[TheForge] Criminal Background Check

[Andrew Vida]

Jim Beard wrote:
> Speaking as a computer guy, and just a normal person in general,
> digital signatures scare the hell out of me. 

	Especially the "non-repudiation" aspect of it.  My friend Steve is a 
bona-fide genius.  Any ten of us wish we knew 10% of what he's 
forgotten.  He was one of the heavier hitters at Cray Research.  I once 
made a comment that I suspected 128 bit RSA encryption could be broken 
by NSA machines in a matter of minutes.  To this he gave his encrypted 
answer "no comment".  If they can break it, they can reproduce it. 
There are other smart people out there and I doubt anyone smart enough 
to figure out how to break RSA would advertise the fact.

 > I like the illegible
> scribble idea.  When I come to an understanding of terms of a
> contract, and agree to it, I want to sign it.  Not sign some
> electronic pad supposedly associated with the paper document they
> handed me.  As a computer guy, I know they can slap that digital
> signature on whatever the hell they feel like.  Hand me a paper saying
> I am agreeing to terms on an appliance warranty, then slap it on a
> power of attorney.  There is no assurance.  The same goes for
> electronic voting, which is far scarier I guess... 

	Uncle Joe Stalin once said something to the effect that "Those who vote 
decide nothing.  Those who count the votes decide everything."