CNET have published a recent essay by Bruce Schneier, which they've called "Slouching towards big brother." More sensible thoughts.

"Security is a trade-off. It makes no sense to ask whether a particular security system is effective or not--otherwise you'd all be wearing bulletproof vests and staying immured in your home."

Tom Paine's tuppence worth of common sense on the problem of rewarding creators and producers at the centre of the knowledge economy?

"My prediction is that the balance will be found in new technologies that will be able to extract a small fee from each of a very large number of consumers all over the world who want to hear or see or otherwise make use of some creation. When added up, these fees will give innovators enough to compensate them for their efforts, while at the same time giving consumers access to all sorts of new creative products very cheaply. And all this without lawyers. "

I wish I could believe he was right about the lawyers.