, is that the same level of accountability?

They wish to keep an electronic tag on you, like some kind of animal. Actually it is even worse than this - like some pervert sex offender - a child molester that they have to keep track of. Would any person of intelligence call that accountability?

Do not believe the lies of Government - even more of your money spent on these measures will not protect us from terrorists. Every argument they use is subterfuge - pure spin.

Here in UK, the RIP Act is unjust - dim-witted ill-informed MPs believed governments 'experts'. Remember - they will get everything about you, your phone calls, emails, TV viewing - everything. It would be like having a spy living in your house.

Americans - the Total Information Awareness plan, USA Patriot act and Homeland Defence - you are more technologically aware, are you really that easily misled?

Garry Anderson

P.S. Did you know the the United States Department of Commerce and United Nations World Intellectual Property Organization LIED, when they said there was no solution to trademark conflict with domain names?

They are dishonourable cowards. The UN Organization, who deal with these conflicts, use WIPO.org - I use VERY similar URL - please visit.

Idoru is okay, but it's a much better book if you're already a fan of Japanese Pop, or a fan of HEY! HEY! HEY! MUSIC CHAMP. It's kind of like the American Bandstand equivalent for Japanese pop music. (For a quick English description, try here). I watch HHHMC on International Channel on cable, and even if you don't speak Japanese (which I don't, really) it's alternately fascinating and hilarious. Want to watch Japanese pop stars give the show's hosts haircuts on the island of Guam? You need to watch it!

I also really liked The Difference Engine, but it's an entirely different kind of book. I'd recommend it to any programmer, though. They just don't teach the young people enough about Ada Lovelace these days! (Okay, so Gibson's work is fiction; does that really matter these days?)

Way cooler than Mozilla

These bots are gonna be a lot cooler than any Tai Chi bot could ever hope to be. DARPA intends to conduct a race of autonomous ground vehicles from the vicinity of Los Angeles to Las Vegas in 2004. A cash prize will be awarded to the winner. The purpose of the race is to encourage the accelerated development of autonomous vehicle technologies that could be applied to military requirements. Many of the details of the race are being developed. New details will be posted to this web site as soon as possible.

The top story in 2004 will be about the DARPA Grand Challenge! Imagine a Beowulf cluster of autonomous ground vehicles...

DARPA intends to conduct a race of autonomous ground vehicles from the vicinity of Los Angeles to Las Vegas in 2004. A cash prize will be awarded to the winner. The purpose of the race is to encourage the accelerated development of autonomous vehicle technologies that could be applied to military requirements. Many of the details of the race are being developed. New details will be posted to this web site as soon as possible.

all the hackers are working on this.

DARPA intends to conduct a race of autonomous ground vehicles from the vicinity of Los Angeles to Las Vegas in 2004. A cash prize will be awarded to the winner. The purpose of the race is to encourage the accelerated development of autonomous vehicle technologies that could be applied to military requirements. Many of the details of the race are being developed. New details will be posted to this web site as soon as possible.

Oooh - autonomous ground vehicles! Who needs Superman?

DARPA intends to conduct a race of autonomous ground vehicles from the vicinity of Los Angeles to Las Vegas in 2004. A cash prize will be awarded to the winner. The purpose of the race is to encourage the accelerated development of autonomous vehicle technologies that could be applied to military requirements. Many of the details of the race are being developed. New details will be posted to this web site as soon as possible.

Rat cheer.

DARPA intends to conduct a race of autonomous ground vehicles from the vicinity of Los Angeles to Las Vegas in 2004. A cash prize will be awarded to the winner. The purpose of the race is to encourage the accelerated development of autonomous vehicle technologies that could be applied to military requirements. Many of the details of the race are being developed. New details will be posted to this web site as soon as possible.

Probably.

DARPA intends to conduct a race of autonomous ground vehicles from the vicinity of Los Angeles to Las Vegas in 2004. A cash prize will be awarded to the winner. The purpose of the race is to encourage the accelerated development of autonomous vehicle technologies that could be applied to military requirements. Many of the details of the race are being developed. New details will be posted to this web site as soon as possible.

would be the DARPA Grand Challenge. Too bad the Slashdot "editors" didn't think it was cool.

So this suggests that the U.S. Government's Total Information Awareness program would be a nice, juicy target. After all, everything's in one place...

But there aren't. There are, however, lots of opportunities for little sell-outs who would help the govt. spy on it's own citizens.

You are just the kind of patriot that we are looking for at Total Information Awareness Systems. Please consider applying for a position. The threat is great, and there are not enough red-blooded Americans to guard our God-fearing people from the brown menace.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is the central research and development organization for the Department of Defense (DoD). It manages and directs selected basic and applied research and development projects for DoD, and pursues research and technology where risk and payoff are both very high and where success may provide dramatic advances for traditional military roles and missions.

