Rants & Raves
Out of Sight
My dad used to sit with me and watch Star Trek: The Next Generation. He scoffed at the notion of a holodeck and laughed at the idea of LeVar Burton having his sight restored through artificial means. I used to tell Dad that what is science fiction today will be science fact tomorrow. I made sure to buy him the latest issue of Wired, so he could read about artificial sight himself (�Vision Quest,� Wired 10.09). Let me say one thing to the scientists of the world: Engage!
__ Paul Dale Roberts
Elk Grove, California__
For a time, as wireless communications made it clear that being tethered to terra firma was a dead end, it seemed that Wired was in danger of becoming a relic. However, Steven Kotler�s piece suggests that the true meaning of �wired� may someday refer to people with neural implants. As such, I�m particularly glad that you were able to vividly show what a few milliamps scooting around between neurons can do.
__ Bruno Farragut
San Francisco, California__
Slide Rules Rule!
Ben Mezrich�s �Hacking Las Vegas� (Wired 10.09) was a great romp. I'm glad �Kevin� let him in on the game so we could get an idea of what it must feel like to be an outlaw by virtue of intellect alone. And for all of us who once wore pocket protectors to algebra class, it�s nice to see a story confirming that �bergeeks can be cool � very cool indeed.
__ Steven Baumrucker
Kingsport, Tennessee __
When DIY Meets DMV
I enjoyed �Faking It� (Wired 10.09) but found that the piece underestimated fake ID makers. It stated that a counterfeit ID card, when swiped, would return no data; but in most cases, this is no longer true, since the DMV uses a standard format, published on the Web (aamva.org/Documents/stdAAMVADLIDStandrd 000630.pdf). Holograms plus encoded magnetic strips are also available on the Internet. Furthermore, the license number, which the article stated was �probably picked at random,� may not have been. Driver�s license numbers, like credit card numbers, follow a certain mathematical formula. Web sites discuss those formulas and offer links to software to generate them. Even the barcode on the back of an ID can be created using downloadable software. There�s also no reason for the kids to scan in a real ID when there are software packages that automatically create them and adjust the colors depending on your printer. And the most basic of things, the paper the DMV prints IDs on, called Teslin, is widely available.
Detecting fake IDs is a tough job for bouncers and cops. Luckily, there are a few detection methods left, such as microprint, matte address strips, and satin pouches, but even those are being thwarted by the best counterfeiters. I�d love to see a more in-depth article about what the DMV plans to do to prevent this in the future. Will they ever make an identification card that any 15-year-old with an Internet connection won�t be able to almost perfectly reproduce?
__ Nicholas Blasgen
Davis, California __
Sole of a New Machine
Regarding Andrew Tilin�s �The Post-Human Race� (Wired 10.08): The Nike team is nowhere near the marathon frontier. The ultimate human running machine would remove both legs beneath the knee and replace them with Kevlar and titanium.
A recently published Danish study of Kenyan and Ethiopian runners showed that their feet and lower legs are smaller and more slender than other runners�. In a marathon, this is crucial: With each step, a slender guy lifts less weight and expends less energy than a stocky guy. Each lift may seem to have little impact, but thousands of such light-footed strides make a huge difference � a theory that has been tested by adding the weight of a coin to runners� feet. This is also the reason that there have been a number of barefoot winners, like Abebe Bikila of Ethiopia. Rather than shoes, perhaps Nike should develop a feather-light protection for the sole!
__ Oscar Swartz
Stockholm, Sweden __
US Out of the GPS!
I started reading Oliver Morton�s �The New Air War in Europe� (Wired 10.08) with a sense of disquiet, expecting another article replete with the jingoistic righteousness that has mistakenly come to represent �real� patriotism, post-9/11. I was pleasantly surprised.
Instead of condemning Europe for thinking independently, he correctly understands that the underlying principle behind democratic markets is freedom of action. We should be supporting the free market even when we don�t control it. Competition and innovation are good. So let the Europeans build the next Global Positioning System. It should be better than what we have, and everyone will benefit from it.
__ Omar Moonis
New Castle, Delaware __
You Had to Be a Big Shot, Didn�t You
As a new user of the MadPlayer, I must take Beastie Boy Mike D�s opinion with a grain of salt (�Boy Toy,� Wired 10.08). I recently rapped and recorded myself using the MadPlayer while walking the floor at a trade show.
What does Mike D know about being seriously creative? Where are the Beastie Boys today? Perhaps you should ask someone with more credibility � Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, or Billy Joel � to test the MadPlayer. I�m certain the results would be more favorable.
__ Laura Fluharty
Hillsboro, New Jersey __
Guns Don�t Kill People (Unless Used With Proper Training According to Manufacturer�s Instructions)
Beyond titillating the bloodlust of testosterone- poisoned males, what possible reason is there to waste two pages extolling the virtues of a gun (�The Peacemaker,� Wired 10.08)? I thought Wired was about increased connectivity. Guns are designed to kill, the ultimate disconnect. Did you get your wires crossed?
__ Dan Kowalski
Austin, Texas __
Con Air
The method �Wendy� used to deal with a Nigerian email scammer was hilarious (�Who�s the Sucker Now?� Wired 10.08). There are other versions of this con, like �the marine in Afghanistan, who wants your help importing treasure he found while chasing Osama.� Warning: Some con artists play for keeps. There are reports of people who went overseas to meet these characters and never returned. If you have any concrete info (webcam photos, for example), you might be better off passing it on to the Internet Fraud Complaint Center (www1.ifccfbi.gov/index.asp).
__ Andrew Cummins
Oakwood, Georgia __
UNDO
�Reprocessed: �The Bugs in the Machine� (Wired 10.08) contained a photo illustration of a �KitchenAid� food processor, which included fictitious control buttons. In fact, the actual KitchenAid food processor does not contain software code at all, let alone code with bugs, and the article and photo illustration were not intended to imply otherwise. �Only Connect: While staff at Manhattan�s Pierre Hotel did not know Boingo services were available (�The Long Road to Internet Nirvana,� Wired 10.10), there is in fact a Boingo Wi-Fi node on the premises. �Being Positive: Philips DVDR985 writes to the DVD+RW/DVD+R format (Test, Wired 10.09). �A River Runs Through It: The raging waters in The Lord of the Rings (�Why the Top 5 F/X Powerhouses Rule,� Wired 10.09) were created by Digital Domain.
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