7529 lines
274 KiB
Plaintext
7529 lines
274 KiB
Plaintext
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Underground eXperts United
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Presents...
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[ Technophilia ] [ By Ikonoklast ]
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____________________________________________________________________
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____________________________________________________________________
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Kind of a special release, you might say. This is uXu file 148 -
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"Technophilia" by Ikonoklast. There won't be an index this time
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(it will be properly added to the list in the next release),
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instead, we have written some comments about Technophilia below,
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just to get you started. :) _Huge_ thanks to Ikonoklast for letting
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us publish his fantastic book through uXu! Here we go -
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--------------------------------------------------------------------
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The GNN -
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The least you could say about Technophilia is that it is a massive piece
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of work. Still, it is incredible readable and interesting, not only for
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those who feel disorientated in a world with weird expressions like
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cyberpunks, hackers, phreakers etc. Even those who feel that they are very
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well informed about the situation will most probably find something new to
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explore in this book.
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The computer underground is not something that will end up as a brief
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hobby for a few individuals, until it fades away into nothing. We are
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catching the train to the future, rapidly ahead of the common people on
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planet Earth. This book gives a hint of what is actually happening when
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people turn on their computers and uses their knowledge to achieve goals
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that most people do not even dream about. The promotion of
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decentralization, the mistrust of authority and the information that
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desperately wants to be free.
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What Ikonoklast has written is not something that will be out of date in
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a couple of years. It is a history book of our time.
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Read Technophilia - and realize that you are a part of the history.
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The Chief -
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What you now have received is something really special. Both for uXu and
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the e-zine community. Technophilia were to be printed and released as a
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book, but due to (probably) lack of knowledge and interest from the publishing
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company, who argued that it would be outdated pretty fast and therefor not
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worth to publish, this never happened. What I thought when I heard this
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wasn't "Oh yeah, now _we_ can publish it" as I suspect some people might
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think. No, I thought that "every piece of non-fiction published will
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undoubtedly be outdated some day, so what makes Technophilia different?
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How come they won't publish this one?" We all know that the computer
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industry, research and development moves somewhat fast these days, and in
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some ways perhaps a bit _too_ fast, but that doesn't mean people stop
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writing manuals, reports and software does it? No, you just upgrade, or
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write another one. This is such a thing. And it is needed. Wherever we're
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headed, I feel the progress, the ways we have taken, must be documented,
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and what better way than to write, sort of, a history book about it now and
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then? I'm sure there will be several books like this one, maybe they
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already exist. They're _all_ needed if we're going to get a grip on what
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has happened, and what's about to come. After all, this _is_ the information
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age, isn't it?
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Phearless -
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I must admit that I was somewhat impressed the first time I was browsing
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through the quite big amount of information gathered in Technophilia.
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Ikonoklast has made an excellent job, and it would be a shame to keep
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it away from the e-public. It was easy to decide, whether we should
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release this through uXu or not. It's a masterpiece, and a useful
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compilation of a wide area of interesting topics. Enjoy!
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-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Technophilia
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by Ikonoklast
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original artwork by Snow Man
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Welcome to the Internet version of Technophilia. Originally,
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this text was supposed to be an entire book, complete with
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photos, illustrations, and artwork. Also, there was much more
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original writing in the previous version than in this one. It
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*would* have been published around this time, but the publishers
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felt that Technophilia would have a short shelf life (or they
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would have to publish an update), so they decided to can it.
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But, thanks to the benevolent uXu, Technophilia has a chance to
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live on! This text is very similar to the original except that I
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cut out a lot of the writing and decided to sell that to
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magazines. Obviously, there is no artwork in the Internet version
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either. (But if you are interested in seeing it, or buying cool
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cyberpunk t-shirts, contact Snow Man at
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cl258@cleveland.freenet.edu).
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Technophilia is divided into sections, each one focusing on
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focusing on a subculture or phenomenon devoted in some way to
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the advancement of technology, love of computers, or an acute
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sense of neophilia.
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I hope you enjoy reading Technophilia, and get some use out of
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it. If so, my time has not been wasted! Please feel free to
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contact me at dk768@cleveland.freenet.edu if you have any
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comments or questions......
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Special Thanks to:
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The Chief and uXu
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Danse Macabre
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Kelly Green and Alpha Odysseys
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Wired Magazine
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Paco Xander Nathan
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Elizabeth Donnelly
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Jon Lebkowsky
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Graham Mann
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Kevin Gunn
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Len Peralta
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and anyone else who sent me stuff for review......!!!
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Ikonoklast
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----------------------------------------------------------------
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Technophilia table of contents
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I. Intro
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II. Computer Underground
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III. Cyberpunk part 1 (cyberpunk definition)
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IV. Cyberpunk part 2 (list of magazines, catalogs, etc)
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V. Cyberpunk part 3 (list of mind machines, smart drugs,e tc)
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VI. Cyberpunk part 4 (list of books)
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VII. Cyberart (music, visuals)
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VIII. Cyberpunk literature
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IX. Raves
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X. Technology (virtual reality, AI, etc)
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----------------------------------------------------------------
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The Computer Underground
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------------------------------
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Structure of the CU
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-------------------
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Pirates
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-------
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Software pirates are the most common of the denizens of the
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computer underground. Almost everyone who has a computer has, at
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one time or another copied a program for his own use. But that
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alone does not make one a pirate.
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Pirates copy software as a hobby, even software they do not
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need or will ever use. Just the thrill of owning it is good
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enough for the pirate.
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Pirates tend to be secretive and most pirate boards can be
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accessed by invitation only. Pirate BBSes often have giveaway
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names, like Pirate's Cove or Treasure Chest. Most require high
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speed modems 14.4K+ for the fast transfer of warez (software).
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There are also "wannabe" pirates, the warez kidz. They call
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up pirate and non-pirate bbses asking for software, but they
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never upload any.
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In the upper levels of pirate-dom exists the "crackers" (not
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to be confused with evil hackers). Software crackers break the
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protection scheme of software and then distribute them to the
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lower pirates.
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Pirating software is in danger of becoming obsolete with new
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protection schemes such as hardware plugs that connect to the
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serial ports and companies beginning to ship products on CD-ROMs.
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Hackers
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Once, being a hacker meant you were a professional at
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getting a computer to do something amazing: whether it is to
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perform a specific task or gain access to it. Nowadays, a hacker
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is considered to be one of two things. The first version, the
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one newspapers, television, and magazines want you to think, is a
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criminal who wants to destroy or steal computer data. The other
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version is anyone who disregards artificial boundaries, explores
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systems, and believes that information should be free.
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Hackers hate artificial boundaries placed for the purpose to
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deter exploration. They have a yearning for arcane and forbidden
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knowledge.
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This is distinctly different from a criminal - call them
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what you will - crackers, dark side hackers : the ones that hack
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for money, revenge, or personal gain. Although this is the
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description the media prefers, these types are very, very rare in
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the computer underground.
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Phreaks
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-------
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Phreaks can be considered the oldest members of the computer
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underground: they've been around in one form or another since
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the 1960's. Phreaks don't see themselves as swindlers or
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defrauders - they fancy themselves "explorers."
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The phreak's area of expertise is the phone system. Hidden
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within the vast cables, switching offices, and satellites of the
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telephone companies are hundreds of thousands of untapped
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secrets: loops, call-backs, codes, private branch exchanges, etc.
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The phone company offers a huge area to explore - and virtually
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none of it tangible.
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Phreakdom has had one major setback since it began: as the
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phone company's switching systems became more modern and
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computerized (such as the #5 Electronic Switching Station), the
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distinction between phreaks and hackers blurred. Many phreaks
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who knew nothing about computers had to start learning them.
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And, it was easier to get caught by the phone company, who now
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had the power to monitor their lines.
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A watered-down phreak is known as a codez kid. They are
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wannabe phreaks or criminals who trade in free long-distance
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access codes.
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Phreaks are a dying breed. Many are frightened by the
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growing complexity of the phone system and the high risks of
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being caught.
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Virus Writers
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-------------
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Virus writers are the smallest strata of the computer
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underground and some of the most technically proficient.
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Usually, they are also the most malevolent: some of their
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products are purposefully destructive. This is truly sad because
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their abilities could be used for studying artificial life
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viruses.
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Rodents/weasels/l0zers
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----------------------
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The scum of the computer underground. These are usually
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teenage kids who recently received a computer with a modem and
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want to do all sorts of illegal, harmful stuff. Some of them
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eventually grow up, but most remain a detriment to the entire CU
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community.
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Techniques of the Computer Underground
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--------------------------------------
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Boxing
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------
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Boxing is a technique used mainly by phreaks that employs an
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electronic device (most are shaped like a box) that reproduces
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special tones recognizable by phone equipment. By using these
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tones, the phreak can operate phone equipment from a remote site
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like an operator. Boxing was once very popular among college
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students who could call home for free.
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* red - this box produces the same tones that a coin makes
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when dropped into a payphone. By playing the tones into the
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mouthpiece, the phreak tricks the phone into thinking that coins
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are being deposited. Voila! Free long distance!
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* black - black boxes are named so because of the first one
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found. When a black box is attached to a telephone line, it
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provides toll-free calling placed to that line. It appears to
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the phone company that no one ever picks up the phone, thus never
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initiating billing the call.
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* blue - Blue boxes are able to replicate the exact
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frequencies the phone company used for their long distance
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billing equipment and standard touch-tone keys (including some
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keys that aren't on a standard phone). This feature made them
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popular with those who wished to make free calls or explore the
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phone system free of charge. Blue boxes used to be the most
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widely used of all boxes, but nowadays are among the most
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uncommon.
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* purple - when attached to a phone line, the purple box
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makes all calls made out from that location seem to be local
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calls.
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* rainbow - named so because it combines almost all the
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functions of other boxes, plus is usable worldwide. The rainbow
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box is the phreaks dream come true. Once legendary, a kit for
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building a rainbow box is now available from Hack-Tic magazine
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(for a cool $250).
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* beige - the beige box is a telephone lineman's handset
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with alligator clips that allows for tapping into the phone and
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listening in.
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Password grabbing (and cracking)
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--------------------------------
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Any technique used to steal a password from an authorized
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user.
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Popular tactics include:
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* writing or running a program that emulates a legitimate
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login screen. After the target types in his password, he get a
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typical "user authorization failure" message. The program stores
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the login name and the password. Having done this, the program
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terminates itself and dumps the user to the real login screen.
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* Running a program that guesses common passwords, or
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matches encrypted password data to a dictionary of common
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passwords.
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* Guessing personal information based on the knowledge of
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that person.
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* Looking over the shoulder (!).
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Social engineering
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------------------
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By sounding authoritative or knowledgeable, or by
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intimidating a target, a hacker can convince many people he
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should be privy to guarded information. Likewise, being pleasant
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and helpful can result in passwords, phone-numbers, or a quick
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escape from the hands of authority. After all, a chain is only as
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strong as it's weakest link.
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Reading telecom and computer manuals is one way to increase
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social engineering skills - if you can talk like a technician,
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you can fool a lot of people.
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trashing - also known as "dumpster diving," trashing is the fine
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art of sifting through the garbage of targeted installations
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(like a Bell Office, department store, business) to find manuals,
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notes, memos and documents.
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Private BBSes
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-------------
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Private BBSes are just like a regular BBS, except that users
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must be invited or undergo an intense process of scrutiny from a
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voting council. Almost all discussion on these boards is focused
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on underground activities. Phone codes, credit card numbers,
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electronic hacker magazines and "philes," plus pirated software
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can be found on some private boards.
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To gain entrance into a private BBS, an applicant usually
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must fill out a questionnaire filled with technical terms (to see
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if he or she "knows his stuff"), plus provide a brief history of
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previous activities, hacks, etc. The applicants are judged for
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their suitability by the sysop and sometimes a board of electors.
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Private BBSes tend to be clique-ish and suspicious of
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applicants. They are inclined to believe in the heuristic -
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"Every third member of the computer underground is probably a fed
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or an informant."
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Scanning
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--------
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In the computer underground, scanning can mean two things:
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* Having a modem "war dial" a certain range of numbers
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sequentially (such as 221-0000 to 221-9999) to find modem
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dial-ups or long distance access code numbers.
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* Listening to certain frequencies on an ordinary police
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scanner to learn information. Listening to cellular or cordless
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phone frequencies, for instance, often leads to interesting
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information.
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Underground publications
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------------------------
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Underground publications include philes and zines.
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Philes are often brief pieces explaining tenets of
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phreaking, hacking, schematics for building boxes, bomb recipes,
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or revenge tactics. Philes tend to be written by anarchists or
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people with extreme anti-social habits.
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Underground zines are usually nothing more than a number of
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philes published under one banner, but are a bit more technical
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and practical. Most zines contain bust information or news of
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crackdowns.
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Handles
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-------
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No one in the underground likes to use his real name, so
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they adopt a pseudonym, or handle.
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Handles seem to fall into categories: Science
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Fiction/Fantasy (like Atreides, Black Knight, Gandalf), Technical
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(C.H.Mainframe, Doc Digital), Anti-Social (The Vandal, Trouble),
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and Comical (DrunkFux, Whiz Bang). Heavy metal music and occult
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themes are also popular inspirations for handles.
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Its considered tacky to steal a handle, especially a well
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known one, or to have multiple handles at the same time.
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People with the same handles often are referred to by their
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area code (Executioner 212 and Executioner 312).
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Credit card fraud
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-----------------
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Stealing credit card numbers for the purpose of charging
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desired merchandise, most likely delivered to a maildrop. Credit
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card vandals get numbers from a variety of places - carbons from
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department store trash, from underground BBSes, from listening in
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on phone lines, or outright stealing the cards.
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Credit card fraud was once popular among the computer
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underground, but is now avoided and looked down on. Users who
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post credit card numbers on bulletin boards are usually kicked
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off the BBS, since sysops run the risk of getting arrested.
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Fed
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---
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derogatory term that is used by hackers to describe anyone who
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is either a federal agent (SS or FBI), police office, or a
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security professional. Often it can mean anyone who is
|
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outspokenly against hackers. "Fed Boards" or sting boards are
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BBSes disguised as private boards, but in reality are set up to
|
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catch or monitor hackers.
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Trends
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------
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as technology changes and advances forward, hacking, pirating,
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and phreaking will follow. The blue boxes and simple diskcopy
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will fall by the wayside as security methods "catch up."
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Hacking, too, will catch up with some certain technologies.
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Here's some topics that are currently hot:
|
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* mag strip hacking - everyone has a few cards with these
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ferromagnetic strips on them - ATM cards, credit cards, and photo
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IDs. It is possible to rig a machine that can read and decode
|
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(and possibly write) the hidden messages encoded on them. If the
|
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US Government is ever stupid enough to issue "smart cards,"
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knowledge of this field will come in handy.
|
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* portable hacking - it hasn't been safe to hack from one's
|
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home for quite awhile, and the cost (and size) of laptops with
|
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internal modems make hacking on the road an appealing alternative
|
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to many.
|
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* digital signatures - personalized digital imprinting
|
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(fingerprints, voice, and handwriting recognition) is becoming
|
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popular in certain levels of the government and large
|
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corporations. It is only a matter of time before this form of ID
|
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descends to the masses.
|
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* cryptography - cryptography is the process of encoding e-
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mail messages or files that can only be opened up by someone who
|
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has the "key." Some crypto programs that are widely available
|
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today are so advanced they are nearly unbreakable. This makes
|
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the government unhappy, because they want to be able to read
|
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anything they wish (in the interest of national security, of
|
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course). The government has proposed a uniform crypto program
|
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where they would hold a universal "key." If this ever is the
|
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situation, God forbid, rest assure that hackers will try to get a
|
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key as well.
|
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* answering machine hacking - almost everyone has an
|
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answering machine these days. And guess what? Most can be
|
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accessed remotely with a certain combination punched into the
|
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telephone keypad. You can listen to messages, or on some models,
|
|
record a new message. It is possible to program an ordinary
|
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Radio Shack tone dialer to try every two digit combination.
|
|
* hardware pirating - the software companies have decided
|
|
that diskcopying has gotten out of hand. Past protection schemes
|
|
have proved to be ineffective. Now there is a hardware
|
|
protection craze that the software companies are picking up on:
|
|
instead of writing protection schemes into the software, the
|
|
software is shipped with special devices that fit into serial
|
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ports. The software cannot run unless it has one of the special
|
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devices.
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Computer Underground Magazines
|
|
------------------------------------
|
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|
|
Iron Feather Journal
|
|
POB 1905
|
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Boulder CO
|
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80306-1905
|
|
Iron Feather Journal is filled with bizarre graphics and
|
|
tons of techno-thug info. IFJ was started back in the days of
|
|
Commodore 64 hacking, but now covers the world of Internet and
|
|
other electronic things. Lists of FTP sites, Usenet groups, and
|
|
tech schematics (including how to build your own pirate
|
|
television station), are interspersed with rambling writings and
|
|
clippings from old computer catalogs. The High Tech Contact area
|
|
is of great value: it has listings of free catalogs, free
|
|
newsletters, and listings of BBSes. Each issue is $2.50-3.00.
|
|
The editor, Stevyn, also runs a scion of IFJ: Phunshit
|
|
Catalog, which sells old issues of IFJ, hacking and cyberpunk
|
|
books and magazines, a clippings from Usenet groups.
|
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2600
|
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POB 752
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Middle Island NY
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11953
|
|
Absolutely the best hard copy hacker magazine. Articles
|
|
range from phone company switching system programming to cellular
|
|
hacking to defeating Simplex locks. Editor Emmanuel Goldstein is
|
|
one of those rare editors that uses the freedom of the press to
|
|
the utmost: always a step ahead of those that would like to see
|
|
him jailed.
|
|
2600 also offers a video of Dutch hackers breaking into a
|
|
military computer. Excerpts of this video were shown on
|
|
"journalist" Geraldo Rivera's sensationalist TV show. The video
|
|
is $10.00.
|
|
2600 operates a voice BBS (0700-751-2600 0.15/minute) which
|
|
is open from 11 PM to 7 AM every day.
|
|
2600 holds meetings in many major US cities every first
|
|
Friday of the month. See the current issue for listings.
|
|
Subscriptions (four issues) are $21.00 (US and Canada);
|
|
$30.00 (foreign).
|
|
|
|
|
|
TAP
|
|
POB 20264
|
|
Louisville KY
|
|
40250-0264
|
|
TAP, or the Technical Assistance Program, has been in
|
|
(erratic) publication since 1973. It was originally titled Youth
|
|
International Party Line (YIPL) after it's founders Yippie Abbie
|
|
Hoffman and phone phreak Al Bell. TAP published articles on
|
|
scams, concentrating particularly on phone fraud. TAP stopped
|
|
publishing for a while when then-publisher Thomas Edison's house
|
|
was set on fire and computer stolen. TAP was then resurrected
|
|
several times before it came to rest with Predat0r in 1990.
|
|
Each issue is $2.00, but send a letter before any money -
|
|
issues have come out erratically.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Intertek
|
|
13 Daffodil Lane
|
|
San Carlos CA
|
|
94070
|
|
The journal of Technology and Society. Past issues have
|
|
included articles on virtual communities (MUDs, IRC and such),
|
|
Internet culture, and hacking.
|
|
Subscriptions are $14.00 four issues.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hack-Tic
|
|
PB 22953, 1100 DL
|
|
Amsterdam
|
|
Netherlands
|
|
Hack-Tic is the Dutch equivalent of 2600 Magazine. Mostly
|
|
written in Dutch, HT contains articles on phone phreaking and
|
|
hacking in Europe (in the Netherlands it isn't a crime. Yet.).
|
|
Hack-Tic also sells the Demon Dialer rainbow box kit for
|
|
$250.
|
|
They also sponsor the Galactic Hacker's Party, a worldwide
|
|
gathering of phreaks, cyberpunks, and hackers.
|
|
Each issue of Hack-Tic is $2.50.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chaos Computer Club
|
|
Schwenckestrasse 85
|
|
W-2000 Hamburg 20
|
|
Germany
|
|
The CCC is one of the most notorious hacker gangs in the
|
|
world, and claim responsibility for all sorts of break-ins into
|
|
the US Government's computer systems. One of their supposed
|
|
members was the villain in Cliff Stoll's The Cuckoo's Egg.
|
|
They sell their secrets in Die Hacker Bibel Volumes 1, 2,
|
|
and 3, and Das Chaos Computer Buch, plus other software programs.
|
|
Catalog is free, but it is written in German, so good luck.
|
|
Associating with these folks will probably land you on a
|
|
government watch list.
|
|
Chaos Computer Club has two Internet archives:
|
|
ftp.eff.org pub/cud/ccc
|
|
ftp.titania.mathematik.uni-ulm.de /info/CCC
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forbidden Knowledge
|
|
c/o Darren Smith
|
|
Box 770813
|
|
Lakewood OH
|
|
44107
|
|
Title says it all. Scams, frauds, and technical
|
|
information.
|
|
$18.00 for a year's subscription.
|
|
|
|
|
|
LOD Communications
|
|
603 W.13 #1A-278
|
|
Austin TX
|
|
78701
|
|
lodcom@mindvox.phantom.com
|
|
Sells the archives of "golden age of hacking" message boards
|
|
- boards like OSUNY, Plovernet, 8BBS, Black Ice Private, and the
|
|
Phoenix Project. Write for prices; available in Mac/IBM/Amiga
|
|
formats.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cyberpunk System
|
|
POB 771072
|
|
Wichita KS
|
|
67277-1072
|
|
Some of the users of this board decided it would be funny to
|
|
go out to their local AT&T facility and fly the Jolly Roger from
|
|
the flag pole, hinting at the true nature of AT&T.
|
|
They sell poster of their deed (11"X17") for $7.00 and t-
|
|
shirts for $20.00. They also sell full size pirate flags for
|
|
$20.00. There is a $3.00 postage and handling charge per item.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Electronic Zines/Publications/Newsletters
|
|
-----------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Activist Times, Inc
|
|
gzero@tronsbox.xei.com
|
|
PO Box 2501
|
|
Bloomfield NJ
|
|
07003
|
|
Hacking, political viewpoints, anarchy, news. ATI is a lot
|
|
smaller than most CU zines, but worth subscribing to.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Phrack
|
|
listserv@stormking.com
|
|
Phrack is the undisputed king of the electronic hacker
|
|
magazines. Each huge issue (some are over 720K!) has detailed
|
|
technical information on selected computer systems or phone
|
|
equipment, a question and answer letters section, and articles on
|
|
freedom and privacy in cyberspace. Phrack also has the Pro-Phile
|
|
-an in-depth look at some of the most notorious hackers, and
|
|
Phrack World News, a collection of newsclippings dealing with the
|
|
computer underground.
|
|
Phrack is just to good to pass up - get it while it (and the
|
|
editor and writers!) is still free.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Phantasy
|
|
iirg@world.std.com
|
|
Phantasy is the journal of the International Information
|
|
Retrieval Guild, a hacking group with a few pirate ties. Similar
|
|
to Phrack in content, but smaller.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Digital Free Press
|
|
dfp-req%underg@uunet.uu.net
|
|
Irregularly published underground magazine.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Informatik
|
|
inform@doc.cc.utexas.edu
|
|
Another superb hacker magazine. Informatik is very similar
|
|
to Phrack, but with different information.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Telecom Digest
|
|
telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu
|
|
Daily digest covering all facets of the telecommunications
|
|
industry, including breaking news and future plans of telecom
|
|
companies. Highly recommended, but volume can be high -
|
|
sometimes the digest generates two to three issues a day.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Security Digest
|
|
security-request@aim.rutgers.edu
|
|
All topics of computer security are discussed on this list.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Telecom Privacy Digest
|
|
telecom-priv-request@pica.army.mil
|
|
Digest devoted to privacy issues involving
|
|
telecommunications (particularly CallerID, and similar services).
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ethics-L
|
|
listserv@marist.edu
|
|
Ethics-L is a forum for the ethical use of computers,
|
|
especially in an open environment such as a university.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Computer Underground Digest
|
|
tk0jut2@niu.bitnet
|
|
The Computer Underground Digest, or CuD as it is called by
|
|
its readers, is a weekly electronic news journal. It's
|
|
beginnings stem back to early 1990, when Telecom Digest was
|
|
inundated with posts about the recent Knight Lightning and
|
|
Terminus indictments. Jim Thomas, a professor of sociology and
|
|
criminology at Northern Illinois University, and Gordon Meyer,
|
|
author of "The Social Organization of the Computer Underground,"
|
|
collected the excess posts and published them under the banner of
|
|
CuD.
|
|
The goal of CuD, according to its founders, is to provide a
|
|
forum for discussion and debate of the computer
|
|
telecommunications culture, with special emphasis on alternative
|
|
groups that exist outside the conventional computer network
|
|
community.
|
|
CuD publishes:
|
|
* Reasoned and thoughtful debates about economic, ethical,
|
|
legal, and other issues related to the computer underground.
|
|
* Verbatim printed newspaper or magazine articles
|
|
containing relevant stories.
|
|
* Public domain legal documents including affidavits,
|
|
indictments, and court records that pertain to the computer
|
|
underground.
|
|
* General discussion of news, problems, and other issues
|
|
that contributors feel should be aired.
|
|
* Unpublished academic pieces or research results.
|
|
* Book reviews that address the social implications of
|
|
computer technology
|
|
* Announcements for meetings, conferences, etc.
|
|
(from the Computer Underground Digest FAQ).
|
|
|
|
|
|
EFFector Online
|
|
effnews-request@eff.org
|
|
EFF news and recent trials, information, and such.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Virus-L Digest
|
|
kruw@cert.sei.cmu.edu
|
|
Recent virus reports, analyzation of source code, critiques
|
|
of anti-virus software.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Risks Forum
|
|
risks-request@csl.sri.com
|
|
Funded by SRI (see below), Risks Forum discusses all aspects
|
|
of public access and open-system computing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Worldview/Der Weltanschauung
|
|
dfox@wixer.cactus.org
|
|
News, tips and stories of the computer underground, telecom,
|
|
and other information systems.
|
|
|
|
|
|
United Phreakers' Inc.
|
|
ftp.eff.org /pub/cud/upi
|
|
Mostly a phreaker's rag, with info on PBXs, telecom
|
|
services, telecom lingo, underground newsline, and bust news.
|
|
ccapuc@caticsuf.csufresno.edu
|
|
CuD ripoff with different information. Includes CPSR
|
|
releases.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Usenet
|
|
------
|
|
alt.hackers
|
|
Not crackers, but people who like to do unconventional
|
|
things with their computers. The real hackers.
|
|
alt.hackers.malicious
|
|
People who like to destroy other people's information.
|
|
comp.society.cu-digest
|
|
Usenet distribution point for Computer Underground Digest.
|
|
misc.security
|
|
All sorts of security topics: computers, electronic locks,
|
|
locksmithing, and so forth.
|
|
comp.org.eff.talk
|
|
Discussion of EFF and projects.
|
|
alt.comp.acad-freedom
|
|
Discussion of freedom of academic computing.
|
|
alt.dcom.telecom
|
|
Telecommunications talk. Pretty technical.
|
|
alt.dcom.isdn
|
|
ISDN services and possibilities are the talk here.
|
|
alt.radio.scanner
|
|
Newsgroup for scanner enthusiasts. Unconventional/illegal
|
|
frequencies are sometimes posted here.
|
|
comp.risks
|
|
Similar to Risks Forum.
|
|
alt.society.ati
|
|
The Usenet distribution point for Activist Times
|
|
Incorporated.
|
|
comp.security.misc
|
|
Anti-piracy tactics, bugs and holes in software.
|
|
|
|
|
|
FTP Sites
|
|
---------
|
|
ftp.eff.org
|
|
Does this site have everything or what? Contains state
|
|
computer crime laws, Computer Underground Digest archives, tons
|
|
of hacker magazines, EFF news and announcements, guides to the
|
|
Internet, and a lot more.
|
|
cert.sei.cmu.edu
|
|
Archives of the computer emergency response team.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Underground Writers
|
|
-------------------------
|
|
|
|
Cult of the Dead Cow
|
|
PO Box 53011
|
|
Lubbock TX
|
|
79453
|
|
The oldest underground writer's group still in existence and
|
|
is masterminded by Swamp Ratte. Already has over 250 files in
|
|
its archives ranging from short fiction, poetry, tips on evading
|
|
the law, spreading chaos in school and work, pyrotechnics, and
|
|
other pastimes of adolescent males.
|
|
The cDc files are available from zero.cypher.com /pub. If
|
|
you don't have an Internet access, Swamp Ratte sells all the
|
|
files on one disk (specify DOS or Apple) for $3.00. He also
|
|
sells cDc stickers: a dozen for $0.50 and a SASE.
|
|
cDc is loosely affiliated with DrunkFux's Freeside Orbital
|
|
Data Network (11504 Hughes Road #124, Houston TX, 77089). DfX is
|
|
the promoter of HoHoCon, a Yuletide gathering of the world's
|
|
eleet hackers. He sells videos and t-shirts of past HoHoCons,
|
|
and has information about upcoming ones.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Underground eXperts United
|
|
PO Box 5
|
|
S-79023
|
|
Svardsjo
|
|
Sweden
|
|
An international underground writer's group headed by
|
|
Sweden's premier writer/hacker The Chief. Fun files on homemade
|
|
weapons, projects for the bored anarchist, how to shrink a head,
|
|
and a list of Interpol's top ten most wanted. Not all uXu's
|
|
files are fun and destruction, though - there is some good
|
|
fiction, like The Chief's own Castle Chronicles.
|
|
FTP site is lysator.liu.se. uXu is taking submissions;
|
|
write to chief@lysator.liu.se for information/submissions.
|
|
|
|
|
|
IIRG
|
|
862 Farmington Ave
|
|
Suite 306
|
|
Bristol CT
|
|
06010
|
|
IIRG is responsible for Phantasy magazine and other hacking
|
|
publications.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bulletin Boards
|
|
---------------------
|
|
|
|
Demon Roach Underground 806.794.4862
|
|
DMR has been online since 1985, and is still one of the
|
|
leading boards for CU activity. DMR is also the World
|
|
Headquarters of the Cult of the Dead Cow.
|
|
Login: Thrash. New User Password: Fear.
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Underground Subway 604.590.1147
|
|
At the other end of this number is a BBS that is nothin more
|
|
than an online game called Hacker. Hacker is a puzzle disguised
|
|
as a computer network, where hidden clues pop up in posts,
|
|
private mail, parallel boards, help files, and underground zines.
|
|
The player must solve the puzzle by successfully "hacking" the
|
|
system without getting caught.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Firezone 203.931.0003
|
|
Storehouse of warez and electronic zines.
|
|
|
|
Dark Shadows 203.628.9660
|
|
IIRG distribution site.
|
|
|
|
The Vampire Connection 203.269.8813
|
|
Large computer underground crowd frequent this board.
|
|
|
|
The Cyberspace Institute 512.469.0447
|
|
|
|
Cyberpunk System 316.794.3559
|
|
|
|
Temple of the Screaming Electron 510.935.5845
|
|
Gigantic archives of computer underground and hacking
|
|
material.
|
|
|
|
Blitzkrieg 502.499.8933
|
|
Home of TAP magazine.
|
|
|
|
Ripco 312.528.5020
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Computer Underground Books
|
|
--------------------------------
|
|
|
|
The Hacker Crackdown by Bruce Sterling
|
|
The Hacker Crackdown is cyberpunk author Bruce Sterling's
|
|
first foray into non-fiction writing. Crackdown is an account
|
|
of the government crackdown on the computer underground in the
|
|
early 1990's. Includes a brief history of the telephone
|
|
industry, events that led up to "Operation Sundevil," the
|
|
Phrack/Bellsouth E911 fiasco, the trials that followed, and the
|
|
formation of the Electronic Frontier Foundation. Highly
|
|
recommended.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cyberpunk by Katie Hafner and John Markoff
|
|
Three stories written by news reporters about computer
|
|
hackers.
|
|
The first story is about Kevin Mitnick and friends'
|
|
exploits.
|
|
The authors' dislike of Mitnick is obvious, describing in detail
|
|
Mitnick's character flaws, and makes personal digs at him
|
|
whenever possible.
|
|
The next story is about Pengo, the German hacker who offered
|
|
to sell his (and his friends') talents to the Russians.
|
|
Finally, the last chapter tells the story of Robert T.
|
|
Morris, author of the Internet Worm.
|
|
Although somewhat biased, Cyberpunk!, like The Cuckoo's Egg,
|
|
is a must-read for those interested in hackers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Official Phreaker's Manual
|
|
This is the Bible of Phreakdom; includes terms and
|
|
techniques (most outdated by now, but it gets the methods and
|
|
possibilities across quite well). There's a bit of history
|
|
thrown in - it contains the 1971 Esquire article about Capn
|
|
Crunch and his blue boxes. This manual brings back a lot of
|
|
nostalgia, but I wouldn't use the tactics inside.
|
|
Available free on ftp.eff.org /pub/cud/misc.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hackers by Stephen Levy
|
|
Hackers is the story of the true hackers - the geniuses
|
|
responsible for the personal computer revolution.
|
|
The beginning of Hackers is about the first generation -
|
|
students at MIT who formed a loose alliance and wrote amazingly
|
|
clever programs on the facility's mainframes and minicomputers.
|
|
The first generation were the ones that introduced the extremely
|
|
anti-bureaucratic "Hacker Ethic" - the idea that computer should
|
|
always be accessible, that artificial boundaries (including
|
|
locked doors and closed buildings) should be overcome, and that
|
|
"authority" should be mistrusted.
|
|
The second part is devoted to the second generation. These
|
|
people were responsible for the birth of the personal computer,
|
|
including Jobs and Wozniak, the Altair, and the Homebrew Computer
|
|
Club. The second wave of hackers established the Do It Yourself
|
|
attitude, and for the most part began the Computer Revolution.
|
|
The last part of the book is about the third generation of
|
|
hackers. These were the software writers and programming
|
|
geniuses, and the WarGames-era dark side hackers. The third
|
|
generation was responsible for turning the PC from a hobbyist's
|
|
toy to a household appliance.
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Anarchist's Guide to the BBS by Keith Wade
|
|
Describes in detail modems, protocols, and everything you
|
|
need to start up your own anarchy BBS. Explains terms and
|
|
techniques, excellent for beginners to the modem world.
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Hacker's Dictionary by Guy Steel, Jr
|
|
Terms and words used by programmers and true hackers. Media
|
|
and security "experts" will be disappointed in this book, but
|
|
those who find computers and computer history will find it
|
|
entertaining.
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Cuckoo's Egg by Cliff Stoll
|
|
Cliff Stoll, an astrophysicist turned computer manager at
|
|
Lawrence Berkeley Lab, narrates the true story of how he traced a
|
|
75 cent accounting error to a hacker who was breaking into the
|
|
LBL system. The situation escalates as the hacker travels
|
|
through the Internet, breaking into sensitive American computers
|
|
and stealing military and R&D information to sell to the Russian.
|
|
Stoll tracks the hacker through Berkeley's system, computer
|
|
networks throughout the country, and the globe-spanning, tangled
|
|
web of the phone networks.
|
|
This is one of the best books of high tech espionage, and a
|
|
decent primer on Internet jargon. Highly recommended.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Computer Viruses: A High Tech Disease by Ralf Burger
|
|
Contains information on how viruses work and how they
|
|
reproduce themselves.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Spectacular Computer Crimes by Buck Bloombecker
|
|
Mr. Bloombecker is the director for the National Center for
|
|
Computer Crime Data, so you already know what he thinks about
|
|
hackers. Spectacular Computer Crimes is a somewhat slanted
|
|
collection of true stories on hackers, thieves, and assorted
|
|
techno-troublemakers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Approaching Zero by Paul Mungo and Bryan Clough
|
|
Yet another book on hackers by a journalist.
|
|
Narrative chronicles of the computer underground. Includes
|
|
the deeds and antics of several legendary hackers, including
|
|
Cap'n Crunch, Captain Zap, Fry Guy, Pengo, and virus writer Dark
|
|
Avenger.
|
|
A good if somewhat basic overview of the alternative
|
|
computer culture.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Little Black Book of Computer Viruses
|
|
American Eagle Publications, Inc
|
|
POB 41401
|
|
Tucson AZ
|
|
85717
|
|
Source code and description of popular viruses. For volume
|
|
two, the author held a virus-writing contest, which was the
|
|
subject of much controversy on the Internet.
|
|
American Eagle also publishes Computer Virus Developments
|
|
Quarterly ($95 for a subscription).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Telephone Books
|
|
---------------------
|
|
|
|
Introduction to Telephones and Telephone Systems by Michael Noll
|
|
Very basic book on telephony; good for the beginner who
|
|
wants to learn a few things about the telephone network.
|
|
|
|
Industry Basics: An Introduction to the History, Structure, and
|
|
Technology of the Telecommunications Industry by The North
|
|
American Telecommunications Association
|
|
Large book covering all facets and details of the telephone
|
|
industry.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Catalogs and Sources
|
|
--------------------------
|
|
|
|
Telecom Library Catalog
|
|
12 West 21 Street
|
|
New York NY
|
|
10010
|
|
1-800-LIBRARY
|
|
Basically a telecom book club. Great source for inexpensive
|
|
technical manuals and telecom primers. Free catalog.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Telephone International
|
|
POB 3589
|
|
Crossville TN
|
|
38557-3589
|
|
Telephone International is a marketplace for telecom
|
|
equipment in a newspaper-like format. Buy your own switching
|
|
equipment, fiber optics and PBXes!
|
|
Great classified section too, with announcements of upcoming
|
|
events, baby Bell office surplus sales, and conventions.
|
|
Subscriptions are $24.00 (US), $40 (Canada and Mexico).
|
|
|
|
|
|
Teleworld Telecommunicatieshops
|
|
Kinkerstraat 66-68-70
|
|
1052 D2 Amsterdam
|
|
Netherlands
|
|
Free catalog of telecom equipment, including some that you
|
|
can't buy in the United States.
|
|
|
|
|
|
AEC Equipment
|
|
POB 3609
|
|
Crossville TN
|
|
38557-3609
|
|
Huge telephone equipment catalog. If you know what you are
|
|
looking for, you might find something useful.
