[sdiy] Cmaps: Interesting new tool

[R. D. Davis]

Quothe Cynthia Webster, from writings of Sun, Jun 12, 2005 at 12:55:07PM -0700:
> Or rather, to analyze millions of emails for so-called "subversive" content.

Hmmm, like this one? :-)

Of course, if everyone included text like the following, or rather
various derivatives of it using different words, different places,
names, etc., the system analyzing e-mail would probably become useless
rather quickly.  The same thing with telephone conversations.  For
example:

  In praise of Allah, the destruction of the Oval Office, to eradicate the
  evil George Bush, will begin at 10:00 AM on August 16, 2006.  We must
  do this in a way that no one will suspect.  Therefore, we will not use
  airplanes.  We will use a Barbara Bush look-alike containing a nuclear
  warhead since she can get into the inner sanctum of the evil empire to 
  assassinate the president.

Actually, giving this more thought, perhaps we should all include
various sentences, words and phrases in every e-mail message and
telephone conversation to disable the system.  Not necessarily words
pertaining to terrorism all of the time either, but enough nonsensical
text to mislead the system about us and our activities, thoughts, etc.
The government is going too far in spying on its own citizens,
gathering information that can easily be used for political and
business gain, to harm opponents, etc.

Also, why are so few people using e-mail encryption when its free and
easy to obtain, while we can still obtain it?  While it's perhaps not
impossible for the government to break the encryption, imagine the
computing resources that would be necessary to decrypt all of the
e-mail on the internet if everyone used it!  

> I can see how something like this could also be used by say, one political
> party to systematically analyze the thoughts actions and goals of another
> political party searching for weaknesses through endless hypothetical
> scenarios in order to undermine them.

...and to harm individuals or businesses as well.  At least quite a
few politicians, cops, federal agents, etc., are most likely corrupt
enough to use such information for personal gain, to settle grudges,
etc. 

> Like an automated psychological war system.
> 
> You attend a political rally at a local park in support of ending a war.
> The Radio Identification Tag in your Real ID Card gets read by a mobile
> reading station at the perimeter, and the system starts processing your data
> through a labyrinth of Cmap algorithms...

That sort of thing is why I no longer like the concept of artificial
intelligence... the possibilities are too creepy, especially when it's
in the hands of unintelligent, corrupt and greedy people (e.g., the
average politician).  Of course, I realize that there are also some
wonderful uses of it that cause no harm.
 
> IF Subject objects to our recent political actions, THEN put on the list of
> like-minded subjects to have their primary bank card disabled the night
> before an election, (car repossessed) and so on.  "We noticed unusual
> activity in your account recently and ~for your protection~ we have disabled
> your credit/ATM debit card. "Please contact your bank branch on Monday
> morning, thank you."

Seems like one reason that some people want a cashless society.  Take away
cash, screw up someone's banking, etc. and ruin their lives. 

> Or to automatically tie-up subversives by subjecting them to jury duty.

...then track them down using their cell phones, any RFID chips in
their clothing or the OnStar system if they're driving a GM vehicle,
and detain them when they refuse to show up... then when they protest,
they get a longer sentence for poor behavior, etc... or, just accuse
them of being terrorists on the run and lock them away indefinitely
without due process of law.

> Isn't it pretty rare to see money spent on new university programs in the
> USA these days? Of course, the Cmap project is being developed by
> Universities in Florida...
> (It would either be Florida or Texas wouldn't it!)

Spending money on teaching people useful knowledge, a good well
rounded education, for example, and encouraging them to think and
reason, is not what most politicians appear to want.  It might lead to
too many people thinking about, and questioning, too much.  It might
even lead to a revolution if enough people started thinking and seeing
how the government has been playing its game of divide and conquer,
splitting the population into lots of different opposed categories
such as liberals and conservatives. pitting people of different races,
religions, incomes, etc. against each other.  Better they be against
each other than have them all realize that they all have one common
enemy: a power-hungry, over-taxing, poorly-managed, corrupt and
inefficient government that no longer truly represents them.

It's pretty interesting that we're now beginning to see a breakdown of
this divide and conquer strategy in that some people on both ends of
the so-called "liberal" and "conservative" spectrum, are working
together to oppose destruction of the environment by the government
and certain businesses.

> I thought that the "C" stood for "Concept" but maybe it stands for something
> else?

Quite possibly.

Robert

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