Posted 10:25 PM by Gerald Klaas
Allen Hacker has reacted to Doug's idea that the IRS should use e-mail. Allen has a decent layman's explanation of e-mail encryption. ( I teach a class in cryptography for the local chapter of the International Systems Security Association.) The bottom line is, e-mail as you know it is not secure. I like Allen's comparison to radio versus telephones, except that most telephones now have some wireless connection in the loop. It *IS* possible to get reasonable security on e-mail, but it requires work -- real work -- sometimes very frustrating work, on both sides, i.e., the sender and receiver of encrypted e-mails. I expect that the IRS will ride the "we can't use an insecure medium" excuse for as long as Doug is willing to pester them. Allen is also correct that once it is generally accepted that secure e-mail is available (like if s/MIME ever takes off) they will hide behind the "it's too expensive" excuse. I wish you luck, Doug, but I think your energy will be better spent on different battles, like continuing to search out and motivate our friends in the blog-o-sphere.

Posted 7:11 PM by Gerald Klaas
One of the guests on The NewsHour tonight mentioned the Andrew Sullivan blog. He said it's the first place he reads in the morning. I haven't read it yet, just thought it was great to hear about blogs on The NewsHour.

Posted 12:42 PM by Gerald Klaas
Enjoyed this article about the Irwin Schiff case. The article is from back in March, interesting that it mentions Dick Simkanin.

Posted 8:11 AM by Gerald Klaas
It looks like California's governor recall effort may have sparked the case that will bring down the (IMHO: unconstitutional) McCain-Feingold law(aka: Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act). Rep. Daryl Issa is accused of violating the Act in fundraising for a State ballot measure. Isn't it amazing how our Congresscritters not only ignored the 1st Amendment when passing "The M-F Act" (my name, not theirs), but they also ignored the 9th and 10th Amendments. Who needs a constitution anyway, when we have such benevolent men on our side? (facetiousness intended)

Posted 9:42 PM by Gerald Klaas
Joe Banister has put out a call for donations to the Dick Simkanin defense fund. When Bob Schulz put out a call for affidavits to request a release bond for Simkanin, I pledged my Beamer. Obviously, I think this is a worthwhile case. I wouldn't pledge my Beamer to just anything. I'd like to see the We the People Legal Defense Association get off the ground and take the case. According to the Joe Banister blog, here is where to send donations:

http://www.arrowplastics.net/
Simkanin Legal Defense Fund
Bank of Texas
6701 Preston Road
Dallas, TX 75205

Routing #: 111014325
Acct #: 2880556940

Posted 1:52 PM by Gerald Klaas
Joseph Almond says, "GERALD KLASS, I command you to post more frequently." As he commands, so it shall be, I guess I'm officially back from vacation now.

I really enjoyed my trip along the Oregon coast. My son's cat, Thomas, has diabetes so he has to travel with me so that I can give him insulin shots. He wasn't very happy about it. Although he liked the leftover bait when when I went crabbing. I even got in a little hiking. On the trip, I listened to books on tape of John Locke's Two Treatises of Government, 1690. Interesting that Joseph Almond today commented, "Man's material wealth springs from his ideas, labor and efficient use of natural resources." That is directly from John Locke's argument for private property in Natural Law.