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Onion Press
|
|
6910 W.Brown Deer Rd
|
|
Suite 194
|
|
Milwaukee WI
|
|
53223
|
|
Sells hardcopies of the Legion of Doom Technical Journals,
|
|
Phrack, and Computer Underground Digest and back issues of TAP
|
|
(the whole set for $50).
|
|
Phrack vol.1 (issues 1-9) - $20.00; Vol.2 (#10-24) - $50;
|
|
Vol.3 (25-36) - $50; LOD Tech Journals - $20 for all four.
|
|
Contact them for full list and prices.
|
|
I don't know if this guy knows that the above stuff (with
|
|
the exception of TAP) is all for FREE on the Internet, or that
|
|
what he is doing may be a lawsuit waiting to happen. But if you
|
|
haven't an Internet account and you want some good reading, this
|
|
may be the place to go.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Renegade Graphix
|
|
POB 963
|
|
Kalamazoo MI
|
|
49005
|
|
Super scary, blasphemous, and vulgar t-shirts and hats.
|
|
They also design t-shirts for computer underground groups.
|
|
Shirts are $10.00, and $7.00.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sweet Pea Communications
|
|
POB 912
|
|
Topanga CA
|
|
90290
|
|
Sweet Pea publishes the complete video library of the
|
|
Computer, Freedom and Privacy congresses. CFP I includes topics
|
|
such as:
|
|
* The Constitution in the Information Age
|
|
* Trends in Computers and Networks
|
|
* Network environments of the future
|
|
* Law enforcement and civil liberties
|
|
* Electronic speech, press, and assembly
|
|
* Access to government information
|
|
The CFP II conference includes topics such as:
|
|
* Private collection of personal information
|
|
* Genetic data banks
|
|
* Government control of cryptography
|
|
* Employer surveillance
|
|
* Sale of government information
|
|
* Bruce Sterling: Speaking for the Unspeakable
|
|
CFP I (15 tapes) is $480, CFP II (12 tapes) is $385. Both
|
|
sets together are $695, and highlights from both (1 tape) is
|
|
$89.95. Write for information on more recent CFPs.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bellcore
|
|
1-800-521-CORE
|
|
Order Bellcore's free document catalog, a huge publication
|
|
of extremely confusing documents written by Bellcore, the Phone
|
|
Company's research lab. Installments to the catalog arrive
|
|
frequently.
|
|
Incidentally, the 911 document that was the center of the
|
|
Craig Neidorf case, which was claimed by the phone company to be
|
|
worth $79,000 can be purchased from the catalog (it was available
|
|
way before the trial even began). It's thirteen bucks. Go
|
|
figure.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consumertronics
|
|
2011 Crescent Dr.
|
|
PO Drawer 537
|
|
Alamogordo NM
|
|
88310
|
|
Books and plans on phreaking, hacking, cable descrambling,
|
|
defeating security, viruses, guerilla radio, and energy theft.
|
|
Sells more than books, too, including voice disguisers, long
|
|
range eavesdroppers, viruses on disk, and blue, red, and purple
|
|
boxes. They even have the Automated Tempest Module, an ATM theft
|
|
device (as seen in Terminator 2) for $995.
|
|
This $2.00 catalog is a must for any high tech pirate.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Teleconnect
|
|
1265 Industrial Highway
|
|
Southampton PA
|
|
18966
|
|
A tell-all publication of the telecom industry. Teleconnect
|
|
reviews products and services, and they have a reputation as
|
|
being truthful, which hasn't earned them many friends in the
|
|
telcos.
|
|
18 issues is $21.30 and includes a t-shirt (displaying a
|
|
Russian coin phone) and a huge telecom dictionary.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The "Feds"
|
|
----------------
|
|
|
|
Someone has to watch the networks and computer systems in
|
|
case of trouble. Until lately, the responsibility of insuring
|
|
safety on systems was up to the provider of the system - the
|
|
government would have nothing to do with it. That is until
|
|
computers became so prevalent (especially in large financial
|
|
institutions, military installations, and national databanks)
|
|
that it was necessary to have some sort of policing. The brunt
|
|
of this police work seems to have fallen on the Secret Service,
|
|
perhaps because of their ties with the Federal Reserve.
|
|
In any case, security people, whether corporate, private, or
|
|
government, are generally nice folks. It's their job, and we
|
|
should all feel somewhat indebted to them for keeping the
|
|
networks and systems trouble free.
|
|
Unfortunately, some can be overzealous and zero in on
|
|
mischievous teenagers rather than real criminals. Others break
|
|
the fine line between a breach of privacy and "national
|
|
interest." Such was the case of the Steve Jackson Games raid.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Federal Investigations and Computer Security Professionals
|
|
----------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Software Security International
|
|
2020 Pennsylvania Ave NW
|
|
Suite 772
|
|
Washington DC 20006-1846
|
|
SSI is a group that advocates the elimination of software
|
|
pirating. Get them to spend money on you - write for more free
|
|
information.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Computer Security Institute
|
|
600 Harrison Street
|
|
San Francisco CA
|
|
94107
|
|
The Computer Security Institute was established in 1974,
|
|
making it the oldest international organization for computer
|
|
security professionals. The CSI has some heavy-hitting members,
|
|
including AT&T, Bellcore, Sony, Exxon, and other global
|
|
mega-corps.
|
|
Every member receives the monthly newsletter, Computer
|
|
Security Alert, which is filled with reports, tips, warnings, and
|
|
industry developments.
|
|
Other benefits to members include CSI member's hotline, an
|
|
account on the CSI bbs, and discounts on computer security books.
|
|
Annual membership is quite inexpensive: $127 a year ($167
|
|
outside US).
|
|
|
|
|
|
SRI International
|
|
333 Ravenswood Ave
|
|
Menlo Park CA
|
|
94025
|
|
A non-profit corporation that performs research and
|
|
consulting services to private industry and governments the world
|
|
over. SRI is known worldwide for its expertise in computer and
|
|
information security.
|
|
SRI heads the International Information Integrity Institute
|
|
(I4) which promotes information security as a management
|
|
responsibility.
|
|
As a member of I4, you receive the I4 newsletter, excerpts
|
|
of Risks forum (which SRI operates), forum proceedings, an index
|
|
into SRI Computer Abuse file, plus an Administrator's Guide and
|
|
on-line services.
|
|
|
|
|
|
American Society for Industrial Security
|
|
1655 North Fort Meyer Dr.
|
|
Suite 1200
|
|
Arlington VA
|
|
22209-3198
|
|
ASIS is the world's largest organization of security
|
|
professionals.
|
|
ASIS members are specialists who direct and formulate
|
|
security programs for banks, classified aerospace facilities,
|
|
communications networks, and domestic and foreign government.
|
|
ASIS members are experts at thwarting terrorism, industrial
|
|
espionage, counterfeiting, computer crime, white collar fraud,
|
|
and combating the pirating of classified documents and software.
|
|
Members receive a monthly magazine, Security Management, and
|
|
a bi-monthly newsletter, ASIS Dynamics.
|
|
I'm sure by belonging to this organization you can learn
|
|
lots of tricks....
|
|
Write for more information.
|
|
|
|
|
|
McAfee Associates
|
|
3350 Scott Blvd
|
|
Building 14
|
|
Santa Clara
|
|
95054-3107
|
|
The leading developers of anti-virus software and products,
|
|
McAfee employs a global network of virus researchers that scour
|
|
the underground for the latest trends and developments in harmful
|
|
computer viruses.
|
|
McAfee sells a variety of excellent, efficient products,
|
|
including:
|
|
Viruscan, which can detect 99.6% of viruses on a DOS based
|
|
computer, including stealth viruses and ones hidden in compressed
|
|
files. Viruscan will overwrite and delete any infected files and
|
|
generate reports of its findings. Additionally, VScan can save
|
|
system information in a hidden file that can be used to restore
|
|
files and areas hit by the virus.
|
|
Clean is a virus removal program that disinfects a system
|
|
from all common viruses and their strains with 98% accuracy.
|
|
VShield is a TSR virus protection program that can check a
|
|
program for a virus before the program is even loaded.
|
|
McAfee also maintains a Virus Emergency Response Center and
|
|
a BBS (408.988.4004) where the latest versions of their programs
|
|
can be downloaded.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility
|
|
POB 717
|
|
Palo Alto CA
|
|
94301
|
|
cpsr@csli.stanford.edu
|
|
CPSR, which was founded in 1981, is a group of technical
|
|
experts who direct public attention to critical choices in
|
|
computer policy making. They advocate responsible use of
|
|
computers and do not fall prey to the
|
|
anti-technology/anti-computer sentiments like other
|
|
organizations. Each project undertaken by CPSR are based on
|
|
these five principles:
|
|
- "We foster and support public discussion of and public
|
|
responsibility for decisions involving the use of computers in
|
|
systems critical to society.
|
|
- We work to dispel popular myths about the infallibility of
|
|
technological systems
|
|
- We challenge the assumption that technology alone can solve
|
|
political and social problems.
|
|
- We critically examine social and technical issues within the
|
|
computer profession, nationally and internationally.
|
|
- We encourage the use of computer technology to improve the
|
|
quality of life."
|
|
(CPSR Brochure, widely available on the Net).
|
|
CPSR presently has 21 chapters in the US. CPSR also holds
|
|
conferences, the most important one being the , where civil
|
|
liberties within the electronic world are a hot topic.
|
|
Members of CPSR receive a quarterly newsletter, discounts on
|
|
books and videos, and discounts to CPSR events. Membership is
|
|
$75 for regular membership; $20 for student and low income.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Computer Law Association
|
|
8303 Arlington Bkvd Suite 210
|
|
Fairfax VA
|
|
22031
|
|
Organization formed for the study of laws pertaining to
|
|
computers, electronic privacy, and computer oriented laws.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Federal Computer Investigations Committee
|
|
c/o US Secret Service Fraud Div. Room 942
|
|
1800 G St, NW
|
|
Washington DC
|
|
20223
|
|
This is the Secret Service, the nice folks responsible for
|
|
the Steve Jackson Games fiasco, the recent 2600 meeting breakups,
|
|
and other hacker crackdowns. How computer security became the
|
|
concern for the agency who is supposed to guard the President is
|
|
anyone's guess.
|
|
If you decide to write to the SS about computer crime or
|
|
hackers, they might be hesitant to reveal anything at first. Be
|
|
persistent, send some Freedom of Information requests, whatever.
|
|
Who knows? They may budge. But then again, don't blame me if
|
|
you get a nocturnal visit from the SS.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Electronic Frontier Foundation
|
|
666 Pennsylvania Ave SE Suite 203
|
|
Washington DC
|
|
20003
|
|
202.544.9237
|
|
eff@eff.org
|
|
"The Electronic Frontier Foundation was founded in July,
|
|
1990, to assure freedom of expression in digital media, with a
|
|
particular emphasis on applying the principles embodied in the
|
|
Constitution and the Bill of Rights to computer-based
|
|
communication.
|
|
From the beginning, EFF was determined to become an
|
|
organized voice for the burgeoning community of nationally and
|
|
internationally networked computer users. We perform the
|
|
multiple roles of guardian, advocate, and innovator, to serve and
|
|
protect the public interest in the information age.
|
|
We have defended civil liberties in court. We have shaped
|
|
the policy debate on emerging communications infrastructure and
|
|
regulation. We have increased awareness both on the Net and
|
|
among those law enforcement officials, policy makers, and
|
|
corporations whose insufficient understanding of the digital
|
|
environment threatened the freedom of Cyberspace. Yet there is
|
|
still much to be done." (From General Information about the
|
|
EFF).
|
|
The EFF was founded in part by Mitch Kapor, inventor of the
|
|
Lotus spreadsheet package. The EFF's most famous case was the
|
|
Phrack/E911/Knight Lightening case, which they won.
|
|
Membership to the EFF is $20.00 for students and low-income
|
|
and $40.00 for regular membership.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Security E-lists
|
|
----------------------
|
|
|
|
Computer Emergency Response Team
|
|
Watchdog team that reports computer viruses, worms, and
|
|
problems on the Internet. Their archive site is cert.org.
|
|
Documents can be found in the /pub directory.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Security Books
|
|
--------------------
|
|
|
|
Computer Viruses, Worms, Data Diddlers, Killer Programs, and
|
|
Other Threats to Your System by John McAfee
|
|
One of the best books on viruses and other trouble programs
|
|
by one of the authorities of the field.
|
|
The book covers the history of viruses, how they work,
|
|
descriptions of the most popular ones, and the risks of viruses
|
|
falling into the wrong hands. Recommended.
|
|
|
|
|
|
International Handbook on Computer Crime by Ulbrich Sieber
|
|
An in-depth look at type of crime that can easily cross
|
|
international borders, which makes extradition for criminals
|
|
difficult. Examines computer crimes and laws throughout the
|
|
world, and the problems of conflicting laws.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Computer Crime by Geoffrey H. Wold and Robert F. Shriver
|
|
Written for financial institutions, this book contains
|
|
computer crime statistics, profiles of typical computer
|
|
criminals, techniques employed by criminals, and checklists of
|
|
security measures for system administrators.
|
|
Technocrimes by August Bequai
|
|
Discusses the vulnerability of an information rich United
|
|
States, a history of computer crime, electronic chip and software
|
|
theft gangs, organized crime's use of computers, intrusions of
|
|
financial systems, and the high-tech police movement.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cyberpunk
|
|
---------------
|
|
|
|
The term "cyberpunk" was coined in 1980 by a science fiction
|
|
writer, Bruce Bethke. He used it as the title of a story he had
|
|
written about a suburban hacker gang. Later, the term was used
|
|
to describe a particular style of science fiction writing,
|
|
specifically the works of John Shirley, Bruce Sterling, and
|
|
William Gibson.
|
|
Also in the early 1980's, a flurry of science fiction movies
|
|
hit the screen: Tron, Wargames, The Road Warrior, and Blade
|
|
Runner. These films, like the stories of the cyberpunk authors,
|
|
weren't just fanciful visions of the future, ala Star Wars or
|
|
Star Trek. These works had a basis in reality - they were more
|
|
or less magnifications of what was already happening around us.
|
|
The early 1980's was also the first major onslaught of the
|
|
home computer industry. Computing power increased and prices
|
|
dropped. Commercials suggested that children would get a "head
|
|
start" if they had their own computers. As a result, thousands
|
|
of people bought computers for their children. Many of these
|
|
computer users, who were mainly suburban white males,
|
|
incidentally, owned modems and communicated on bulletin boards.
|
|
Influenced by WarGames and other films, some of the modemers
|
|
joined mischievous computer gangs - echoing Bethke's original
|
|
intent for cyberpunk.
|
|
As computer crime became more prevalent, the media couldn't
|
|
pass up a perfect term like cyberpunk. It conjured up images of
|
|
high-tech bandits, computer street gangs, or nerds gone bad -
|
|
this made good news. So the hacker community was the next group
|
|
to be labeled "cyberpunk."
|
|
As the hacker counterculture matured, they combined their
|
|
technological abilities, anti-establishment feelings, and their
|
|
newfound sense of identity and created a entirely new subculture
|
|
- the "cyberpunks."
|
|
The cyberpunks communicated on BBSes and the Internet, and
|
|
were fueled on by the early issues of Mondo 2000 and bOING bOING.
|
|
Through a medley of media stunts, a rampant fear of the computer
|
|
underground, and a popularization of new technologies, the media
|
|
has recently brought the cyberpunks into the limelight.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gareth Branwyn (author of the Beyond Cyberpunk! hypercard
|
|
stack) posted the following description of cyberpunks to the
|
|
WELL:
|
|
|
|
A) The future has imploded into the present. There was no
|
|
nuclear Armageddon. There's too much real estate to lose.
|
|
The new battlefield is peoples' minds.
|
|
B) The megacorps are the new governments.
|
|
C) The U.S. is a big bully with lackluster economic power.
|
|
D) The world is splintering into a trillion subcultures and
|
|
designer cults with their own languages, codes, and
|
|
lifestyles.
|
|
E) Computer generated info-domains are the next frontiers.
|
|
F) There is better living through chemistry.
|
|
G) Small groups or individual "console cowboys" can wield
|
|
tremendous power over governments, corporations, etc.
|
|
H) The coalescence of a computer "culture" is expressed in self-
|
|
aware computer music, art, virtual communities, and a
|
|
hacker/street tech subculture. The computer nerd image is
|
|
passe, and people are not ashamed anymore about the role the
|
|
computer has in this subculture. The computer is a cool
|
|
tool, a friend, important human augmentation.
|
|
I) We're becoming cyborgs. Our tech is getting smaller, closer
|
|
to us, and it will soon merge with us.
|
|
J) Some attitudes that seem to be related:
|
|
- Information wants to be free
|
|
- Access to computers and anything which may teach you
|
|
something about how the world works should be unlimited and
|
|
total.
|
|
- Always yield to the hands-on imperative.
|
|
- Mistrust authority.
|
|
- Promote decentralization.
|
|
- Do it yourself.
|
|
- Fight the power.
|
|
- Feed the noise back into the system.
|
|
- Surf the edges.
|
|
|
|
(MONDO 2000: A User's Guide to the New Edge, p.64-5)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cyberpunk: From Subculture to Mainstream
|
|
by McKenzie Wark
|
|
----------------------------------
|
|
|
|
A hip new lingo has infiltrated the mass media.
|
|
"Cyberspace," "hypermedia," and "virtual reality" have become the
|
|
techno buzz words of the 90's. After years of indifference and
|
|
suspicion, the idea that technology can be fun, exciting, and
|
|
sexy has surfaced again.
|
|
Two ideas in particular are now doing the rounds. One is
|
|
that computers are not just for pencil-head types in lab coats
|
|
and grey- suited accountants. Technology can be a tool for the
|
|
imagination, opening up new terrains of images, sounds,
|
|
experiences, and concepts. The second idea has less to do with
|
|
computers than with communications. By linking up all the of the
|
|
computing power languishing on desks and in basements, whole new
|
|
forms of interaction are possible - a communications revolution
|
|
to take beyond the television age.
|
|
The first of these two ideas orbits somewhere around the
|
|
term virtual reality. The second is a vague nebula of
|
|
possibilities sighted off the cyberspace cluster. Both have been
|
|
around for a long time, but have recrystallized in the public's
|
|
imagination. "Hypermedia" is the next phase in marketing this
|
|
dream to the public. The movie Lawnmower Man has cashed in on
|
|
the trend, pulping the whole lot together with some silly old
|
|
Stephen King haunted house cliches. The really interesting stuff
|
|
on both these current trends can be found a little off the
|
|
mainstream. Take a hyperspace bypass back through the cyberpunk
|
|
subculture of the 80's, and you will find the creative source and
|
|
force behind the present multimedia marketing push.
|
|
Cyberpunk is a cute name for a rather motley collection of
|
|
people who thought and wrote and made art about technology over
|
|
the last decade. Some of them were harmless. Some of them were
|
|
mad, bad, and dangerous to know. Like many other prophetic art
|
|
avant- gardes in the past, they saw the future both more clearly
|
|
and more crazily than their contemporaries. Like the romantic
|
|
poets and the decadent artists of the 19th century; like the
|
|
surrealists, futurists, and constructivists of the early 20th
|
|
century, they wanted to change life. So they imagined how it
|
|
could be different, not only from the present, but from how the
|
|
future was officially imagined to be.
|
|
Cyberpunk gathered momentum in 1984 with the publication of
|
|
the first of William Gibson's novels, called Neuromancer. Gibson
|
|
has since published four novels and a collection of stories.
|
|
There are half a dozen of cyberpunk readers on the market, and
|
|
now other writers like Bruce Sterling and Pat Cadigan have
|
|
emerged. There is even a remarkable "overground" cyberpunk
|
|
magazine called Mondo 2000, as well as a host of tiny desktop
|
|
published fanzines. Cyberpunk has gone beyond a subculture and
|
|
is now a full blown marketing category.
|
|
Gibson was an odd sort of person to launch an avant garde
|
|
cultural movement. He wrote pretty pulpy science fiction novels.
|
|
He was a small-town, white-suburban kind of guy. Yet he was able
|
|
to crystallize something that was in the air. He took bleak,
|
|
"no- future" landscape of punk rock and post-apocalyptic movies
|
|
like Blade Runner and Mad Max, and imagined a way to escape from
|
|
the street-level violence these films referred to. The way out
|
|
was cyberspace.
|
|
In Gibson's world, cyberspace is a consensual hallucination
|
|
created within the dense matrix of computer networks. Gibson
|
|
imagines a world where people can directly jack their nervous
|
|
systems into the net, vastly increasing the intimacy of the
|
|
connection between mind and matrix. Cyberspace is the world
|
|
created by the intersection of every "jacked-in" consciousness,
|
|
every database and installation, every form of interconnected
|
|
information circuit, in short, human or inhuman.
|
|
This mythology of cyberspace is interesting for two reasons.
|
|
Firstly, it provides an alternative to the boredom of suburbia
|
|
without having to deal with the danger of the inner-city living.
|
|
Every subculture needs a fantasy place to run away from suburban
|
|
life, be it the rural fantasy of the hippies or the urban fantasy
|
|
of the punk. Cyberspace is a fantasy destination for white,
|
|
middle class suburbanites who realize that rural life is even
|
|
more boring than the suburbs and the cities are becoming far too
|
|
dangerous, The other interesting thing about cyberspace is the
|
|
way it recreates the idea of a community. Every subculture needs
|
|
an image of an outsider's community to cling to, to run to. For
|
|
the cyberpunk, this community doesn't actually have a place. It
|
|
is not a nightclub in New York. It is not a street in London.
|
|
It can be accessed everywhere by modem. Of course, the bulletin
|
|
boards and e-mail systems are a poor imitation of the fully
|
|
wired-up world of cyberspace, but it's the nearest thing on
|
|
earth. Cyberpunk subculture is the first subculture which
|
|
doesn't have a particular place of congregation - it's a suburban
|
|
phenomenon made possible by the networks. There are now hundreds
|
|
of bulletin boards around the world which have a cyberpunk style,
|
|
where young cyberpunks discuss the latest hardware and software.
|
|
In a sense, subcultures are always a product of the media
|
|
technology of the age. The classic subcultures of the 60's and
|
|
70's, from the mods to the punks, were a combination of the
|
|
electric world of rock and roll with a style and a place and an
|
|
ethos and a certain amount of drug abuse. The mods grew out of
|
|
the 50's austerity in Britain. They were the first generation of
|
|
young people to enter mass white-collar employment and acquire a
|
|
disposable income at a young age. So they spent it on clothes
|
|
and music and motor scooters and weekend trips to the seaside.
|
|
They were a mobile community, growing up on television and rock
|
|
and roll. The first great pop music TV show, Ready, Steady, Go!,
|
|
spread mod style from one end of Britain to the other instantly,
|
|
a fashion transformation that without television would have taken
|
|
months or years.
|
|
The punk movements of the late 70's were where the youth
|
|
subcultures launched by the mods finally crash landed. Punk was
|
|
a subculture based on the boredom of unemployment, not the tedium
|
|
of white collar work. It lacked the excitement and innocence of
|
|
the mods, who were absolute beginners in the art of living in a
|
|
consumerist, media saturated world. Punk was a subculture
|
|
created by young people in the late 70's who grew up on the media
|
|
and its promises of a good life, and were bored with all that.
|
|
It had let them down: "career opportunities, the ones that never
|
|
knock" as a song from the time put it. The punks took the media
|
|
technology of the time - the music, the fashion, the radio and
|
|
video - and trashed it.
|
|
Cyberpunk grew out of this negative subcultural style, but
|
|
turned it back to a positive celebration. Where the mods had
|
|
been fascinated by consumerism and the mass media, cyberpunk is
|
|
fascinated with the media technologies which were hitting the
|
|
mass market in the 80's. Desktop publishing, computer music, and
|
|
now desktop video are technologies taken up with enthusiasm by
|
|
cyberpunks in the place of rock and roll. Computer networking is
|
|
its alternative to the mods' pop TV or the punks' pirate radio.
|
|
Just as subcultures from mod to punk were the testing ground for
|
|
new styles of music and fashion, the cyberpunk crowd are the
|
|
testing ground for new fashions in desk-top technology. The
|
|
rapid evolution from video games to virtual reality has been
|
|
helped along by the hard core of enthusiasts eager to try out
|
|
each generation of simulated experience. The multimedia
|
|
convergence of the publishing industry, the computer industry,
|
|
and the recording industry has a spot right at its center called
|
|
cyberpunk, where these new product experiments find a critical
|
|
but playful market.
|
|
Where punk was a product of unemployment and the English art
|
|
school, cyberpunk is a product of the huge array of the technical
|
|
and scientific universities created in the US to service the
|
|
military industrial complex. Your typical cyberpunk is white,
|
|
middle class, suburban, and technically skilled. They are a new
|
|
generation of white collar worker, resisting the yoke of work and
|
|
suburban life for awhile. They don't drop out, they jack in.
|
|
They are a fabulous example of how each generation, growing up
|
|
with a given level of media technology, has to discover the
|
|
limits and potentials of that technology by experimenting with
|
|
everyday life itself.
|
|
Subcultures are an art form. They can have their delinquent
|
|
edge, its true. Mods took too many amphetamines. Punks were a
|
|
little prone to rioting. Cyberpunks sometimes have a romantic
|
|
fascination with hacking into other people's computers. All this
|
|
is a testing of limits, a pushing to the limit of the social
|
|
norm. The enduring product of any subculture is a rapid
|
|
innovation in popular style. Subcultures pioneer styles of life
|
|
for the mainstream. In the case of cyberpunk, the networked
|
|
world of cyberspace. the interactive world of multimedia, and
|
|
the new sensoria of virtual reality will all owe a little to
|
|
their willingness to be test pigs for these emergent
|
|
technologies.
|
|
There is also a tension in cyberpunk between the military
|
|
industrial monster that produces technology and the sensibility
|
|
of the technically skilled individual trained for the high tech
|
|
machine. Like all subcultures, cyberpunk expresses a conflict.
|
|
On the one side is the libertarian idea that technology can be a
|
|
way of wresting a little domain of freedom for people from the
|
|
necessity to work and live under the constraints of today. On
|
|
the other is the fact that the technologies of virtual reality,
|
|
multimedia, cyberspace would never have existed in the first
|
|
place had the Pentagon not funded them as tools of war. The
|
|
pilots who bombed Baghdad flew in virtual reality.
|
|
Even the peaceful applications of these technologies can be
|
|
subordinated to commercial imperatives abhorrent to the free
|
|
thinking cyberpunk. There is a contradiction between the spirit
|
|
of free enquiry and experiment and the need to keep corporate
|
|
secrets and make a buck. Cyberpunk is a reflection of this
|
|
contradiction - on the one hand, it is a drop-out culture
|
|
dedicated to pursuing the dream of freedom through appropriate
|
|
technology. On the other it is a ready market for new gadgets
|
|
and a training ground for hip new entrepreneurs with hi-tech toys
|
|
to market. Cyberpunk may be over a subculture. It was
|
|
reabsorbed into the mainstream like every other subculture before
|
|
it. Yet it signals a fundamental change in the way subcultures
|
|
can form and oppose themselves to the mainstream. In effect,
|
|
cyberpunk was the realization that the new generation of media
|
|
tools are also excellent resources for changing life, if only on
|
|
the margins, and if only for a short while. Like all the other
|
|
avant-gardes and subcultures before it, it has added something
|
|
special to the repertoire of postmodern life.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cyberpunk Fashion
|
|
-----------------------
|
|
|
|
Corp-Wear
|
|
In a cyberpunk world, the governors of Reality are the mega-
|
|
corporations. They are not specialized like most of today's
|
|
companies; they have a hand in everything. Take a look at Sony
|
|
for example. Here is a company that has business in both the
|
|
electronic and the entertainment market. Mega-corps like Sony
|
|
have laid the groundwork to eventually envelop the fashion world.
|
|
Clothing and accessories that have nothing in common with the
|
|
company will be emblazoned with their logos - and all in the name
|
|
of fashion. Remember the Coca-Cola clothing line a few years
|
|
back?
|
|
Beat 'em to the punch by writing to some of the below
|
|
companies. Tell them how much you love their products. Ask them
|
|
for t-shirts, hats, stickers, folders, whatever. Some companies
|
|
have premiums if you send them proofs of purchase, too. Since
|
|
most people never do this, they often have a lot of surplus.
|
|
They'd love to get rid of some of this stuff!
|
|
And once you get some cool items, bootleg them and give
|
|
(sell?) them to your friends.
|
|
Here are some good places to start:
|
|
|
|
Aiwa America, Inc
|
|
85 Oxford Drive
|
|
Moonachie NJ
|
|
07074
|
|
|
|
AT&T
|
|
6200 E. Broad Street
|
|
Whitehall OH
|
|
43213
|
|
|
|
Maxell Corp of America
|
|
2208 Rt.208
|
|
Fairlawn NJ
|
|
07410
|
|
|
|
Sony Corp of America
|
|
Sony Drive
|
|
Park Ridge NJ
|
|
07656
|
|
|
|
Toshiba America
|
|
82 Totowa Rd
|
|
Wayne NJ
|
|
07470
|
|
|
|
TDK Corp of America
|
|
1600 Feehanville Dr
|
|
Mt.Prospect IL
|
|
60065
|
|
|
|
NEC America
|
|
1401 Estes Ave
|
|
Elk Grove IL
|
|
60007
|
|
Hitachi Home Elex America
|
|
401 W Artesia
|
|
Compton CA
|
|
90220
|
|
|
|
|
|
Check out the U.S. Electronics Industry Directory (available
|
|
in most libraries) for more addresses.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cybernetic Jewelry
|
|
------------------------
|
|
|
|
Vernon Reed
|
|
5902 Haydens Cove
|
|
Austin TX 78730
|
|
512.345.6499
|
|
Vernon Reed makes cybernetic jewelry and wearable
|
|
microsystems. Each piece contains a CMOS running programs to
|
|
generate moving patterns and animation on an LCD panel.
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Spring 1992 issue of FAD magazine was dedicated to
|
|
cyber-style.
|
|
FAD
|
|
PO Box 420 656
|
|
San Francisco CA
|
|
94142
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wearable Computers
|
|
------------------------
|
|
|
|
NEC
|
|
280 Park Ave, 21 East
|
|
New York NY
|
|
10017
|
|
NEC is in the process of developing a line of wearable
|
|
computers, each designed for different tasks or lifestyles.
|
|
The TLC PC, which was designed with medical professionals in
|
|
mind, is a hands-off computer that includes an 8 mm camera, a CD-
|
|
ROM medical encyclopedia linked to a small microphone (so the CD
|
|
can match up a patient's condition to the symptoms contained in
|
|
the database), a satellite communications link which can transmit
|
|
the video and patient data to the hospital while the patient is
|
|
en route.
|
|
The Wearable Data Terminal is equipped with an optical
|
|
scanner on the forearm, which is connected to a CD-ROM worn
|
|
around the neck. The LCD screen in the neckpiece is in easy view
|
|
of the user. This computer was designed for inventory checking,
|
|
etc.
|
|
The Lapbody Computer hangs from the shoulder like a purse,
|
|
but swings out and rests in front of the chest when needed.
|
|
The Porto-Office combines a keyboard, handwriting pad,
|
|
cellular speakerphone and headphones, plus a camera and a fax.
|
|
NEC is also developing a wearable video camera (the
|
|
WearCam), a breathing info-monitor, and a "Hands-Off" wrist
|
|
telephone.
|
|
While the wristphone is available now, the wearable
|
|
computers will be available commercially in late 1994.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cyberpunk 'Zines
|
|
----------------------
|
|
|
|
Mondo 2000
|
|
PO Box 10171
|
|
Berkeley CA
|
|
94709-5171
|
|
The ancestor of the Berkeley magazine High Frontiers and its
|
|
counterpart newsletter Reality Hackers, Mondo 2000 is the journal
|
|
of the cyberpunk layman. Produced on a MacIntosh and printed on
|
|
glossy color pages, Mondo 2000 is certainly entertaining to flip
|
|
through. The best and most practical articles are the Street Tech
|
|
columns, where instructions for homebrew electronic gizmos and
|
|
contacts for tech equipment can be found.
|
|
Fill Mondo 2000's pockets with $24.95 to receive five
|
|
issues. Single copies are $5.95 and can be found at most any
|
|
bookstore (even corp giant Waldenbooks carries Mondo).
|
|
Mondo recently published a book of reprinted articles from
|
|
old issues, titled Mondo 2000: The User's Guide to the New Edge.
|
|
The Guide is encyclopedic in nature, and has entries on
|
|
everything "New Edge" - from aphrodisiacs to hackers, house music
|
|
and media pranks. ($20.00 from HarperCollins).
|
|
Mondo has conference rooms on both the Well and Mindvox
|
|
(bulletin board systems).
|
|
|
|
|
|
bOING bOING
|
|
11288 Ventura Blvd.#818
|
|
Studio City CA
|
|
91604
|
|
Similar to Mondo, but in black and white and better
|
|
articles. Self-titled "The World's Greatest Neurozine," and it
|
|
pretty much is just that. The writing is consistently good, and
|
|
articles like Gareth Branwyn's (the author of the Beyond
|
|
Cyberpunk! Hypercard Stack) "Going Gaga" are extraordinarily
|
|
well-written and informative. bOING bOING is somewhat of a humor
|
|
mag - regular contributor Paco Xander Nathan describes it as,
|
|
"Mad Magazine meets Mad Max). A recent issue lampooned Mondo
|
|
2000's layout and writing style.
|
|
bOING bOING fills its pages with bizarre comix, extensive
|
|
zine, music, and catalog reviews. bb is easily worth the $3.95
|
|
cover price, and $14.00 for a subscription is a steal.
|
|
|
|
|
|
WIRED
|
|
544 Second Street
|
|
San Francisco CA
|
|
94107
|
|
The personalities who Mondo and bb were writing about
|
|
decided to get together and start their own magazine. WIRED
|
|
rivals Mondo in production - full color pages and a lot of
|
|
goofy-looking "creative imaging" photographs (All those
|
|
light-colored fuzzy photos hurt my eyes!)
|
|
The contributing staff reads like a cyberpunk role call:
|
|
Stewart Brand (Whole Earth Review), John Markoff (author of
|
|
Cyberpunk), Bruce Sterling, and Nicholas Negroponte (MIT Media
|
|
Lab). Rest assured the articles' content is substantial.
|
|
There is a cool section called "Fetish" that showcases the
|
|
latest high-tech gadgets, and a relatively new section dedicated
|
|
to finding the best Internet sources.
|
|
Although new on the scene, WIRED is definitely going to be a
|
|
contender, just because of the established contributors and its
|
|
financial backing. But it just seems to be a bit too mainstream
|
|
and polished (most ads came from affluent companies like Seagate,
|
|
Apple, and AT&T) to have that "real cyberpunk" feel to it.
|
|
Excellent for any techno-fetishist, though.
|
|
4.95 for an issue, 19.95 for six.