In principle, one could imagine that it would be advantageous for troops to move through the air individually. The way one does that is quite unclear and non-trivial. So, it's expected that these projects will fail and that does not necessarily mean it wasn't "useful". I'm amazed that this company did as much as it did with $5 million. It's not the same as when the government goes to a bunch of defense contractors and says, "Give me better guidance for my smart bombs" and then expects to have better smart bombs at the end of the day.

If you're interested in other programs that the government is funding, check out this and that. You might get funding for your very own bullshit idea!

DARPA's Total Information Awareness (TIA) project is slowly shrinking from public view. According to a CNET story: "the TIA site shrank still more and some links ceased to work. Biographical information about the TIA project leaders, including retired Adm. John Poindexter, disappeared from the Defense Department's site last month."

CNET goes on to report that, "the disappearing documents come as the TIA has become a lighting rod for criticism and as online activists have been turning the tables on Poindexter by reposting his personal information and home telephone number as widely as possible."

What has not changed is the Information Awareness Office's (IAO) commitment to TIA. The IAO "vision" clearly states:

"The most serious asymmetric threat facing the United States is terrorism, a threat characterized by collections of people loosely organized in shadowy networks that are difficult to identify and define. IAO plans to develop technology that will allow understanding of the intent of these networks, their plans, and potentially define opportunities for disrupting or eliminating the threats. To effectively and efficiently carry this out, we must promote sharing, collaborating and reasoning to convert nebulous data to knowledge and actionable options. IAO will accomplish this by pursuing the development of technologies, components, and applications to produce a proto-type system."

What is most interesting about the TIA project is the program strategy "focusing on the development of:

"1) architectures for a large-scale counter-terrorism database, for system elements associated with database population, and for integrating algorithms and mixed-initiative analytical tools;
2) novel methods for populating the database from existing sources, create innovative new sources, and invent new algorithms for mining, combining, and refining information for subsequent inclusion into the database; and,
3) revolutionary new models, algorithms, methods, tools, and techniques for analyzing and correlating information in the database to derive actionable intelligence.

In short, the government wants free access to all of your personal data, including, but not limited to medical, financial, family history, and all public records.

I think we can safely say that George Orwell was right and McCarthyism is alive and well.

Anyone want to guess how many of your developer, coder, dba, Network Admin, Hacker friends will be "black-listed" after refusing to adhere to the coming government guidelines? Hmmm, and I thought the .com bust was bad, wait until you have to prove that you're government friendly in order to get a job.

DARPA's Total Information Awareness (TIA) project is slowly shrinking from public view. According to a CNET story: "the TIA site shrank still more and some links ceased to work. Biographical information about the TIA project leaders, including retired Adm. John Poindexter, disappeared from the Defense Department's site last month."

CNET goes on to report that, "the disappearing documents come as the TIA has become a lighting rod for criticism and as online activists have been turning the tables on Poindexter by reposting his personal information and home telephone number as widely as possible."

What has not changed is the Information Awareness Office's (IAO) commitment to TIA. The IAO "vision" clearly states:

"The most serious asymmetric threat facing the United States is terrorism, a threat characterized by collections of people loosely organized in shadowy networks that are difficult to identify and define. IAO plans to develop technology that will allow understanding of the intent of these networks, their plans, and potentially define opportunities for disrupting or eliminating the threats. To effectively and efficiently carry this out, we must promote sharing, collaborating and reasoning to convert nebulous data to knowledge and actionable options. IAO will accomplish this by pursuing the development of technologies, components, and applications to produce a proto-type system."

What is most interesting about the TIA project is the program strategy "focusing on the development of:

"1) architectures for a large-scale counter-terrorism database, for system elements associated with database population, and for integrating algorithms and mixed-initiative analytical tools;
2) novel methods for populating the database from existing sources, create innovative new sources, and invent new algorithms for mining, combining, and refining information for subsequent inclusion into the database; and,
3) revolutionary new models, algorithms, methods, tools, and techniques for analyzing and correlating information in the database to derive actionable intelligence.

In short, the government wants free access to all of your personal data, including, but not limited to medical, financial, family history, and all public records.

I think we can safely say that George Orwell was right and McCarthyism is alive and well.

Anyone want to guess how many of your developer, coder, dba, Network Admin, Hacker friends will be "black-listed" after refusing to adhere to the coming government guidelines? Hmmm, and I thought the .com bust was bad, wait until you have to prove that you're government friendly in order to get a job.

For anyone who visited the Total Information Awareness website early on, you'll notice a major change. CNET is reporting that the site has shrunk drastically in recent weeks. It appears that the backlash from that announcement had an effect, tho perhaps only superficial.

Heh. Take a look.

The eye in the pyramid scanning the earth.

This was just a bit to obv<FNORD><FNORD><FNORD>

http://www.darpa.mil/iao/TIASystems.htm

the TIA focuses on compiling all information, not just that which is public, thus the name 'total information awareness'. At least they made an honest logo.

the TIA focuses on compiling all information, not just that which is public, thus the name 'total information awareness'. At least they made an honest logo.

