10 Thursday, October 30, 1997 Pahrump Valley Gazette
World financial collapse--the sky isn't falling
1 was positively fascinated with the financial markets this past
week. Within various media sources I read about "concern" on
Thursday, "bad situation" on Friday and then came "bloody" Monday.
There were a lot of verbs and adjectives used Monday. Crisis,
collapse, global collapse, and then came the grand daddy of them all,
meltdown.
Gloom and doom had befallen us. The experts were interviewed
and tried to instill an attitude of calm-- but admitted they didn't know
what was going to happen.
In another report, the Dow Jones drop of over 550 points was
refened to as a "blood bath." Monday night all eyes turned to Houg
Kong, where all the turmoil began the previous Thursday, to see what
would happen.
Throughout the day the experts stated things would go well on
Tuesday if Hong Koog didn't drop more that 1,000 points Monday
night. They warned, however, that a drop larger than that could trigger
a global crisis. CNBC interrupted regular programming to broadcast
tim Asian markets live MoP.day night.
I tuned in to discover the Hong Kong Market down nearly 1,600
points. I was glued to the television watching the little symbol in the
lower right corner announce thacoming oftheend. Every few seconds
it updated the current results. It wasn't good.
No one wanted to admit it, but the world's financial markets were
virtually poised for a complete collapse. 1 thought of Bill Gates in a
soup line. Since it's almost Halloween I wondered if he knew how to
say, "Alms?"
I went to bed that night nervously wondering what the future would
be like. I'd imagine many folks did. Many more probably stayed up all
III
NORTHERN EXPOSURE
night worrying about it.
The next morning I got up around 4:30 a.m. I let llll
th acrispblack moonless
night distant candies. None
had fallen from their heavenly perch.
The earth, in its precariously precise orbit around the sun,
had not slipped from its grip and flung itself into the ether. The air was
fresh and went into my lungs with a refreshing ease. As I exhaled a
breath of fog, it swirled slightly and descended to the grass below. It
felt good.
My little Yorkshire, having completed her business, gave a little
Encryption export control
A battle is shaping up between the Clinton administration and the
computer/software industry over the control of encryption tech-
niques. It is generally recognized that the lnternet, a world phenom-
enon, requires the locks and keys of strong encryption to do business
in a digital age. Under present conditions, criminal hackers and
computer thieves can readily intercept sensitive personal and propri-
etary business information. Economic espionage costs American
businesses tens of billions of dollars every year.
Typically the U.S. Government is concerned with regulation
and control, even though this can apply only to the American share
of the Interact. As former British Pri me Minister Margaret Thatcher
aptly observed: "Governments are themselves blind forces, blun-
dering about in the dark, and obstructing the operation of markets
rather than improving them." The Clinton Administration is push-
ing $909, the Secure Public Networks Act, introduced by Senators
Robert Kerrey (D-NB) and John McCain (R-AZ). Provisions of the
act would institute governmemt controls over the export of U.S.
encryption techniques. They would also require that "oackup keys' to
all U.S. encryptions be placed in government hands. Our govern-
ment would then negotiate with other governments to hopefully
maintain control over the Internet.
Competing legislation, HP,695 Security and Freedom through En-
Art car parade
San Francisco. That's where I was a few weeks back, attending
another art show. This one was a bit different as it featured not only
art on display but a new form of art, that being the Art Car.
The art car being where someone who is not satisfied with having
a plain mn of the mill appearing vehicle makes some changes which
set it apart. These changes only being limited by the artists imagina-
tion and meeting legal roadworthy requirements.
My old pickup fit right in with them with it's woven aluminum
awnings, sculptures and other items attached to it. It was a good trip
even though I picked up a ticket on the way over there, my first in 25
years. For speeding no less. The reason I got this was that most of the
time when I am out on the road I'm dragging my trailer along and I
ain't in that big a hurry anyway.
The pickup being use to having the added weight of the trailer
behind it didn't know how to act and with me not paying attention we
ended up getting ticketed for doing 65 in a 45 mph zone. The officer
was careful to explain that speeding was the reason he stopped me,
not the vehicles appearance. ARea" he got done doing his job, we had
a nice visit.
Then it was on to Reno where I stopped briefly to see if that
hijacked cruise ship was still sitting around in the Truckee river
opposite of where they want to do the riverfront development work.
I've got to fiuish this story someday and will when I figure out agood
ending.