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Hardcore
|
|
PO Box 1893
|
|
London N98 JT36
|
|
UK
|
|
The editor of The Hardcore describes the magazine as:
|
|
1) Fascinated by technology
|
|
2) Ceaselessly contextualising ideas
|
|
3) Obsessive information addicts
|
|
4) Habitually chronic
|
|
5) Culturally diverse
|
|
6) Politically incorrect
|
|
7) Nexus of post-industrial ennui, cyberpunk, tech-angst
|
|
In the past, The Hardcore has covered: the death of
|
|
cyberpunk, chaos science/majick, SF feminism, comics,
|
|
techno-erotic film, and pyro-memetic fiction (?!?).
|
|
Future issues will deal with: the death of virtual reality,
|
|
artificial life, cyberbooks, and artificial religion.
|
|
Single issues are L2.00 or $4.00. Subscriptions are
|
|
L8.00/$16 (surface) or L10.00/$20.00 (air).
|
|
|
|
|
|
Black Ice
|
|
PO Box 1069
|
|
Brighton BN2 4YT
|
|
UK
|
|
Another c-p zine from the UK. According to the front page,
|
|
Black Ice will regularly feature virtual reality, future
|
|
television, smart drugs, innovative computer technology,
|
|
multimedia, arcades and video games, Japanese culture,
|
|
alternative science and technology, street tech, hackers and
|
|
crackers. The first issue has articles on Japanese junk food, an
|
|
interview with Stelarc, an interview with the director of the
|
|
British-based W. Industries (the VR-entertainment corp), and
|
|
Hi-Res Media. This zine is amazing! L3.95 for a single issue,
|
|
L19.95 year (4 issues). This is really worth it!
|
|
|
|
|
|
FLUX
|
|
c/o Robert Derek
|
|
200 Market Street #a-21
|
|
Lowell MA
|
|
01852
|
|
|
|
The Future Was Now. Or so says the cover of this small,
|
|
desktop-published zine. FLUX focuses on the central theme of
|
|
continuing change. The latest installment includes articles on
|
|
desktop terrorism (which is the relative ease of counterfeiting
|
|
using laser printers, scanners, and drawing programs) and "The
|
|
Great Work" by John Perry Barlow. Future issues will have
|
|
articles on building your own flotation tank and a guide to
|
|
Internet resources. One issue is $4.00 and a four issue
|
|
subscription is $15.00.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Future Sex
|
|
Lisa Palac, Editor
|
|
1095 Market Street
|
|
San Francisco CA
|
|
94103
|
|
What's next????
|
|
This is true cyberpunk - the blending of exalted high
|
|
technology with sleaze.
|
|
From their editorial statement:
|
|
"Dangerously intelligent, fearlessly creative and
|
|
shamelessly sexy, Future Sex magazine reflects the evolution of
|
|
eroticism in the 90s. Created by men and women, Future Sex
|
|
slices up the predictable and heads for the sexual frontier.
|
|
Future Sex spotlights the fusion of sex and technology.
|
|
We're the only erotic magazine that explores how high technology
|
|
is changing the way we think about sex. Future Sex also
|
|
investigates the sexual side of every subject from telepresence
|
|
to pop culture. Feature writings by established futurologists,
|
|
savvy libertines, cynical satirists, and counterculture critics
|
|
are presented with candor and insight. Future Sex delivers
|
|
provocative interviews, erotic fiction, comix, reviews, and of
|
|
course, cutting-edge erotic photography.
|
|
Future Sex merges challenging content with ultra form.
|
|
Wrapped up with hypermodern design, Future Sex will stimulate all
|
|
your senses.
|
|
The vision of Future Sex is dedicated to the completely
|
|
synaesthetic experience of sensual and cerebral stimulation.
|
|
This is the future of sex."
|
|
You too can see the future of sex for $18 a year (four
|
|
issues).
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
48 Formby Drive
|
|
Glasgow G23 5QN
|
|
Scotland
|
|
Total is an audio/visual journal for art, music, and
|
|
provocative information.
|
|
"Total: bringing together artists, film makers, musicians,
|
|
and writers from around the world and providing an international,
|
|
interactive forum for ideas and information that are a genuine
|
|
alternative to the dogmatic constraints of conformity. Each
|
|
addition will focus on a central theme and within that theme a
|
|
framework of integral topics new and archive: graphics,
|
|
interviews, photographs, propaganda, tracts, writings, and
|
|
more."(from the Total promotional sheet).
|
|
Volume 2: the "body" issue includes a CD with contributions
|
|
by Master Slave Relationship, Controlled Bleeding, Techno Animal,
|
|
Zoviet France, and others. Text and visual contributions come
|
|
from Robert Anton Wilson, Mark Pauline, Antero Alli, Stelarc
|
|
interviewed by Stuart McGlinn, the Douglass-Truth Institute,
|
|
among others.
|
|
Nice. Highly recommended. Write for current prices.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sector 9737
|
|
c/o Tim Mayer
|
|
PO Box 782213
|
|
Wichita KS
|
|
67278
|
|
"A cybernetic publication for a technocratic age." Sector
|
|
9737 mostly reviews science fiction books, plus articles on
|
|
street tech. Issue two tells you how to build a pirate radio
|
|
station, and issue four has a good neural net resource list.
|
|
A bit small for the $5.00 an issue.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Talking Raven: The Journal of Imaginative Trouble
|
|
PO Box 45758
|
|
Seattle WA
|
|
98145
|
|
Not really a c-p zine, but listed here because it touches on
|
|
attitudes similar to cyberpunk. Each issue is carried by a theme
|
|
which the editor, Antero Alli (the brilliant author of Angel Tech
|
|
and other books), feels "mirrors a critical current or socio-
|
|
political atmosphere but through the sieve of imagination." The
|
|
entire Summer Solstice 1992 issue is devoted entirely to the
|
|
debunking of cyberpunk.
|
|
A dollar or so will do for an issue.
|
|
Reproduced here is a cyberpunk rant from that issue:
|
|
|
|
Cyberpunk Thing
|
|
|
|
It seems to be a truism that the real things in life are
|
|
beyond me. The stunning people I see on the way down the street
|
|
are precisely the people I will never meet; the brilliant
|
|
conversations are the ones I will never have. So it is with
|
|
cyberpunk.
|
|
I would like to think of myself as an anarchist and I have a
|
|
computer - so this stuff should appeal to me. But the whole
|
|
thing alienates me. I think William Gibson is tedious and I got
|
|
bored a half an hour into Blade Runner. I miss the point. So
|
|
you can create "virtual reality" on your computer. So what?
|
|
Huge amounts of memory are used drawing pretty things on the
|
|
screen. Neat. But does it change the world? I don't think so -
|
|
the world just gets worse.
|
|
I think cyberpunk is the latest attempt by American hipsters
|
|
to escape the squalid intellectual climate that surrounds them.
|
|
This is not a bad goal. When leading "intellectuals" worry about
|
|
the nuclear capability of Iraq or the ethical problems of Yuppie
|
|
couples adopting kids (while most of the world starves or is shot
|
|
at) there is need for escape. Similar escapist mentality has
|
|
united all of American counterculture since World War II. The
|
|
Beats sought escape on the road while taking benzedrine, the
|
|
hippies in acid and happy thoughts, the punks in cocaine and fast
|
|
music - now the cyberpunks inside of their computers.
|
|
But there is a catch. You can't really get inside your
|
|
computer. Playing interactive sex games is not the same as the
|
|
real thing. Nobody really improves their life by hacking, and
|
|
making a few phone calls on somebody else's account is not the
|
|
same as a revolution. And not that many people have computers
|
|
anyway. Not nearly as many to fulfill the anarchist dream of
|
|
paralyzing authority.
|
|
Street-wise ghetto kids aren't into computers. Real "punks"
|
|
don't spend their money on software - they spend it on cigarettes
|
|
and hardcore shows. I suspect that most of these "cyberpunks"
|
|
are privileged white professionals who think Brian Eno is
|
|
dangerous music.
|
|
The thing is, I agree with these people. I think they raise
|
|
interesting points. The flow of information through hi-tech
|
|
machines is fascinating. And I wish I could fuck up the pigs
|
|
through ny computer. I wish that psychedelic drugs actually did
|
|
something beyond making me happy for a day or two. I wish I
|
|
could leave this ugly-piece-of-shit world and live inside my
|
|
computer. But I can't, and that is the tragedy of cyberpunk - it
|
|
doesn't exist. The technology isn't that useful. If anything,
|
|
all these computer chips shrink personal freedom, not expand it.
|
|
The most surprising thing about computers is how little they
|
|
have changed anything. For all the progress they have made in
|
|
the past decade and despite the fact that they are ubiquitous -
|
|
they haven't changed anything at all. Offices may have computers
|
|
now, but they do the same thing. Secretaries, cops, and
|
|
thousands of other workers punch into computers everyday, but
|
|
they still do the same job. A memo is still a memo, no matter if
|
|
it has been written on a typewriter or a computer. The
|
|
institutions have remained unchanged. Work may be faster or
|
|
easier, but it is still work. Unlike the automobile, which
|
|
changed the landscape, or telephones that linked the world:
|
|
computers only do old things. If history is the study of change,
|
|
then computers are ahistorical - like the fancy and useless
|
|
gizmos made by French artisans before the Revolution.
|
|
(Karl Myers, Talking Raven Summer Solstice 1992, ParaTheatrical
|
|
Research).
|
|
|
|
|
|
Blue Blood
|
|
3 Calabar Court
|
|
Gaithersburg MD
|
|
20877
|
|
Blue Blood is a gothic magazine specializing in topics of
|
|
S&M, bondage gear, vampires, erotic fiction, etc. Oftentimes has
|
|
articles on the cyberpunk lifestyle, smart drugs, and industrial
|
|
music. Interesting personals section...
|
|
$3.95 a copy.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Whole Earth Review
|
|
27 Gate Road
|
|
Sausalito CA
|
|
94965
|
|
Stewart Brand introduced the Whole Earth Catalog nearly 25
|
|
years ago - it was to be a publication that would serve as a
|
|
register and directory for people who were starting
|
|
back-to-nature communes. This published quarterly was a
|
|
repository for the information that schools never taught - like
|
|
farming and educating children. Eventually, the magazines gave
|
|
way to a series of books. In 1984, the Whole Earth Software
|
|
Catalog was published, and the magazine CoEvolutionary Quarterly
|
|
became known as the Whole Earth Review.
|
|
WER is one of the only environmental magazines that is pro-
|
|
technology. It often has articles on virtual reality,
|
|
cyberspace, and artificial life. Plus, it always has reviews of
|
|
books, software, and other information technologies.
|
|
WER sponsored Cyberthon and created an internetworked
|
|
bulletin board called the Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link.
|
|
A four issue subscription to Whole Earth Review is $20.00;
|
|
single copies are $6.75.
|
|
|
|
|
|
PHAGE
|
|
4290 South Mobile Circle Apt D
|
|
Aurora CO
|
|
80013
|
|
|
|
Andy Hawks, the creator of the Future Culture electronic
|
|
discussion group (see "Cyberpunk E-lists" below.), and Paul
|
|
Leonard of Cult of the Dead Cow publish this paper zine.
|
|
"Focusing on the Edges of Culture, examining the Fringes of
|
|
Reason and the Reasons of Fringe, the Here and Now and
|
|
Soon-to-Be, via unstructured Tones that Ebb and Flow from In-Form
|
|
Information to Formless Rants of Altered States.
|
|
PHAGE is divided into these sections:
|
|
Genesys: Notes from the editor, letters from those that
|
|
grep/grok {the Infinite Edge}.
|
|
nuMEMES: Soundbytes of the world Unite and Take over.
|
|
Blurbs pertaining to interesting news and products, quotes,
|
|
technology, factoids, etc.
|
|
Modern: Cultural commentary - realizing, focusing, and
|
|
morphing the postmodern world. Rants, essays, theses,
|
|
observations, predictions, analysis, streams and rivers of
|
|
Consciousness.
|
|
-Sub: The depths of the underground subcultures.
|
|
E+: The Virtual World. News, notes, notables and
|
|
quotables, communications, teknologies.
|
|
Inner View: Interviews with those who surf, ride, make, and
|
|
break the Edges of Culture.
|
|
Streamz: Fiction to the Edge: Transreal, Hyperreal,
|
|
Slipstream, Cyberpunk, Post-Cyberpunk, etc.
|
|
Media: Reviewing, analyzing, and commentary regarding
|
|
popular and underground media: books, magazines, zines, e-zines,
|
|
e-books, hypertext, music, film, video, television, software,
|
|
etc.
|
|
Mobius: One last informational Fix, closing words, Late-
|
|
crashing news, etc."
|
|
$3.50 an issue.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Extropy: The Journal of Transhumanist Thought
|
|
PO Box 57306
|
|
Los Angeles CA
|
|
90057-0306
|
|
The journal of the Extropy Institute (see below). Feature
|
|
articles concentrate on extropian ideals : life extension, space
|
|
migration, intelligence increasing technologies, neural-computer
|
|
integration. Famed roboticist Hans Moravec, author of Mind
|
|
Children, is a regular contributor.
|
|
Its sister publication, Exponent, contains book, film, and
|
|
software reviews in a newsletter format.
|
|
Although it lacks the glitz present in other magazines, the
|
|
articles in Extropy are meaningful and extremely well-written.
|
|
Subscriptions are $9.00 for a two issue subscription.
|
|
Exponent is free to members of the Extropy Institute.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Trajectories
|
|
Permanent Press
|
|
PO Box 700305
|
|
San Jose CA
|
|
95170
|
|
|
|
The Robert Anton Wilson information magazine. For those who
|
|
are excited about developing the future rather than dreading its
|
|
imminence. Regular topics include space exploration, artificial
|
|
intelligence, longevity, the Conspiracy, and quantum psychology.
|
|
Annual subscriptions are $20.00.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Virus 23
|
|
Box 46
|
|
Red Deer, Alberta
|
|
T4N 5E7
|
|
Canada
|
|
|
|
Virus 23 is the Canadian fringe magnet. Filled with some
|
|
really bizarre stuff: magick, cyberpunk, and chaotic realities.
|
|
It seems to be heavily influenced by the Temple ov Psychick Youth
|
|
and the writings of Aleister Crowley. Issue #pi (Fall 1990) has
|
|
some entertaining ToPY manifestoes.
|
|
This is another must-have - just for its sheer weirdness.
|
|
$7.00 for a single issue.
|
|
Parts of Virus 23 can be scammed from the alt.cyberpunk ftp
|
|
site at u.washington.edu in the directory /public/alt.cyberpunk.
|
|
|
|
|
|
CONTROL
|
|
703 Penbrooke Rd, SE
|
|
Calgary Alberta
|
|
T2A 3T3
|
|
Canada
|
|
"Subversive subculture and transmogrification through
|
|
technology; these are the vectors of Control. Articles include,
|
|
but not limited to : interviews with prominent and obscure
|
|
industrial/techno/noise artists, discussions of alternative
|
|
(especially cybersomatic) lifestyles and the adjuncts thereof,
|
|
short fiction and poetry, plus interviews with authors, thinkers,
|
|
and whoever else might have something interesting to say.
|
|
Control also incorporates reviews of music and fiction, plus
|
|
artwork and bizarre comics.
|
|
Control is the joint effort of a group of Canadians who are
|
|
intensely interested in the progress of technology and the
|
|
accompanying transformational possibilities for both society and
|
|
the individual. The magazine aims to be a proselytic tool for
|
|
the missionaries of change, offering insight into the volcanic
|
|
substrata of culture, the underlying magmatic ferment upon which
|
|
slide and topple the continents of established thought."
|
|
An issue of Control is $3.00.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Factsheet 5
|
|
PO Box 170094
|
|
San Francisco CA
|
|
94117
|
|
The trading post for the bizarre. Formerly managed by
|
|
that king of zines, Mike Gunderloy, for years, until he abdicated
|
|
his throne in 1991. Numerous attempts at restoring FF all
|
|
failed, but now this one seems to have taken hold. Faithful to
|
|
the old format, they still will review just about anything you
|
|
send in. Publications, catalogs, books, tracts, and tapes suited
|
|
for every interest or fetish can be located here.
|
|
$3-4.00 a copy; free for a trade. Published erratically.
|
|
|
|
|
|
US Militia
|
|
c/o Atlan Formularies
|
|
PO Box 95
|
|
Alpena AR
|
|
72611
|
|
US Militia is operated by Mr. Kurt Saxon, the remarkable
|
|
author of The Poor Man's James Bond series. These books contain
|
|
detailed plans for cheap explosives, homemade guns, and DIY
|
|
munitions. For awhile, Mr.Saxon was convinced that the Russkies
|
|
were on the verge of a hostile US takeover, ala Red Dawn. In one
|
|
of his Poor Man's James Bond videos, he concocts a deadly poison
|
|
in which you can fill a squirt gun and shoot it at your Russian
|
|
captors. Excellent.
|
|
US Militia is basically a scaled down version of his books.
|
|
Useful to any cyberpunk - just in case the mega-corps do take
|
|
over!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Technology 2008
|
|
PO Box 15264
|
|
Augusta GA
|
|
30906
|
|
Technology 2008 is a newsletter dedicated to electronic
|
|
surveillance. Each issue has schematics and plans for
|
|
inexpensive homebrew projects and experiments.
|
|
$20 for a 12 issue subscription. Back issues are $1.50 each
|
|
(issue #1, 1992 has schematics and an article on how the phone
|
|
system works...)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Synergy
|
|
c/o Viral Communications
|
|
POB 7951
|
|
Ann Arbor MI
|
|
48107
|
|
Viral Communications is an independent, non-profit music
|
|
label/underground press dedicated to experimental and exploratory
|
|
works and sound.
|
|
According to Synergy editor Steev Hise, "the main thrust of
|
|
Synergy and VirComm in general is exploring new forms of artistic
|
|
expression, especially collaboratory expression, in our modern
|
|
technological society. What happened when the microphone, the
|
|
Xerox machine, the tape recorder, the sampler and image scanner,
|
|
even the printing press, fell into the hand of creative and free-
|
|
thinking artist type people? And, perhaps, even more
|
|
importantly, what happened and happens in general to people and
|
|
society when these kinds of devices were/are used to record what
|
|
they do? How does someone's expression or art change when they
|
|
know it is being recorded in some way?"
|
|
VirComm's journal, Synergy, incorporates this viewpoint in
|
|
print. In it are appropriated illustrations and scanned
|
|
photographs. Original poetry, reviews, and essays are also
|
|
included. Entertaining and worthwhile. Each issue is $2.00.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kagenna: The Ecology and Culture Frontier
|
|
POB 15438
|
|
Vlaeburg, Cape Town 8018
|
|
South Africa
|
|
This South African magazine is mostly for the environmental
|
|
crowd, but occasionally has articles on cyberpunk, computers and
|
|
other fringe elements. Issue #7 has a good number of articles on
|
|
cyberculture.
|
|
Each issue is R4.50.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Information Society
|
|
Taylor and Francis Ltd
|
|
4 John Street
|
|
London WC1N 2ET
|
|
Excellent scholarly journal examines the impact of
|
|
computers, technology, and the information business's impact on
|
|
our society. Always has good articles; recommended.
|
|
Published quarterly for $43.00 (UK L25.00).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cyberpunk E-lists
|
|
-----------------------
|
|
|
|
Anarchy List
|
|
anarchy-list-request@cwi.nl
|
|
Although based in the Netherlands, most of the subscribers
|
|
seem to be in North America. Discusses philosophical,
|
|
theoretical, and practical anarchy.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Extropian List
|
|
extropians-request@gnu.mit.edu
|
|
exi-essay-request@gnu.mit.edu
|
|
Addresses all areas of Extropian interest (see "Extropy
|
|
Institute" below). Public encryption (encoding e-mail and other
|
|
private transmissions), digital currency, cognitive enhancement,
|
|
cryonics, and the future of intelligence are all common topics.
|
|
Excellent source of information, but extremely high traffic - be
|
|
forewarned!
|
|
The Extropian essay list has less traffic and is mostly long
|
|
essays on the Extropian philosophy.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Xtropy-L
|
|
xtropy-l@ubvm.bitnet
|
|
Extropian list on Bitnet. Covers similar topics as the
|
|
Extropian list, but lower volume.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Factsheet Five Electric
|
|
jerod25@well.sf.ca.us
|
|
Similar to its paper-based big brother, but not as
|
|
comprehensive. Still, it's free and it covers some zines the
|
|
paper version doesn't.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Practical Anarchy Online
|
|
cardell@lysator.liu.se
|
|
or
|
|
Practical Anarchy
|
|
c/o Mikael Cardell
|
|
Gustav Adolfsgaten 3
|
|
S-582 20 Linkoping
|
|
Sweden
|
|
Mikael Cardell's how-to guide for anarchy. Includes
|
|
extensive electronic contacts and lists, and pragmatic guides to
|
|
bring anarchy to your area.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Scream Baby
|
|
bladex@wixer.cactus.org
|
|
Electronic magazine widely available on the Internet,
|
|
Editors Blade X and Jagwire X pack essays on cyberspace and
|
|
cyberculture with reviews for zines and music. Scream Baby is
|
|
the miniature version of Blade X's Scream 'N Meme, another
|
|
e-zine. The October 12, 1992 issue has an interesting interview
|
|
with Andy Hawks (from Future Culture).
|
|
|
|
|
|
Punk List
|
|
punk-list-request@cpac.washington.edu
|
|
The electronic list for punk rockers. All aspects of punk
|
|
life are appropriate here - music, fashion, philosophies.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Future Culture
|
|
listserv@uafsysb.uark.edu
|
|
This list is one good reason to get Internet access. In
|
|
early 1992, Andy Hawks published a small, but informative FAQ
|
|
(Frequently Asked Questions file) on all facets of cyberculture.
|
|
The FAQ was so popular with net.people that an entire group
|
|
sprang up around it. The FAQ has since grown ten times larger.
|
|
Most everyone who is involved in the cyberpunk scene subscribes
|
|
to Future Culture - you can't afford not to.
|
|
The list acts as a clearinghouse and accumulator of all
|
|
things cyberpunk, fringe, and "New Edge." Be forewarned, volume
|
|
is sometimes very high when there is breaking news on the
|
|
cyberpunk front lines.
|
|
You can telnet to the hangout of the FC crowd: it's at
|
|
purple-crayon.media.mit.edu 8888.
|
|
|
|
|
|
FNORD-L
|
|
listserv@ubvm.bitnet
|
|
Discussion of the works and philosophies of Robert Anton
|
|
Wilson, Timothy Leary, Antero Alli, and Dr. John Lilly.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Leri-L
|
|
leri-l@iscvax.uni.edu
|
|
Topics include metaprogramming, higher consciousness,
|
|
expanding technology, and the psychedelic experience. Known for
|
|
its high traffic rate.
|
|
Pirate Radio
|
|
brewer@ace.enet.dec.com
|
|
More pirate radio information can be found on this list.
|
|
May go down soon, if it hasn't already. Check latest status on
|
|
alt.radio.pirate.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cypherpunks
|
|
cypherpunks-request@toad.com
|
|
PGP Source - soda.berkeley.edu
|
|
"Cypherpunks assume privacy is a good thing and wish there
|
|
were more of it. Cypherpunks acknowledge that those who want
|
|
privacy must create it for themselves and not expect governments,
|
|
corporations, or other large, faceless organizations to grant
|
|
them privacy out of beneficence. Cypherpunks know that people
|
|
have been creating their own privacy for centuries with whispers,
|
|
envelopes, closed doors, and couriers. Cypherpunks do not seek
|
|
to prevent people from speaking about their experiences or their
|
|
opinions.
|
|
The most important means to the defense of privacy is
|
|
encryption. To encrypt is to indicate the desire for privacy.
|
|
But to encrypt with weak cryptography is to indicate not too much
|
|
desire for privacy. Cypherpunks hope that all people desiring
|
|
privacy will learn how best to defend it.
|
|
Cypherpunks are therefore devoted to cryptography.
|
|
Cypherpunks wish to learn about it, to teach it, to implement it,
|
|
and to make more of it. Cypherpunks know that cryptographic
|
|
protocols make social structures. Cypherpunks know how to attack
|
|
a system and know how to defend it. Cypherpunks know how hard it
|
|
is to make good cryptosystems.
|
|
Cypherpunks love to practice. They love to play with public
|
|
key cryptography. They love to play with anonymous and
|
|
pseudonymous mail forwarding and delivery. They love to play
|
|
with DC - nets. They love to play with secure communications of
|
|
all kinds.
|
|
Cypherpunks write code. They know that someone has to write
|
|
code to defend privacy, and since it's their privacy, they're
|
|
going to write it. Cypherpunks publish their code so that their
|
|
fellow cypherpunks may practice and play with it. Cypherpunks
|
|
realize that security is not built in a day and are patient with
|
|
incremental progress.
|
|
Cypherpunks don't care if you don't like the software they
|
|
write. Cypherpunks know that software can't be destroyed.
|
|
Cypherpunks know that a widely dispersed system can't be shut
|
|
down. Cypherpunks will make the networks safe for privacy."
|
|
Cypherpunk's archives are at soda.berkeley.edu
|
|
(/pub/cypherpunks).
|
|
|
|
|
|
Postmodern List/Digest
|
|
listserv@ncsuvm.cc.ncsu.edu
|
|
This scholarly journal delves into all aspects of our
|
|
postmodernist life - from the media coverage of the Gulf War to
|
|
television culture; including semantics, literature and
|
|
performance art. The digest lists articles that are available
|
|
via FTP and announces conferences and seminars.
|
|
Subscription requests for disk and microfilm media can be
|
|
directed to Postmodern Culture, Box 8105, NCSU, Raleigh, NC
|
|
27695.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Holy Temple of Mass Consumption
|
|
slack@ncsu.edu
|
|
Subgenius style electronic digest.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subgenius List
|
|
subgenius-request@mc.lcs.mit.edu
|
|
Covers all topics of interest for Dobbs-heads. Sometimes
|
|
has high volume of completely insane messages. Unless you get a
|
|
kick out of Subgenius humor, steer clear of this one.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Technomads
|
|
technomads-request@bikelab.sun.com
|
|
Technomad Steven K. Roberts started this list to help others
|
|
who were interested in building their own mobile, high-tech
|
|
installations. Topics include radio and mobile Internet
|
|
connections, plus other small high tech gadgets for bikes,
|
|
motorcycles, etc.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pirate Ship AUtopia
|
|
autopia-request@wixer.cactus.org
|
|
AUtopia is a combination of the words "utopia" and
|
|
"autonomy." The idea behind AUtopia is to create a floating city
|
|
(like a huge ship), operated by a high-tech, self-governing,
|
|
self-sustaining society. The idea is to somehow acquire an ocean
|
|
vessel, get the backing of a small, neutral foreign power, and
|
|
declare complete autonomy from any state. Extensive
|
|
communications links, including satellites, telephones,
|
|
television (both broadcast and ship-wide), and Internet links
|
|
would be fully implemented on AUtopia. Extensive research in
|
|
the fields of virtual reality, nanotechnology, nootropics, and
|
|
artificial life would be conducted. The whole sha-bang would be
|
|
fueled by solar panels, wind power, and hydrogen fuel cells.
|
|
Subscribe to the list (managed by Jagwire X) to find out the
|
|
latest on AUtopia.
|
|
|
|
|
|
ArachNet: E-Journal of Virtual Culture
|
|
listserv@uottawa.bitnet
|
|
ArachNet is a continuing scholarly discourse on virtual
|
|
culture - computer mediated, human interaction/experience. This
|
|
includes electronic mail, electronic conferences, and information
|
|
distribution and retrieval. The journal is published monthly.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Future Technologies
|
|
future-tech-request@cs.umb.edu
|
|
The future technologies list discusses all new
|
|
ground-breaking technologies - plus some old one like virtual
|
|
reality and nanotechnologies.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fringeware
|
|
fringeware-request@wixer.cactus.org
|
|
The Internet distribution site for Fringeware, Inc (see
|
|
below). Catalog and product announcements, discussions on
|
|
street- tech and code-writers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
High Weirdness by E-mail
|
|
FTP'able from ftp.u.washington.edu (/public/alt.cyberpunk)
|
|
Influenced by Rev. Ivan Stang's magnus opus, High Weirdness
|
|
by Mail. The Internet is home to many peculiar people, so there
|
|
is going to be strange listgroups. HWBe-M ferrets out the most
|
|
bizarre Internet groups out there. If it isn't in here, then it
|
|
probably doesn't exist (yet!).
|
|
|
|
|
|
BLINK
|
|
listserv@merle.acns.nwu.edu
|
|
All-electronic journal of the information age. BLINK is
|
|
dedicated to discussing the changes and culture of cyberdelic
|
|
society on and off the Net.
|
|
Blink wants to present a straightforward look at the
|
|
implications of technology use in our globally connected, info-
|
|
sodden world. Come taste our mindcandy - essays, nonfiction
|
|
articles, fiction, poetry, satire.
|
|
Aleph
|
|
aleph-request@pyramid.com
|
|
A spinoff of Leri-L dedicated to the discussion of applied
|
|
memetics, analysis of meme transmission and singularity.
|
|
O.K. what are memes, you ask? Think of memes as a basic
|
|
unit of information, like the DNA molecule (a gene) is a basic
|
|
unit of encoded information. Memes can take many forms - an
|
|
idea, a bit of writing, or a particular political stance. Like
|
|
its cousin the gene (and also, chillingly, like a computer
|
|
virus), it seeks to reproduce itself. A great book to read on
|
|
memes and genes is Richard Dawkins' The Selfish Gene.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Phn0rd
|
|
phn0rd-request@student.umass.edu
|
|
A group that practices cyberdiscordianism. What an original
|
|
concept. Promotes the computer underground, chaos, and future-
|
|
related subjects.
|
|
Can also be reached at Box 11, 416 Student Union, UMass,
|
|
Amherst MA 01003.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Surfpunk
|
|
surfpunk-request@versant.com
|
|
An up and coming e-zine that describes itself as a
|
|
"dangerous multinational hacker zine." Updates on the computer
|
|
underground, pirate radio stations, cryptography, and obscure
|
|
Internet sites are all topics that pop up frequently in Surfpunk.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NetNews (Usenet)
|
|
----------------------
|
|
|
|
alt.cyberpunk
|
|
Anything remotely cyberpunk is discussed here : literature,
|
|
aesthetics, music, upcoming events, magazine announcements.
|
|
|
|
|
|
alt.cyberpunk.movement
|
|
More cyberpunk talk, but this tends to have lower traffic
|
|
and is more focused on cyberpunk in the "real" world.
|
|
|
|
|
|
alt.cyberpunk.tech
|
|
Conversations focus on the realistic technical implications
|
|
of cyberpunk.
|
|
|
|
|
|
alt.cyberspace
|
|
Bringing the concept of cyberspace to reality.
|
|
alt.postmodern
|
|
Postmodernist fiction, art, and aesthetics.
|
|
|
|
|
|
alt.zines
|
|
Announcements of new or upcoming zines, reviews, and
|
|
commentary on zine subculture.
|
|
|
|
|
|
alt.radio.pirate
|
|
Set up your own radio station to deliver your manifestoes or
|
|
play music that no other station would dare. This newsgroup is a
|
|
good contact point for resources, equipment reviews, and
|
|
assistance on radio pirating.
|
|
|
|
|
|
alt.privacy
|
|
Home of great FAQs, including ones on social security,
|
|
anonymous services on the Internet, and cryptography.
|
|
Alt.privacy has posts on government intervention of personal
|
|
privacy, cryptography programs, and other pertaining matters.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FTP Sites
|
|
---------------
|
|
|
|
slopoke.mlb.semi.harris.com
|
|
This site is mostly composed of Aleister Crowley stuff.
|
|
Also has an interview with Robert Anton Wilson and a paper called
|
|
Cybercraft, an interesting piece on the Leary eight-circuit brain
|
|
theory.
|
|
|
|
morose.cc.purdue.edu
|
|
This site has Temple of Psychick Youth pieces.
|
|
|
|
quartz.rutgers.edu
|
|
A large selection of off-beat electronic magazines. Future
|
|
Culture archives and Subgenius archives can also be found here.
|
|
|
|
129.173.4.5
|
|
Large cyberpunk archives.
|
|
|
|
ftp.rahul.net
|
|
@man's excellent Future Culture archives are stored here.
|
|
|
|
ftp.css.itd.umich.edu
|
|
red.css.itd.umich.edu
|
|
Filled with individual essays and periodicals on anarchism,
|
|
cyberculture, and strangeness.
|
|
|
|
cs.dal.ca
|
|
Files on the computer underground, postmodern culture,
|
|
nanotechnology, etc.
|
|
|
|
ftp.u.washington.edu
|
|
Big Usenet archives; including alt.cyberpunk, alt.drugs,
|
|
alt.security, and others.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cyberpunk Bulletin Board Systems
|
|
--------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
The Turning Point 512.219.7828 512.219.7848
|
|
Large fuzzy logic library. 70+ Usenet groups, FidoNet
|
|
Echoes, Internet e-mail access. Also has a "cyber-mall" for
|
|
small businesses, organizations, and groups to exchange
|
|
information with each other. This way, groups get the benefits
|
|
of a BBS without the hassle of running one themselves. Rent for
|
|
businesses is pretty cheap - around 15-25 dollars a month
|
|
(depending on size of group).
|
|
|
|
The Dark Side of the Moon 408.245.SPAM
|
|
Authors of Waffle BBS software.
|
|
|
|
The Cyberden 415.472.5527
|
|
San Rafael CA board. Internet e-mail access. Home of
|
|
Indescribable Creations, a company that composes music for films,
|
|
videos, video games, produces and records bands (including the
|
|
goth industrial band Xorcist), and desktop publishing.
|
|
|
|
The Cyberspace Institute 512.469.0447
|
|
Jagwire X, the founder of Autopia, runs the Cyberspace
|
|
Institute.
|
|
|
|
The Grid 203.661.1279
|
|
|
|
The Illuminati BBS 512.447.4449
|
|
Steve Jackson Games' Bulletin board. The same one that was
|
|
raided by the Secret Service.
|
|
|
|
Private Idaho 208.338.9227
|
|
|
|
& the Temple of the Screaming Electron
|
|
510.935.5845
|
|
|
|
Tronsbox 201.759.8450
|
|
Public access Unix system and home of Activist Times Inc.
|
|
|
|
Liberty BBS 614.798.9537
|
|
"Techno-Anarchy. Neophilia. Economic Freedom. Cryptography.
|
|
Anti-Statism. Personal Liberty. Laissez Faire. Privacy
|
|
Protection. Libertarianism. No Taxes. No Bullshit. Dedicated
|
|
to Freedom. Yours."
|
|
|
|
Hotel Chelsea 206-432-6904
|
|
Runs Waffle. Topics include rave announcements and info,
|
|
drugs, and high tech shennanigans. Seattle board.
|
|
ISDN BBS contact Christopher J Ambler (cambler@nike.calpoly.edu)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cyberpunk Catalogs
|
|
------------------------
|
|
|
|
Loompanics Unlimited
|
|
PO Box 1197
|
|
Port Townsend WA
|
|
98368
|
|
"The best book catalog in the world." Merchants of unusual
|
|
and controversial books. How controversial? Well, the catalog
|
|
is sectioned off into departments like: The Underground Economy,
|
|
Conducting Investigations, Guerilla Warfare, Murder and Torture,
|
|
Drugs, Heresy/Weird Ideas, Fake ID, and Reality Creation. The
|
|
source for off the wall, frightening books.
|
|
Scattered throughout the catalog are articles written by
|
|
notable authors on a multitude of fringe-culture topics.
|
|
Fast service and an unparalleled inventory, Loompanics is a
|
|
must. $5.00 for a catalog.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Re/Search Publications
|
|
70 Romolo St #B
|
|
San Francisco CA
|
|
94133
|
|
Matchless iconoclastic books. Each volume is a veritable
|
|
encyclopedia on a particular underground topic.
|
|
#6/7 is titled Industrial Culture Handbook. Includes
|
|
interviews with Monte Cazazza, Z'ev, Throbbing Gristle, SPK, and
|
|
Non. Filled with eerie, disturbing photos, the Industrial
|
|
Culture Handbook is definitely not for the weak-stomached!
|
|
Superb! $17.95.
|
|
#8/9 is the J.G. Ballard issue. Fiction, non-fiction, and
|
|
interviews with one of the most profound and frightening of
|
|
modern authors. $18.00
|
|
#11, my favorite, is all about Pranks! Pranksters like
|
|
Timothy Leary, Monte Cazazza, John Waters, and Jerry Casale (from
|
|
Devo) are some of the contributers in this issue. A sincere, in-
|
|
depth look at pranks that contest behavioral standards and
|
|
challenge conventional reality patterns.
|
|
Re/Search also sells great t-shirts of William Burroughs
|
|
packing a shotgun and of Survival Research Laboratories.
|
|
Regular subscribers to RE/Search ($40.00) get the next three
|
|
publications.
|
|
Free catalog.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Flatland
|
|
PO Box 2420
|
|
Fort Bragg CA
|
|
95437-2420
|
|
|
|
Flatland is a mail-order newsstand for hard-to-find
|
|
subversive and off-the-wall magazines, books, and pamphlets. All
|
|
the magazines and books in Flatland are extensively reviewed and
|
|
explained, so you aren't throwing caution to the wind when you
|
|
order from them. Flatland's selection is the best of the small
|
|
press. Free catalog.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Eden Press
|
|
11623 Slater "E"
|
|
PO Box 8410
|
|
Fountain Valley CA
|
|
92728
|
|
Similar to Loompanics, but more oriented towards
|
|
money-making opportunities (i.e., scams), and personal privacy.
