Comments for Entropic Memes

Comment on The Fundamental Traits of Intelligence Analysts by Benny

Sun, 05 Oct 2008 22:29:26 +0000

Sometimes trainers should be trained by the trainee (but only sometimes…).
Especially when the trainee has THAT special gift the trainers know nothing about.
Intelligence analysis?
We could teach children to do it.
But to gather intelligence is all another story.

You write: “insufficient emphasis is being placed on the not-strictly-analytic skills an analyst should ideally possess.[…] Too many of them, I think, aren’t “skills” at all - they’re traits that people either have or don’t have…”

You are absolutely spot on!
This is a great article.

Comment on The Fundamental Traits of Intelligence Analysts by Phreakonomist

Sat, 04 Oct 2008 11:38:16 +0000

I think intellectual curiosity is another requirement that while important, is especially difficult to deal with on classified projects. No amount of training will motivate an analyst to produce a product with original insight unless he actually cares about understanding some detail that may not be relevant but will lead him to deeper understanding on the subject. This sort of curiosity often does not yield substantial results and older analysts tend to be more focused and efficient leading to lower quality products as time progresses. Curiosity is required to “think outside box” which is so often praised by leaders but repressed in practice. Ultimately the quality of the analyst may matter less than the (in)effectiveness of management.

Comment on More to Israeli Radar Than Meets the Eye? by Nemo

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 17:20:57 +0000

Finding an accurate personnel count is tricky; when an AN/TPY-2 was installed in Alaska a year or two ago (see the PDF linked to in the post) the total number of staff required - including installation security - was given as 30-40. As near as I can tell, that was for round-the-clock, 24-hour coverage for one system. (That seems about right, if you think about it; that works out to 10-13 people per shift. Two radar operators, one or two communications specialists, a handful of technicians to keep an eye on the generators and so on, and two or three people as guards or general “gophers”. 30-40 people per shift seems like a damned lot, for a single modern radar system.

The only other headcount I could find is for the radar in Japan, which is at a remote location, and crewed almost entirely by civilian contractors.

Comment on More to Israeli Radar Than Meets the Eye? by MarkT

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 12:41:39 +0000

Very interesting post. I wonder if it was considered easier to secure a site in Israel than in Iraq or Afghanistan. But if we’re primarily interested in watching Iran, why not base the unit in Saudi Arabia? A single unit there would be able to ’see’ Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Also, is the 30-40 headcount for a single 8-hour shift? If so, 24 hour coverage would require a staff 3 times as large, ~120 people.

Comment on Comcast Blocking SSH Traffic? by Anonymous

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 19:10:28 +0000

Yes, I’ve been unable to SSH to my home PC on comcast. They let web traffic through fine, but block SSH even when I changed it to a random high port.

They’re well known these days for packet analysis: regardless of port, they open packets to discover the type of traffic. If it’s a port their QoS doesn’t like, they’ll fake a close connection from the client.

It’s the network equivalent not only opening the neighbor’s mail, but putting return-to-sender on anything you don’t like the look of. Really it’s gone to far, there needs to be some consumer protection in place with ISPs.

Comment on Writing on the Wall: More Graffiti by nemo

Sun, 28 Sep 2008 06:00:38 +0000

So what does the last picture mean? I understand it to be a threat by the Rolling 50’s project ganster bloods aka 50′z towards the Crips (referred to as the Crabs). Is this correct.

Comment on Friday FOIA Fun: The Fulton Skyhook by Jerry Thigpen

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 15:47:58 +0000

Thanks for publicizing the Fulton STAR system. I had the priviledge to write the Combat Talon book titled “The Praetorian STARShip”. I wanted to point out that the drawings you provided in your article are from the prototype recovery system. Much of the bracing mounted on the front of the aircraft was replaced by hydraulically operated yokes that could be extended or retracted (dependent upon the mission) in the final production version of the system. If you have any specific questions about the system, drop me an email. It is also good to know that the ‘Combat Talon Archive’ is live and well at AFHRA (I compiled the archive from research material used in the book).

Comment on Comcast Blocking SSH Traffic? by Rob

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:45:09 +0000

For at least a year now I’ve witnessed erratic behavior when trying to SSH to my home desktop, which is connected to the net via Comcast. Hours will go by where I can’t connect at all, and then for a few hours I’ll have no problem maintaining a consistent connection. I’ve tried using SSH on several different ports, but I always get the same erratic behavior. Regardless of the SSH connectivity state, I am always able to IM with my wife while she is using the machine that I’m trying to make the SSH connection to.

Comment on Writing on the Wall: More Graffiti by JS

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 19:14:36 +0000

The three dots can symblise a few things “Mi Vida Loca” or it is also used by members of UBN (United Blood Nation) The three dot represent a dogs paw. Hope this helps.

Comment on Comcast Blocking SSH Traffic? by Mike

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 17:16:18 +0000

I have been using ssh to connect to the servers I’m administering with years without problems, but… Last two days my outgoing ssh connections started freezing and timing out after few minutes of use.

As I’m having full control of the servers I’m connecting to, I started screening the traffic on both sides with interesting results. Reset packages are arriving once in a while, but those reset packages were never sent by the other side. My conclusion is that my cable Internet provider (Comcast) sends TCP reset packets and effectively breaks the communication. This behavior is not observed when using SprintPCS wireless Internet connection.

Comcast’s customer service representative has no idea what I’m talking about. I’m lucky that my city permits two cable providers to operate. I’m switching to RCN.

Comment on Deciphering Gang Graffiti by Jane

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 00:30:36 +0000

I have a met a guy that does have a 5 pointed star tattooed on his neck with a number 3. He said he was part of Hellorado.. Do you know anythng about that? If so, what type of gang is it?

