Author Archives: Michael Froomkin

Pentagon Media Strategy Document Decrypted Due to Weak Passphrase

Posted on March 2, 2009 by Michael Froomkin

RISKS Digest, Wikileaks cracks key NATO document on Afghan war

Wikileaks has cracked the encryption a key NATO document relating to the war in Afghanistan. The document, titled “NATO in Afghanistan: Master Narrative”, details the key facts and themes NATO representatives are to give—and to avoid giving—to the world press.

Among the revelations … is Jordan's presence as secret member of the US lead occupation force.

…

The password is “progress”, which perhaps reflects the Pentagon's desire to stay on-message, even to itself.

Wikileaks identified four other documents on the Pentagon web site with the same password.

Remember: strong crypto isn't much use if you have a weak passphrase.

Posted in Cryptography, National Security | Comments Off on Pentagon Media Strategy Document Decrypted Due to Weak Passphrase

Crickets Chirping

Posted on March 2, 2009 by Michael Froomkin

crickets.jpgI'm hearing crickets chirping.

“Crickets Chirping” is sort of bloggers' cliche: it's often used to mean a silence so deep on some issue (where there should be noise) that one can hear the crickets. But since Sunday afternoon I'm really hearing real crickets chirping — two transparent bags of them fresh from the pet store. They're going into school with one of the kids tomorrowtoday to feed the science teacher's bearded dragon. And meanwhile, they're loud.

(The picture is nothing like what the bags look like. I just liked the picture.)

Posted in Personal | 1 Comment

Beer. Pogo Stick. Trampoline. Hospital Visit.

Posted on March 1, 2009 by Michael Froomkin

I love these Six Word Stories, many by science fiction writers.

(The story I stole for a title is by LeRoy A Warner Jr., who may or may not be an actor.)

But this one is evil.

The concept is inspired by this Hemingway story,

For sale: baby shoes, never used.

Posted in Readings | 4 Comments

Does the NYT Have A Strange Sense of Humor?

Posted on March 1, 2009 by Michael Froomkin

In my Sunday paper, this story — Kansas Governor Accepts Offer as Health Secretary — appears deep deep in the “A” section…on the same page as the obituaries.

Is the NYT making a joke about the HHS being a graveyard for political careers and archly suggesting the same fate awaits Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, or does the Times just think HHS and health care reform is deadly boring?

Posted in The Media | 3 Comments

My Email Is Down

Posted on February 27, 2009 by Michael Froomkin

My email appears to be down — if you are trying to reach me urgently, I suggest the phone…

The problem seems to have started late last night, so anything you sent after, say, midnight my time is sitting in a queue somewhere.

Update: Partly fixed. I'm getting new mail. Not clear what happened to the mail sent while I was down.

Posted in Personal | Comments Off on My Email Is Down

Latest ‘No Such Thing As Clean Coal’ Ad

Posted on February 27, 2009 by Michael Froomkin

I think these “there's no such thing as clean coal” ads are pretty effective.

Here's the latest:

Posted in Energy | Comments Off on Latest ‘No Such Thing As Clean Coal’ Ad