|
|
Free catalog.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sound Photosynthesis
|
|
PO Box 2111
|
|
Mill Valley CA
|
|
94942-2111
|
|
Catalog of unusual video and audio tapes with sections on
|
|
computers, futurism, mind expansion, mind machines, music,
|
|
psychedelics, science fiction, and science today. Sizable
|
|
selection of high quality tapes, with updates to the catalog
|
|
arriving four times a year.
|
|
Tapes especially of interest:
|
|
Cyberthon with Jaron Lanier, Terence McKenna, Timothy Leary,
|
|
Erich Gullichson, and others. Five audio tapes are $45.00; three
|
|
video tapes are $105.00.
|
|
Project Xanadu: The World Library with Ted Nelson. $9.00
|
|
Cryonics, Life Extension, Cloning, and Other Realities by
|
|
Paul Seagall. $9.00
|
|
MegaBrain NeuroTek Talk with Michael Hutchison $9.00
|
|
How to Tell Your Friends from the Apes by Robert Anton
|
|
Wilson. Two tapes for $18.00.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Full Disclosure
|
|
PO Box 903
|
|
Libertyville IL
|
|
60048
|
|
Newspaper style publication catering to the "privacy" crowd.
|
|
Find out what Big Brother knows about you, the methods he uses,
|
|
and how to defeat them. Provides in-depth information on all
|
|
types of electrical surveillance (including computer security and
|
|
|
|
data protection). Mail surveillance, dumpster diving
|
|
(trashing), and fax interception are all common topics in Full
|
|
Disclosure. Also publishes a free catalog of surveillance books
|
|
and privacy services (including a voice-mail service). Sells the
|
|
complete tape sets of both Conferences on Computers, Freedom and
|
|
Privacy. $18.00 for a twelve issue subscription.
|
|
|
|
|
|
FringeWare, Inc
|
|
2507 Roehampton
|
|
Austin TX
|
|
78745-6964
|
|
From the FringeWare Mission Statement:
|
|
"FringeWare, Inc (FWI) is a commercial enterprise dedicated
|
|
to Community Development around a Fringe Marketplace....'Welcome
|
|
to Neotribalism in the Global Village, bucko!!!'
|
|
We focus on publications and events, and we also sell a few
|
|
products along the way, by engaging in the following business
|
|
activities:
|
|
- Publishing printed and electronic periodicals,
|
|
including FringeWare Review and Unshaved Truths.
|
|
- Moderating an Internet mailing list for information
|
|
from/about the cultural and technological fringes and providing
|
|
an automated list server for FWI archives.
|
|
- Operating a retail outlet and a mail order service,
|
|
selling mainstream software, gizmos, DIY supplies, wearable
|
|
subversive memes, etc. Our current retail outlet is Europa
|
|
Books, 2406 Guadalupe, Austin TX. Our mail order address is PO
|
|
Box 49921, Austin TX 78765-9921 (phone: 512.477.1366).
|
|
We've learned that people can survive quite nicely without
|
|
huge corporations, huge governments, and huge dogmas pushing
|
|
their lives. So here's the FringeWare alternative:
|
|
Start your own corporation. Trade with other like-minded
|
|
people throughout the Global Village. Encourage innovation and
|
|
promote entrepreneurship. Promote fair, cooperative business
|
|
practices. Emphasize products that facilitate creativity,
|
|
health, and play. Explore consciousness alternatives. Build a
|
|
community through advanced, available technologies, e.g.,
|
|
computer networks. Respect and consider the natural environment
|
|
by promoting sustainable resource use. Have fun, be weird, and
|
|
make what it takes to survive."
|
|
Below is an interview conducted over the Internet with the
|
|
founders of FringeWare, Inc., Paco Xander Nathan and Jon
|
|
Lebkowsky:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FringeWare, Inc. Interrogated
|
|
-----------------------------------
|
|
|
|
John: You started the FringeWare list on the Net awhile back.
|
|
How did you come up with the idea? Were there any collaborators?
|
|
|
|
PXN: Yeh, it was in November of 1992. I'd been working
|
|
in government and large megacorps for several years as a
|
|
programmer: IBM, AT&T Baal Labs, Motorola, NASA, etc. Did some
|
|
fun, interesting work, but was getting burned out on the corp
|
|
game. Then I sued Motorola on their drug-testing policy and got
|
|
into a major battle, with the US Labor Department on my side. So
|
|
I left to join a biotech start-up in 1990 and that went for
|
|
awhile, but I was getting the itch to leave ANY employer.
|
|
Meanwhile, I'd started writing for bOING-bOING, Mondo 2000,
|
|
and other "New Edge" magazines - where I'd met Jon Lebkowsky. He
|
|
also had a zine called Unshaved Truths that I started helping
|
|
with. Jon seemed like he was ready to jump outta his government
|
|
job, too!
|
|
Writing wasn't going to pay the bills, but my wife and I
|
|
(since divorced) had written some software called "Menstat" that
|
|
helps women track and estimate fertility cycles, using neural net
|
|
models licensed from the biotech firm I was working at. We tried
|
|
to sell our wares but could see it was going to be a hard battle
|
|
to break into distribution channels without "selling the farm."
|
|
So we picked up rights to sell software from some other
|
|
independent developers, and tried to handle some retailing of
|
|
our own.
|
|
Jon and I had been reviewing "fringe" items in the zines
|
|
- like Beyond Cyberpunk! and IBVA - and we'd seen how a lot of
|
|
good titles just didn't fit with mainstream distributors. So we
|
|
said: "Great, pull it all together and sell products from the
|
|
fringe!"
|
|
At about the same time, we needed to blast out some info via
|
|
e-mail. Jon and I both work closely with EFF-Austin, helping
|
|
plan and publicize events. Steven Levy was coming to speak at
|
|
University of Texas at Austin, and EFF-Austin was going to host a
|
|
book signing party at the local New Edge bookstore, Europa Books.
|
|
So we organized a mailing list to publicize the "gig" and
|
|
afterwards cut a deal to put in a "lease department" in Europa
|
|
Books to sell our "fringe wares." People liked the idea, we
|
|
incorporated, passed out flyers at EFF-Austin events, at
|
|
HoHo Con (hacker's conference held in Houston) and got the word
|
|
out via bOING-bOING, Mondo 2000, and the WELL that we were in
|
|
business. We've been so swamped ever since that we don't
|
|
know which part of the fractal is the singularity, if you catch
|
|
my drift. We're trying now to define the company, as well as cut
|
|
enough profit to employ ourselves, and it all seems to be
|
|
working. We maintain strong ties with Europa Books and
|
|
bOING-bOING and go in together on events. We've also pulled in
|
|
Unshaved Truths under the FWI business. I think our focus will
|
|
stay true to its origins: non-mainstream products, publications
|
|
and promotion. We do some consulting too, on electronic
|
|
publications, games, etc.
|
|
So the e-mail list is a semi-public info service.
|
|
It's freely available on the Internet and there's about 300
|
|
people on it, but many of the addresses are actually gatewayed
|
|
into local newsgroups and BBSes, plus many people use the
|
|
file-server without subscribing, so there's probably 500-1000
|
|
participating in the FringeWare info service.
|
|
|
|
JonL: Paco was marketing his software, Menstat, through
|
|
Sudona, and he told me one day that he was going to take on other
|
|
software packages to sell. Wheels turned...we slipped into a
|
|
verbal jam that led to the FringeWare concept. It fit perfectly
|
|
into our other gigs...as writers, and as members of the
|
|
cyberspace community (or of several cyberspace communities). The
|
|
mailing list was the core of the plan. We wanted to bring garage
|
|
tech and cyber culture crowds together to share ideas and to
|
|
perhaps build a community. And with FringeWare, Inc., we would
|
|
provide a market interface for those who were developing wares
|
|
but had no idea how to reach the public with them.
|
|
|
|
John: Wow! I had no idea you designed Menstat, Paco!
|
|
It's good to see a list on the Internet that is devoted to
|
|
street-tech. Some of the products FringeWare sells are pretty
|
|
obscure, so it's convenient to have a one-stop shopping catalog.
|
|
One of my favorite products FWI sells is the Day Dreamer. Such a
|
|
useful tool for a great price! Do either of you have a favorite
|
|
product(s)?
|
|
|
|
JonL: My favorite is probably "Beyond Cyberpunk," the
|
|
hypercard stack from the Computer Lab. I reviewed it for Mondo
|
|
2000, which means I spent a day before deadline studying it
|
|
intensely. It's a great overview of the pomo/sf scene, and it's
|
|
fun to use. I had to view it on somebody else's Mac; my machine
|
|
is a PC.
|
|
We've had a great time with the Innerquest machine,
|
|
which uses patterned flashing lights and rhythmic sounds to
|
|
enhance meditation. We've taken it to parties and let folks
|
|
sample it...amazing how well it shuts out the cacophony and lets
|
|
you zero in...
|
|
Of course, Paco's Menstat is quite a program. I
|
|
reviewed it, too, before we joined forces with FringeWare...but
|
|
the review wasn't printed - something about a man reviewing
|
|
software specifically for women. Y' know, gender stuff. What I
|
|
appreciated about it, though, was not so much what it would do
|
|
specifically, track menstrual cycle, but the way that it would
|
|
allow the user to get that body/machine interaction...a cyborg
|
|
effect of sorts. Not at all in an intrusive way, as in the
|
|
cyberpunk meme of body alterations and implants, but as a soft
|
|
support for body consciousness. And it allows you to build your
|
|
own medical history for reference, so that a doctor can compare
|
|
unusual events to her own biorhythmic cycles; rather than to the
|
|
kind of textbook cases they're inclined to use - because that is
|
|
usually all they've got.
|
|
|
|
PXN: Yep, Day Dreamer and Beyond Cyberpunk! are my
|
|
favorites, but I'd have to cite Robert Carr's "Smurfs in Hell"
|
|
series as our "most fringeful" vendor - maybe a bit severe for
|
|
some (religious) consumers, but definitely has my vote. Robert
|
|
did MacJesus and Mormonoids from the Deep, etc, and is the latest
|
|
Mondo 2000 (issue #8). As for "one-stop shopping," I'd really
|
|
like to move in to more DIY supplies, like 6.5 MHz crystals and
|
|
X-10 smart home controllers - things people can use to build
|
|
weird gizmos. But so far we've had to start out crawling before
|
|
we could walk, learning how to do the fringe retail before we got
|
|
into supplies, which are a tougher market.
|
|
By the way, on Menstat - there's been an article
|
|
in the latest Whole Earth Review about it but not too favorable.
|
|
Susie Bright did a really glowing review for Future Sex, however.
|
|
Even so, neither piece mentioned Suzanne Nathan, who really did a
|
|
lot of the design, i.e., she was the woman who designed this
|
|
software for other women to use, but the women reviewing it
|
|
haven't even bothered to talk with her about that yet. I dunno.
|
|
Not as many people using the software as there were encouraging
|
|
us to develop it! But maybe that will change with Newton,
|
|
wearable computers, etc.
|
|
|
|
John: I'll be sure to mention Suzanne Nathan in Technophilia!!
|
|
I'm positive that a lot of conceptions about computers will
|
|
change as they get smaller. I can definitely see a not-so-far-
|
|
future where it will be just as unusual to see someone with a
|
|
wearable computer as seeing someone with a watch or clothes...
|
|
|
|
JonL: <left for San Francisco to attend the Third Conference
|
|
of Computers, Freedom and Privacy>
|
|
|
|
PXN: Yeh, like with portable phones. I bet concert promoters
|
|
will be one of the first groups other than the SS to use 'em!
|
|
|
|
John: Yeah, I've also heard that Beyond Cyberpunk! is superb. I
|
|
have the demo disk for it, but I had the same problem Jon had - I
|
|
don't have a Mac! I wish the Computer Lab would come out with a
|
|
PC version of it. Is the Smurfs in Hell only for the Mac, too?
|
|
|
|
PXN: Yup. These days I develop for both Mac and Windows.
|
|
Apple really pulled a market coup by packaging the MacIntosh
|
|
Toolbox in ROM+ 68K instruction traps and by bundling Hypercard.
|
|
>From what I understand, both efforts were largely the genius of
|
|
Bill Atkinson, over a period of years and several Apple corp
|
|
administrations and against all prevailing business acumen.
|
|
Bottom line is that programmers had this incredible playground
|
|
for building games and muchomedia wares that would run on
|
|
anyone's Mac without licensing extra code. DOS and Windows STILL
|
|
don't have that kind of capability without a license. I worked
|
|
with the Computer Lab to help evaluate a DOS port, but it seems
|
|
like nothing will compare with what customers expect in terms of
|
|
performance/cost after a MacIntosh or Amiga. Bunch of greedy
|
|
bastards in the DOS software biz arena!
|
|
Smurfs in Hell titles are largely based off an
|
|
adventure game creation package on the Mac called "World Builder"
|
|
that's several years old! As much as I value the ubiquity of the
|
|
Microsoft market, I'd challenge anybody to touch that kinda claim
|
|
on "useful, reliable" software. Asymetrix's Toolbook is the only
|
|
thing I've seen that comes close to Hypercard, but it's glacially
|
|
slow and their licensing policy obviates most small development
|
|
projects - if you wanna stay legal:). The best route I've
|
|
seen lately on DOS is to co-opt those slide-presentation packages
|
|
that have been on DOS systems for about seven years - at least
|
|
they combine text, graphics, sequencing, and some hooks for
|
|
sound. We just started carrying a cool piece of erotic online
|
|
"literature" called Sexotica by Dragon's Eye productions and I
|
|
believe that's the way they are doing low-cost multimedia. I'll
|
|
have to check....
|
|
|
|
John: Also, that would be great if you sold those DIY supplies.
|
|
Maybe even sell certain "kits" for set prices or something.
|
|
|
|
PXN: We've put together an outline for "gift baskets" along
|
|
various memes - like a "hack" basket that has a 2600 shirt, some
|
|
Jolt cola, and other useful items for social engineering :).
|
|
Kinda cheesey idea, but...
|
|
|
|
John: I think that would be pretty funny... As members of the
|
|
"cyberculture" community, do you see the recent cyberpunk "boom"
|
|
just a fad?
|
|
|
|
PXN: Well, lots-o people have been living the meme for years,
|
|
so the mainstream-recognition of it will be telling. Like
|
|
in another example, I talked with an English friend of mine about
|
|
her background in the rave scene there and now in the US. The
|
|
mainstream recognition of raving in London led to a boom that
|
|
drew such huge numbers (and sleazy promoters) that the whole
|
|
scene collapsed. But then it re-emerged as an underground
|
|
phenomena again - even more vigorously.
|
|
Cyberpunk is too future-focused to be real/tangible for many
|
|
people and seems generally threatening to many. Like there's a
|
|
lot of machismo among the real hacker/cracker crowd and fadish
|
|
newcomers wouldn't be supported among them, IMHO. So the current
|
|
boom seems short-lived. It's just too dark and esoteric to have
|
|
a mass appeal. I mean, you can still stage dive and sport your Doc
|
|
Martins after several beers, but it gets tough to be "marginal"
|
|
or hack or whatever that way. Merging your head with a computer
|
|
just doesn't translate well to couch potato pursuits, so I don't
|
|
see the mass appeal other than through stereotypes and maybe
|
|
somebody's idea of clothing.
|
|
Hopefully, the cyberpunk scene will re-emerge from it's fad
|
|
as well as raving.
|
|
However, I do think that a lot of the cyber/computer meme
|
|
will spread into entertainment, like that's already happening at
|
|
mainstream concerts and dance clubs - even other than raves.
|
|
That's where the trend will take hold, for my money's worth. But
|
|
people will get used to having the computers being part of the
|
|
ambience, and the trend will fade into mechanics.
|
|
On another side, I find it interesting that when I talk with
|
|
people who've gone to college, say late twenties or earlier, then
|
|
e-mail addresses are almost a given and often preferred over
|
|
voice comm. That's a BIG shift that goes subversively beyond
|
|
fads - people want the computer link to reach other people now.
|
|
That's my hot button - I hate full duplex...
|
|
|
|
John: I sort of equate the interest in cyberpunk today with the
|
|
interest of hacking after WarGames. After that film, the hacker
|
|
population grew exponentially. Luckily, most of the "k00l d00dz"
|
|
fell by the wayside to grab the next trend. But the hacker
|
|
community DID benefit from this exposure to the mainstream. A
|
|
lot of hackers were directly or indirectly influenced by that
|
|
film, even though they may hate to admit it!
|
|
Plus, cyberpunk is too much centered on change to be a fad.
|
|
At the very heart of the cyberpunk movement, there is that
|
|
unwillingness to conform to the mainstream, and an inherent
|
|
ability to adapt and embrace new reality-maps and new technology.
|
|
|
|
PXN: Yeh, the publicity makes for cheaper, more readily
|
|
available wall art - good for inspiration :).
|
|
We've tried at bOING-bOING, under the direction of
|
|
Mark Frauenfelder and Carla Sinclair, to develop a sense of
|
|
"humor cum neophilia." I've called it "Mad Magazine meets
|
|
Mad Max." Somehow, people generally translate that into
|
|
"cyberpunk" and we've really tried not to be a strictly
|
|
cyberpunk zine.
|
|
Maybe as fads ebb and flow, people will get more comfortable
|
|
with terms that dance around the cyborg and "homo mutatis" themes
|
|
and then develop "finer granularity" in the common
|
|
language/concept.
|
|
The absolute most important subset of the "cyberpunk" genre,
|
|
IMHO, are the Cypherpunks - the crypto-anarchy movement coming
|
|
out of Berkeley. It's weird, starting small, but heady and
|
|
potentially mushrooming like a recycle of the Berkeley Free
|
|
Speech Movement three decades ago. Much of the first issue of
|
|
FringeWare Review is dedicated to a tutorial on the basis for
|
|
cypherpunks and how that enables the fringe marketplace/community
|
|
in a global village. Ie. "pop encryption," Internet remailers,
|
|
digital cash banks (already online!) - those are quickly forming
|
|
the new Underground - and light years beyond the auto-dialers and
|
|
blue boxes of WarGames! And it's great, they're also light years
|
|
ahead in terms of "positive" social impact, e.g., liberalizing
|
|
privacy.
|
|
|
|
John: Yeah, the cypherpunk movement is also very active in
|
|
Britain...
|
|
I agree with you that the cypherpunk movement is truly a
|
|
huge step forward in social-technology evolution. It's
|
|
definitely hard on the governments, since the encryption
|
|
techniques are so advanced that can't be broken even by the NSA.
|
|
It gives the underground community true autonomy. Digital online
|
|
banking futhers this autonomy by decentralizing the money system.
|
|
Unfortunately, corporate take-overs of this technology are
|
|
probably inevitable - most likely 5-10 years.
|
|
Do you see the commercialization of the Internet as
|
|
inescapable? If so, do you see the companies being progressive,
|
|
like FringeWare, or do you see the same companies that rule the
|
|
"real" world trying to stake their claim on the information
|
|
networks?
|
|
|
|
PXN: I think the issue is Multiplicity. Whereas currently in
|
|
business, much of the confluence gets channeled through some
|
|
rather strict gatekeepers - if I want to do biz, then I need a
|
|
DBA or incorporation, a commercial bank account, mucho tax form,
|
|
etc. The banks, credit bureaus, tax agencies, etc., are watching
|
|
and recording every step, and I'm liable for criminal charges if
|
|
there's any intentional attempt to keep my biz private. Other
|
|
people and agencies determine my business identity. Some of
|
|
them, like banks, are greedy bastards to which I'd rather not
|
|
have to fuck with at all. That's why so many small businesses
|
|
run on a cash basis, because otherwise they end up paying $50.00
|
|
a month for "commercial bank services," ie., that don't pay
|
|
interest, $100.00 a month CPA charges, $1000.00 a month
|
|
commercial office rent so that the bank believes you aren't a
|
|
fraud/scam, and all kinds of extras to the point that you'd be
|
|
better off either working for a big corp and/or dealing
|
|
contraband.
|
|
A central tenet of the cyberpunk aims is that Identity is
|
|
defined by what you know. A private key defines
|
|
an identity. I can have many private identities and transact
|
|
with people who also have multiple identities.
|
|
There's just really no way possible for a
|
|
"corporate takeover" to restrict my access to my own identity
|
|
(ies). And as for the banking, that's already online and as long
|
|
as some kind of market forces lure fringe characters into
|
|
commerce, I don't see how the centralization meme can interfere,
|
|
practically. Not until a whole new branch of mathematics gets
|
|
devised to defeat populist encryption, and even then the
|
|
"numbers" (traffic volume) would likely defeat any "central
|
|
authority."
|
|
I'm not saying that's utopia. Resources are scarce.
|
|
Humans are wired to fight for scarce resources. I see physical
|
|
world violence ahead over more and more of the natural resources.
|
|
But John Q. Banker won't have a whole lot of say over my
|
|
livelihood just because I didn't wear a suit to meet with him
|
|
about my commercial account, because digital banking will become
|
|
public domain software - that's what people don't understand yet.
|
|
Computer systems integrators (like IBM) didn't understand why
|
|
public domain/low cost spreadsheet software spelled their doom,
|
|
until several years after the fact. That's where cypherpunks
|
|
are perched right now.
|
|
As for the commercialization of the Internet - well, I think
|
|
NSFNet stinks. Any large operation like that will look good in
|
|
terms of performance, but smaller, more competitive ventures
|
|
would be better in the long run. I'm grateful that the U.S.
|
|
Government was interested to experiment with Internet, but I
|
|
don't want it to continue funding and continue dictating
|
|
appropriate use, even though most lawyers in the field think the
|
|
AUP isn't tight enough to hold in court. I guess I am just a
|
|
hard-line economic conservative when it comes down to it....
|
|
Eastern Europe and much of the Third World have now
|
|
"internetworked" via REALLY low end protocols - primarily
|
|
FidoNet. Because that's all the US would allow to be imported!!
|
|
So now they have a digital infrastructure that doesn't require
|
|
massive federal expenditure and can be/is as commercial as
|
|
anybody there pleases. I view Internet as a "bodiless" version
|
|
of the international phone system. I don't care if it's
|
|
commercial or not, just that I can make a call at a reasonable
|
|
rate. That's how many people are implementing the Internet.
|
|
I'm reaching you via a commercial Internet site that costs users
|
|
five dollars a month. Better than cable TV :)! Sure, it's very
|
|
commercial in the sense that AT&T and the federal government make
|
|
MUCHO more calls than I ever do, but that doesn't stop me from
|
|
making my living through the phone.
|
|
Didn't stop Steve Jackson from winning a lawsuit against the
|
|
federal government on Friday (March 12, 1993) either. I think
|
|
the best example is how a relatively small group of activists
|
|
used the phone system in China during Tienneman Square to subvert
|
|
their "local crack down" via phone/fax/e-mail. I
|
|
Also enjoy (as a former IBM employee) the manner in which almost
|
|
every US-based CEO has earnestly turned down the option to run
|
|
IBM!! That's an argument for multiplicity if I've ever seen one.
|
|
It still takes major capital to focus long-term effort, so I
|
|
don't see or want large firms to vanish. But they'll have to be
|
|
relatively adaptive large firms (like Apple or Microsoft) that
|
|
care more about boosting their own viability (ie, cutting losses,
|
|
mutating as needed, saving their own skins via brain over brawn)
|
|
than about maintaining status quo (like the silly firms that who
|
|
forced us into Vietnam).
|
|
I think a lot of firms on the Net will be smaller and even
|
|
more progressive, too - like FringeWare. Or maybe other examples
|
|
like AMiX, bOING- bOING, or even UPI for a medium-sized example.
|
|
I think Tierra software <artificial life software available for
|
|
free on the Net - John> would be a good analogy for the flux of
|
|
organism size as new constants and possibilities are introduced
|
|
into a "soup."
|
|
To sum, the "corporate takeover" is pretty much on the way
|
|
out so long as the cypherpunk agenda pursues its goals.
|
|
Corporations (and I own the half of one) are just "identities"
|
|
which the government preserves. The corps pay major kickbacks,
|
|
i.e., "return on investment," to the government to help maintain
|
|
their physical identity. Governments are based on violence, if
|
|
necessary, to preserve their order. Corps endorse governments to
|
|
use force when needed and underwrite official violent operations,
|
|
for the sake of self-preservation. It's a pretty high-end means
|
|
of preserving identity, in the physical world, which is what
|
|
corps were created for.
|
|
Now, we can create identity in cyberspace, capable of
|
|
transacting commerce like corps in the physical space, but not
|
|
requiring all those goddamn bullets and suits to defend it.
|
|
Read: lower overhead to sustain life, ergo trendline moves to
|
|
smaller total system size. IMHO, the grand US/British experiment
|
|
in government has been to spawn virtual lifeforms, i.e.,
|
|
corporations. Now we see potential for more efficient virtual
|
|
lifeforms to grow in significance. Like when the proto-rodents
|
|
scurried underfoot to avoid the death knell of starving
|
|
dinosaurs, perhaps.
|
|
Seriously, Tyrannosaurus Rex could tear the flesh, but
|
|
not the genome, outta those proto-rodents :). That's how I view
|
|
the inevitable commercialization of the Internet. There won't be
|
|
many monster lizards left to terrorize, but quite a few Sabre
|
|
Tooths and Wooly Mammoths, nonetheless!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Media Magic
|
|
PO Box 507
|
|
Nicasio CA
|
|
94946
|
|
The most complete catalog of books, videos, software, tapes,
|
|
and magazines about computer art and aesthetics. Virtual
|
|
reality, artificial life, fractals, cyberpunk, computer graphics,
|
|
and computer animation are just some of the sections in this
|
|
beautifully illustrated catalog. Has the largest selection of
|
|
computer animation videos to be found anywhere. Free catalog.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Brainiac
|
|
PO Box 1151
|
|
Canal Street Station
|
|
New York NY
|
|
10013-1151
|
|
Cyberpunk and counterculture books and merchandise.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Books By Phone
|
|
Box 522
|
|
Berkeley CA
|
|
94701
|
|
More controversial and subversive books can be found in this
|
|
catalog. Divided into sections like cyberpunk, drug literature,
|
|
marijuana, gardening (what kind of gardening do you think?),
|
|
psychoactives, and shamans. Free catalog. Books can be ordered
|
|
over phone.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Paladin Press
|
|
PO Box 1307
|
|
Boulder CO
|
|
80306
|
|
Warning, Will Robinson!
|
|
Paladin Press caters to all true red-blooded males. Heavy-
|
|
duty sections on explosives, weapons, terrorism, and survivalism.
|
|
My favorites include Deal the First Deadly Blow, Kill Without
|
|
Joy, and Bloody Iron (knife-fighting). Paladin Press also has
|
|
sections on action careers and paintball sports. Free catalog.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sherwood Communications Associates LTD
|
|
1310 Industrial Highway
|
|
Southhampton PA
|
|
18966
|
|
Free catalog of surviellance and phone equipment.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cyberpunk: The First Program of the Next Century
|
|
PO Box 12
|
|
Massapequa NY
|
|
11762
|
|
This 1990 Intercon Productions video highlights virtual
|
|
reality, industrial and electronic music, hacking, and interviews
|
|
with William Gibson, Timothy Leary, and Michael Synergy. $49.95
|
|
a tape.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cyberpunk Groups
|
|
----------------------
|
|
|
|
Global Jungle/Intuitive Magick Company
|
|
11901 Swearingen
|
|
Box 76
|
|
Austin TX
|
|
78758
|
|
Creators of avant-garde guerilla video and music art.
|
|
Today, video is the way thoughts and ideas are expressed,and
|
|
Global Jungle's videos reflect the dire world of the cyberpunks
|
|
and the unfortunate realities of media overload.
|
|
Dementia - The Video (one hour of music and video cut-up).
|
|
$20.00.
|
|
Video Hallucination, the Essential Guide for Entering
|
|
Millenia (guide of cyberpunk culture). $10.00.
|
|
Also sells Global Jungle T-shirts. $10.00
|
|
|
|
|
|
Technocracy, Inc.
|
|
Savannah OH
|
|
44874
|
|
Technocracy, Inc. was founded in 1918 when a group of
|
|
scientists, researchers, and economists formed an organization
|
|
headed by Howard Scott. In 1920, the group assumed the name
|
|
Technical Alliance. In 1933, the group incorporated and became
|
|
known as Technocracy, Inc.
|
|
Technocracy is not really a government, but a plan for
|
|
living based on the distribution of wealth and abundance to all
|
|
citizens.
|
|
Technocrats believe that all citizens should work less and
|
|
receive more, and let the work be done by technology. To the
|
|
Technocrat, making a living by working is ridiculous - all work
|
|
can and should be done by machines.
|
|
Technocracy, Inc. information briefs are $8.00 (plus postage
|
|
for the eleven pound package!) for a thousand sheets.
|
|
Technocracy, Inc. hasn't seemed to update the information on
|
|
these sheets since the early 1960's (the graphs only go up to the
|
|
50's!)! The Technocracy Digest is $10.00 for four issues.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Church of the Subgenius
|
|
PO Box 140306
|
|
Dallas TX
|
|
75214
|
|
The Church of the Subgenius the world's greatest clearly
|
|
fake religion. Followers "relax in the safety of their own
|
|
delusions." The central figure in Subgenius mythology is J.R.
|
|
"Bob" Dobbs, a salesman without peer that will save humanity from
|
|
the alien Xist invasion in 1995 - if you have sent a dollar to
|
|
the Church. Otherwise, he may still save you, or at least sell
|
|
you at a very high price!
|
|
Church Father Rev. Ivan Stang's rants are extremely popular
|
|
at raves. Most major cities have a college station that air his
|
|
"Hour of Slack" broadcasts. Call up your local college radio
|
|
station to find out...
|
|
Free brochure of available stickers, pamphlets, books, t-
|
|
shirts and other Subgenius debris.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Douglass Truth Institute
|
|
PO Box 733
|
|
Portland OR
|
|
97207
|
|
Subgenius-like lil' books and postcards. These postcards
|
|
are the greatest - like the Virtual2Realizer, Psycator, Strange
|
|
Attractor, and Intensi-plicator. Order the Douglass-Truth Story
|
|
booklet ($2.00) to get the whole story on this odd organization.
|
|
All six DTI postcards are $3.00. DTI also sells t-shirts and a
|
|
personalized Institute diploma for $10.00. Free catalog.
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Standby Program
|
|
PO Box 184
|
|
Prince St Station
|
|
New York NY
|
|
10012
|
|
The Standby Program is a collective of amateur TV and video
|
|
aficionados who would like the return to the day of the early TV
|
|
innovators. Their journal, Felix, (named after Felix the Cat,
|
|
the first transmitted television image) is a collection of video
|
|
producers, inventors, artists, and critics. $6.00 an issue.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Underworld Industries
|
|
PO Box 4060
|
|
Ann Arbor MI
|
|
48106-4060
|
|
Underworld Industries is a world-wide information network
|
|
that encourage free-thinking and creativity. UWI offers a chance
|
|
to reach out to others with similar interests who may be able to
|
|
provide assistance. It is a low-pressure avant-garde collective.
|
|
Each UWI "chapter" is called a "node," and carries on with
|
|
its own business, but can help other nodes with similar interests
|
|
by providing information, resources, and contacts.
|
|
Present nodes include Ann Arbor, Michigan; Grahamstown,
|
|
South Africa; Toronto; Chicago; Cleveland; Omaha, Nebraska; and
|
|
Windsor, Ontario.
|
|
UWI's primary node is the peerless Jon Van Oast, who
|
|
publishes two zines, The Lunatic Fringe (high technology), and
|
|
The Scene (comic). Jon is also involved in "experimental" high
|
|
tech arts like computer video and animation.
|
|
UWI002 (Grahamstown) is heavily into the local comix and
|
|
music scene.
|
|
UWI004 (Chicago) is presently working on a cyberpunk zine.
|
|
UWI005 (Cleveland) is writing Technophilia.
|
|
UWI006 (Omaha) publishes SOUND News and Art, a popular
|
|
magazine available hardcopy and on the Internet.
|
|
UWI007 (Windsor, Ontario) is into visual arts.
|
|
UWI008 (Columbus OH), the Evolution Control Committee, is
|
|
working on projects with electronics, desktop publishing, audio
|
|
sampling, and computer networking. Maintains large libary of
|
|
unusual records and tapes for sampling.
|
|
Underworld Industries' FTP site is 141.214.4.135. UWI
|
|
Rules, rosters, project lists, and e-zines can be found there.
|
|
The current UWI001 project is UWI's Guide to the "Real
|
|
World". This is an online database (accessible via e-mail on the
|
|
Internet) of interesting and unusual places in a given city.
|
|
Let's say you were going on a trip to Cleveland. You send a
|
|
message to the database specifying "Cleveland" and it will mail
|
|
you a file of all the weird places to visit in the city
|
|
(addresses, phone numbers, directions and comments included).
|
|
The database can both be accessed and built onto via e-mail. A
|
|
help file can be found at the UWI FTP site.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Extropian Institute
|
|
PO Box 57306
|
|
Los Angeles CA
|
|
90057-0306
|
|
The Extropy Institute are for those who want a better
|
|
future through technology and personal advancement. Extropians
|
|
are reality-based, not some starry-eyed, "flying jet car"
|
|
futurists. Their philosophy goes beyond humanism to the
|
|
transhuman and even the posthuman level.
|
|
Reproduced here are the Extropian Principles written by the
|
|
director of ExI, Max More:
|
|
The Extropian Principles V.2.0
|
|
|
|
1. Boundless Expansion - Seeking more intelligence, wisdom, and
|
|
personal power, an unlimited lifespan, and removal of natural,
|
|
social, biological, and psychological limits to
|
|
self-actualization and self - realization. Overcoming limits on
|
|
our personal and social progress and possibilities. Expansion
|
|
into the universe and infinite existence.
|
|
Beginning as mindless matter, parts of nature developed in a
|
|
slow evolutionary advance which produced progressively more
|
|
powerful brains. Chemical reactions generated tropistic
|
|
behavior, which was superseded by instinctual and Skinnerian
|
|
stimulus- response behavior, and then by conscious learning and
|
|
experimentation. With the advent of the conceptual consciousness
|
|
of humankind, the rate of advancement sharply accelerated as
|
|
intelligence, technology, and the scientific method could be
|
|
applied to our condition. Extropians seek the continuation and
|
|
fostering of this process, transcending biological and
|
|
psychological limits as we proceed into posthumanity.
|
|
In aspiring to transhumanity, and beyond to posthumanity,
|
|
we reject natural and traditional limitations on our
|
|
possibilities. We champion the rational use of science and
|
|
technology to void limits on lifespan, intelligence, personal
|
|
power, freedom, and experience. We are immortalists because we
|
|
recognize the absurdity of accepting "natural" limits to our
|
|
lives. For many the future will bring an exodus from Earth - the
|
|
womb of human and transhuman intelligence - expanding the
|
|
frontiers of humanity (and posthumanity) to include space
|
|
habitats, other planets and this solar system, neighboring
|
|
systems, and beyond. By the end of the 21st century, more people
|
|
may be living off-planet than on Earth.
|
|
Resource limits are not immutable. The market price system
|
|
encourages conservation, substitution and innovation, preventing
|
|
any need for a brake on growth and progress. Expansion into
|
|
space will vastly expand the energy and resources for our
|
|
civilization. Living extended transhuman lifespans will foster
|
|
intelligent use of resources and environment. Extropians affirm
|
|
a rational, market- mediated environmentalism aimed at
|
|
maintaining and enhancing our biospheres (whether terrestrial or
|
|
extra-terrestrial). We oppose apocalyptic environmentalism,
|
|
which hallucinates catastrophes, issues a stream of doomsday
|
|
predictions, and attempts to strangle our continued evolution.
|
|
No mysteries are sacrosanct, no limits unquestionable; the
|
|
unknown must yield to the intelligent mind. We seek to
|
|
understand and to master reality up to and beyond any currently
|
|
foreseen limits.
|
|
2. Self Transformation - A commitmant to continual moral,
|
|
intellectual, and physical self-improvement, using reason and
|
|
critical thinking, personal responsibility, and experimentation.
|
|
Biological and neurological augmentation.
|
|
We affirm reason, critical inquiry, intellectual
|
|
independence, and intellectual honesty. We reject blind faith
|
|
and passive, comfortable thinking that leads to dogmatism,
|
|
religion, and conformity. A commitment to positive
|
|
self-transformation requires us to critically analyze our current
|
|
beliefs, behaviors, and strategies. Extropians therefore choose
|
|
to place their self-value in continued development rather than
|
|
"being right." We prefer analytical thought to fuzzy but
|
|
comfortable delusion, empiricism to mysticism, and independent
|
|
evaluation to conformity. Extropians affirm a philosophy of life
|
|
but distance themselves from religious thinking because of its
|
|
blind faith, debasement of human dignity, and systemized
|
|
irrationality.
