/*  Crosstalk  */

Dear Hackermind,
This is a gripe about people protesting the War on Iraq. I am sick of
hearing about people saying we shouldn't go to war, because most people that
are protesting have no idea what they are talking about. This isn't directed
at you Screamer, or an attack on your mention of the War on Iraq. I'm just
saying that all these people are protesting the war based on facts they get
from their friends, celebrities, or members of the media. In case you all
forgot, those vultures will report on anything they think will get ratings,
that's why they won't stop talking about Iraq. That's why they have actors
and people not involved in politics come on their shows. Protestors talk
about facts, but in reality most of them are nonpolitical and are only
protesting to be rebels. The reason I don't support or protest the war is
that I do not have all the facts. Face it: the people that know the most
about the situation are the ones in charge, not you or your potsmoking
friends. So people need to stop pretending like they know what they are
talking about. Yeah I hate alot of things about "the system" but it isn't
going to change because you and your friends sat around smoking weed all
day.  [Cold Sunn]

<REPLY>
Ive often said that admitting you dont know enough about something to make an informed decision is the best way to go.  Yet you seem to attack only those who are against the war, without mentioning those who blindly insist we bomb a country because the President says its the only thing to do.  Clearly youre annoyed by the protestors, but people on both sides of the fence behave this way.  You may say theyre protesting to be rebels, but there are even more Americans who will go along with anything their government tells them, with no more facts than the ones against it.  For example, someone else could have easily written in and said that people who are pro-war only listen to what CNN tells them, or what the protestor-bashing editorials in the newspaper say about it.  Fact is, there are people on both sides who use the internet, shortwave radio, and other ways of obtaining information from around the world.  This helps paint a clearer picture of whats going on, and can aid in making a more informed decision.
</REPLY>


Frequency,
	A few weeks back I sent an issue of Freq to my sister at school, 
and only a day later she wrote back saying she loved it.  Keep in mind this 
is a girl studying criminal justice, with no interest in computer hacking whatsoever, 
but she loved the independent feel of the mag.  She even said it was a refreshing
change to hear the so called criminals of the world speaking out for themselves.
She saw that hackers were not the evil cyberthieves everyone makes them out to be, 
and even began appreciating their way of life.  Thanks for the great mag, youre changing 
a lot of opinions out there.  [random chaos]

<REPLY>
If theres one thing we try to be, its independent.  Ironically, stations such as FOX News make such bold statements as Were fiercely independent! listen, if you have FOX in your name, youre not independent.
</REPLY>


Dear Frequency,
	Hope this makes it in by Freq30.  Ive been reading your publication since 
issue 1, and gotta tell you I love what Ive seen.  I havent always agreed with everything, 
hell there have been times when I swore I wouldnt finish an issue because of how much it 
angered me, but through and through youve allowed people to speak their minds.  
I dont know of any other hacker publication that would print an article that was AGAINST 
hacking, much less two or three in the same issue.  You really are about free speech, and I 
thank you for that.  Cant wait to see what you have in store for the future.  [eon]

<REPLY>
Inside the Hacker Mind doesnt just mean hearing what hackers have to say, its about understanding hackers and the world in which they live.  In order to fully appreciate that, sometimes we have to examine why some people are against them.  Once you begin silencing people for thinking differently, you close yourself off and begin to think in terms of black and white, right and wrong.  Someones comments may anger you, but theres information to be found everywhere.  Even the dull and ignorant, they too have their story.  - Desiderata
</REPLY>


Frequency,
Still loving the ezine, you guys kick ass.  Its kind of sad that Hackermind 
isnt around anymore, never thought the show would die off before the ezine, 
but its good to know youre still doing your thing.  Any plans of future shows 
or specials?  You guys were the first and youll always be the best, keep on rocking.  [Lady J]

<REPLY>
As long as www.hackermind.net belongs to yours truly, Hackermind is not dead.  Sure the weekly episodes are gone, and finding time to make an episode is tough, but like you said were still here.  As for the future, of course we have things planned.  We wont go making any announcments just yet, but I doubt youll stop hearing from us all together anytime soon.
</REPLY>


Hackermind,
Hey, I'm a new listener of Hackermind and I downloaded and and listened to 
every episode available on the site right now, I have a couple questions for 
ya

First, I might have missed this in one of the shows, or maybe you guy's 
didn't wanna say, but what did Dash get arrested for?