The truck really liked going over Donnor Pass not hauling a
trailer and in no time we were approaching Sacramento where one
of my daughters lives and where I was to spend the night.This was
about 4 p.m. and I got treated to the sight of all the commuters going
home out of the city. It was a slowly moving mass of bumper to
bumper traffic which went on for miles, I used to think traffic was
bad here in Qoldfield, while on my side of the freeway going into
Sacramento, it was clear sailing.
Grandpa, this being me really doesn't fit into visitin 8 the kids and
their kids and the kids kids which makes me a great grandfather. A
unique situation, especially with me only being 28. But I lived through
it. Only hang-up being where or how grandpa was going to sleep with
all these assorted crumbcatchers of various sizes around. A problem
which I solved by getting my sleeping bag and mat out of the truck and
crashing out on the patio.
Next morning it was on to Berkley Calif., where I joined up with
the art car people for what I thought was to be a simple caravan parade
over to where the gallery where the art show and exhibit was to be held.
Not so I found out. To fit in with this assemblage of slightly odd
appeanng vehicles, I had Cosmo my eight foot tall giraffe mounted on
the hood of the pickup, Willie the headless man on top of the camper
shell roof and some other odds and ends affixed to the truck. Believe
it or not, mine was one of the more sedate entrys.
For the next three hours. I, who have driven under all sorts of
eryption, is cosponsored by Robert Goodlatte (R-VA) and Zoe Lofgren
(D-CA). This act, supported by most concerned private U.S. organiza-
tions, including the entire computer/software industry, would utilize the
world market to sort out the best encryption systems and put them into
use. Backed by both liberals and conservatives, this legislation recog-
nizes that there may be several iterations before final techniques are
selected and that even final selection may evolve.
Changing Patterns
by Richard Reul
00iiiiiiiiiiill
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Ignored by the Administration is the fact that German, Dutch,
Swedish, British and Russian manufacturers have created strong and
reliable encryption products that are available internationally and
readily imported. Curtailing the export of American encryption
conditions, was treated to a whole new world. Trying to keep up with
a parade in some sort of order while experiencing normal everyday
crowded San Francisco traffic, stop lights etc. was something else. All
one could do was keep the car in front of you in sight and hope that they
knew where they were going. Which at one point turned out not to be
the ease and by following this one guy, got to see parts of San Francisco
I didn't know existed and probably never find again Talk about hills.
There was some that I thought the poor old truck wasn't gonna make
it up. But it had to, otherwise we would have ended up as a hood
ornament on one of them cable cars which was signaling it's displea-
sure of us by loudly dinging its bell.
After several more wrong ua'ns, we lucked out and rejoined the
parade. No one had noticed our absence.
We, the caravan that is, had to leave Berldey, get on the freeway
and cross the Golden Gate Bridge and of course we all got separated.
Finally, we met up at the toll booths where they charged us to get into,
Slim Sez
by Slim Sirnes
where they should have been paying us. It
was quite a sight seeing all these strange
cars lined up on the bridge. I took the
opportunity during this pause to make sure
all the stuffon the truck was still in place. It was and for tie rest of tbe
trip I was spar the worry of what would I have done if something had
blown off. About all one could have done if it had, was just drive on.
We drove through the Golden Gate Park, along the Emhacardro,
through Chinatown and the Haight Ashbury district (lot of old hippies
and tourist there, couldn't tell which was which) and a lot of other
places finally getting to the gallery where it turned out that the parking
lot was set aside for us. It wouldn't be available fill the next day.
Parking in San Francisco is a problem and once you have found
a space, you dam sum don't want to leave it. Kinda like downtown
Goldfield. So having found a spot near the gallery, I and several
others opted to spend the night there. We seemed to fit right in and
the sight of me and others cooking and sharing supper in the back of
the truck attracted no undue attention. Sleeping in the bed of the.
truck came easy after the. day we had. Laying there in my sleeping
bag listening to the city traffic sounds slowly diminishing was quite
an experience. At times like this, I am glad that I am slightly hard of
hearing.
Next morning was something else as the city came back to life.
I enjoyed sitting in the back of the truck enjoying my morning cup
of coffee. I never go anywhere without having my coffee pot and
bark. I picked her up and said, "G'morning, Pepper." She lapped her
tongue on my cheek.
Not too long after that the sun began to rise. A gloriously beautiful
sight of reds and greens and browns and blues. Slowly it rose and
turned a bright yellow surrounded by an a: ure sky. I stepped outside
and discovered the bright green grass was still where it was yesterday.