|
|
Perpetual self-improvement - physical, intellectual,
|
|
psychological, and ethical - requires us to continually
|
|
re-examine our lives. Extropians seek to better themselves, yet
|
|
without denying their current worth. The desire to improve
|
|
should not be confused with the belief that one is lacking in
|
|
current value. But valuing oneself in the present cannot mean
|
|
self-satisfaction, since an intelligent and probing mind can
|
|
always envisage a superior self in the future. Extropians are
|
|
committed to expanding wisdom, fine- tuning understanding of
|
|
rational behavior, and enhancing physical and intellectual
|
|
capacities.
|
|
Extropians are commitment and experimentalists. We are
|
|
commitment because we track the latest research for more
|
|
efficient means of achieving our goals. We are experimentalists
|
|
because we are willing to explore and test the novel means of
|
|
self- transformation that we uncover. In our quest for
|
|
advancement to the transhuman stage, we rely on our own
|
|
judgement, seek our own path, and reject both blind conformity
|
|
and mindless rebellion. Extropians frequently diverge from the
|
|
mainstream because they do not allow themselves to be chained by
|
|
dogmas, whether religious, political, or social. Extropians
|
|
choose their values and behavior reflectively, standing firm when
|
|
required but responding flexibly to novel conditions.
|
|
Personal responsibility and self-determination goes hand-in-
|
|
hand with neophilic self-experimentation. Extropians take
|
|
responsibility for the consequences of our choices, refusing to
|
|
blame others for the risks involved in our free choices.
|
|
Experimentation and self-transformation require risks; Extropians
|
|
wish to be free to evaluate the risks and potential benefits for
|
|
ourselves, applying our own judgement and wisdom, and assuming
|
|
responsibility for the outcome. We neither wish others to force
|
|
standards upon us through legal regulation, nor do we wish others
|
|
to follow our path. Personal-responsibility and
|
|
self-determination are incompatible with authoritarian
|
|
centralized control, which stifles the free choices and
|
|
spontaneous ordering of autonomous persons.
|
|
External coercion, whether for the purported "good for the
|
|
whole" or the paternalistic protection of the individual, is
|
|
unacceptable to us. Compulsion breeds ignorance and weakens the
|
|
connection between personal choice and personal outcome, thereby
|
|
destroying personal responsibility. The proliferation of
|
|
outrageous liability lawsuits, governmental safety regulations,
|
|
and the rights-destroying drug war result from ignoring these
|
|
facts of life. Extropians are rational individualists, living by
|
|
their own judgement, making critical, informed, and free choices
|
|
and accepting responsibility for those choices.
|
|
As commitment, Extropians study advanced, emerging, and
|
|
future technologies for their self-transformative potential in
|
|
enhancing our abilities and freedom. We support biomedical
|
|
research with the goal of understanding and controlling the aging
|
|
process. We are interested in any plausible means of conquering
|
|
death, including interim measures like biostasis/cryonics, and
|
|
long-term possibilities such as migration out of biological
|
|
bodies into superior vehicles ("uploading").
|
|
We practice and plan for biological and neurological
|
|
augmentation through means such as effective cognitive enhancers
|
|
or "smart drugs," computers and electronic networks, General
|
|
Semantics and other guides to effective thinking, meditation and
|
|
visualization techniques, accelerated learning strategies, and
|
|
applied cognitive psychology, and soon neural - computer
|
|
integration. We do not accept the limits imposed on us by our
|
|
natural heritage, instead we apply the evolutionary gift of our
|
|
rational, empirical intelligence in order to surpass human limits
|
|
and enter the transhuman and posthuman stages of the future.
|
|
3. Intelligent Technology - Applying science and technology to
|
|
transcend "natural" limits imposed by our biological heritage and
|
|
environment.
|
|
Extropians do not denigrate technology, no matter how
|
|
radically different from historical norms, as "unnatural." The
|
|
term 'natural' is largely devoid of meaning. We might say that
|
|
any technological means of altering the environment or the human
|
|
body is unnatural since it changes the previously existing state
|
|
of nature. But we can also say that applying our intelligence
|
|
through technology is natural to humans, and so changing both
|
|
outside nature and our own biological nature can be regarded as
|
|
natural.
|
|
Extropians affirm the necessity and desirability of science
|
|
and technology. Practical means should be used to promote our
|
|
goals of immortality, expanding intelligence, and greater
|
|
physical abilities, rather than the wishful thinking, ignorant
|
|
mysticism, and credulity, so common to the New Agers. Science
|
|
and technology, as disciplined forms of intelligence, should be
|
|
fostered, and we should seek to employ them in eradicating the
|
|
limits to our Extropian visions.
|
|
We do not share common cultural fears of technology, such as
|
|
those embodied in the story of Frankenstein and the myth of the
|
|
Tower of Babel. We favor careful and cautious development of
|
|
powerful technologies, but refuse to stifle development on the
|
|
basis of fear of the unknown. Extropians therefore oppose the
|
|
anti-human "Back to the Pleistocene", anti-civilization rhetoric
|
|
of the extreme environmentalists. Going backwards means death
|
|
for billions and stagnation and oppression for the rest.
|
|
Intelligent use of biotechnology, nanotechnology, space and other
|
|
technologies, in conjunction with the market system, can remove
|
|
resource constraints and discharge environmental pressures.
|
|
We see technological development not as in end in itself,
|
|
but as a means to the achievement and development of our values,
|
|
ideals, and visions. We seek to employ science and technology to
|
|
remove limits to growth, and to radically transform both the
|
|
internal and external conditions of existence.
|
|
We see the coming years and decades as being a time of
|
|
enormous changes, changes which will vastly expand our
|
|
opportunities, our freedom, and our abilities. Genetic
|
|
engineering, interventive gerontology (life extension), space
|
|
migration, smart drugs, more powerful computers and smarter
|
|
programming, neural-computer interfaces, virtual reality, swift
|
|
electronic communications, artificial intelligence, neural
|
|
networks, artificial life, neuroscience, and nanotechnology will
|
|
contribute to accelerating change.
|
|
4. Spontaneous Order - Promotion of decentralized,
|
|
voluntaristic social coordination mechanisms. Fostering of
|
|
tolerance, diversity, long-term planning, individual incentives
|
|
and personal liberties.
|
|
Spontaneous orders are self-generating, organic orders and
|
|
differ from constructed, centrally directed orders. Both types
|
|
of order have their place, but spontaneous orders are vital in
|
|
our social interactions. Spontaneous orders have properties that
|
|
make them especially conducive to Extropian goals and values and
|
|
spontaneous ordering processes can be found at work in many
|
|
fields. The evolution of complex biological forms is one
|
|
example; others include the adjustment of ecosystems, artificial
|
|
life demonstrations, memetics (the study of replicating
|
|
information patterns), computational markets (agoric open
|
|
systems), brain function and neurocomputation.
|
|
The principle of spontaneous order is embodied in the free
|
|
market system - a system that does not yet exist in pure form.
|
|
The free market allows complex institutions to develop, encourage
|
|
innovation, rewards individual initiative and reinforces personal
|
|
responsibility, fosters diversity, and safeguards political
|
|
freedom. Market economies ensure the technological and social
|
|
progress essential to the Extropian philosophy. We reject the
|
|
technocratic idea of central control by self-proclaimed experts.
|
|
No group of experts can understand and control the endless
|
|
complexity of an economy and society. Expert knowledge is best
|
|
harnessed and transmitted through the superbly efficient
|
|
mediation of the free market's price signals - signals that
|
|
embody more information than any person or group could ever
|
|
gather.
|
|
Sustained progress and intelligent, rational decision-making
|
|
requires the diverse sources of information and differing
|
|
perspectives made possible by spontaneous orders. Central
|
|
direction constrains exploration, diversity, freedom, and
|
|
dissenting opinion. Respecting spontaneous order means
|
|
supporting voluntaristic, autonomy maximizing institutions as
|
|
opposed to rigidly hierarchical, authoritarian groupings with
|
|
their bureaucratic structure, suppression of innovation and
|
|
diversity, and smothering of individual incentives.
|
|
Understanding spontaneous orders makes us highly suspicious of
|
|
"authorities" where these are imposed on us, and skeptical of
|
|
coercive leaders, unquestioning obedience, and unexamined
|
|
traditions.
|
|
Making effective use of a spontaneously ordering social
|
|
system requires us to be tolerant and peaceful, allowing others
|
|
to pursue their lives as they see fit, just as we expect to be
|
|
left to follow our own paths. We can best achieve mutual
|
|
progress by interacting cooperatively and benevolently toward all
|
|
who do not threaten our lives, and by supporting diversity of
|
|
opinion and behavior. Extropians are guided in their actions by
|
|
studying the fields of strategy, decision theory and game theory.
|
|
These make clear to us the benefits of cooperation and encourage
|
|
the long-term thinking appropriate to persons seeking an
|
|
unlimited lifespan.
|
|
|
|
5. Dynamic Optimism - Positive expectations to fuel dynamic
|
|
action. Promotion of a positive, empowering attitude towards our
|
|
individual future and that of all intelligent beings. Rejection
|
|
both of blind faith and stagnant pessimism.
|
|
We espouse a positive, dynamic, empowering attitude. To
|
|
successfully pursue our values and live our lives we must reject
|
|
gloom, defeatism, and the common cultural focus on negatives.
|
|
Problems - technical, social, psychological, ecological - should
|
|
be acknowledged but not allowed to dominate our thinking and our
|
|
direction. We respond to gloom and nay-saying by exploration and
|
|
promotion of new possibilities. Extropians hold to both short
|
|
and long-term optimism: In the short term we can cultivate our
|
|
lives and enhance ourselves; in the long term the positive
|
|
potentials for intelligent beings are virtually limitless.
|
|
We question limits that others take for granted, We look at
|
|
the acceleration in scientific and technical knowledge, ascending
|
|
standards of living, and social and moral evolution and project
|
|
further advances. More researchers today than all past history
|
|
strive to understand aging, control disease, upgrade computers,
|
|
and develop biotechnology and nanotechnology. Technological and
|
|
social evolution continue to accelerate, leading, some of us
|
|
expect, to a Singularity - a future time when many of the rules
|
|
of life will so radically diverge from those familiar to us, and
|
|
progress will be so rapid, that we cannot now comprehend that
|
|
time. Extropians will maintain the acceleration of progress and
|
|
encourage it in beneficial directions.
|
|
Adopting dynamic optimism means focusing on possibilities
|
|
and opportunities, and being alert to solutions and
|
|
potentialities. And it means refusing to whine about what cannot
|
|
be avoided, learning from mistakes rather than dwelling on them
|
|
in a victimizing, punishing manner. Dynamic optimism requires us
|
|
to take the initiative, to jump up and to plough into our
|
|
difficulties with an attitude that says we can achieve our goals,
|
|
rather than to sit back and immerse ourselves in defeatist
|
|
thinking.
|
|
Dynamic optimism is not compatible with passive faith.
|
|
Faith in a better future is confidence that an external force,
|
|
whether God, State, or society, will solve our problems. Faith,
|
|
or the Polyanna/Dr.Pangloss variety of optimism, breeds passivity
|
|
by encouraging the belief that progress will be affected by
|
|
others. Faith requires a determined belief in external forces
|
|
and so encourages dogmatism and irrational rigidity of belief and
|
|
behavior. Dynamic optimism fosters activity and intelligence,
|
|
telling us that we are capable of improving life through our own
|
|
efforts. Oppotunities and possibilities are everywhere, waiting
|
|
for us to seize them and create new ones. To achieve our goals,
|
|
we must believe in ourselves, work hard, and be open to revise
|
|
our strategies.
|
|
Where others see difficulties, we see challenges. Where
|
|
others give up, we move forward. Where others say enough is
|
|
enough, we say: Forward! Upward! Outward! We espouse personal,
|
|
social, and technological evolution in ever higher forms.
|
|
Extropians see too far and change too rapidly to feel future
|
|
shock. Let us advance the way of evolutionary progress.
|
|
Membership in the Extropy Institute is $30.00 US, $35 Canada
|
|
and Mexico, and $40.00 overseas. Members receive Extropy, the
|
|
newsletter Exponent, and information on upcoming events.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Brain Machines
|
|
--------------------
|
|
|
|
Sound and Light
|
|
---------------
|
|
Flickering light has long been known to cause alterations in
|
|
consciousness and induce trances. Older generations knew this:
|
|
even primitive humans gazed into fires and some early physicists
|
|
in classical times experimented with flickering sunlight.
|
|
Sound, too, has often been thought of to hold "magical"
|
|
powers. Primitive religions and the ancient mystery cults of the
|
|
Hellenistic period both used rhythmic drum beating to induce
|
|
states of consciousness.
|
|
In this age, electronically produced sound and flickering
|
|
LED lights take the place of fire and drum beats.
|
|
Right before World War II, a startling discovery was made in
|
|
the field of neuroscience. Scientists discovered that the
|
|
electrical activity of the brain would take on the same rhythm of
|
|
a flashing light. This process of assimilation became known as
|
|
entrainment. Later studies found that certain flicker
|
|
frequencies produced surprising beneficial effects, including
|
|
increased standardized test scores, enhances memory, and greater
|
|
communication between the two hemispheres of the brain. The
|
|
addition of synthesized beat sounds were later added to enhance
|
|
the overall effects.
|
|
|
|
Brainwave Patterns
|
|
Beta (13+ Hz) - the alert stage we are all familiar with -
|
|
the "fight or flight" feeling. Higher beta frequencies increases
|
|
headaches, and over the long term increases risks for heart
|
|
attacks.
|
|
Alpha (8-12 Hz) - still fully alert, but much more relaxed.
|
|
Theta (4-7 Hz) - the dreamy state right before sleep; in
|
|
theta stage subjects become more receptable to learning.
|
|
Delta (1-3 Hz) - sleep.
|
|
Light and sound machines usually consist of opaque glasses
|
|
with built in flashing lights and a pair of headphones with
|
|
synthesized synchronized beeping sounds.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ganzfeld
|
|
--------
|
|
Basically, "ganzfeld" is a mind deprivation device that
|
|
eliminates any ocular stimulation.
|
|
The mind, as it turns out, works best when the eyes are
|
|
presented with blank but brightly lit and unwavering field of
|
|
color.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sensory Deprivation Tanks
|
|
-------------------------
|
|
A saline-solution filled coffin-like chamber, in which
|
|
someone lies in complete darkness. This is supposed to eliminate
|
|
all external sights and sounds and create a womb-like
|
|
environment.
|
|
|
|
The mind machine industry is still by and large a do it
|
|
yourself - hobbyists are experimenting with their brains. And
|
|
unlike meditation, which requires hours of quiet and years of
|
|
training, brain machines do the work for you!
|
|
Is this stuff safe? What do our benevolent government
|
|
agencies have to say about these devices? Well, they are
|
|
completely safe. No danger can come from using any of the brain
|
|
machines listed in this book, unless you are an epileptic and
|
|
could have seizures from the flickering light. And as of yet,
|
|
the FDA has no ruling on brain machines, except for a few that
|
|
produce electrical charges. But if you are interested, buy them
|
|
soon - you never know when the FDA Gestapo will storm in and take
|
|
them away.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mind Machines
|
|
-------------------
|
|
|
|
Day Dreamer (It's like tripping without the drugs! - Kelly Green,
|
|
inventor and distributor)
|
|
The Day Dreamer, alternately known as the KaleidoSky and the
|
|
LSD Flight simulator, is the ultimate low-end brain toy.
|
|
The brainchild of Colorado developer Kelly Green, the Day
|
|
Dreamer is a purple plastic SCUBA-like mask that fits over the
|
|
eyes and nose. The wearer looks at the sun and blows into a
|
|
little hole located at the bottom of the mask, which causes an
|
|
inner disk to rotate. This rotation generates, according to the
|
|
pamphlet, "a flickering effect of the sun's full color spectrum
|
|
on your closed eyelids." The result is a fascinating pattern
|
|
panorama of colors, shapes, and patterns. This same effect is
|
|
probably what Archimedes and his friends saw when they spun a
|
|
wheel around and looked at the sun through closed eyes and
|
|
induced trances and hypnosis.
|
|
Since the Day Dreamer uses direct sunlight, it is the only
|
|
brain machine/toy that uses a true FULL spectrum.
|
|
Timothy Leary says, "The KaleidoSky is a wonderful binocular
|
|
window into the Neuroverse."
|
|
At only 14.95 a unit, the Day Dreamer is one of the best
|
|
bargains in this book. It can be ordered from FringeWare or
|
|
direct from Alpha Odysseys (PO Box 17997, Boulder CO 80308).
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mastermind DLS
|
|
--------------
|
|
One of the most sophisticated, flexible, and affordable mind
|
|
machines on the market. The Mastermind DLS is the first light
|
|
and sound machine that provides easy upgrading via software
|
|
modules.
|
|
Features of the DLS include 50 programs in five modes
|
|
(sleep, relax, energy, learn, creativity/visualization), four
|
|
different synthesized sounds, and manual control of light
|
|
brightness and sound volume. Plus you can play audio tapes and
|
|
let the music drive the visual display.
|
|
Specially encoded cassettes and CDs that come with expansion
|
|
modules can be uploaded to the Mastermind DLS and stored in non-
|
|
volatile memory, which means you would never really have to buy
|
|
another mind machine again.
|
|
The Mastermind DLS is $295.95 and can be ordered from Tools
|
|
for Exploration.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Synergizer
|
|
----------
|
|
Synetic Systems' Synergizer turns the IBM PC into a
|
|
professional level brain machine. GUI interface can create
|
|
sessions of any desired length and complexity.
|
|
Features include independent control of each ear and eye,
|
|
pulse rate, shift rate via a timed "ramp," different sounds can
|
|
sweep left and right, and has a multi-voiced sound synthesizer,
|
|
and waveforms can be manipulated on-screen. Sessions can be
|
|
saved on disk.
|
|
The Synergizer's software is upgradeable, and future
|
|
releases will include a Mastermind DLS programming interface.
|
|
Synergizer comes with circuit board, software, glasses and
|
|
headphones. Requires DOS 3.1+, 640K, hard disk, and mouse.
|
|
The Synergizer costs $595.00 and can be purchased from Tools
|
|
for Exploration or Synetic Systems.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Alpha Stim CS
|
|
-------------
|
|
The Alpha Stim CS has the distinction of being the only FDA-
|
|
approved brain machine. Its used by health professionals and
|
|
sports trainers to alleviate severe, chronic pain. The Alpha
|
|
Stim CS sends electrical pulses to the desired area and the body
|
|
responds to the signals with a deluge of endorphins to relieve
|
|
the pain.
|
|
Alpha Stim CS also has a "transcranial electrostimulation"
|
|
mode. The electrodes are attached to the temples and the
|
|
electrical charges are sent directly to the brain, which produces
|
|
an "electronarcosis." This brings the user into a state of deep
|
|
relaxation and heightened awareness.
|
|
Unfortunately, the Alpha Stim CS is only available to
|
|
licensed medical professionals or by prescription.
|
|
Cost $750. The company that used to produce the Alpha Stim
|
|
CS has recently merged with Tools for Exploration, so contact
|
|
them for the latest information.
|
|
Nustar II
|
|
Instead of lights and sound used to entrain the brain, the
|
|
Nustar II uses electrical pulses via electrodes attached to the
|
|
brain. Sound scary? Don't worry, all the levels of intensity
|
|
are way below the limits set up by the FDA.
|
|
The console includes controls for adjusting frequency and
|
|
intensity. Comes with a four electrode band with a velcro
|
|
closure.
|
|
Cost $399.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mind Mirror
|
|
-----------
|
|
Called a "thought processing appliance" by its creator
|
|
Timothy Leary, Mind Mirror helps the user reprogram his or her
|
|
mind, which has been previously conditioned by genetic chance and
|
|
external stimuli.
|
|
Mind Mirror interacts with the brain in four areas:
|
|
emotions, mental ability, social interaction, and bioenergy.
|
|
Subprograms of Mind Mirror, disguised as games, deal with career,
|
|
education, and love/home life.
|
|
$19.95 from Fringeware.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Calmpute
|
|
--------
|
|
Calmpute is a combination software/biofeedback machine.
|
|
Since the user is in direct contact with the computer, there is a
|
|
literal mind-computer interface.
|
|
Calmpute consists of a mouse-like device that attaches into
|
|
the serial port on the back of the computer. This device has
|
|
finger slots made of galvanic skin response material instead of
|
|
regular mouse buttons. The mouse send the stress response to the
|
|
computer which runs a variety of programs, including word
|
|
association games, physical stress tests. There is even a racing
|
|
game called Calmprix, in which your car goes faster the more
|
|
relaxed you are - supposedly this teaches how to work well under
|
|
pressure.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mindgear PR2
|
|
------------
|
|
Standard light and sound machine fare - binaural beats,
|
|
synchronized with light, independent frequencies for right and
|
|
left eyes. Twenty five preset programs and enough ROM available
|
|
for up to ten personal programs.
|
|
Comes with control unit, headphones, and red light goggles.
|
|
$349.00 from Tools for Exploration.
|
|
The Shaman
|
|
The least expensive but still adequate mind machine.
|
|
Features include flashing lights synchronized with binaural
|
|
beats, frequencies range from 1-20 Hz, programmable "ramp time",
|
|
light intensity, and beat volume.
|
|
$195.00 from Tools for Exploration.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stress Shield
|
|
-------------
|
|
The Stress Shield is a visor that shuts out outside light
|
|
completely, while the battery powered Shield produces a red,
|
|
green, or yellow "void." By producing this undifferentiated
|
|
visual field, the wearer becomes more introspective and calms
|
|
down.
|
|
The Stress Shield is the most economical and effective
|
|
ganzfeld device on the market.
|
|
$149 from Tools for Exploration.
|
|
|
|
|
|
IBVA
|
|
Psychic Labs, Inc.
|
|
280 Park Ave South, Suite 7G
|
|
New York NY
|
|
10010
|
|
The IBVA is one of the strangest, most powerful, and most
|
|
fascinating brain machines listed here.
|
|
Basically, the IBVA (Interactive Brainwave Visual Analyzer)
|
|
is a combination electroencephalograph (EEG) and biofeedback
|
|
machine. The user straps on a headband and the brainwave data is
|
|
transmitted to a Macintosh. The IBVA software reads these digtal
|
|
signals and displays the information in either a 3D graph or a
|
|
standard EEG display, both in real time. This allows for
|
|
instantaneous recognition of brainwave transitions and activity.
|
|
Brainwave data can be saved on disk, or exported to any
|
|
electronically addressable device (including CD and laser disc
|
|
players), or even be transmitted over networks or modems.
|
|
The best function of the IBVA is that the brainwave
|
|
activity can be applied to other functions and software, such as
|
|
controlling graphics, sounds, QuickTime animations, MIDI devices
|
|
(you can play music with your brain!). The applications of this
|
|
device are virtually unlimited.
|
|
IBVA Developer System costs $995.
|
|
LR IBVA Developer System (which allows for simultaneous
|
|
right and left halves of the brain, or two persons) costs $1995.
|
|
You'll need a Mac running at least System 6.07 with 8 megs
|
|
main memory, and an Apple MIDI Manager.
|
|
Quicktime animations that can be controlled by IBVA are
|
|
available from:
|
|
|
|
|
|
BIGTWIN
|
|
attn: Jim Suhre
|
|
34-19 32nd St, Suite 3
|
|
Long Island City NY
|
|
11106
|
|
718.937.1143
|
|
The best QT movie is called Escape From Metropolis, in which
|
|
a polluted, ugly, urban scene is replaced with a beautiful, quiet
|
|
nature scene as the mind becomes more relaxed. Cost: $50 plus
|
|
tax.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Brain Machine Catalogs
|
|
----------------------------
|
|
|
|
Tools for Exploration
|
|
4460 Redwood Highway Suite 2
|
|
San Rafael CA
|
|
94903
|
|
Big catalog of mind machines, flotation tanks, and self-
|
|
help/hypnosis tapes. Tools for Exploration sells the more
|
|
popular light and sound machines, plus the harder to find and
|
|
downright strange ones as well. TFE also sells useful items like
|
|
an computer screen ionizer.
|
|
They sell a lot of weird things too, like bio-circuitry, Qi-
|
|
Gong machines, and body-earth harmonizers (!?!). Yeah, I think
|
|
I'd be much happier if I had one of those...
|
|
Catalog is $5.00. Supplements arrive regularly.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Zentech
|
|
Box 138
|
|
Morgan Bay Road
|
|
Surry ME
|
|
04684
|
|
More light and sound machines and biocircuitry. A little
|
|
cheaper than most catalogs, and tends to only stock affordable
|
|
products. Many of the machines in Zentech are within the
|
|
$180-700 range.
|
|
Free catalog.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mindware
|
|
1-800-447-0477
|
|
1803 Mission Street, Suite 414
|
|
Santa Cruz CA
|
|
95060
|
|
Catalog of self-improvement, educational, and personal
|
|
productivity computer tools. Mindware sells all sorts of
|
|
interesting software, including Timothy Leary's Mind Mirror.
|
|
Seems to be moving to CD-ROM titles more as time goes on.
|
|
Free catalog.
|
|
|
|
|
|
MegaMind
|
|
10825 Cordova
|
|
Albuquerque NM
|
|
87112
|
|
MegaMind is an Albuquerque, NM brain-spa that publishes a
|
|
mail order catalog called "Highlights." Sells many major brain
|
|
Machines including the Shaman, Mind Gear's InnervisionPE2, and
|
|
Synchrostim 2000. Also sells tapes, books, Deprenyl, Deanol
|
|
(DMAE), and gingko extract. Free catalog.
|
|
|
|
|
|
MOE
|
|
Dept 9
|
|
5044 Wilder Dr
|
|
Soquel CA
|
|
95073
|
|
Brainwave readers, EEG analyzers, and biofeedback machines.
|
|
Free catalog and price list.
|
|
Thinking Allowed
|
|
2560 Ninth Street, Suite 123F
|
|
Berkeley CA
|
|
94710
|
|
Video tapes of artificial intelligence, intelligent systems,
|
|
computers and the mind, consciousness, and mind expansion. Tapes
|
|
feature Marvin Minsky, Rudy Rucker, and Howard Rheingold among
|
|
others. Free catalog.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Brain Machine E-lists
|
|
---------------------------
|
|
|
|
Mind-l
|
|
mind-l-request@asylum.sf.ca.us
|
|
Discussion on mind machines, smart drugs, and consciousness
|
|
alteration/augmentation.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Brain Machine and Mind Expansion Books
|
|
--------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Would the Buddha Wear a Walkman? By Judith Hooper
|
|
Excellent book on consciousness technology and quick tickets
|
|
to spiritual "happiness."
|
|
Chapters on brain machines, dream technology, superlearning,
|
|
post-Freudian therapies, artificial realities, and Instant
|
|
Nirvana.
|
|
$16.95 from
|
|
Megabrain by Michael Hutchison
|
|
This is the book that made mind machines popular. Hutchison
|
|
was the first to write about mind expansion via technology.
|
|
Megabrain's popularity led Micheal Hutchison to start up a
|
|
Megabrain company, which distributes various devices they approve
|
|
of. Write for newsletter/catalog.
|
|
Megabrain
|
|
PO Box 2205
|
|
Sausalito CA
|
|
94965
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Brain Machine/Mind Technology Groups
|
|
------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
The Association For Consciousness Exploration
|
|
1643 Lee Road, Room 9
|
|
Cleveland Heights OH
|
|
44118
|
|
Semi-New Age group that organizes events such as the
|
|
Starwood and Winterstar festivals, and the Psychedelicattesan.
|
|
They also promote the use of brain machines, flotation
|
|
tanks, and other forms of technological controlled brain
|
|
manipulation. The ACE often sponsers lectures given by Timothy
|
|
Leary, Robert Anton Wilson, Ivan Stang, and other cybernauts.
|
|
Write for a free catalog of books and audio tapes of
|
|
previous lectures.
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Filmore Neurological Organization - Research Division
|
|
Box 156
|
|
Amherst NY
|
|
14226
|
|
The F.N.O.R.D.'s research focuses mainly on exploring and
|
|
expanding the limits of the human mind. F.N.O.R.D. conducts
|
|
research in the fields of nootropics and other mind enhancing
|
|
drugs and brain machines (light and sound machines, and
|
|
electronic and magnetic brain manipulation devices). They also
|
|
conduct research in "mystical" approaches to mind alteration,
|
|
such as forms of magick, shamanism, and eastern arts. They are
|
|
involved in exploring models of human psychology, including a
|
|
recently prepared essay on Timothy Leary's 8 circuit model of the
|
|
mind.
|
|
The F.N.O.R.D. is also involved in educational efforts,
|
|
including the publication and distribution of informational
|
|
pamphlets on mind expansion, drug education, the cyberpunk
|
|
revolution and so forth. Eventually, F.N.O.R.D. plans to include
|
|
the use of more advanced media (i.e., hypertext and multimedia)
|
|
to educate the public.
|
|
Free information.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Smart Drugs
|
|
-----------------
|
|
|
|
"Smart Drugs" are drugs that have been found to have
|
|
beneficial mind enhancing effects, such as delaying aging,
|
|
enhancing brain metabolism, improving memory, concentration, and
|
|
problem solving techniques. Smart drugs are also called
|
|
nootropics (Greek: mind acting). You will notice that many of
|
|
these drugs were created and tested for people with nerve
|
|
degenerative diseases, but they have been found to work for
|
|
anyone.
|
|
Smart drugs are very popular among ravers and technophiles:
|
|
these are the drugs that are necessary yo keep up with today's
|
|
information society.
|
|
Many smart drugs have a "bell-curve" dose response, that is
|
|
- if you take too much of a drug, the opposite (bad memory,
|
|
confusion) will happen. Smart drugs, for the most part, are
|
|
virtually toxic free.
|
|
Smart drugs became popular after a loophole in the 1988 FDA
|
|
policy (intended for AIDS drugs), which allowed for non-FDA
|
|
approved drugs to be imported to the US for a limited time. As a
|
|
result, drug export houses grew and the smart drug industry was
|
|
born. Recently, the FDA has clamped down with import alerts,
|
|
claiming they were trying to stamp out the "snake-oil salesmen."
|
|
Many import houses were forced to shut down or close up shop. No
|
|
doubt the FDA will also try to clamp down on the dietary
|
|
supplements and vitamins industry. So proceed with smart drugs
|
|
at your own risk.
|
|
NOTE: Do not use this book as medical advice. The following is
|
|
presented for informational purposes only. Consult your doctor
|
|
before you try ANY of the below substances.
|
|
NOTE: All dosage information has been removed from the original
|
|
manuscript! I do not feel like getting sued just because some
|
|
idiot tries some of these or mixes them with other medications.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Smart Drugs and Mind Nutrients
|
|
------------------------------------
|
|
Vitacel 3-7
|
|
Benefits - Also known as Gerovital or GH-3/7, Vitacel 3-7 is
|
|
a mixture of procaine, benzoic acid, and potassium metabisulfate
|
|
(a powerful antioxidant). Vitacel has been tested to increase
|
|
energy, memory, and treat depression.
|
|
Warnings - no known side effects.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gingko Biloba
|
|
The gingko biloba is the oldest species of tree known, and
|
|
it's leaves have been used by the Chinese as medicine for
|
|
thousands of years.
|
|
Benefits - has been shown to improve cerebral circulation,
|
|
an attentive, alert mind, and increases the body's production of
|
|
adenosine triphosphate (an energy molecule). Ginkgo also
|
|
enhances the ability to metabolize glucose. Gingko has been shown
|
|
to act as an anti-oxidant.
|
|
Warnings and Side Effects - Ginkgo Biloba is safe, even in
|
|
high quantities.
|
|
|
|
|
|
DMAE (Dimethylaminoethyl)
|
|
Benefits - DMAE increases physical energy, the ability to
|
|
learn and remember, expands the life span of laboratory rats, and
|
|
accelerates the synthesis of acetylcholine. DMAE produces a
|
|
placid, moderate stimulant effect. Unlike coffee of
|
|
amphetimines, this high won't cause insomnia or a quick letdown.
|
|
Luckily, DMEA is regarded as a nutrition supplement, and can be
|
|
easily purchased in the United States.
|
|
Warnings - Overdose may cause insomnia and tenseness of
|
|
muscles. Manic depressives should steer clear of DMAE - it may
|
|
augment depression.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Choline
|
|
Benefits - Choline is changed into acetylcholine when inside
|
|
the body. Acetylcholine is the neurotransmitter used in memory
|
|
functions, and studies have shown that taking choline improves
|
|
memory for some.
|
|
Choline can be purchased in many health food stores, plus in
|
|
a number of the catalogs below. Three forms of choline are
|
|
common - choline chloride, choline bitartrate, and phosphatidyl
|
|
choline. The best type to buy is phosphatidyl choline. PC
|
|
repairs and maintains nerve and brain cells, aids in the
|
|
metabolism of fat, and helps regulate cholesterol levels in the
|
|
blood.
|
|
Warnings - Manic depressives should avoid taking choline
|
|
supplements. Choline bitartrate and choline chloride can cause
|
|
diarrhea.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Acetyl L-Carnitine
|
|
Benefits - Effects are similar to choline compounds, due to
|
|
similar molecular structure. Acetyl L-Carnitine also inhibits
|
|
the formation of lipofuscin (fatty deposits which are related to
|
|
decreased mental faculties in the elderly). Acetyl L-Carnitine
|
|
has been tested to increase alertness and attention span in
|
|
Alzheimer patients.
|
|
Warnings - No studies have discovered any side effects.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Centrophenoxine
|
|
Benefits - Centrophenoxine removes lipofuscin deposits and
|
|
repairs damaged synapses in the brian. Lipofuscin deposits are
|
|
associated with aging and decreasing mental abilities.
|
|
Centrophenoxine has also been shown to be an effective memory
|
|
booster. Once in the body, centrophenoxine breaks down into DMAE
|
|
and acts as a free radical scavenger.
|
|
|
|
Warnings - Should not be used by people who have very high
|
|
blood pressure or are excitable. Side effects to centrophenoxine
|
|
are scarce, but include insomnia, hyperexcitability, and
|
|
depression. To allay these affects, lower dosages are
|
|
recommended.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deprenyl
|
|
Benefits - Deprenyl was originally developed for treating
|
|
Parkinson's disease, but has been found to aid in fighting other
|
|
problems, too. Deprenyl increases the brain's level of dopamine,
|
|
a neurotransmitter that cause heightened emotional states,
|
|
aggression, and raises one's libido. For these reasons, some
|
|
treat Deprenyl as an aphrodisiac.
|
|
Warnings - can cause nausea in higher doses and death if
|
|
taken with amphetamines.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hydergine
|
|
Benefits - Hydergine is a type of ergot, a common rye
|
|
fungus. When hydergine was being tested for other purposes in
|
|
the late 1940's, many elderly subjects were reporting increased
|
|
mental functions. Nowadays, hydergine is a very popular and
|
|
inexpensive treatment for senility. It is the first drug to show
|
|
strength against Alzheimer's disease.
|
|
Hydregine prevents damage to brain cells from insufficient
|
|
oxygen, increases brain cell metabolism, and causes dendrites
|
|
(branches of a nerve cell that receive information). Hydergine
|
|
even appears to repair damage to brain cells.
|
|
Note - hydergine effectively synergizes with piracetam. If
|
|
you plan on taking the two together, scale the dosage down on
|
|
each.
|
|
Warnings - large doses may cause nausea or headaches.
|
|
Strangely enough, an overdose of hydergine may cause amnesiac
|
|
effects. If this should occur, just 1 '% ' osage.
|
|
|
|
Piracetam
|
|
Piracetam started the new pharmaceutical category of
|
|
nootropics (Gr. "acting on the mind"). Piracetam is similar in
|
|
composition to the amino acid pyroglutamate.
|
|
Benefits - Piracetam has been shown to enhance learning and
|
|
memory. Piracetam promotes the flow of information between
|
|
hemispheres of the brain. When these two side "talk" to each
|
|
other, flashes of creativity (the eureka effect) often occur.
|
|
Piracetam uses up large amounts of acetylcholine, so a
|
|
choline supplement will probably help in maximizing the effects.
|
|
Piracetam synergizes well with DMAE, centrophenoxine, and
|
|
hydergine.
|
|
Warnings - Negative effects are very uncommon, but can
|
|
include insomnia, nausea, and headaches. The toxicity level of
|
|
piracetam is unknown.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Oxiracetam
|
|
Benefits - Oxiracetam is an analog of piracetam.
|
|
Oxiracetam's potency is greater than piracetam and is more
|
|
effective in memory improvement, concentration and stimulating
|
|
alertness.
|
|
Warnings - Like piracetam, oxiracetam is very safe at all
|
|
dosage levels.
|
|
|
|
|
|
DHEA
|
|
Benefits - Dehydroepiandrosterone is the most abundant
|
|
steroid found in the body, and aids in fighting obesity, aging,
|
|
and cancer.
|
|
Studies have linked low DHEA levels in the body with nerve
|
|
degeneration. Furthermore, DHEA guards brain cells from
|
|
Alzheimer's and other degenerative diseases.
