Thurn&Taxis--W.A.S.T.E.

[Timothy C. May]

Evan Corcoran wrote:

> This is probably a not-very-original insight, but in doesn't the
> apparent structure of the WASTE system (what we got to see of it)
> foreshadow the actual structure of internet mail and news postings?  
> The idea of having a decentralized routing system which "invents" delivery
> paths on the fly is pretty Tristeran.  And the idea of a shadow
> communications network for handling illicit or embarassing messages is
> right out of San Narciso.  Surely someone has already noticed this?  I bet
> TRP laughed when he figured it out.

Yes, your insight is accurate. In fact, check out what I've had in my
sig for the past few years.

I'm involved heavily in setting up anonymous remailers, message pools,
and efforts at digital cash. And encryption in all forms.

Our group is called "Cypherpunks" (an editor at "Mondo 2000" dubbed us
this, and the name stuck).

The W.A.S.T.E.  joke was an inspiration to us, by the way.

Aptos is not San Narciso, of course. Closer to Santa Cruz. But the
spirit is the same. And some say Pynchon himself even lived here for
most of the 1980s...I never saw him, that I know. But then how would I
know?

--Tim May


-- 
..........................................................................
Timothy C. May         | Crypto Anarchy: encryption, digital money,  
tcmay at netcom.com       | anonymous networks, digital pseudonyms, zero
408-688-5409           | knowledge, reputations, information markets, 
W.A.S.T.E.: Aptos, CA  | black markets, collapse of governments.
Higher Power: 2^859433 | Public Key: PGP and MailSafe available.
"National borders are just speed bumps on the information superhighway."