A few bright orange leaves lay scattered about announcing the change
of seasons.
The birds began to sing and shortly found their way to our feeder.
Multi-colored song birds curved out of the blue and gracefully landed
nearby. Several breeds of pigeons joined them and a few nearby ravens
in a cacophony of sound.
As if on cue from the birds came the chipmunks around the hill
looking for their morning handout oflxmuts. They would sometimes
"squeak" in delight when handed one. Keeping one eye on the ravens,
they would devour one, come back for another, go off and hide it
somewhere.
The world's financial markets were in a state of collapse but God
had not closed the factory.
Later, at work, we discovered that after a 200-point drop the Dow
had recovered and regained most of the previous day's losses. 'Whank
God," someone said.
How often we thank the right person for the wrong things.
systems places us at an economic disadvantage--- taking jobs and
revenue from our country. The crux of the battle is whether private
sector/market regulation should be allowed, as it is in most foreign
co.untries, or whether government regulation should prevail.
We have all observed how excessive government regulation is
destroying the United States. A recent report, issued by 11 of the
world's top cryptographers, offers further evidence that the U.S.
Government proposals in $909 are neither feasible nor desirable. It
stated that: "Secure systems of this scope and complexity involve
substantial security risks and potentially could costs billions of
dollars."
Serious Constitutional questions are also involved. First Amend-
ment guarantees of freedom of speech, Fourth Amendment protec-
tion against unreasonable searches and seizures, Fifth Amendment
rights against self-incrimination and Tenth Amendment reservation
of powers to the states are all implicated in $909. Surrendering
constitutional rights is too high a price to pay for participating in
electronic commerce.
HR695 allows the free market to design its own standards and
solutions for the development of global commerce, free from un-
wanted and unworkable government regulation. My vote is for
freedom! , .... •
small Coleman camp stove, even when checking into a hotel,
watching all these people scurrying offto work. By the time I had my
coffee drank and my breakfast eaten, we were allowed into the set
aside parking lot which like all else in San Francisco, was in an
unusual location, namely being underneath a freeway. The rest of the
day was spent getting my stuff set up in the gallery for the show that
night and helping others get set up as they arrived.
There were sure some far out rigs. A late model Chevy van
completdy covered with cameras of all sorts and sizes over 100 of
them. The "Cork Truck" a 1987 Mazda truck covered with over
10,000 wine and champagne corks, plusthe driver and his wife had
matching outfits also made our of corks. Answer to the two most
frequently asked questions about their ri,. "No, I don't want to drive
it into a lake to see if it floats," and, "No, I didn't drink all this wine.
A person would have to drink one bottle a day for 28 years to
accumulate enough corks to cover the trueL
One kindergarden teacher had a neat way of decorating his small
compact. Every year at the start of the school season he would tell
his class that iftbey were real good that year they could paint his car.
Which they have them doing for the past several years. There were
cars covered with license plates, pennies, etc. One shocking pink car
featured a wide variety of bras with a warning sign not to touch. I
could go on for hours trying to describe all the wonderful works of
mobile art that were on display and still not get them all.
These people are doing something different in mining something
commnn-place, the auto, into something with a little fun in it. My
kind of folks. The show and accompanying party went on until the
wee hours of the morning on both Friday and Saturday nights.
I had offers of a place to stay on the other side of San Francisco,
wherever that was. So I ended up, once again, camping out in the
back of the old truck. Many of the other art ear people did likewise.
The weather was clear and sunny and even if it had rained, camping
out under the freeway would have made for a good weather shedding
roof. Although one of my fellow campers made the observation
while sharing a morning coffee with me, what would have happened
if we had had a severe earthquake during the night and the freeway
came crashing down upon us? What a comforting thought. What was
strange was wakening up at 4 a.m. With the silence broken every
now and then when a solitary car would pass overhead on the
freeway. I sure have ended up camping out in odd places on my trips.
The show ended late Sunday afternoon and by the time I got all
packed up I wasn't ready to hit the road and traffic waiting until
Monday a.m. before heading out for home where nothing ever
happens except for maybe a rocket landing near the backyard.
This was a fun weekend and if this deal comes up again next year,
I probably will be there meeting old friends and making new ones.
I've dragged this out quite a hit so I will end this with have a good one.
1 sure am.