|
|
Warnings - not much research identifies the side effects of
|
|
long term use of DHEA.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fipexide
|
|
Benefits - Fipexide improves short term memory and attention
|
|
span. In addition to its cognitive enhancing effects, fipexide
|
|
enhances the effects of dopamine (the neurotransmitter
|
|
responsible for motivation and emotions), which can help lessen
|
|
depression.
|
|
Warnings - No known side effects in recent medical
|
|
literature.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vasopressin
|
|
Vasopressin is a hormone released by the pituitary gland and
|
|
is used for imprinting new material into memory.
|
|
Benefits - Vasopressin improves memory retention and recall,
|
|
concentration, and attention.
|
|
Certain drugs, such as LSD and cocaine, deplete the body's
|
|
natural supply of vasopressin, so inhaling a spray of vasopressin
|
|
can replenish the body. Also, since the release of vasopressin
|
|
is impeded by alcohol and marijuana, a dose of bottled
|
|
vasopressin will compensate.
|
|
Warnings - Can produce the following side effects: runny or
|
|
itching nose, abdominal cramps, increased bowel movements.
|
|
Shouldn't be used by people with high blood pressure.
|
|
NOTE: Vasopressin may be extremely difficult to obtain now -- it
|
|
has been taken off the market in every country except for Spain.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vincamine
|
|
Benefits - increases blood flow to the brain while enhancing
|
|
the brain's use of oxygen. This can help in conditions such as
|
|
vertigo, depression, hypertension, and mood changes, all which
|
|
are often related to insufficient blood flow to the brain.
|
|
Warning - Very rarely causes stomach cramps, which will
|
|
disappear when usage is halted.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vinpocetine
|
|
Benefits - Since vinpocetine and vincamine are both extracts
|
|
of the periwinkle, they have similar functions. Aids cerebral
|
|
functions by increasing blood flow to the brain, augmenting brain
|
|
molecular energy, and fully utilizing glucose and oxygen.
|
|
Vinpocetine is used in Europe to treat many illnesses
|
|
related to poor cerebral circulation, including poor sight, poor
|
|
hearing, headaches, and memory problems. Vinpocetine has even
|
|
been tested to improve memory even on healthy subjects.
|
|
Warnings - Vinpocetine is safer than vincamine, and it's
|
|
side effects are rare. They include high blood pressure, dry
|
|
mouth, and weakness. Vinpocetine has no toxicity.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Phenytoin
|
|
Benefits - Phenytoin is known best for its treatment of
|
|
epilepsy. Phenytoin has been reported to increase several forms
|
|
of cognition, in particular concentration. It has been shown to
|
|
have a normalizing effect - persons who experience a lot of
|
|
anxiety or fear are calmed down, while passive people become more
|
|
assertive.
|
|
Warnings - Sometimes causes a depletion of vitamin B-12 and
|
|
a increased need for thyroid hormone.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Propranolol Hydrochloride
|
|
Benefits - Propranolol Hydrochloride blocks the receptor
|
|
site for adrenaline in muscular tissues. When someone is afraid,
|
|
they release large quantities of adrenaline into the bloodstream,
|
|
causing increased heart rate, etc. Often, this is an undesired
|
|
effect, particularly when the fear-inducing situation doesn't
|
|
call for fighting or fleeing. By taking propranolol, you can
|
|
think clearly when fear would normally prevent such.
|
|
Warnings - Lowers blood pressure. Always take propranolol
|
|
with food, or it will cause nausea. Never take propranolol
|
|
before an athletic event or when adrenaline would be useful.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Phenylalanine
|
|
Phenylalanine is an amino acid that is converted to tyrosine
|
|
once inside the body, and stimulate mental capabilities. It is a
|
|
popular ingredient in smart drinks.
|
|
Tyrosine
|
|
Another amino acid, tyrosine is converted to dopamine, an
|
|
aggression enhancer and aphrodisiac, when in the body.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vitamins
|
|
--------------
|
|
|
|
Vitamin B-1
|
|
Benefits - Vitamin B-1 is an anti-oxidant, protecting the
|
|
nerve cells from harmful oxidizing agents.
|
|
Dosage - 50-1000 mg/day in 3 doses. All B vitamins are
|
|
water soluble, so the body cannot store them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vitamin B-3
|
|
Benefits - Niacin has been shown in tests to increase memory
|
|
in healthy subjects by 10-40%.
|
|
Dosage - 50-500 mg/day in 3 doses. At high levels, vitamin
|
|
B- 3 can cause a "niacin rush," in which a flushing of the skin
|
|
and tingling occurs. This rush is not harmful, and will
|
|
disappear after continued use.
|
|
Warnings - People with high blood pressure, diabetes and
|
|
ulcers should only take niacin under a physician's supervision.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vitamin B-5
|
|
Benefits - B-5 enhances stamina and is a anti-oxidant. B-5
|
|
is crucial for the formation of steroid hormones, and is
|
|
necessary for the conversion of acetylcholine from choline.
|
|
Dosage - 250-1000 mg/day in 3 doses.
|
|
Warnings - Large doses may cause diarrhea. This symptom
|
|
will disappear after continued use.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vitamin B-6
|
|
Benefits - Crucial for the formation of many
|
|
neurotransmitters; serontin, dopamine, and norepinephrine in
|
|
particular.
|
|
Dosage - 50-200 mg/day in 3 doses.
|
|
Warnings - People using Dopa-L to treat Parkinson's disease
|
|
should not take B-6. Dosages greater than 200 mg have been shown
|
|
to cause peripheral neuropathy.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vitamin B-12
|
|
Benefits - B-12 activates the synthesis of RNA in nerve
|
|
cells, treats depression, fatigue, and headaches.
|
|
Dosage - 1 mg/day
|
|
Warnings - excessive intake of B-12 may cause nosebleeds or
|
|
dry mouth.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vitamin E
|
|
Benefits - Vitamin E is a fat-soluble (so the body is able
|
|
to store) anti-oxidant, which helps delay aging.
|
|
Dosage - 100-1000 mg/day.
|
|
Warnings - Vitamin E has no known toxicity.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vitamin C
|
|
Benefits - Vitamin C is the chief antioxidant in the body.
|
|
It is necessary for creating neurotransmiiters and nerve cell
|
|
formation.
|
|
Dosage - 2000-5000 mg/day in 3 doses.
|
|
Warnings - Too much Vitamin C can produce diarrhea.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributors
|
|
------------------
|
|
|
|
Here is a list of mail-order sources for smart drugs.
|
|
While some of these are reliable now, it is only a matter of
|
|
time before the FDA gets to them too. If you are serious about
|
|
nootropics, I suggest subscribing to one of the smart drug
|
|
magazines below. They
|
|
The best way to get nootropics are in the Mexican farmicias.
|
|
Here they are available without a subscription and you can import
|
|
up to 3 months personal supply. They are also very inexpensive.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Qwilleran
|
|
PO Box 1210
|
|
Birmingham B10 9QA
|
|
England
|
|
Sells most nootropics and AIDS drugs not available in the
|
|
US. When writing to Qwilleran, specify what products you are
|
|
interested in.
|
|
|
|
|
|
B.Mougios & Co. O.E.
|
|
Pittakou 23 T.K.
|
|
54645
|
|
Thessaloniki Greece
|
|
Very economical prices for a large range of nootropics.
|
|
Write for price list.
|
|
|
|
|
|
World Health Services
|
|
PO Box 20
|
|
CH-2822 Courroux
|
|
Switzerland
|
|
More nootropics and other unapproved drugs.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Big Ben Export Co.
|
|
PO Box 146
|
|
Mill Hill
|
|
London NW7 3DL
|
|
England
|
|
Reliable but pricy export house. Accepts major credit
|
|
cards. Write for list and current prices.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Longevity Plus
|
|
U Dubu 27
|
|
147 00 Prague 4-Branik
|
|
Czech Republic
|
|
Specializes in longevity drugs and carries some nootropics.
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. Channet, MD
|
|
Postfach
|
|
CH-891
|
|
Rifferswil
|
|
Switzerland
|
|
Supplies KH-3. Write for current prices.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Masters Marketing Co. Ltd.
|
|
Masters House
|
|
No 1 Marlborough Hill
|
|
Harrow Middx HA1 1TW
|
|
England
|
|
Send a want list to get their pricing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pharmaceuticals International
|
|
416 West San Ysidro Blvd. Suite 37
|
|
San Ysidro CA
|
|
92073
|
|
1-800-365-3698
|
|
Sells piracetam and choline, plus many others.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Baxamed Switzerland Medical Center
|
|
Realpstrasse 83
|
|
CH-4054 Basel
|
|
Switzerland
|
|
Provides a wide range of nootropics, but is a bit expensive.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fountain Research
|
|
PO Box 250
|
|
Lower Lake CA
|
|
95457
|
|
1-800-659-1915
|
|
Provides liquid Deprenyl.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Discovery Experimental and Development, Inc.
|
|
29949 S.R. 54 West
|
|
Wesley Chapel FL
|
|
33534
|
|
Provides liquid Deprenyl.
|
|
|
|
|
|
InHome Health Services
|
|
PO Box 3112
|
|
CH-2800 Delemont
|
|
Switzerland
|
|
Provides acetyl l-carnitine, hydergine, procaine, piracetam,
|
|
propranolol, vincamine, and other foreign drugs.
|
|
IHS has been hit hard with the FDA crackdown, but is under
|
|
new management and has been able to deliver packages that were
|
|
previously detained.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Life Services Supplements
|
|
81 First Ave
|
|
Atlantic Highlands NJ
|
|
07716
|
|
Sells the complete Durk Pearson and Sandy Shaw Designer Food
|
|
Line, plus books and videos.
|
|
Monthly catalogs (the Life Net News) showcase particular
|
|
products and contain interviews with people who use the Designer
|
|
Food Line. Free catalog. LSS often has 35% off sales.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nutritional Engineering, Ltd.
|
|
PO Box 1320
|
|
Grand Cayman
|
|
British West Indies
|
|
Distributors of Dr. Ana Aslan's Vitacel (Gerovital) line of
|
|
drugs and vitamins.
|
|
Free literature.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nutrient Cafe Wholesale
|
|
PO Box 170156
|
|
San Francisco CA
|
|
94117-0156
|
|
Excellent company that produces and distributes smart
|
|
drinks.
|
|
"Renew-You," is a neuroamino quick energy formula that
|
|
contains tyrosine, d,l-phenylalanine, DMAE, pyroglutamate, and a
|
|
host of anti-oxidants. $37.50 a bottle (83 servings).
|
|
"Intellex," a mental performance formula, contains choline,
|
|
pyroglutamate, tyrosine, taurine, gingko, DMAE, and high B-12.
|
|
Intellex is $35.00 a bottle (83 servings).
|
|
Nutrient Cafe is a major distributor for smart bars and
|
|
raves, and is the cheapest supplier per serving.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Source Naturals
|
|
PO Box 2118
|
|
Santa Cruz CA
|
|
95063
|
|
Source Naturals sells natural formulas including Coenzyme
|
|
Q10, bee pollen, and a slew of vitamins. Source Natural sells
|
|
DMAE (350mg) and gingko biloba (ext. 60 mg) for decent prices.
|
|
Free price list.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Quotaz S.A.
|
|
P7, 20-21 (Planken)
|
|
D-6800 Mannheim 1
|
|
Germany
|
|
Sells acetyl L-carnitine, lucidril, oxiracetam, hydergine,
|
|
piracetam, and others. Locates other hard-to-find drugs upon
|
|
request.
|
|
Write for current catalog and prices.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Smart Products
|
|
870 Market Street
|
|
Suite 1262
|
|
San Francisco CA
|
|
94102
|
|
Another Durk and Sandy distributor with their own monthly
|
|
catalog, the Intelliscope. The Intelliscope offers in-depth
|
|
investigations of the latest D&S products, plus some bits and
|
|
pieces on FDA shenanigans. Free catalog.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vitamin Research Products
|
|
35579 Hwy. 50 East
|
|
Carson City NV
|
|
89701
|
|
Sells DMAE, ginkgo, choline, antioxidants, B vitamin
|
|
complexes and other vitamin products.
|
|
Free detailed catalog.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Institute of Aging Control and Nutritional Medicine
|
|
360 San Miguel Dr
|
|
Suite 208
|
|
Newport Beach CA
|
|
92660
|
|
Title says it all. Sells vitamins and books on life
|
|
extension.
|
|
Free information.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nutriguard Research
|
|
PO Box 865
|
|
Encinitas CA
|
|
92023
|
|
Free catalog of nutrient supplements and vitamins.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Twinlab
|
|
2120 Smithtown Ave
|
|
Ronkonkoma NY
|
|
11779
|
|
Suppliers of vitamins, minerals, and other nutritional
|
|
supplements. Free big catalog of every vitamin imaginable.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interlab
|
|
BCM Box 5890
|
|
London WC1N 3XX
|
|
England
|
|
Provides many non-FDA approved drugs. Like InHome Health
|
|
Services, Interlab was hit hard with the FDA crackdown. Present
|
|
status is shaky, and they may not deliver to the US anymore.
|
|
Write for the latest information.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Uptime
|
|
PO Box 90659
|
|
Santa Barbara CA
|
|
93190-0659
|
|
Sells Uptime (a pill of vitamin C, wheat germ, spirulina,
|
|
microalgae, bee pollen, calcium, papaya, alfalfa, and cayenne
|
|
pepper in a base of ginkgo biloba) and Downtime (a mixture of
|
|
chamomile, Valerian root, black cohosh, lavender, and rosemary).
|
|
A 60-caplet bottle of either is $11.95.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Smart Drug Books and Newsletters
|
|
--------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Nootropic News
|
|
PO Box 177M
|
|
Camrillo CA
|
|
93011
|
|
Nootropic News is an indispensable newsletter for smart drug
|
|
users. Nootropic News has reviews and synopses of medical
|
|
literature, articles on the effects of synergy, and updates on
|
|
the Federal Drug Administration crackdown on nootropics.
|
|
Publishes a directory of active distributors.
|
|
Subscriptions are $12.00 a year.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cognitive Enhancement Research Institute
|
|
PO Box 4029
|
|
Menlo Park CA
|
|
94026
|
|
CERI's goal is to encourage education and research in the
|
|
fields of nootropics and other "cognitive biotechnologies."
|
|
CERI publishes a newsletter, Smart Drug News, ten times
|
|
annually. SDN has editorials on government agencies and
|
|
policies, the status of the FDA's crackdown, in-depth narratives
|
|
on research, and a question and answer column.
|
|
Subscriptions are $40.00 in the US and $49.00 overseas.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Smart Drugs and Nutrients by Ward Dean and John Morgenthaler
|
|
Smart Drugs and nutrients is possibly the best book on
|
|
nootropics. Before you even think of experimenting with smart
|
|
drugs, you should read this book. SD&N is filled with scientific
|
|
data, case studies, descriptions of drugs, and detailed side
|
|
effects and dosages.
|
|
Dean and Morgenthaler have also written a second volume of
|
|
the series, aptly titled Smart Drugs II.
|
|
|
|
Mind Food and Smart Pills by Ross Pelton and Taffy Clark Pelton
|
|
Similar to SD&N, but focuses more on vitamins and nutrients
|
|
than drugs. Excellent source of natural intelligence increasing
|
|
substances.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Life Extension: A Practical Scientific Approach by Durk Pearson
|
|
and Sandy Shaw
|
|
Everything you need to know about natural life extension:
|
|
includes information on oxidation, free radicals, vitamins and
|
|
nutrients, exercises, and medical data. The companion to this
|
|
volume, The Life Extension Companion, contains updated details on
|
|
life extension.
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Complete Guide to Anti-Aging Nutrients by Sheldon Saul
|
|
Hendler, M.D.
|
|
Easy to read book on anti-aging.
|
|
|
|
Drugs Available Abroad Jerry L.Schlesser, Ed.
|
|
Contains a thousand drugs not approved by the FDA but
|
|
available in other countries. Includes dosage, precautions,
|
|
effects, etc.
|
|
How to Live Longer and Feel Better by Linus Pauling
|
|
Dr. Linus Pauling, winner of two Nobel prizes for his work
|
|
in biochemistry, discusses the benefits of Vitamin C (among other
|
|
things) in this book.
|
|
Orphan Drugs by Kenneth and Lois Anderson
|
|
Reference guide of drugs not available in the US. Includes
|
|
an index for the diseases and symptoms the drugs are used for.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cryonics
|
|
--------
|
|
|
|
Cryonics is the process of deep freezing a dead person
|
|
in the hopes that he or she may somehow be revived by the
|
|
superior medical technology of the future. Obviously, cryonics
|
|
has still not been proven to be successful, yet.
|
|
|
|
ALCOR
|
|
12327 Dohert St.
|
|
Riverside CA
|
|
92503
|
|
ALCOR is a company that maintains cryogenically frozen
|
|
"patients" until their reanimation. Order the book, "Cryonics:
|
|
Reaching for Tomorrow," which explains cryonics procedures, the
|
|
status of cryonics, with legal and moral questions answered.
|
|
If you want to be frozen, contact ALCOR for the latest
|
|
prices. Cryonics magazine monthly, $25 (USA); $35
|
|
(Canada/Mexico), $40 (foreign).
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cryonics Institute
|
|
24443 Roanoke
|
|
Oak Park MI
|
|
48237
|
|
Another cryonics and suspension vendor. The Cryonics
|
|
Institute publishes The Immortalist ($25/year US; $30 Canada and
|
|
Mexico, $40 foreign), a monthly cryonics journal.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cyberpunk Art
|
|
-------------------
|
|
|
|
As technology changes, so does the manner in which humans
|
|
create art. The tools they use and the subjects they illustrate
|
|
reflects the technological atmosphere of that time.
|
|
Below are some artists who represent the digital age of
|
|
technology. Some use computers and digital electronics in their
|
|
creations, others merely illustrate the pervading atmosphere of
|
|
computers, electronics, global media, and instant communications.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cyberpunk Music
|
|
----------------------
|
|
|
|
There is great debate to what constitutes "cyberpunk music."
|
|
In truth, cyberpunks themselves listen to whatever they want:
|
|
metal, rap, rock, jazz, classical, or techno. But there are
|
|
certain types of music that embody the cyberpunk ethic: use of
|
|
computers and electronics, a appreciation for the underground,
|
|
and a "do it yourself" ethic. Some bands choose to show this in
|
|
different ways: the militaristic overtones of Front 242, the
|
|
pure, sterile electronics of Kraftwerk, or the overt cyberpunk
|
|
aesthetics of Max M.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Publications
|
|
------------------
|
|
|
|
Aktivitat
|
|
IAC
|
|
108 Cummings Park Crescent
|
|
Northfield
|
|
Aberdeen AB2 7AR
|
|
Scotland
|
|
Magazine devoted to the best band that ever lived,
|
|
Kraftwerk. Reviews of bootlegs, rare recordings, and information
|
|
about the grandfathers of modern dance/industrial/house/rap
|
|
music.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Music from the Empty Quarter
|
|
PO Box 87
|
|
Ilford, Essex
|
|
IG1 3HJ
|
|
United Kingdom
|
|
Well-written magazine/catalog devoted to industrial, goth
|
|
and electronic music. Huge selection of tapes and CDs, plus a
|
|
lot of rarities. Recommended.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cybernoise
|
|
Essential Publications
|
|
Graham Needham
|
|
75 Lavernock Road
|
|
Penarth, S.Glam
|
|
CF6 2NY
|
|
United Kingdom
|
|
Industrial and cyberpunk music fanzine, mostly mainstream.
|
|
Issue #2 contains the "Cyber Directory," which is a worldwide
|
|
guide to electronic music artists, record labels, magazines, fan
|
|
clubs, and mail-order companies. Each issue is L1.50 (UK), L2
|
|
(Europe), and L2.50 (rest of the world).
|
|
Essential Publications also publishes Destination Jarre, a
|
|
magazine dedicated to the phenomenal French composer, Jean Michel
|
|
Jarre. Jarre is a true avant-garde musician - he broke ground in
|
|
multimedia performances, electronic music compositions, and
|
|
composed the first piece of music to be played in space.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Technology Works
|
|
POB 477
|
|
Placentia CA
|
|
92670-0477
|
|
Small but solid magazine featuring bands like Front 242,
|
|
Einsturzende Neubauten, Clock DVA, and Nitzer Ebb. News,
|
|
interviews, and reviews. Each issue is $1.50.
|
|
|
|
|
|
For Crying Out Loud
|
|
POB 64875
|
|
Los Angeles CA
|
|
90064-0875
|
|
Large format magazine of electronic beat music. Each issue
|
|
includes interviews and a tape of featured bands, plus reviews of
|
|
recordings and other zines. Recommended.
|
|
Issues are $6.00.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Futureshock Incision
|
|
2791 Jos St.Louis
|
|
Windsor Ontario
|
|
Canada
|
|
N8T 2M7
|
|
Interviews and reviews of cyberindustrial bands. Good
|
|
layout with machine-like layout. Each issue is $2.50.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Crewzine
|
|
Druzicova 2
|
|
82102 Bratislava
|
|
Slovakia
|
|
A magazine devoted to "Electronic Body Music," and cyber /
|
|
industrial music. Reviews and interviews, mostly European acts,
|
|
plus contacts.
|
|
Well worth the $3.00 (US and Europe, $4.00 foreign). Comes
|
|
in either English or Slovakian. Highly recommended.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Industrial Nation
|
|
114 1/2 E. College
|
|
Iowa City IA
|
|
52240
|
|
Thick gothic/industrial zine, weird artwork, interviews with
|
|
mainstream bands, and extensive record reviews. Great
|
|
contacts/personals section! $2.50 an issue.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Softwatch
|
|
c/o A.G.Burnham
|
|
70 Old Hinckley Road
|
|
Nuneaton, Warwickshire
|
|
CV10 0AB
|
|
UK
|
|
Softwatch is an amazing contact-resource databank whose
|
|
issue two exceeded 250 pages, each filled with addresses,
|
|
magazines, books, labels, and recordings. Update newsletters
|
|
arrive frequently, and are pretty big and information-rich
|
|
themselves.
|
|
$3.50 for each supplement, and worth it. Don't just ask for
|
|
the information, send this guy stuff for review. A project like
|
|
this is indispensable, so help him out!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Electronic Cottage
|
|
c/o Hal McGee
|
|
PO Box 140368
|
|
Gainesville FL
|
|
32614-0368
|
|
An in-depth journals of the home taper scene, cassette
|
|
culture, and electronic and experimental music - the only music
|
|
that hasn't be sullied or corrupted by mainstream record
|
|
companies. The musicians profiled in EC are the ultimate in
|
|
do-it- yourself, using jury-rigged electronic equipment to
|
|
produce their music.
|
|
Past issues have included interviews with the legendary Al
|
|
Margolis, Chris Phinney, reviews of tapes, and instructions on
|
|
how to make your own experimental music.
|
|
Write for the current prices for this excellent magazine;
|
|
back issues are $4-5.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Keyboard
|
|
PO Box 50404
|
|
Boulder CO
|
|
8032-0404
|
|
Mainstream magazine for keyboard, synthesizer, and drum
|
|
machine users. Each issue of Keyboard has reviews of latest
|
|
products and news of upcoming ones, plus interviews with popular
|
|
keyboardists.
|
|
Subscriptions are $27.95 for 12 issues. Since Keyboard is
|
|
pretty mainstream, it can be found in most bookstores.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Industrial Gear
|
|
POB 747
|
|
Lansdowne PA
|
|
19050
|
|
Free dance, goth, and industrial music magazine. IG has a
|
|
Philadelphia slant, but its reviews and interviews are worth
|
|
reading.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Electronic Lists and Publications
|
|
---------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Kraftwerk List
|
|
kraftwerk-request@cs.uwp.edu
|
|
Discussion of Kraftwerk music, concerts, rare recordings,
|
|
history, and side-projects. This same site also has the Jean
|
|
Michel Jarre list jarre-request@cs.uwp.edu.
|
|
|
|
|
|
New Music List
|
|
nm-list-request@beach.cis.ufl.edu
|
|
Discussion of real industrial bands, not that crap like NIN.
|
|
Reviews and discographies, plus concert information.
|
|
|
|
|
|
NetJam
|
|
netjam-request@xcf.berkeley.edu
|
|
Provides the means for people to collaborate on musical
|
|
composition by sending MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital
|
|
Interface) files to and from collaborators, or archiving them for
|
|
everyone's use. Also, NetJam has implemented a wide area MIDI
|
|
network allowing for real time musical rendezvous. The NetJam
|
|
ftp site is at xcf.berkeley.edu /misc/netjam.
|
|
|
|
|
|
rec.music.synth
|
|
Information on synthesizers and synth music.
|
|
|
|
|
|
rec.music.industrial
|
|
Usenet group devoted to so-called "industrial" music. The
|
|
fare here is usually pretty light, with occasionally some
|
|
worthwhile discussion.
|
|
|
|
|
|
bit.listserv.emusic-l
|
|
Bitnet list of all forms of electronic music and
|
|
instruments.
|
|
|
|
|
|
comp.music
|
|
Computer generated music, MIDI material and news. Reviews
|
|
and details of popular computer music programs.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Catalogs
|
|
--------------
|
|
|
|
Soleilmoon Recordings
|
|
PO Box 83296
|
|
Portland OR
|
|
97283
|
|
Throbbing Gristle, Zoviet France, Sleep Chamber, plus other
|
|
bizarre industrial groups. Also carries many recordings from
|
|
DOV, Silent, and Sub Rosa labels. Free catalog.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Danse Macabre
|
|
Luitpoldplatz 18
|
|
8580 Bayreuth
|
|
Germany
|
|
Superb record label profiling top-notch European groups.
|
|
Order the Placebo Effect "Galleries of Pain" CD - it features the
|
|
most brutal, dark electronic dance music. The Danse Macabre
|
|
Sampler is also of high quality.
|
|
Write for catalog/price list. Highly recommended.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Harsh Reality Music
|
|
POB 241661
|
|
Memphis TN
|
|
38124-1661
|
|
Really obscure music - home taper and underground
|
|
experimental/electronic music. Also carries t-shirts of some of
|
|
the bands in their catalog. Great prices, free catalog.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Axiom Records
|
|
c/o Downtown Music Gallery
|
|
211 East 5th Street
|
|
New York NY
|
|
10003
|
|
Digital recordings of international and experimental music.
|
|
Free catalog.
|
|
|
|
|
|
GPC Productions
|
|
POB 1515
|
|
Allentown PA
|
|
18105-1515
|
|
Thick magazine with an accompanying tape. Hundreds of
|
|
reviews of all sorts of underground experimental music, videos,
|
|
and catalogs. The accompanying tape is always worthwhile -
|
|
easily worth the price alone. GPC is now also a record label, so
|
|
contact them for more information. Highly recommended.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nettwerk Productions
|
|
1250 W.6 Ave
|
|
Vancouver BC
|
|
V6H 1A5
|
|
Canada
|
|
Skinny Puppy, Severed Heads, Sarah McLachlan, MOEV,
|
|
Manufacture, mostly mainstream industrial; singles and CDs, even
|
|
has postcards and posters. Write for price list.
|
|
|
|
|
|
DOVentertainment
|
|
2 Bloor St. W., Suite 100-159
|
|
Toronto, Ontario
|
|
M4W 3E2
|
|
Techno, weird, experimental, and industrial music; all cds
|
|
(DOV stands for Death of Vinyl). Lots of compilations and
|
|
Subgenius stuff. Free catalog.
|
|
|
|
|
|
RRRecords
|
|
151 Paige Street
|
|
Lowell MA
|
|
01852
|
|
Underground experimental music, mostly noise recordings. If
|
|
you're looking for Das Synth Mischgewebe, Konstruktivits, or
|
|
Gerogerigegege, get it here! Plus RRRecords sells "sampler"
|
|
tapes with 20 or so bands each for a few bucks. Free catalog.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sound of Pig
|
|
c/o Al Margolis
|
|
POB 150022
|
|
Van Brunt Station
|
|
Brooklyn NY
|
|
11215
|
|
Electronic music and home-taper king Al Margolis runs this
|
|
top rate outfit. SOP carries tons of off-the-wall recordings
|
|
from around the globe, most of which you won't find anywhere
|
|
else. Great prices. Free catalog.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Projekt
|
|
POB 1591
|
|
Garden Grove CA
|
|
92642-1591
|
|
Gothic and industrial music distributor. Free catalog.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Charnel House Productions
|
|
POB 170277
|
|
San Francisco CA
|
|
94117-0277
|
|
Carries stuff like Crash Worship, Trance, and Japanese noise
|
|
music. Good list of compilations. Free catalog.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Realization Recordings
|
|
9452 Telephone Road #116
|
|
Ventura CA
|
|
93004
|
|
White-noise electronic landscape music.
|
|
The "As Yet Untitled" compilation CD is of particularly good
|
|
quality; includes groups Dimthingshine, Static Effect, PBK, and
|
|
Illusion of Safety. The CD comes with contact information for
|
|
each band. Price $8.00.
|
|
Realization Recordings also sells tapes and CDs of other
|
|
performances. Free information.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Computers and Music
|
|
647 Mission Street
|
|
San Francisco CA
|
|
94105
|
|
Combination catalog and magazine of music software, MIDI
|
|
equipment and interfaces, and sequencers. Covers most home
|
|
computer platforms: Atari, IBM, and Mac. Free catalog.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fluxus N.2
|
|
Via Bergamo, 27
|
|
20135 Milan
|
|
Italy
|
|
Fluxus buys, distributes, trades the following: weird,
|
|
industrial, concrete, noise, computer, experimental, unorthodox
|
|
music, videos, and printed matter. Artists are invited to send
|
|
demo material as well. Their Katalog comes out every three
|
|
months and costs 2 IRCs and a SAE.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Science and the Arts
|
|
POB 27555
|
|
Oakland CA
|
|
94602
|
|
A team of a genetic biologist and a musician collaborated in
|
|
producing music that is mapped from a DNA molecule, using its
|
|
code as a musical scale.
|
|
So far they have produced three tapes, each is $10.50 plus
|
|
$1.50 postage.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Casio Corporation
|
|
15 Gardner Road
|
|
Fairfield NJ
|
|
07006
|
|
215.575.7400
|
|
Keyboards and digital samplers. Free catalog.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Roland Corporation
|
|
7200 Dominion Circle
|
|
Los Angeles CA
|
|
90040
|
|
213.685.5141
|
|
Quality keyboards and synthesizers. Free catalog.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Yamaha Music Corporation
|
|
Digital Musical Instrument Division
|
|
PO Box 6600
|
|
Buena Park CA
|
|
90622
|
|
714.522.9011
|
|
Keyboards and digital musical instruments. Free catalog.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Visual and Performance Artists
|
|
------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
The OTIS project (The Operative Term is STIMULATE)
|
|
sunsite.unc.edu /pub/multimedia/pictures/OTIS
|
|
141.214.4.135 /projects/otis
|
|
"OTIS is here for the purpose of distributing original
|
|
artwork and photographs over the network for public perusal,
|
|
scutiny, and distribution. Digital immortality.
|
|
The basic idea behind "digital immortality" is that computer
|
|
networks are here to stay and that anything interesting you
|
|
deposit on them will be around near-forever. The GIFs and JPGs
|
|
of today will be the artifacts of a digital future. Perhaps
|
|
they'll be put into a different format, perhaps only surviving on
|
|
backup tapes....but they'll be there...and someone will dig them
|
|
up.
|
|
If that doesn't interest you...OTIS also offers a forum for
|
|
critique and exhibition of your works...a virtual art gallery
|
|
that never closes and exists in an information dimension where
|
|
your submissions will hang as wallpaper on thousands of glowing
|
|
monitors. Suddenly, life is breathed into your work...and by
|
|
merit of its stimulus, it will travel the globe on pulses of
|
|
light and electrons.
|
|
Spectators are welcome also, feel free to browse the gallery
|
|
and let the artists know what you think of their efforts. Keep
|
|
your own copies of the images to look at when you've got the
|
|
gumption....that's what they're here for." (Ed Stastny, OTIS
|
|
director).
|
|
The ftp sites also contain files on how to upload images.
|
|
If you don't have access to the Internet, there is some OTIS
|
|
material on the Underground Cafe (402.339.0179) and CyberDen
|
|
(415.472.5527)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fractal Art
|
|
alt.fractals.pictures
|
|
Download these fractal pictures onto your PC.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stelarc
|
|
Stelarc is an Australian performance artist who believes the
|
|
human body has reached obsolescence. He maintains that we must
|
|
improve it, and amplify its functions. His art shows usually
|
|
have him amplifying his body - adding a third arm, heightening
|
|
body signals, such as brain waves, blood flow, heart rate, and
|
|
muscle stimulation. He does this through attaching an assortment
|
|
of electronic equipment to his body, and plugging wires into his
|
|
flesh.
|
|
Black Ice magazine interviewed Stelarc in their premier
|
|
issue. Stelarc has an audio recording out on Anckarstrom
|
|
Recordings (Sweden).
|
|
|
|
|
|
Virtual Object
|
|
PO Box 1032
|
|
Darlinghurst NSW 2010
|
|
Australia
|
|
Virtual Object is more or less an Australian version of
|
|
Survival Research Laboratories, but puts less emphasis on the
|
|
robotic destruction. Virtual Object aims more at cybernetically
|
|
enhanced sculptures, junk sculpture, holography, and high-tech
|
|
media stunts.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kodak Center for Creative Imaging
|
|
Course catalog of "creative imaging," which is the "art" of
|
|
messing around with photos using computers and other techniques.
|
|
Flipping through the catalog reminds me a lot of Mondo 2000, and
|
|
I wasn't surprised to see that Mr. Bart Nagel (photo editor of
|
|
Mondo 2000) teaches a class. Let's hope creative imaging is a
|
|
fad and not a trend.
|
|
Free course catalog.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subterranean Blacklight Studios
|
|
PO Box 9038
|
|
Akron OH
|
|
44305
|
|
SBS is a multimedia and video production group that
|
|
specializes in guerilla television and appropriated video clips.
|
|
Also performs light and video shows at raves. Write for more
|
|
information.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Survival Research Laboratories
|
|
1458-C San Bruno Ave
|
|
San Francisco CA
|
|
94110
|
|
415.641.8065
|
|
SRL is a performance art group from San Francisco CA. It
|
|
was started in the late 70's by Mark Pauline, who took the name
|
|
from an ad he saw in an old issue of Soldier of Fortune magazine.
|
|
SRL builds death robots - frightening machines that spew
|
|
fire, have swinging blades, spiked wheels, and cannons - and then
|
|
sets them loose in open parking lots. Some of these machines
|
|
fight each other, some gang up on larger, bully-robots, others
|
|
wander around aimlessly smashing whatever is in their way, and
|
|
others threaten the crowd. These robot wars are an orgy of
|
|
broken glass, leaking fuel, scraping metal, fiery explosions, and
|
|
blood and gore from slaughtered animal carcasses.
|
|
Survival Research Labs names each one of its spectacles with
|
|
cheerful names like "Bitter Messages of Hopeless Grief" and
|
|
"Careless Abuse of Premeditated Uncertainty."
|
|
Lately, SRL has been getting more and more high-tech. They
|
|
have acquired very advanced equipment from military and
|
|
industrial sources (most likely as a result of government
|
|
cutbacks in the military). One of the more interesting devices
|
|
SRL uses at their shows is a machine that resonates at the exact
|
|
frequency that the human body resonates, causing the crowd to
|
|
shake uncontrollably.
|
|
SRL sells videos and posters of their shows, plus a press
|
|
book ($7). Write for a price list.
|
|
|
|
also sold through Loompanics and Target Video
|
|
678 S. Van Ness
|
|
San Francisco CA
|
|
94110
|
|
|
|
|
|
HR Giger
|
|
H.R. Giger is most famous for designing the aliens in the
|
|
Aliens movies. His works are marked by the characteristic of
|
|
blending biological and organic subjects with mechanical
|
|
features. The overall effect is cyberpunk with a macabre twist.
|
|
Books by Giger are Necronomicon and Biomechanics.
|
|
The HR Giger FAQ is available from ftp.u.washington.edu in
|
|
the cyberpunk archives.
|
|
|
|
|
|
alt.artcom
|
|
Art and technology symbiosis. Discussion of OTIS,
|
|
deconstructionist art, postmodernism, and hitech-art.
|
|
Cyber Art Books
|
|
|
|
|
|
Art Futura
|
|
Each spring Art Futura is held in Barcelona, Spain. The
|
|
conference highlights new forms of art, technology, and media.
|
|
Each conference has an accompanying book that displays the
|
|
highlights of the event.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cyberarts by Linda Jacobson
|
|
Excellent book that covers all forms of computer assisted
|
|
art including computer graphics, computer "painting" and art,
|
|
virtual reality and interactive telepresence, computer music and
|
|
MIDI.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fractals: The Patterns of Chaos by John Briggs
|
|
Basic book on the nature and beauty of fractals.
