Larry Lessig: Anti-trusting Microsoft. “Microsoft has a John Cleese problem. Again and again, it has been accused of anticompetitive behavior. Again and again, it has denied it. […] Thus, quite understandably, the world trembles every time Microsoft moves. […] The fury about Microsoft’s June announcement of Palladium is a perfect example. […] If you sent a Palladium-equipped machine an email, but told it not to forward the email, the machine would obey the restriction. […] And for anyone who’s had an email turn up somewhere it shouldn’t, this type of control doesn’t sound all bad.”
Aaron Swartz: Counter-terrorizing Osama. “Osama has a John Cleese problem. Repeatedly he has blown up ships, buildings and boats and each time he has escaped capture. Thus, quite understandably, the world trembles every time Osama moves. […] The fury about his announcement of randomized American kidnappings is a perfect example. If it works as designed, Osama’s agents will begin stealing children from homes all over America. And for anyone who has tried to keep their children from looking at adult websites, this doesn’t sound all bad.”