"Story telling, change detection, and truth maintenance"

Quote from DARPA: "The goal of the Total Information Awareness (TIA) program is to revolutionize the ability of the United States to detect, classify and identify foreign terrorists - and decipher their plans - and thereby enable the U.S. to take timely action to successfully preempt and defeat terrorist acts."

What a load of bull*. Why has NOBODY asked the Security Services the following? I have posted this argument several times before.

Ask Security Services in the US, UK, Indonesia (Bali) or anywhere for that matter, to deny this:

Internet surveillance, using Echelon, Carnivore or back doors in encryption, will not stop terrorists communicating by other means - most especially face to face or personal courier.

Terrorists will have to do that, or they will be caught.

Perhaps using mobile when absolutely essential, saying - "Meet you in the pub Monday" (human bomb to target A), or Tuesday (target B) or Sunday (abort).

The Internet has become a tool for government to snoop on their people - 24/7.

The terrorism argument is a dummy - total bull*.

INTERNET SURVEILLANCE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO STOP TERRORISTS - THAT IS SPIN AND PROPAGANDA

This propaganda is for several reasons, including: a) making you feel safer b) to say the government are doing something and c) the more malicious motive of privacy invasion.

Government say about surveillance - "you've nothing to fear - if you are not breaking the law"

This argument is made to pressure people into acquiescence - else appear guilty of hiding something illegal.

It does not address the real reason why they want this information (which they will deny) - they want a surveillance society.

They wish to invade your basic human right to privacy. This is like having somebody watching everything you do - all your personal thoughts, hopes and fears will be open to them.

This is everything - including phone calls and interactive TV. Quote from ZDNET: "Whether you're just accessing a Web site, placing a phone call, watching TV or developing a Web service, sometime in the not to distant future, virtually all such transactions will converge around Internet protocols."

"Why should I worry? I do not care if they know what I do in my own home", you may foolishly say. Or, just as dumbly, "They will not be interested in anything I do".

This information will be held about you until the authorities need it for anything at all. Like, for example, here in UK when government looked for dirt on individuals of Paddington crash survivors group. It was led by badly injured Pam Warren. She had over 20 operations after the 1999 rail crash (which killed 31 and injured many).

This group had fought for better and safer railways - all by legal means. By all accounts a group of fine outstanding people - with good intent.

So what was their crime, to deserve this investigation? It was just for showing up members of government to be the incompetents they were.

As usual, government tried to put a different spin on the story when they were found out. Even so, their intent was obvious - they wanted to use this information as propaganda - to smear the character of these good people.

Our honourable government would rather defile the character of its citizens, rather than address their reasonable concerns.

The government arrogantly presume this group of citizens would not worry about having their privacy invaded.

They can also check your outgoings match your income and that you are paying enough tax. What do you think all this privacy invasion is for? The War on Terrorism? You poor dupe. All your finances for them to scrutinize; heaven help you if you cannot account for every cent.

The authorities try make everything they say sound perfectly reasonable.

e.g. Officials from US Defence Department agency have said that they want, "the same level of accountability in cyberspace that we now have in the physical world".

Do government currently keep records of everything that you touch in the physical world to analyse?

No they do not - So then, is that the same level of accountability?

They wish to keep an electronic tag on you, like some kind of animal. Actually it is even worse than this - like some pervert sex offender that they have to keep track of. Would any person of intelligence call that accountability?

Do not believe the lies of Government - even more of your money spent on these measures will not protect us from terrorists. Every argument they use is subterfuge - pure spin.

In UK, the RIP Act is unjust - dim-witted ill-informed MPs believed governments 'experts'. Remember - they will get everything about you, your phone calls, emails, TV viewing - everything.

Americans - the Total Information Awareness plan, USA Patriot act and Homeland Defence - you are more technologically aware, are you really that easily led?

I cannot stress enough - all your personal thoughts, hopes and fears will be open to them. I know from experience, as fact, they have no morals and will purposefully twist this information to use against you. I have documentary evidence of this - actual government agency case notes. Should government take legal action to deny that they pervert how personal information is used, then these documents may be viewed in a court of Law.

P.S. The United Nations World Intellectual Property Organization and the United States Department of Commerce are hiding the simple solution to trademark and domain name problem. The solution was ratified by honest attorneys. Please visit my site - not associated with United Nations WIPO.org. The United Nations WIPO deal with these conflicts - but are without honour and too cowardly to directly answer my easy questions (as are the US DoC).

From the drawing on http://www.darpa.mil/iao/TIASystems.htm we can learn thar your "privacy and security" goes into their "automated virtual data repository". :)

You might find these other Projects at the Office of Information Awareness worth a look. Satire cartoonist Tom Tomorrow mentions them in two very funny and recent comics, here and here

You might find these other Projects at the Office of Information Awareness worth a look. Satire cartoonist Tom Tomorrow mentions them in two very funny and recent comics, here and here

Which brings me to my next point. This TIA business is out of the question. I can't put my finger on it, but it doesn't seem like my best interests are an interest at all when it comes to any of these US intelligence branches. Maybe I need to clarify more, but I don't think so. The feds don't seem to be appreciative of the information they already have.