|
|
|
|
|
|
The MIDI Book by Steve De Furia
|
|
Everything you need to know about MIDI (Musical Instrument
|
|
Digital Interface), including techniques, interface electronics,
|
|
sequencers, and MIDI applications.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Synthesizer Basics by Brent Hurtig
|
|
Taken from the pages of Keyboard magazine, Synthesizer Basic
|
|
covers the history of synthesizers, MIDI, choosing and buying a
|
|
synth, and setting up your own electronic recording studio.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Computer Graphics
|
|
-----------------------
|
|
|
|
Magazines
|
|
----------
|
|
Computer Graphics World
|
|
One Technology Park Drive
|
|
POB 987
|
|
Westford MA
|
|
01886
|
|
Absolutely the best computer graphics magazine. The photos
|
|
and graphics are in full color, the product guides are first
|
|
rate, and the articles are always timely and cutting-edge. CGW
|
|
also has extensive resources lists for their feature articles.
|
|
Twelve issues are $48 (US); $59 (Canada and Mexico); $69
|
|
(International).
|
|
|
|
|
|
Verbum
|
|
2187-C San Elijo Ave
|
|
Cardiff CA
|
|
92007
|
|
Verbum is a magazine dedicated to all forms of electronic
|
|
design, multimedia, and the digital arts. Highly recommended.
|
|
Four issues are $24 (US); $28 (Canada and Mexico); $45
|
|
(International).
|
|
Verbum also publishes Verbum Interactive, a CD-ROM for Macs.
|
|
VI is a gallery of animation and multimedia clips, demo programs,
|
|
interactive columns and feature articles, and CD quality sound
|
|
and music.
|
|
$49.95 an issue (must have a SE/30 or Mac II).
|
|
|
|
|
|
ACM Transactions on Graphics
|
|
Association for Computing Machinery
|
|
POB 12105
|
|
Church Street Station
|
|
New York NY
|
|
10249
|
|
Published quarterly. Highly technical information on
|
|
computer graphics.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Computer Graphics Forum
|
|
Journals Marketing Manager
|
|
Blackwell Publishers
|
|
Three Cambridge Center
|
|
Cambridge MA
|
|
01242
|
|
An international magazine reporting research, new
|
|
developments, and projects in the entire computer graphics field.
|
|
Write for current subscription rates.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pixel: The Magazine of Scientific Visualization
|
|
Pixel Communications, Inc
|
|
245 Henry Street., Suite 2-G
|
|
Brooklyn NY
|
|
11201
|
|
Includes reviews of visualization products and experiments
|
|
you can conduct on your own PC.
|
|
$21 for USA and Canada; $51 international.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pixel Vision
|
|
POB 1138
|
|
Madison Square Station
|
|
New York NY
|
|
10159
|
|
Pixel Vision is a French/American magazine that covers the
|
|
latest trends and techniques of the field. Subscription is $35 a
|
|
year.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Computer Artist
|
|
POB 2649
|
|
Tulsa OK
|
|
74101-9632
|
|
800.331.4463
|
|
Quarterly publication has a computer graphics gallery.
|
|
$19.95 a year (24.95 Canada & Mexico, 28.95 overseas).
|
|
|
|
|
|
Computer Graphics Review
|
|
Intertec Publishing Corporation
|
|
9221 Quivira Road
|
|
Overland Park KS
|
|
66215
|
|
This monthly magazine is provided free to qualified people
|
|
in the computer graphics industry. Send for an application.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Leonardo
|
|
Journal of the International Society for the Arts, Sciences and
|
|
Technology
|
|
Pergamon Press Inc.
|
|
395 Saw Mill River Road
|
|
Elmsford NY
|
|
10523
|
|
|
|
|
|
NewMedia
|
|
Hypermedia Communications, Inc
|
|
901 Mariner's Island Blvd., Suite 365
|
|
San Mateo CA
|
|
94404
|
|
Informative and timely multimedia magazine, covering
|
|
everything from software to hardware reviews. Free to qualified
|
|
professionals. $48 in the US, $82 in Canada and Mexico, $96
|
|
foreign.
|
|
|
|
|
|
SIGGRAPH
|
|
212.869.7440
|
|
SIGGRAPH is the Association for Computing Machinery's
|
|
special interest group for computer graphics. SIGGRAPH holds an
|
|
annual conference and publishes a journal of computer graphics.
|
|
Call for more information.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Electronic Sources and Software
|
|
There a lots of ray tracers, radiosity, and rendering
|
|
programs available throughout the Internet. Check the computer
|
|
graphics FAQ or telnet to Archie to locate some good ones.
|
|
Comp.graphics usually posts announcements of new programs, too.
|
|
Some sites for you to start out with:
|
|
wuarchive.wustl.edu (/graphics/graphics) - you might want to
|
|
download the CONTENTS file to see what is on here.... there's a
|
|
lot!
|
|
surya.waterloo.edu (/graphics) - ray tracers and such.
|
|
lyapunov.ucsd.edu - repository for programs dealing with
|
|
nonlinear dynamics, fractals, etc.
|
|
|
|
|
|
New Tek's Video Toaster
|
|
215 SE 8th Street
|
|
Topeka KS
|
|
66603
|
|
Very powerful Amiga graphics program.
|
|
Toaster List
|
|
listserv@karazm.math.uh.edu with a message body of "subscribe
|
|
toaster-list"
|
|
|
|
|
|
comp.graphics
|
|
Anything that has to do with computer grapics gets posted
|
|
here. The computer graphics FAQ available at pit-manager.mit.edu
|
|
(pub/usenet/answers). There is a mail server at the site as well
|
|
(mail-server@pit-manager.mit.edu. "help" in Subject field.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Computer Graphics Books
|
|
-----------------------------
|
|
|
|
Computer Graphics: Principles and Practice by J.Foley, A. Van
|
|
Dam, S. Feiner, and J.Hughes
|
|
|
|
|
|
Computer Animation: Theory and Practice by N. Magnenat Thalmann
|
|
and D.Thalmann
|
|
|
|
|
|
Creating and Animating the Virtual World by Thalmann and Thalmann
|
|
|
|
|
|
Desktop Computer Animation: A Handbook for Low-Cost Computer
|
|
Animation by Gregory MacNicol
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cyberpunk Films, Movies, Shows and Videos
|
|
-----------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Blade Runner
|
|
Blade Runner is the quintessential cyberpunk film, and
|
|
perhaps the first visualization of a cyberpunk world, predating
|
|
even Gibson's Neuromancer. Blade Runner is loosely based on
|
|
Philip K. Dick's story, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep.
|
|
The setting for the film is Los Angeles in the year 2019:
|
|
gigantic skyscrapers and bright neon signs and billboards dwarf
|
|
the inhabitants below. Life on the street is urban chaos - mixes
|
|
of different races, predominantly non-white, pack the raining
|
|
streets, all speaking a polyglot-street-tongue.
|
|
The story involves a "blade runner," Deckard, to come out of
|
|
retirement to hunt down renegade replicants. A replicant is an
|
|
android manufactured by the Tyrell Corporation that possesses
|
|
characteristics so human it is nearly impossible to tell the
|
|
difference. Blade Runners are the "police" that hunt down and
|
|
kill replicants that are out of control. Throughout the movie,
|
|
the director (Ridley Scott) plays on the notion that the androids
|
|
are really more "human" than the human blade runners. This seems
|
|
to be a theme that Philip K Dick used often in his stories: the
|
|
question of what constitutes humanity.
|
|
But it is the scenes in Blade Runner, and not the plot, that
|
|
make the movie the lush spectacle it is.
|
|
There are two versions of Blade Runner: the one released to
|
|
audiences in 1982 and the far superior directors cut, released in
|
|
1992.
|
|
The book, Retrofitting Blade Runner , is a collection of
|
|
critical essays about Blade Runner.
|
|
The Blade Runner FAQ in ftp.u.washington.edu in the
|
|
directory /public/alt.cyberpunk.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Recall
|
|
Another movie based on a story by Philip K Dick. In an
|
|
attempt to escape his dull life, Arnold Schwarzenegger visits a
|
|
company that implants "memories" of exciting, action-packed
|
|
vacations. He chooses to be a secret agent in the Mars colony as
|
|
his "vacation." Throughout the film, both Arnold and the
|
|
audience are unsure if he really is a secret agent, or if the
|
|
whole movie is an implant.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
THX 1138
|
|
George Lucas's first major film is set in the far future
|
|
where humanity lives in subterranean cities. The cities are
|
|
governed by computers, policed by robots, and are unsettling
|
|
clean and sterile. Citizens are forced to take drugs that
|
|
inhibit their passions, and are assigned alphanumeric codes
|
|
instead of names. The action starts when one citizen, THX-1138,
|
|
cuts back on his drug ration and falls in love with another
|
|
citizen.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lawnmower Man
|
|
A half-wit is mentally augmented with smart drugs,
|
|
computers, and virtual reality until he reaches god-like mental
|
|
powers. Slow pace, bizarre editing, and inane handling cripple
|
|
this movie, but the special effects might warrant a rental.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Terminator I and II
|
|
Robots from a machine and computer controlled future travel
|
|
time to assassinate the young leader of the human rebel movement.
|
|
Absolutely stunning visual effects.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Videodrome
|
|
A sleaze-TV executive scans satellite channels and discovers
|
|
a mysterious channel that broadcasts a torture program entitled
|
|
Videodrome. The program broadcasts some sort of mind-control
|
|
frequency causing its viewers to hallucinate and become more
|
|
violent. The tv exec investigates and finds out a man, Brian
|
|
O'Blivion is behind Videodrome. The problem is, no one has ever
|
|
seen O'Blivion - he exists only on reels and reels of television
|
|
footage.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Naked Lunch
|
|
David Cronenberg's film of the making of Naked Lunch, the
|
|
novel. Peter Weller plays Burroughs perfectly - the suit and
|
|
hat, and the detached, hollow look. Most of the movie has
|
|
Burroughs traveling to and from the Interzone, where he meets a
|
|
assortment of buglike creatures.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tetsuo, the Iron Man
|
|
Japanese splatter/super-hero film about a man who dicovers
|
|
one day that wires are growing out of his skin. He slowly
|
|
becomes more and more consumed by wires and metal. Highly
|
|
disturbing film.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Akira
|
|
Akira is a animated Japanese film set in post-nuclear war
|
|
Neo- Tokyo. Roving gangs and factions fight in streets lined
|
|
with megalithic skyscrapers, while the government experiments
|
|
with a force of pure energy called Akira.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Max Headroom
|
|
Postmodern/cyberpunk TV show that is set "20 minutes in the
|
|
Future." The world of Max Headroom is controlled by conglomerate
|
|
TV stations and corporations. Some episodes, including the
|
|
excellent pilot show, is available on video.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robocop I and II
|
|
A near-future Detroit is rampant with crime, police are
|
|
striking, and a mega-corporation wants to market robot policemen.
|
|
Unfortunately for the mega-corp, their first Robocop has memories
|
|
from his past life as a real cop and hunts down the villains that
|
|
previously killed him.
|
|
The less successful, but still darkly funny, Robocop II
|
|
deals with high-powered drugs, child drug-dealers, and the
|
|
subverting of governments by high-powered corporations.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Mind's Eye and Beyond the Mind's Eye
|
|
Hour-long videos of the best computer animation. These
|
|
videotapes can be bought from most videostores.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wargames
|
|
The movie that simultaneously inspired a generation of
|
|
hackers and made the public paranoid of computer intrusion.
|
|
Wargames is the story of a ne'er-do-well high-school student
|
|
who accidentally breaks into the US Defense computer, causing it
|
|
to prepare for nuclear war.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mad Max Series
|
|
The Mad Max series of films is the reversal of the typical
|
|
cyberpunk scene of overcrowded urban landscapes - they are set in
|
|
barren Australian deserts after some sort of apocalypse. Nomadic
|
|
gangs of maruaders fight for gasoline and food, or attack
|
|
primitive settlements. Mad Max is an ex-cop who aids the
|
|
settlers against the car gangs.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Raves
|
|
-----------
|
|
|
|
Raves are all-night parties, open to anyone, but usually
|
|
held in secret places. Directions to these locations are usually
|
|
on a colorful flyer, which is often doubled as a ticket and
|
|
"invitation." Like any youth-driven party, loud music is played,
|
|
chemical substances are consumed, and participants dance wildly.
|
|
Supposedly the combination of these elements promotes a
|
|
sense of comradery among participants. Raves are considered to be
|
|
the total subjective experience - everyone is being bombarded
|
|
with sensory stimuli and somehow throughout the night they
|
|
develop some sort of kinship. Raves also have the distinction of
|
|
having the worst fashion among any musical trend, perhaps even
|
|
disco.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Music
|
|
-----------
|
|
|
|
The music of choice at rave is usually techno, which is
|
|
divided into several genres: classic electronic dance (like
|
|
Kraftwerk, Depeche Mode), house (electronics with soul or rap
|
|
vocals), acid house (a more liquidy version of house), ambient
|
|
(new age-like, repetitive, calming), Tribal (electronic trance
|
|
inducing music, like the drums of the prehistoric man), and
|
|
hardcore techno (straight, fast driving beat, often without
|
|
vocals). The DJ is the supreme master of the rave - it is he who
|
|
selects and manipulates the music in a fashion that will sate the
|
|
revelers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Visuals
|
|
-------------
|
|
|
|
Rave visuals include computer graphics displayed on a large
|
|
screen TV or videowall, strobe lights, lasers, videotape loops,
|
|
and the actual ravers themselves. Ravers try to outdo each other
|
|
in the outlandishness of their costumes, producing an overall
|
|
tacky effect.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Drugs
|
|
-----------
|
|
|
|
To further distort their state of consciousness, a raver may
|
|
take a rainbow of drugs, vitamins, and chemicals. Popular
|
|
substances include smart drugs, Nitrous Oxide (taken from whipped
|
|
cream cans), acid, ecstasy, and (somewhat mundane among these
|
|
other chemicals) marijuana.
|
|
Ecstasy - also known as methylenedimethoxymethamphetamine,
|
|
MDMA, X, or XTC. Ecstasy was created in the 1910's but was not
|
|
available until the early 1970's, when it became a popular drug
|
|
with the hippy crowd. In 1985, it was declared illegal by the
|
|
United States government.
|
|
Ecstasy is noted for it's ability to amplify emotions,
|
|
increase energy, and promote empathy and acceptance of other
|
|
people.
|
|
Ecstasy has many annoying side effects, such as increased
|
|
heart rate, higher blood pressure, an increase in body
|
|
temperature, and muscle tension. Also, Ecstasy bought on the
|
|
street usually contains impurities - usually LSD, PCP, or heroin.
|
|
The Usenet group alt.drugs has more information on Ecstasy
|
|
(among other things...).
|
|
|
|
Books:
|
|
Ecstasy: The MDMA Story by Bruce Eisner
|
|
|
|
Includes history and effects.
|
|
|
|
PIKHAL: A Chemical Love Story by Alex and Ann Shulgin
|
|
|
|
Novel about the use of psychedelics including Ecstasy.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rave Magazines
|
|
--------------------
|
|
|
|
Project X
|
|
37 West 20th Street
|
|
Suite #1007
|
|
New York City NY
|
|
10011
|
|
Well produced, full color New York rave zine with gossip
|
|
columns (complete with people in those outrageous costumes), rave
|
|
reviews, music reviews, and such. A cavalcade of freaks and
|
|
transvestites, bedecked in ugly costumes and shod in horrible
|
|
platform shoes. Project X is recommended if you are like techno
|
|
music and rave culture.
|
|
$3.00 an issue.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Matrix
|
|
Benier Koranache
|
|
600 River Place #6632
|
|
Detroit MI
|
|
48207-5026
|
|
email: semite@aol.com
|
|
Detroit techno magazine that is expanding it's coverage.
|
|
Write for further details and current prices.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Under One Sky
|
|
c/o Heather Lotruglio
|
|
2249 E. 21 St.
|
|
Brooklyn NY
|
|
11229
|
|
Rave magazine that covers the entire techno underground with
|
|
special emphasis on artist interviews. Also has articles on
|
|
e-mail and the electronic global village. UOS includes techno
|
|
charts from radio stations and DJs from around the world.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tech 17
|
|
#101-1265 Dogwood Cres.
|
|
North Vancouver BC
|
|
V7P 1H2
|
|
Canada
|
|
Free techno music and rave magazine.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rave E-lists
|
|
------------------
|
|
|
|
Midwest Raves
|
|
mw-raves-request@engin.umich.edu
|
|
Announcements and reviews for local raves. Covers the Great
|
|
Lakes and midwest area of the US.
|
|
|
|
|
|
South East Raves
|
|
listserv@auvm.bitnet
|
|
Maintains calendar of upcoming events and listings of clubs
|
|
that play techno music, and a list of alternative record stores.
|
|
Archives at ftp.american.edu /listlogs/seraves.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pittsburgh-Cleveland Raves
|
|
pb-cle-raves-request@telerama.pgh.pa.us
|
|
Announces raves in the Cleveland, Akron, Columbus, and
|
|
Pittsburgh area.
|
|
|
|
|
|
San Francisco and Bay Area Raves
|
|
sfraves-request@soda.berkeley.edu
|
|
Covers raves in northern California and the Bay area. Most
|
|
active of the reegional lists.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Southern California Raves
|
|
socal-raves-request@uscd.edu
|
|
Covers the southern California/Los Angeles area.
|
|
|
|
|
|
North East Raves
|
|
ne-raves-request@silver.ics.mit.edu
|
|
Covers New York, Philadelphia, Washington, Boston, and the
|
|
north east states.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Maryland Raves
|
|
UMD-centric-cyberpun@wam.umd.edu
|
|
Includes the mid-Atlantic region.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Florida Raves
|
|
steve@sunrise.cse.fau.edu
|
|
Includes Florida and some south-east raves.
|
|
|
|
|
|
BPM Request
|
|
bpm-request@andrew.cmu.edu
|
|
Electronic list aimed specifically at DJs. Discussion on
|
|
rare recordings, mixing, turntables, and putting on a rave.
|
|
|
|
|
|
KLF/Orb List
|
|
klf-request@asylum.sf.ca.us
|
|
Special interest mailing list for fans of the KLF or the
|
|
Orb.
|
|
|
|
|
|
alt.rave
|
|
Usenet group on everything rave-oriented. FAQ list in
|
|
soda.berkeley.edu /pub/raves. This site also has compilation
|
|
reviews, rave poster images, information on ecstasy, and news
|
|
articles.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Assemblage
|
|
rapotter@colby.edu
|
|
E-mail rave culture magazine. Reviews of raves, critiques,
|
|
and the social implications of rave culture. Highly recommended
|
|
if you're into this stuff.
|
|
|
|
|
|
XDZebra
|
|
ftp'able from ftp.rahul.net
|
|
/pub/atman/UTLCD_preview/xdz-reviews
|
|
Techno CD reviews written by the Transdimensional Zebra.
|
|
The latest reviews are posted on alt.rave, later to be archived.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rave Catalogs
|
|
-------------------
|
|
|
|
Interphase Mail Order
|
|
c/o Bjoern Einan
|
|
Storgata 132 A
|
|
9008 Tromso
|
|
Norway
|
|
Norwegian Catalog. Rare and European stuff.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Silent
|
|
540 Alabama
|
|
Suite 315
|
|
San Francisco CA
|
|
94110
|
|
Great catalog of techno, industrial, and dance music,
|
|
including many hard to find titles. Recently Silent has added a
|
|
techno-only branch to it's catalog. Free catalog.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Innovative Record Source
|
|
1729 N. Warren
|
|
Milwaukee WI
|
|
53202
|
|
#414.225.9397
|
|
Rare, imported, and mainstream techno recordings. Write or
|
|
call for a price list.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hyperdelic Video
|
|
737 Pine Street #5
|
|
San Francisco CA
|
|
98107
|
|
From their promo sheet:
|
|
"Hyperdelic video is a San Francisco/Tokyo based
|
|
"transmedia" company involved in the fields of video, computer
|
|
graphics, live visual display system design, electronic music,
|
|
performance art, fashion, and graphic design. Formed in 1988 in
|
|
Tokyo, Japan by two Australian artists (Andrew Frith and David
|
|
Richardson) Hyperdelic is recognized as one of the pioneers of
|
|
"cyber-video" or "video- drug" as it is known in Japan. Their
|
|
work has appeared on both American and Japanese cable, satellite,
|
|
and national TV and they have collaborated on projects with many
|
|
of the leading names in the music, art, and scientific
|
|
communities including Psychic TV, Adrian Sherwood, The Shamen,
|
|
808 State, Moby, Derek May, EMF, Dee-lite, Pop Will Eat Itself,
|
|
YMO, Altern-8, E-lustrious, Dr. Timothy Leary, NHK Enterprises,
|
|
Telepresence Research, Anarchic Adjustment, and Eastern Bloc
|
|
records.
|
|
With the increased data handling capabilities that the
|
|
"digitization" of mass media has enabled, there is an increasing
|
|
trend for information and data to be presented visually and where
|
|
possible interactively. It is interesting to note that in the
|
|
English language the idiom "I see" denotes complete
|
|
understanding. The "RAMification of information" has enabled
|
|
what is being labelled "multi-media" to emerge whereby separately
|
|
discrete media are being linked together via special interfacing.
|
|
Hyperdelic aims to go beyond "multi-media" and hopes to be part
|
|
of the "Transmedia" revolution that has just begun, a revolution
|
|
where all media will appear to merge into one, the borders
|
|
between one and another will blur and where new modes of
|
|
communication will be conceived."
|
|
Each Hyperdelic tape has a musical theme (house, industrial,
|
|
ambient, techno, etc.) and each is one hour long. Tapes are $20
|
|
and include postage and handling if ordered in the US; all other
|
|
orders add $3.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Planet X Music
|
|
308 George Street
|
|
New Brunswick NJ
|
|
08901
|
|
908.249.0304
|
|
Huge techno selection of imports and independent labels.
|
|
Free information.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Watts
|
|
516.596.1888
|
|
Techno and house 12"s, MCs, CDs, and LPs. Large import
|
|
selection. Wholesale orders only. Call for information.
|
|
|
|
|
|
RaveVision
|
|
PO Box 73099
|
|
2131 Lawrence Ave E.
|
|
Scar., Ontario
|
|
M1R 5G5
|
|
Canada
|
|
Carries those polarized glasses (the ones that give that
|
|
"rainbow effect" when you look at lights) that are so popular at
|
|
raves. Write for prices - they're pretty inexpensive and they
|
|
have different ones to choose from.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Zochi Speaks
|
|
c/o Lord Nose!
|
|
PO Box 170473R
|
|
San Francisco CA
|
|
94117
|
|
Full color booklet/poster on twelve kinds of psychedelics.
|
|
$24.00 plus postage. Write for more information.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rave Clothing and Fashion
|
|
-------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Cronan Artefact
|
|
11 Zoe Street
|
|
San Francisco CA
|
|
94107-1709
|
|
Comfortable rave and regular clothing from the Walking Man.
|
|
Free information.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ameba
|
|
1732 Haight Street
|
|
San Francisco CA
|
|
94117
|
|
1.800.BYAMEBA
|
|
Hooded pull-over shirts, big t-shirts, jester hats, beanies,
|
|
and other rave clothes. Ameba also sells acid house music tapes.
|
|
Free catalog.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Berkeley Designs
|
|
2615 Shasta Road
|
|
Berkeley CA
|
|
ZIP Code
|
|
High quality full color fractal t-shirts and ties. Free
|
|
Catalog.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Affordable High Technology
|
|
--------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
Virtual Reality
|
|
-----------------------
|
|
|
|
In a Virtual Reality, a computer acts as a mediator between
|
|
flesh and an artificially created environment.
|
|
To be true Virtual reality, a system must be three things.
|
|
First, it must be totally immersive. Usually, a computer
|
|
only offers a flat surface for display in the form of a CRT or a
|
|
LCD panel. VR allows the display to be three dimensional and a
|
|
full 360 degrees of panorama, plus a display on top and below.
|
|
Sound and touch add to the total immersion effect. This output
|
|
is given by a variety of devices, including head mounted
|
|
displays, stereoscopic lenses, tactile feedback devices, and
|
|
stereo headphones.
|
|
Second, VR must be navigable - you must be able to explore
|
|
it. This is done through input devices like eye position
|
|
trackers, Six dimensional mice, head movement trackers, and
|
|
glove-like pointing devices.
|
|
Third, VR must be manipulative. You must be able to
|
|
interact with the environment. This can be done through devices
|
|
like a data glove (you can "pick up" things) and tactile feedback
|
|
(you can actually "feel" the surface of "objects").
|
|
The benefits of VR are obvious. Of course the entertainment
|
|
industry is scrambling to develop VR systems. Many games
|
|
incorporate the second and third elements, but the first is still
|
|
too costly. The medical and engineering fields are also
|
|
interested in VR, and an architect will have the chance to "walk
|
|
through" his creation before it is even built. Of course, VR has
|
|
military uses as well - pilots can steer warplanes that are miles
|
|
away and have no fear of putting their lives on the line.
|
|
Through virtual reality, wars can reach a level of video game
|
|
entertainment.
|
|
Virtual Reality also offers an exciting possibility for
|
|
computer networks like the Internet. Instead of sending
|
|
electronic mail or convening at certain chat sites (which are
|
|
presently all text only) people can meet "in person" and interact
|
|
with each other as if they were corporeal. But VR has a long way
|
|
to go before those days.
|
|
Virtual Reality has become a fad and buzzword of the early
|
|
nineties. A lot of hype surrounds it now, but for VR to even be
|
|
considered a consumer reality, the costs of the equipment must go
|
|
down drastically. The spearhead of the industry will probably be
|
|
home entertainment systems, like the Sega and Super Nintendo.
|
|
|
|
Cheap VR - It is possible to run a VR system on a souped up Mac
|
|
or 486+ or Unix Workstation right now, but the prices still run a
|
|
little high for equipment. One alternative is to convert
|
|
hardware like the Mattel Powerglove or Sega VR equipment into
|
|
input devices and use one of the many public domain or shareware
|
|
VR programs as your developing kit. The best sources for
|
|
information of this sort can be found in the magazine PCVR and
|
|
the sci.virtual-worlds newsgroup.
|
|
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|
|
VR Companies
|
|
------------------
|
|
|
|
The VR industry is similar to all technology oriented
|
|
industries: the tech is always changing, and the prices are
|
|
always dropping. If you are interested in any of the below
|
|
products, write to the company for more information and prices.
|
|
|
|
|
|
VPL Research
|
|
3977 East Bayshore Rd.
|
|
Palo Alto CA
|
|
94303
|
|
Jaron Lanier, the grandfather of virtual reality, started
|
|
this company and spurred on the still-young VR industry. Since
|
|
then VPL Research hit the skids and all the patents went to a
|
|
French backer, Thomson CSF SA. VPL is in the process of getting
|
|
back on its feet, which shouldn't be to hard since its products
|
|
are some of the most popular in the VR field.
|
|
The Dataglove is an inexpensive data input device that runs
|
|
under Unix and can be used in many CAD/CAM programs, virtual
|
|
reality programs, and teleoperation.
|
|
The EyePhone LX is a color LCD stereo display mounted on the
|
|
head of the user and is used for entering virtual environments.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fake Space Labs
|
|
935 Hamilton Avenue
|
|
Menlo Park CA
|
|
94025
|
|
The BOOM 2C (Binocular Omni-Orientation Monitor) is a CRT
|
|
based stereoscopic device which allows for real time control of
|
|
3D virtual environments and provides mechanical tracking which is
|
|
generally faster than magnetic trackers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ascension Technology Corp.
|
|
POB 527
|
|
Burlington VT
|
|
05402
|
|
The Ascension Bird is a 6 dimensional tracking device, which
|
|
can operate in three coordinates at the same time.
|
|
The Flock of Birds can track up to ten small receivers and
|
|
transmitters, which can be attached to a persons head, hands,
|
|
arms and legs. This allows for input into artificial realities
|
|
or telerobotics.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cyberware Laboratory Inc
|
|
8 Harris Court 3D
|
|
Monterey CA
|
|
93940
|
|
Cyberware has developed a three dimensional, full color
|
|
digitizer that can scan the surface of any object and display its
|
|
image on a graphics workstation for changing and manipulation by
|
|
a CAD program.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Crystal River Engineering, Inc
|
|
12350 Wards Ferry Rd
|
|
Groveland CA
|
|
95321
|
|
Crystal River Engineering produces the Convolvotron, a high-
|
|
speed digital audio signal processing system that delivers three
|
|
dimensional sound over headphones. 3D sound is when the sound
|
|
has the ability to change as the listener moves or positions his
|
|
head in different ways.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Virtual Research
|
|
1313 Socorro Ave
|
|
Sunnyvale CA
|
|
94089
|
|
The Flight Helmet, a lightweight head mounted display with a
|
|
liquid crystal display. The Flight Helmet has a wide field of
|
|
view, stereo headphones, and a built in head tracker.
|
|
Video signals are based on the NTSC standard, so a wide
|
|
variety of images can be imported for use.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ono-Sendai Corporation
|
|
332 3rd Ave
|
|
San Francisco CA
|
|
94118-2403
|
|
osendai@well.sf.ca.us
|
|
Ono-Sendai is developing a portable, affordable, interactive
|
|
entertainment and video game system that employs virtual reality
|
|
technology. As of now, they have nothing on the market, so write
|
|
or call for the latest developments.
|
|
Since Ono-Sendai took it's name from a fictional computer
|
|
company from William Gibson's Neuromancer, many people (myself
|
|
included) thought the company was nothing more than a prank.
|
|
However, they have taken steps to establish their credibility.
|
|
|
|
|
|
LEEP Systems, Inc.
|
|
241 Crescent Street
|
|
Waltham MA
|
|
02154-3425
|
|
The Cyberface 3 and Freedom Arm is very similar to Fake
|
|
Space Lab's BOOM, but with a LCD display, and is designed
|
|
specifically for non-stereo applications. The Freedom Arm
|
|
supports the weight of the Cyberspace 3 and provides six degrees
|
|
of freedom.
|
|
LEEP's Cyberface 2 is a stereoscopic head mounted display.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Straylight Corp
|
|
150 Mount Bethel Road
|
|
Warren NJ
|
|
07059
|
|
PhotoVR is a virtual reality program which is used to create
|
|
and explore 3D virtual environments. Users create designs on a
|
|
CAD or animation program then import the designs via PhotoVR and
|
|
manipulated.
|
|
Surprisingly, PhotoVR's interactive speed is constant
|
|
regardless of the scene's complexity.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Simgraphics Engineering Corp
|
|
1137 Huntington Drive Suite A1
|
|
South Pasadena CA
|
|
91030
|
|
Developed VR Workbench, a Unix based, object-oriented system
|
|
for developing virtual environments. Features of the VR
|
|
Workbench include polygon to polygon collision detection (for
|
|
realitistic object interactions), device drivers for 6D mice,
|
|
network capabilities, fast rendering of objects, and ability to
|
|
import MIDI film.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stereographics Corporation
|
|
2171-H East Francisco Blvd
|
|
San Rafael CA
|
|
94901
|
|
Sells CrystalEyes, a full color LCD stereoscopic display
|
|
unit.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Polhemus
|
|
POB 560
|
|
Colchester VT
|
|
05446
|
|
Polhemus manufactures FASTRAK, a six degree of freedom
|
|
tracking device that eliminates the usual lag associated with
|
|
tracking devices.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gyration
|
|
POB 20065
|
|
San Jose CA
|
|
95160-0065
|
|
GyroPoint, which is the first free space mouse that can be
|
|
used in any position or direction; the GyroPoint emulates the
|
|
Microsoft mouse, AppleMouse, and most popular workstation mice.
|
|
Very high resolution (1250 dpi) compared to conventional mice
|
|
(400 dpi); supports real time manipulation of 2D and 3D graphics
|
|
with full six degrees of freedom (three degrees simultaneously).
|
|
|
|
|
|
EXOS
|
|
24 Gill Street
|
|
Woburn MA
|
|
01801
|
|
Dexterous HandMaster is an exoskeleton-like device that
|
|
monitors the positions of all the joints in wearer's fingers.
|
|
DHM aids in teleoperation, telerobotics, and control of CAD/CAM
|
|
and virtual reality.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Virtual Technologies
|
|
POB 5984
|
|
Stanford CA
|
|
94309
|
|
The Cyberglove is a lightweight flexible glove with sensors
|
|
imbedded in it which repeatedly measure the movements of the
|
|
fingers. The Cyberglove has a software-programmable switch and a
|
|
LED on the wristband to allow for input/output capabilities
|
|
within a developing kit.
|
|
|
|
|
|
ISCAN, Inc.
|
|
125 Cambridgepark Drive
|
|
POB 2076
|
|
Cambridge MA
|
|
02238
|
|
ISCAN has developed some of the world's most sophisticated
|
|
eye-movement monitoring systems, including the Evil Eye targeting
|
|
machinery and the HeadHunter, an eye and head slaved pointing
|
|
system.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Logitech Inc
|
|
6505 Kaiser Drive
|
|
Fremont CA
|
|
94555
|
|
Despite their somewhat tasteless ads in Mondo 2000 and
|
|
Wired, Logitech markets a superb 3D mouse.
|
|
This mouse has five buttons and acts as an input device for
|
|
applications such as CAD/CAM and VR. It also can work as a very
|
|
expensive standard mouse.
|
|
The setup consists of a tripod with ultrasonic speakers at
|
|
each corner. These speakers "talk" to three microphones located
|
|
on the mouse. One of the five buttons is a "suspend" button,
|
|
which allows users to grasp a 3D object or to change the angle of
|
|
view. The mouse is capable of operating in X,Y, and Z
|
|
coordinates.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sense8
|
|
1001 Bridgeway #477
|
|
Sausalito CA
|
|
94965
|
|
Developed World Tool Kit, a program of over 230 functions in
|
|
C that enables a developer to build 3D graphical and vr
|
|
environments.
|
|
World Tool Kit features a high-speed renderer that
|
|
incorporates the latest flight simulator technology to provide
|
|
superior real-time graphic performance, texture mapping, and
|
|
device drivers for many sensor devices.
|
|
WTK includes all the hardware and software to turn an
|
|
ordinary 486 or Pentium into a vr workstation.
|
|
|
|
|
|
TiNi Alloy Company
|
|
1621 Neptune Drive
|
|
San Leandro CA
|
|
94577
|
|
TiNi Alloy manufactures very inexpensive tactile feedback
|
|
devices. By using tactile feedback, a computer can communicate
|
|
useful information directly to the operator's hands and
|
|
fingertips. It can make objects "appear" to be present by the
|
|
sense of touch.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Autodesk
|
|
Dept 06-549
|
|
2320 Marinship Way
|
|
Sausalito CA
|
|
94965
|
|
Autodesk is well-known for their CAD programs, and they have
|
|
stepped into the VR industry with the Cyberspace Developer's Kit.
|
|
CDK is an object oriented programming library (C++).
|
|
Features include the importation of 3D images created in CAD
|
|
programs, simulation of real-world physical properties, lots of
|
|
device drivers, and a MIDI interface.
|
|
CDK requires DOS 3.1+, a C++ compiler, 486 computer, 8MB
|
|
RAM, VGA display, mouse, and a hard disk.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Spectrum Dynamics, Inc.
|
|
3336 Richmond, Suite 226
|
|
Houston TX
|
|
77098
|
|
Publishes the Virtual World Builder, a catalog of the lowest
|
|
priced virtual reality software and hardware available. At
|
|
$20.00 a catalog (refundable after first purchase) it is
|
|
recommended to only the most serious VR experimenters.
|
|
Spectrum Dynamics has formed the CyberSociety, an
|
|
international society dedicated to homebrew and low-end virtual
|
|
reality developers.
|
|
Members of the CyberSociety receive discounted VR tools,
|
|
extended warranties, free catalogs, and a newsletter. One year
|
|
membership is $250.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Artificial Realities
|
|
55 Edith
|
|
Vernon CT
|
|
06066
|
|
Custom designed artificial realities from one of the
|
|
pioneers of virtual reality, Myron Krueger.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reflection Technology
|
|
Private Eye is a mechanism that employs a LED linear array
|
|
and looks like a small television that straps to the head. The
|
|
LED array presents itself in a floating screen a few feet in
|
|
front of
|
|
the user.
|
|
Video graphics cards can also be added to augment its
|
|
capabilities.
|
|
|
|
|
|
BattleTech
|
|
Virtual World Entertainments
|
|
1026 W. Van Buren
|
|
Chicago IL
|
|
60607
|
|
Virtual reality arcade-style. Players take control of a
|
|
BattleMech, a huge robot that can explore and fight other
|
|
BattleMechs in a terrain that encompasses over 100's of "square
|
|
miles."
|
|
BattleTech is located in Chicago and Tokyo, with many more
|
|
being planned.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Virtual Reality Journals
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
CyberEdge Journal
|
|
#1 Gate Six Rd, Suite G
|
|
Sausalito CA
|
|
94965
|
|
The leading computer-human interface/interaction magazine.
|
|
Includes articles and news on the virtual reality industry,
|
|
profiles special interest groups, and reviews books.
|
|
Six issues are $29 (students); $75 otherwise. Foreign
|
|
subscriptions are $15 extra.
|
|
|
|
|
|
VR News
|
|
POB 2515
|
|
London N4 4JW
|
|
UK
|
|
Profiles developers, trends, and new products. Good feature
|
|
articles. No advertisements.
|
|
Ten issues for $175.00 or L 95.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Meckler
|
|
11 Ferry Lane West
|
|
Westport CT
|
|
06889-5808
|
|
Meckler publishes a few journals that are of interest:
|
|
Virtual Reality Review
|
|
VRR is a journal devoted to vr, artificial reality, and
|
|
cyberpace. Reviews hardware and software, interviews vr
|
|
professionals and researchers, and facilitates discussion of the
|
|
social and philosophical aspects of cyberspace.
|
|
$35 for one year subscription.
|
|
Virtual Reality Report
|
|
Written in newsletter format, contains expert information,
|
|
reviews of conferences and publications, and the most current
|
|
industry news.
|
|
Published monthly at $97.00 a year.
|
|
HD World Review
|
|
Covers the fast-changing industry of high definition
|
|
television. Includes reviews of products and standards and the
|
|
latest news of developments.
|
|
One year subscription is $35.00
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Virtual Reality News
|
|
38640 Oakbrook Road
|
|
Farmington Hills, MI
|
|
48331
|
|
Small newsletter contains news on the VR market, corporate
|
|
profiles, applications, and product and book reviews.
|
|
Six issues a year for $110.00
|
|
|
|
|
|
PCVR
|
|
1706 Sherman Hill Rd #A
|
|
Laramie WY
|
|
82070
|
|
The magazine for IBM PC owners. This is probably the best
|
|
magazine for homebrew VR enthusiasts.
|
|
Contains reviews of inexpensive products, plans, schematics,
|
|
and codes for projects.
|
|
Six issues at $26.00 (US and Canada; $38 foreign).