Second, What happened to Dash (on your history page, it said he was going 
through hard times), and do you think you're gonna do more episodes with 
him?

Third, what happened to the magazine you guy's had goin on (I just now 
totally forgot the name of it...)

I know you must be busy, so don't rush to respond. I just wanted to let you 
know that you have a great show and it's the only one I actually like (I've 
listened to Off the Wall, Off the Hook, Brain Damage, Radio Freak America, 
all kinds of shows, I just can't "connect" with any of them...) and I'm 
really looking forward to any new episodes you've got coming up.


<REPLY>
1) Dash was arrested for drawing a cartoon, check out the May 15, 2001 edition of the Off the Hook to get the gist of it.  http://www.2600.com/offthehook/2001/0501.html
2) He went through some hard times in his personal life, but things now seem to be getting back to normal.
3) Frequency is still coming at ya (almost) every month, but Equal Access has been discontinued.  Subscribers will receive the last of their issues, and thatll be the end of it for the time being.  Publishing a magazine proved far too expensive for just a couple of students.
Thanks for the compliments.  Each of those shows have their own unique personality, but Im glad to hear you enjoyed ours.
</REPLY>


Frequency,
No doubt this is the wrong place to say this, but what the heck, 
I have a gripe about 2600 magazine.  The quality of articles seems 
to be on a steady decline, I mean, who really cares to see three or four
 pages of someones nmap scan?  Does anyone ever bother to read 
through those damn dumpster diving articles?  Great, you found a piece
 of 1960s equipment that doesnt even workw00t.  Go tell your friends 
about it, dont force the world to experience your garbage exploring experience.  
Then theres my favorite, the one in the newest issue about how to properly 
destroy a CD-ROMum, break it into a million pieces and chuck it in the 
sewer, problem solved.  My point is that these articles are so fucking pointless 
its ridiculous, who needs a 19th article about Blockbuster or Wal-mart anyway?  
Its not like Im ever going to reset one of their cash registers or unplug their 
machines!  Same goes for the one on highway sign hacking.  It requires you 
to open up the back of the damn sign, who in their right mind will do that?  And 
how the fuck is that hacking?  What, you can pick a lock and type, that somehow 
constitutes hacking the sign?  

Believe it or not, I love 2600, but for the past several years it seems like the 
magazine only exists so they can get their editorial in the beginning and make 
a few bucks off of it.  Ah well, think Ill go read about some operating system 
Ill never have access to. [Passive]


<REPLY>
I too love 2600, but youre right when you criticize certain articles.  Since Ive had articles published, I really cant put down anyone elses work, but I can agree that 2600 makes some poor editing decisions.  A few months back the Hackermind BBS was actually rooted by a visitor to our site, yet when he submitted the information to 2600, they never published it.  They seem to have plenty of articles on non-technical or purely opinionated matters, but for a technical journal, you have to wonder why such obvious technological information is not published.
</REPLY>


Frequency,
I visited Slashdot.org not too long ago and noticed a post about the RIAA cutting back on peer to peer filesharing.  Thats not unusual, nor is what the poster said next.  He said this makes it difficult for him to sample music before he goes out and buys it.  What I wanna know is, how many people really go out and purchase music theyve downloaded?  Be realisticif you can download it, then you can burn it.  Theres no reason whatsoever to buy the cd!  I know Im a bad person, Im condoning piracy and painting a bad example for everyone online, but arent we all thinking that??  Why would you pay when you could get it free?  Why, because you wanted to be nice?  Get outta here!  I suppose if you really love a band youll buy their cd to support them, but that whole sample music so I can buy it later line is really getting old.  Its like saying Im a hacker, Im just seeking knowledge to better educate myself.  Youre a hacker and youre having fun, simple as that.  I just dont think we have to justify every move we make. [k-rod]


<REPLY>
A lot of people say they purchase the music they like, but how many really do I couldnt say.  The RIAA doesnt seem to be losing very much money, so maybe thats some evidence for you to consider.  I think all in all most people do want to purchase something, if only to have the complete package, instead of just a burnt CD with a few songs on it.  As far as justification goes, I hope someday we wont have to justify listening to the music we choose to.  And if you feel guilty about downloading a song and not buying the album, should you also feel guilty about hearing it on the radio and not sticking around for the commercials?
</REPLY>


Frequency,
  Is it too late to get this publiched??  [aaron]

<REPLY>
Yes.
</REPLY>










