Neal Stephenson on Linux, Crypto and More

law wrote in to tell us that Neal Stephenson has an interview over at Amazon. The author of Cryptonomicon and Snow Crash talks about assorted things from crypto to Linux. Lots of interesting bits in there.

Comments

Another Interview: newsweek

[plumpy]

Here's another interview. This one in newsweek. Haven't read it; I just got my copy in the mail today.

Re:USA Today

[cpt kangarooski]

Hey now! If it's printed in the book, it gets protected as free speech. If it were machine-readable, then it might get restricted. Given the nature of the solitare system though (designed to be useable with merely a deck of regular playing cards) I doubt that would stop anything.

(next they'll come for the poker players...)

Re:The name is awfully similar

[Samrobb]

Take a look at the Cryptonomicon FAQ - he mentions that it's essentially just a case of parallel thinking. There's also an interesting link to a page describing Solitaire on the Counterpane Systems site. -Samrobb

Don't forget Necronomicon

[Stardate]

...from the "old days" of the 1930s and HP Lovecraft. :)

Re:USA Today -Export Restriction

[AmirS]

Can someone point me to this article?

I had a pre-order for Cryptonomicon here from Amazon.co.uk, then a few weeks ago I got an e-mail saying it is not going to be published in the UK.

I haven't yet asked the publishers what their reason for cancelling publication in the UK was, but could it be because of this algorithm ???

Or am I too suspicious of US export laws?

Hero Worship

[Fizgig]

Neal Stephenson is my new hero. The only thing I've read of his is "Command Line" but I've already bought Snow Crash and I'm hitting it next week after finals are over.

I was shocked to read in Newsweek that he writes out his book with a writing utensil and then transfers them to his computer (which runs Linux). How retro! I can't read my handwriting if it's more than 2 days old, so I could never do that.

I also loved the part where it explains that because the book contains the source code to the solitaire cryptography algorithm, the book can't be exported (though can't low levels be exported?)

... not enough paranoia to encrypt email

[rgottsch]

Ah, how I would like to encrypt all my communication with PGP, but - alas - no one in my "neighbourhood" seems to have an interest using it, nor do they have the interest in installing it...

Most people seem to think their private communication is not important enough to protect but I would not say that. I don't want other people the mail I write (except if they are the recipient, of course) and I want to make sure, that the person who sends Email to me is the one who stands at the FROM adress line.

Unfortunately, until Microsoft builts that as a "ever turned on" feature into Outlook Express, using Microsoft-Amazing-Good-Privacy (not compatible with anything yet known to man) EMail signing/encryption will not be widely used.

Re:USA Today -Export Restriction

[Avatar/X]

okay, here's the article, and a relevant quote from the sidebar:

"If it were an algorithm (or formula) for robust encryption, and if we were to confirm that, then, yes, it would be subject to export control," says William Reinsch, undersecretary of Commerce for export administration.
"We've ruled that if (such algorithms) are printed in a book, we have not controlled them, but if the same algorithm appears in electronic form, on diskette or the Internet, we do seek to control it," he says. "We've tried to maintain a policy balancing the needs of privacy and e-commerce with the needs of national security."
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Re:NS at UW today (May 5)

[lostboy]

gah! I missed that one (Neal vs Neil). Thanks.

anybody want an egg? I've got some extra on my face, here. Sheesh!