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Video Journal of Virtual Reality
|
|
2330 Williams Street
|
|
Palo Alto CA
|
|
94306
|
|
Video tapes of Senate hearings on VR, VR and cyberspace
|
|
conference highlights, video interviews of noted VR developers.
|
|
Each tape is $35. Write for current list of available titles and
|
|
topics.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Presence: Teleoperators and Virtual Environments
|
|
MIT Press
|
|
55 Hayward Street
|
|
Cambridge MA
|
|
02142
|
|
Quarterly multidisciplanary scientific journal for
|
|
teleoperations and virtual reality.
|
|
Individual subscriptions are $50.00; students $40.00.
|
|
Canadian and foreign add $14.00.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Virtual Reality Groups
|
|
----------------------------
|
|
|
|
ART + COM
|
|
Hardenbergplatz 2
|
|
1000 Berlin 12
|
|
Germany
|
|
Established in 1988, ART+COM is a research and development
|
|
center funded with the support of the Berlin Senate's Science and
|
|
Research Dept.
|
|
The object of the ART+COM project is to provide professional
|
|
production equipment for art designers, musicians, technicians,
|
|
and computer professionals for the development of new and
|
|
creative applications of computer technology.
|
|
ART+COM has constructed a virtual city with computers plus
|
|
has plans for building broadband networks and interactive
|
|
information systems within towns. ART+COM are also developing
|
|
medical and scientific visualization projects, and multimedia
|
|
communications.
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Vivid Group
|
|
317 Adelaide St. West #302
|
|
Toronto Ontario
|
|
M5V 1P9
|
|
The Vivid Group developed the Mandala VR system, which
|
|
allows a user to step inside a television.
|
|
The Mandala software runs on an Amiga and allows users to
|
|
create an interactive environment that can be "entered" through a
|
|
video camera.
|
|
Scenes for the interactive world can be made from any Amiga
|
|
painting program, then imported to the Mandala software. Sounds
|
|
and music can also be imported via a MIDI adapter and
|
|
synthesizer.
|
|
Possibilities for Mandala include interactive billboards and
|
|
virtual telephones.
|
|
The Vivid Group not only sells the Mandala software, but it
|
|
also produces virtual environments for customers, complete with
|
|
pre-created backgrounds, sounds and music.
|
|
|
|
|
|
VRASP
|
|
Virtual Reality Alliance of Students and Professionals
|
|
POB 4139
|
|
Highland Park NJ
|
|
08904
|
|
Network of amateur and professional vr enthusiasts.
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Presidio Group
|
|
364 West Lane Ave
|
|
Suite 225
|
|
Columbus OH
|
|
43201
|
|
Specializes in virtual reality applications, most custom-
|
|
built. Write for more information.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Computer Science House
|
|
25 Andrews Memorial Drive
|
|
Rochester NY
|
|
14623
|
|
716.475.2400
|
|
cshouse@nick.csh.rit.edu
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Computer Science House is formally a part of the
|
|
Rochester Institute of Technology's special interest housing
|
|
program, but is involved in a variety of computer science
|
|
projects, including building sophisticated virtual worlds and
|
|
cyberspace related projects. RIT's CS House is world-famous for
|
|
their Coke machine that is hooked up to the Internet - anyone the
|
|
world over can cause a can of soda to be dispensed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Virtual Reality Electronic Sources
|
|
----------------------------------------
|
|
virtu-l
|
|
Mirror (contains the same information) of
|
|
sci.virtual.worlds. Mostly for BITNET addresses who can't access
|
|
Usenet.
|
|
|
|
|
|
sci.virtual-worlds
|
|
Usenet group dedicated to everything virtual reality
|
|
oriented. Posts include tech-talk, announcements for conferences
|
|
and publications, product information, philosophical pieces,
|
|
essays on the social and economic implications, and discussion of
|
|
cheap VR.
|
|
|
|
|
|
sci.virtual-worlds.apps
|
|
Applications of VR in today's world.
|
|
|
|
|
|
alt.cyberspace
|
|
Discussion of shared virtual environments, networked VR, and
|
|
visual representations of information.
|
|
|
|
|
|
powerglove list
|
|
listserv@boxer.nas.nasa.gov
|
|
Information on the Mattel Powerglove as an input device for
|
|
low-end VR environments.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FTP sites
|
|
---------------
|
|
|
|
These sites contain information on VR, demo programs,
|
|
freeware, device drivers, and files of general vr interest.
|
|
|
|
|
|
sunee.uwaterloo.ca pub/vr
|
|
|
|
karazm.math.uh.edu
|
|
|
|
ftp.apple.com
|
|
|
|
sunsite.unc.edu
|
|
|
|
wuarchive.wustl.edu
|
|
|
|
milton.u.washington.edu
|
|
Lots of VR stuff, including VEOS, a VR environment for Unix
|
|
systems. For VEOS software interests, contact veos-
|
|
support@hitl.washington.edu.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cheap Virtual Reality Software
|
|
------------------------------------
|
|
REND386
|
|
A DOS based, low-cost virtual reality software. Mailing
|
|
list is: rend386-request@suneewaterloo.edu.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vistapro by Virtual Reality Labs
|
|
Vistapro generates sophisticated full color landscapes, then
|
|
allows you to animate and navigate them in full 3D view. With
|
|
over 250 colors and fast polygon generation, this program can
|
|
produce breathtaking effects. It would look especially nice when
|
|
viewed through stereo glasses. $70 from Media Magic.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Virtual Reality Books
|
|
---------------------------
|
|
|
|
Cyberspace: First Steps by Michael Benedikt
|
|
Collection of essays on the advancement of virtual reality,
|
|
and the possibilities of creating networked vr.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Virtual Reality by Howard Rheingold
|
|
Howard Rheingold of Whole Earth fame has written this great
|
|
book on the history and progress of vr. It includes early
|
|
attempts at vr (even mentioning filmmaker John Waters' attempt at
|
|
"Smellovision"), military R&D, and the very real threat of the
|
|
Japanese taking over yet another American innovation.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Virtual Reality Playhouse by Nicholas Lavroff
|
|
Very low cost vr: this book comes with a diskette of vr
|
|
programs and a pair of 3D glasses. The book itself is mostly
|
|
instructions on how to use the programs. Includes useful
|
|
appendix of virtual reality companies.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Virtual Reality Marketplace by Meckler
|
|
Updated annually, the VR Marketplace is absolutely the the
|
|
best source for virtual reality merchandise.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other Books on Virtual Reality:
|
|
|
|
Virtual Reality: Adventures in Cyberspace by Francis Hamit and
|
|
Wes Thomas
|
|
|
|
Silicon Mirage: The Art and Science of Virtual Reality by Steve
|
|
Aukstakainis and David Blatner
|
|
|
|
Virtual Reality: Through the New Looking Glass by Ken Pimental
|
|
and Kevin Teixeira
|
|
|
|
Virtual Worlds: A Journey into Hype and Hyperreality by Benjamin
|
|
Woolley
|
|
|
|
Artificial Reality by Myron Krueger
|
|
|
|
Artificial Reality II by Myron Krueger
|
|
|
|
The Metaphysics of Virtual Reality by Michael Heim
|
|
|
|
Virtual Reality: A Selected Bibliography by Hilary McLellan
|
|
|
|
Virtual Worlds: Real Challanges by 1991 Conference on Virtual
|
|
Reality
|
|
|
|
Beyond the Vision: The Technology, Research and Business of
|
|
Virtual Reality by Conference on Virtual Reality, Artificial
|
|
Reality, and
|
|
Cyberspace
|
|
|
|
|
|
Artificial Intelligence
|
|
-----------------------------
|
|
|
|
Artificial Intelligence is the science of programming
|
|
computers to "think." AI has been one of the most challenging
|
|
fields of computer programming, due to the immense difficulty in
|
|
trying to replicate human thought patterns.
|
|
The following is a list of low cost sources for homebrew AI
|
|
programmers and enthusiasts.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Artificial Intelligence Companies
|
|
---------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
NeuralWare
|
|
Penn Center West
|
|
Building IV
|
|
Pittsburgh PA
|
|
15276-9910
|
|
412.787.8222
|
|
Offers software, tools and courses in neural networking.
|
|
Call for a free diskette describing NeuralWare's products and
|
|
training. Also ask for the free booklet, Applications in Neural
|
|
Computing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
NeuroDynamX
|
|
POB 323
|
|
Boulder CO
|
|
80306-0323
|
|
NeuroDynamX produces Dynamind, a powerful neural network
|
|
program. Dynamind has a GUI interface, and can import Lotus,
|
|
Quattro, Excel, and Paradox files for analyzation and
|
|
manipulation.
|
|
Dynamind's companion program, the Dynamind Developer,
|
|
contains a variety of tools (C routines), plus the ability to
|
|
link networks together.
|
|
|
|
|
|
FRED13
|
|
Robitron Software Research, Inc.
|
|
228 Hampton St.
|
|
Rockmart GA
|
|
30153
|
|
FRED13 is a dialogue generator program, sort of like Eliza,
|
|
except that he can learn phrases indefinitely. Instead of
|
|
looking for key words, like many AI programs, FRED searches for
|
|
statistically close matches to an input phrase. Plus, FRED can
|
|
remember most a conversation, and he can use parts of it again
|
|
later in the conversation.
|
|
The FRED13 demo has 12 000 phrase/response records, but it
|
|
can't learn any new phrases. It's big enough to hold a
|
|
conversation, though. Requires IBM PC with at least 7.1 megs on
|
|
the hard drive. Write for details.
|
|
The full learning version of FRED13 is available for DOS,
|
|
UNIX, XENIX, and AIX platforms. Non-DOS platforms requires
|
|
DataFlex Full Development liscense; DOS version without source
|
|
code includes DataFlex runtime.
|
|
Price $199.95 all platforms.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
AI Magazines and Journals
|
|
-------------------------------
|
|
|
|
AI Expert
|
|
PO Box 51241
|
|
Boulder C)
|
|
80321-1241
|
|
Articles on AI applications, techniques, programs, product
|
|
evaluations, neural nets, expert systems, fuzzy logic. A great
|
|
magazine for homebrew and professional AI enthusiasts.
|
|
12 issue subscription is $32.00
|
|
|
|
|
|
PC AI
|
|
3310 West Bell Road, Suite 119
|
|
Pheonix AZ
|
|
85023
|
|
Nice, slick magazine for AI devotees. Each issue has
|
|
programs, software and product reviews, tips, and full length
|
|
feature articles.
|
|
Six issues for $21.95.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pergamon Press
|
|
Headington Hill Hall
|
|
Oxford OX3 0BW
|
|
UK
|
|
Publishes scholarly and expensive research journals such as:
|
|
Neural Networks
|
|
Vision and image processing, speech and language
|
|
understanding, pattern recognition, sensory motor control and
|
|
robotics, associated learning and long-term memory.
|
|
Six issues are $380.00.
|
|
Pattern Recognition
|
|
Pattern recognition in AI systems. 12 issues for $845 (!!).
|
|
Robotics and Computer Integrated Manufacturing
|
|
Control systems, artificial intelligence, sensors, and
|
|
signal processing. Six issues for $470.
|
|
Expert Systems With Applications
|
|
Expert systems design and applications. 4 issues for $155
|
|
(what a bargain).
|
|
If you're interested in any of the above journals, I'd
|
|
suggest checking with a local university to see if they
|
|
subscribe.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Advanced Technology for Developers
|
|
High-Tech Communications
|
|
103 Buckskin Court
|
|
Sewickley PA
|
|
15143
|
|
Monthly newsletter for developers working with neural nets,
|
|
expert systems, genetic algorithms, and fuzzy logic.
|
|
12 issues for $198 (US and international); $189 extra for
|
|
source code of projects in the articles.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
AI Books
|
|
--------------
|
|
|
|
The Society of Mind by Marvin Minsky
|
|
Marvin Minsky, cofounder of the AI Lab at MIT, explores the
|
|
structure of human intellegence. Minsky believes the mind is
|
|
made up of smaller agents that act together - hence a "society of
|
|
mind."
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mind Children by Hans Moravec
|
|
Roboticist Hans Moravec persuasively argues, using the
|
|
technological pace of the past century, that within 40 years our
|
|
machines will achieve human equivalence. After this benchmark
|
|
has been reached, their growth will continue while human
|
|
development stagnates. Moravec asserts that this postbiological
|
|
world will not be frightening, but merely a natural step.
|
|
|
|
|
|
War in the Age of Intelligent Machines by Manuel DeLanda
|
|
DeLanda explores the possibilities of artificial
|
|
intelligence being integrated into weapons systems.
|
|
|
|
|
|
AI: The Tumultuous History of the Search of Artificial
|
|
Intelligence by Daniel Crevier
|
|
Chronicles the history of artificial intelligence, the
|
|
players, the programmers, the programs, the struggles, the
|
|
victories, and the shifts of one technique to another. A very
|
|
good book for understanding the basics and history of AI.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
AI Electronic Source
|
|
--------------------------
|
|
|
|
comp.ai
|
|
Usenet hierarchy; separate groups include neural nets,
|
|
expert systems, philosophy, and programming languages. Comp.ai
|
|
has a huge monthly FAQ that lists hundreds of artificial
|
|
intelligence sources, including FTP sites, books, magazines, and
|
|
AI programs.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FTP Sources
|
|
-----------------
|
|
|
|
These sites all contain information and programs that
|
|
pertain to artificial intelligence.
|
|
|
|
ftp uunet.uu.net /ai
|
|
|
|
flash.bellcore.com /pub
|
|
|
|
gargoyle.uchicago.edu /pub
|
|
|
|
solaria.cc.gatech.edu /pub
|
|
|
|
|
|
Artificial Intelligence and Law
|
|
listserv@austin.onu.edu
|
|
List dedicated to the legal implications of artificial
|
|
intelligence systems. To subscribe, write to the listserv with
|
|
the sentence subscribe ail-l <Your Full Name> as the message
|
|
body.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Artificial Life and Robotics
|
|
----------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Artificial life includes any man-made system that exhibits
|
|
certain properties that would constitute "life," such as autonomy
|
|
and reproduction/replication. This would include (but not
|
|
limited to) robotics and computer programs that are able to
|
|
develop into new life forms through mutation or natural selection
|
|
(this classification would include certain computer viruses).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ALife Sources and Software
|
|
--------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Heathkit
|
|
Heath Company
|
|
Benton Harbor MI
|
|
49022
|
|
800.44H.EATH
|
|
Electronics education courseware and hardware for individual
|
|
learning, plus sells circuitry, microprocessor manuals, and
|
|
project kits. Kits include artificial intelligence, robotics,
|
|
and hardware diagnostics. Free catalog.
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Robot Group
|
|
PO Box 164334
|
|
Austin TX
|
|
78716
|
|
Austin, Texas based hobbyist group, and one of the most
|
|
active robotics groups in existence today. The Robot Group often
|
|
participates in shows around the Texas area. Write for
|
|
information on the group's newsletter, the Robot Group Pulse.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robotics Society of America
|
|
36 Newell Street
|
|
San Francisco CA
|
|
94133
|
|
415.673.2376
|
|
National hobby robotics organization. Write for information
|
|
on joining and current newsletter subscription rates.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robot Experimenter
|
|
PO Box 458
|
|
Peterborough NH
|
|
03458-0458
|
|
Magazine of robotics projects, programs, features and news
|
|
of the robot building hobby.
|
|
Twelve issues for $24.00.
|
|
|
|
|
|
World of Robots
|
|
55 Earle Street
|
|
Milford CT
|
|
06460
|
|
Kits and supplies for homebrew robot builders. Catalog is
|
|
$6.25, $5.00 is refundable with first purchase.
|
|
|
|
|
|
TIERRA
|
|
Virtual Life
|
|
POB 625
|
|
Newark DE
|
|
19715
|
|
ftp'able from tierra.slhs.udel.edu or life.slhs.udel.edu
|
|
in dir tierra. $65; $20 for an update. Comes with source code
|
|
and
|
|
executables.
|
|
Tierra was developed by Dr. Thomas Ray from the University
|
|
of Deleware. Tierra's source code, which is written in C,
|
|
creates a virtual computer within your computer that comes
|
|
complete with an operating system. The virtual computer's
|
|
executable files have the ability to evolve, and display signs of
|
|
"life."
|
|
Mutations can occur either by recombining the lines of code,
|
|
or by random bit switching. Then, natural selection takes over
|
|
as the different forms of code fight it out in a battle to win
|
|
CPU time for more self-replication.
|
|
The operation system of Tierra provides three different
|
|
mutation rates to triple your fun and random disturbances to
|
|
throw wrenches into the works.
|
|
Tierra keeps records of the births and deaths , and
|
|
maintains a genebank for successful "organisms."
|
|
After you watch Tierra for a while, strange things will
|
|
start to happen as the organic soup evolves: host/parasite
|
|
relationships develop, evolutionary wars and peaces, mass
|
|
diversity, and unpredictable events that throw everything into a
|
|
mess.
|
|
Knowledge of C and Assembler is a must for the operation of
|
|
Tierra.
|
|
|
|
|
|
SimLife by Maxis
|
|
From the same people who produced SimCity comes SimLife,
|
|
the most game-like of artificial life programs. Like a mad
|
|
scientist, you design and create life forms and influence their
|
|
evolution. Throw them into an environment of your design and
|
|
watch them survive and proliferate, or crash and burn. You can
|
|
even manipulate your creations' genetic structure to mutate them
|
|
further. SimLife has better graphics than the other A-life
|
|
programs, and doesn't require programming knowledge.
|
|
$50.00 from Media Magic. Also available in most computer
|
|
stores.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Simulated Evolution by Michael Palmiter, Ph.D.
|
|
Simulated Evolution is a simulation of predator/prey
|
|
situations. The setting is at the bottom of a lake where little
|
|
bugs swim around and eat the smaller bacteria. Each bug's
|
|
demeanor is dictated by its genetic code - some are more
|
|
aggressive than others, some are "smarter," et cetera. When a
|
|
bug reaches a certain level of "maturity," it is able to produce
|
|
offspring with different genetic structure than its parent.
|
|
Through genetics and luck only the fittest survive.
|
|
$40 from Media Magic.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cellular Automata Lab by Rudy Rucker and Autodesk
|
|
CA Lab allows the user to create artificial life, simulate
|
|
physical and biological procedures (including ecological patterns
|
|
and chemical reactions). Knowledge of C, Pascal, or BASIC is a
|
|
requirement. CA Lab comes with a comprehensive manual that
|
|
serves as an introduction to cellular automata.
|
|
$55 from Media Magic.
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Blind Watchmaker by Richard Dawkins
|
|
This program is best used as a companion to the book of the
|
|
same name. The user breeds different organisms, and The Blind
|
|
Watchmaker simulates the process in which very advanced forms of
|
|
life have arisen through the Darwinian concept of natural
|
|
selection.
|
|
$16 from Media Magic.
|
|
Creating Artificial Life by Edward Rietman
|
|
Author Edward Rietman examines different definitions of
|
|
life, and applies them to the realms of robotics, cellular
|
|
automata, and artificial intelligence. Programs in BASIC and C
|
|
are provided to explore variations of artificial life - including
|
|
computer viruses and self-governing robots.
|
|
$30 for book and disk from Media Magic.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Alife Electronic Lists and Journals
|
|
-----------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Artificial Life
|
|
alife-request@cognet.ucla.edu
|
|
General discussion for a variety of a-life topics.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tierra Digest
|
|
tierra-request@life.slhs.udel.edu
|
|
|
|
|
|
comp.robotics
|
|
Information for robot hobbyists. FAQ is available from
|
|
rtfm.mit.edu
|
|
|
|
|
|
cellular automata List
|
|
cellular-automata-request@think.com
|
|
Forum for cellular automata and related projects.
|
|
|
|
Robot Board
|
|
listserv@oberon.com
|
|
Information on robot electronics, with special emphasis on
|
|
controller boards.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Alife Books
|
|
-----------------
|
|
|
|
Artificial Life: The Quest for a New Creation by Steven Levy
|
|
Steven Levy traces the still nascent science of alife from
|
|
its very beginnings with Von Neumann's Automata theory to the
|
|
hacker's game "Life" to robotics to computer viruses. Not as
|
|
engrossing as Hackers, but still the best book on Alife yet.
|
|
|
|
|
|
In Our Own Image: Building an Artificial Person by Maureen
|
|
Caudill
|
|
Caudill describes in meticulous detail the necessary hurdles
|
|
science must overcome to develop an artificial person, and how
|
|
far we are now in creating one.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robotics by Marvin Minsky
|
|
AI pioneer Minsky tracks the history of robots and
|
|
automatons, examines necessary functions of machinery to be
|
|
classified as robots, and the types of robots that exist now or
|
|
in the near future.
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Tomorrow Makers by Grant Fjermedal
|
|
Grant Fjermedal travels to Carnegie Mellon University to
|
|
meet Hans Moravec and MIT to visit Marvin Minsky. An in-depth
|
|
look of the future of robotics from machines that are programmed
|
|
for specialized tasks to machines that can think and act for
|
|
themselves.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robotics: Introduction, Programming, and Projects
|
|
Industrial and hobby robots, teleoperation, sensory devices,
|
|
AI, programming techniques. A good primer to get involved into
|
|
the field of robotics.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robot Builders Guide
|
|
Available from cherupakha.media.mit.edu in /pub/6270/docs;
|
|
or aeneas.mit.edu in /pub/ACS/6.270. Or MIT Epistemology and
|
|
Learning; 20 Ames Street; E 15-809; Cambridge MA; 02139 for a
|
|
cost of $15.00.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robotics World Directory
|
|
Industrial and hobbyists suppliers are listed in this
|
|
worldwide directory. Available for $49.95 from:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Communications Channels
|
|
6255 Barfield Road
|
|
Atlanta GA
|
|
30328
|
|
Other books on Alife:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cellular Automata: Theory and Experiment ed.by Howard Gutowitz
|
|
|
|
Artificial Life I by Christopher Langton
|
|
|
|
Artificial Life II by Christopher Langton
|
|
|
|
This Cybernetic World by V.Lawrence Parsegian
|
|
|
|
How to Build a Conscious Machine by Leonard Angel
|
|
|
|
The Blind Watchmaker by Richard Dawkins
|
|
|
|
Inside the Robot Kingdom by Frederick Schodt
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
High Tech Gadgets
|
|
-----------------------
|
|
|
|
Every technophile loves gadgets - the clever, small
|
|
electronic gizmos that are impressive if, in truth, somewhat
|
|
useless. This love of gadgets perhaps stems from childhood
|
|
heroes - be it Dick Tracy, James Bond, or Maxwell Smart. The
|
|
following is a list of
|
|
(mostly) free catalogs that offer discount or inexpensive
|
|
gadgets.
|
|
|
|
|
|
The DAT Store
|
|
2624 Wilshire Blvd
|
|
Santa Monica CA
|
|
90403
|
|
Sells high-end audio equipment, including DAT, DCC, and
|
|
MiniDisc players, and other stuff that the music industry wants
|
|
to keep out of the United States. Free catalog and price list.
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Spaceage Electronics Corp.
|
|
POB 15730
|
|
New Orleans LA
|
|
70175
|
|
1.800.624.65909
|
|
Satellite television equipment. Free catalog.
|
|
|
|
|
|
J & R Music World
|
|
59-50 Queens-Midtown Expressway
|
|
Maspeth NY
|
|
11378-9896
|
|
1.800.221.8180
|
|
Video, telephones, magnetic media, synthesizers, computers,
|
|
portable audio equipment. Free catalog.
|
|
|
|
|
|
DAK
|
|
8200 Remmet Ave
|
|
Canoga Park CA
|
|
91304
|
|
1.800.DAK.0800
|
|
The old standby for cheap electronics. DAK sells its stuff
|
|
cheap either because they buy it direct or the line has been
|
|
discontinued. Each entry is written by DAK's founder and
|
|
president, Drew Andrew Kaplan. After you get a few of these
|
|
catalogs, you'll be used to the weird names he gives to his
|
|
products - a remote control device becomes a "marriage Saver,"
|
|
and a paper shredder is called a "Snooper Stomper." What do you
|
|
expect from a guy who calls his buyers "fellow DAKonians"???
|
|
Free catalog.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amateur Electronic Supply
|
|
5710 W. Good Hope Road
|
|
Milwaukee WI
|
|
53223
|
|
1.800.558.0411
|
|
Huge catalog of amateur radio equipment - receivers,
|
|
transmitters, scanners, and antennae. They have it all. Free
|
|
catalog.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nuts and Volts Magazine
|
|
POB 1111
|
|
Placentia CA
|
|
92670
|
|
A newspaper-like trading market for electronic parts,
|
|
components, home electronics, radio equipment, radar devices,
|
|
etc.
|
|
Write for current prices.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Digi-Key Corp
|
|
PO Box 677
|
|
Thief River MN
|
|
56701
|
|
1.800.344.4539
|
|
Cheap electronics components.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sony Style
|
|
1.800.848.SONY
|
|
Catalog/magazine of all the newest electronics from Sony.
|
|
Costs 4.95, but if your really nice to them they might send it to
|
|
you free.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Electronic Wholesalers
|
|
1160 Hamburg Tpk.
|
|
Wayne NJ
|
|
07470
|
|
201.696.6531
|
|
Camcorders, audio equipment, video equipment, laser disk,
|
|
telephones, receivers; cheap prices. Free catalog.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Japan Electronics
|
|
15138 Valley Blvd.
|
|
City of Industry CA
|
|
91744
|
|
818.369.5000
|
|
Surplus and wholesale electronics parts and accessories.
|
|
Free catalog.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Comm-Pute, Inc.
|
|
1057 E.2100 South
|
|
Salt Lake City UT
|
|
84106
|
|
Amateur radio, communications, computer interfacing, and
|
|
packet radio equipment. Free catalog.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kantronics
|
|
1202 E.23rd St.
|
|
Lawrence KS
|
|
66046
|
|
913.842.7745
|
|
Professional radio equipment; antennae. Good place for
|
|
pirate radio equipment. Free catalog.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Telecom Inc
|
|
675 Great Rd, Rt.119
|
|
Littleton MA
|
|
01460
|
|
508.486.3400
|
|
Telephone and radio equipment. Free catalog.
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Electronic Goldmine
|
|
PO Box 5408
|
|
Scottsdale AZ
|
|
85261
|
|
602.451.7454
|
|
Science kits and electronic supplies. Free catalog.
|
|
Computability Consumer Electronics
|
|
PO Box 17882
|
|
Milwaukee WI
|
|
53217
|
|
800.558.0003
|
|
Stereo and video components, televisions, computers, and fax
|
|
machines. Free catalog.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Highvoltage
|
|
39 W.32nd St
|
|
New York NY
|
|
10001
|
|
Video cameras, video tape players and equipment, stereos.
|
|
Free catalog.
|
|
|
|
|
|
SBH Enterprises
|
|
1678 53rd St
|
|
Brooklyn NY
|
|
11204
|
|
800.451.5851
|
|
Audio, stereos, and radar detectors. Free catalog.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Damark International
|
|
PO Box 29900
|
|
Minneapolis MN
|
|
55430
|
|
Cheap merchandise, especially with electronics. Free
|
|
catalog.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fair Radio Sales Company Inc
|
|
PO Box 1105
|
|
Lima OH
|
|
45802
|
|
Military surplus electronic equipment. Free catalog.
|
|
|
|
|
|
ElectroWorks
|
|
Plaza 34, 100G Hwy.34
|
|
Matawan NJ
|
|
07747
|
|
800.662.8559
|
|
Every imaginable home electronics. Free catalog.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Factory Direct
|
|
131 W.35th St.
|
|
New York NY
|
|
10001
|
|
800.428.4567
|
|
Consumer electronics at cheap prices. Free catalog.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vidicraft
|
|
SW Bancroft St
|
|
Portland OR
|
|
97201
|
|
503.223.4884
|
|
Video players and camcorders, enhancers, converters, etc.
|
|
Free catalog.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Global Cable Network
|
|
1032 Irving St Ste. 109
|
|
San Francisco CA
|
|
94122
|
|
800.327.8544
|
|
Cable television accessories and equipment. Free catalog.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Satman
|
|
715 W.Glen
|
|
Peoria IL
|
|
61614
|
|
800.472.8626
|
|
Excellent satellite catalog; everything you need from dishes
|
|
to receivers. Free catalog.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Xandi Electronics
|
|
Box 25647
|
|
Tempe AZ
|
|
85282
|
|
800.336.7389
|
|
Satellite equipment, voice disguisers, radio transmitters,
|
|
bugs. Catalog is $1 (refundable).
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vidiwall Corp.
|
|
30 Chapin Road
|
|
Pine Brook NJ
|
|
07058
|
|
Video walls and such. Like you could really afford one....
|
|
At least the information is free.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Internet
|
|
------------------
|
|
|
|
The Internet offers the chance to travel around the world
|
|
through your computer. It is the largest network of computers in
|
|
the world, and has connection in every continent and every
|
|
country. It grows daily and hundreds of businesses, libraries,
|
|
universities, and governments are plugged into it.
|
|
Unfortunately, the Internet is not the easiest place to
|
|
explore, and suffers from a lack of set standards. The best
|
|
place to get information on the Internet is through one of the
|
|
following books (Krol's Whole Internet being the best).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Internet Books and Publications
|
|
-------------------------------------
|
|
The Matrix by John Quarterman
|
|
History, protocols, and services of the world's major,
|
|
minor, and private computer networks. The interdependency of
|
|
these networks is also discussed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Whole Internet User's Guide and Catalog by Ed Krol
|
|
Krol has written the most useful book on the Internet - if
|
|
you are either a beginner or a veteran, this book is
|
|
indispensable. Includes easy to follow instructions for ftp,
|
|
telnet, gopher, and archie, among other Internet resources.
|
|
The back section of the book is devoted to the Whole
|
|
Internet Catalog, a guide net resources on everything from
|
|
aeronautics to zymurgy. Highly recommended.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other Books about the Internet:
|
|
|
|
The Internet Companion by Tracey LaQueye and Jeanne Ryer
|
|
|
|
Internet: Getting Started
|
|
|
|
Exploring the Internet by Carl Malamud
|
|
|
|
Crossing the Internet Threshold by Roy Tennant
|
|
|
|
Zen and the Art of the Internet by Brendan P. Kehoe
|
|
|
|
|
|
....and some publications:
|
|
|
|
Matrix News
|
|
Matrix Information and Directory Services, Inc.
|
|
1106 Clayton Lane
|
|
Suite 500 West
|
|
Austin TX
|
|
78723
|
|
Newsletter about Bitnet, Internet, and Usenet. Filled with
|
|
charts and maps, plus breaking news about the electronic
|
|
frontier.
|
|
$3.00 for a sample copy.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Internet Journal
|
|
11 Ferry Lane West
|
|
Westport CT
|
|
06889-5808
|
|
Chronicles developments and trends on the Internet and
|
|
connected or related networks.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Boardwatch
|
|
5970 S Vivian Street
|
|
Littleton CO
|
|
80127
|
|
Excellent magazine for Bulletin board enthusiasts,
|
|
communications fiends, and Internet cowboys. Each month there
|
|
are listings of new boards, communications software and hardware
|
|
reviews, and information on network services.
|
|
Subscriptions are $36.00 for 12 issues.
|
|
|
|
ora.com
|
|
O' Reilly and Associates
|
|
103 Morris Street, Suite A
|
|
Sebastopol CA
|
|
95472
|
|
The house organ of O'Reilly and Associates, publishers of Ed
|
|
Krol's bestselling The Whole Internet, plus other Unix books.
|
|
This catalog/magazine is a slick production that has information
|
|
on the Internet and departments that include tips and techniques
|
|
for advanced and intermediate Unix users. And its free!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
InternetConnections
|
|
-------------------------
|
|
|
|
Inexpensive ways to navigate the Internet.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mindvox
|
|
212.988.5030
|
|
phantom.com
|
|
Bulletin board system started by Lord Digital and Dead Lord
|
|
in 1992, Mindvox is the home of many cyberpunk/technophile
|
|
visionaries and authors. Offers Internet mail and conference
|
|
rooms. Call for current pricing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Echo
|
|
97 Perry Street, Suite 13
|
|
New York NY
|
|
10014
|
|
212.255.3839
|
|
ECHO (East Coast Hang Out) is similar to it's cousin the
|
|
WELL on the other coast, but lacks the WELL's Californian
|
|
ambience. Based in Greenwich village, ECHO is New York to the
|
|
bone. And what makes this board really stand out is that its
|
|
owner (Stacy Horn) and 40% of the users are women.
|
|
ECHO offers special interest conferences and e-mail.
|
|
Cost is $18.95 a month ($12.95 for students and elderly) for
|
|
thirty hours of online time; each additional hour is $1.
|
|
|
|
|
|
The WELL
|
|
27 Gate Five Road
|
|
Sausalito CA
|
|
94965
|
|
415.332.4335
|
|
well.sf.ca.us
|
|
The original alternative BBS, the Whole Earth 'Lectronic
|
|
Link is frequented by all types of alternative personalities.
|
|
Many cyberpunk luminaries hang out on the WELL's conferences (if
|
|
they are not over on Mindvox). Offers Internet mail and a wide
|
|
variety of conferences. Write or call for current prices.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Portal Communications
|
|
10385 Cherry Tree Lane
|
|
Cupertino CA
|
|
95104
|
|
408.973.9111
|
|
Basic Internet services.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Netcom Online Communications Services
|
|
4000 Moorpark Ave #209
|
|
San Jose CA
|
|
95117
|
|
408.554.8649
|
|
FTP, Telnet, and mail services. Write for more information.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Netsys Communication Services
|
|
netsys@netsys.com
|
|
Newsfeeds, e-mail, Unix shell access.
|
|
Private accounts with five megabytes of storage are $20.00;
|
|
commercial accounts with ten megabytes of storage are $40.00.
|
|
|
|
|
|
FidoNet
|
|
International FidoNet Association
|
|
PO Box 41142
|
|
St.Louis MO
|
|
63141
|
|
314.576.4067
|
|
FidoNet really isn't part of the Internet, but it connects
|
|
to it in some places. It's sort of like a large number of
|
|
bulletin boards all connected sharing and spreading data.
|
|
FidoNet is pretty low-tech and cumbersome, but it does the trick.
|
|
Incidentally, many bulletin boards in Eastern European countries
|
|
and former Soviet Union republics are primarily linked via
|
|
FidoNet.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cleveland Freenet
|
|
216.368.3888
|
|
Completely free Unix accounts, but you can't FTP (except by
|
|
mail) or Telnet. Usenet groups, e-mail, local, national, and
|
|
international news, and special interest groups. Large amount of
|
|
IRC (Internet Relay Chat) channels and MUDs (Multi-User Domains).
|
|
|
|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
uXu #148 Anon Underground eXperts United 1993 FTP uXu #148
|
|
ftp.lysator.liu.se etext.archive.umich.edu zero.cypher.com
|
|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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