Comment on Deciphering Gang Graffiti by brian

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:17:42 +0000

Hi, can anyone tell me if there is a website that i can go
and decipher gang signs? I am recently out of the military
and i come home to my alley bieng sprayed. I am done with
violence and want to know if this is bad or just kids messin
around.

thanks.

Comment on Comcast Blocking SSH Traffic? by Toby

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 19:50:17 +0000

I’ve been using VNC through SSH port 22 for years to access computer at home. Today, stopped working. Not even a ping. I used “chat” with Comcast to confirm I was using correct IP. Yup. I made sure computer was on with help of neighbor who is there. Still no ping. So, google and find this page. Yes, I strongly suspect Comcast has blocked my port 25. Twice in the past few months they have turned off my outgoing TCP port 22. Claimed I was being a bot for spam. No sign of it when I check firewall logs, and they won’t disclose source of “complaint.” I think they’re full of lies. (I have a Mac which is not susceptible to bot-behavior and I have most services turned off.) So now I’m trying to “chat” again, but this time I asked about “access to port” and they are being slow to respond. Hmmm…

Comment on Why I Hate DHL by krystal

Sun, 24 Aug 2008 19:05:42 +0000

I too, somewhat dislike DHL. I really dislike that they don’t deliver on weekends! I’m leaving for school to Minnesota on Monday, and my laptop arrived at the place on Saturday when my brother called. But, since they don’t deliver, my computer will arrive Monday, while I’m on a plane to Minnesota. Now, i won’t receive it until i visit my family on the holidays. I’m not sure what I’ll do for a computer till than. Great, right?

Comment on Writing on the Wall: More Graffiti by Jim Goetzinger

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 20:39:04 +0000

I have Graffiti that I believe is Sur13. There are three dots, one over two in the tagging. Does anyone know the significance of the three dots? *
* *

Comment on The Memory Blog, 2004-2007 by Mark Allan

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 16:40:31 +0000

The Memory Hole is BACK!

http://www.thememoryhole.org/

Comment on Friday FOIA Fun: The Fulton Skyhook by SK

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 13:28:20 +0000

Batman used this in the latest movie.

Oh, and Maxwell AFB is not in Georgia. Apparently, you’ve never been to AFHRA. It’s neat. You should actually visit sometime.

Comment on Friday FOIA Fun: The Fulton Skyhook by Asim I

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 20:22:32 +0000

Awesome, thanks for this post and all the effort behind it.

Comment on Friday FOIA Fun: The Fulton Skyhook by Nemo

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 19:00:05 +0000

Yep, and it also appears in a James Bond film, of all places.

Back in the day, the USAF was quite proud of the Skyhook, and used to show it off at airshows and the like; today, the rescue role is entirely the responsibility of helicopters, and the Skyhook/STAR system is mostly forgotten. A pity, really…

Comment on Friday FOIA Fun: The Fulton Skyhook by paul hayward

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 18:54:53 +0000

if you get the movie “The Green berets” with John Wayne. You will see the SKYHOOK system in operation. It is pretty freaky to know that this was a viable system to recue downed pilots.

Comment on Writing on the Wall: More Graffiti by Nemo

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 03:36:10 +0000

Rob: No idea; gangstas usually don’t key cars (well, they don’t key tags into cars, and “MMS” doesn’t ring any bells. Sorry.)

Christine: As weird as this sounds, I can not only tell you what that probably means, but who left it, and hint at why. What it means is “NO N.G”, that is - “No Natural Gas”; yellow is the standard utility color-code for gas (and other flammable materials). I’m going to say they were left by your local utility company, and indicate they’ve surveyed a part of your road for gas lines and found none, so someone can dig up the street in front of your house without winding up on the 5 o’clock news after an expensive boo-boo.

Surprise, you’re probably having sewer or water-main work done soon!

Comment on Writing on the Wall: More Graffiti by Christine

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 03:24:18 +0000

can you tell me what this means? These letters are written on the street in front of our mailbox. NON.G
They are painted in yellow.

Comment on Deciphering Gang Graffiti by Nemo

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 20:20:21 +0000

Marie-

Are you sure it’s “13MS” and not “13NS”, or “18NS”? Without seeing a picture, I’m going to guess it’s one of the latter.

Pretty literally any graffiti you see with the number “13″ in it is going to be gang-related, so, yeah, it’s a gang sign. Without seeing it, I can’t tell you much more; if it really, truly is “13MS”, then it might be a tag for Mara Salvatrucha, which would be extraordinarily bad. (You could try calling your local police department’s intelligence division; if Mara Salvatrucha are in your city, the police are definitely going to know.)

Comment on Deciphering Gang Graffiti by marie mcguire

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 19:08:40 +0000

have new latino neighbors. when they bought the house next door they repainted it. about a week later someone spay painted what looks like BMS on the side of the house that is visible from the street. i could not figure out why they did not paint over it. a young friend stopped by one day and said it was a gang marking. she said it is not a sloppy B, it is 13. there is always a lot of young men coming and going. they are not disruptive but i am uneasy at the thought of gang members next door. they do not bother us because i have 135lb. rottie that does not like them. is this a gang sign? it has been almost a year and the BMS is still there and they painted the garage and left it on the house????

Comment on Government Spying by Loren Gregg LaBaw

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 16:40:12 +0000

Many people think governments are overtly spying on citizens by reading and filtering what is posted on the WEB and in E-mails and maybe it’s true, but I would be more concern about what’s happening in CPU technology. Has anyone truly read or understand Intel vPro technology and marketing strategy? They state “it is revolutionizing Managed Service Provider effectiveness by delivering next generation performance and powerful hardware-based capabilities that enable out-of-band (OOB) remote management and improved PC security”. I’m concern and I’m an I.T. professional.