Wednesday, July 05, 2006

The FTW Burglary

Jenna Orkin


If you've just read Mike's account of the burglary at FTW you're probably a little shell-shocked. We knew that all seven computers had been smashed with sledgehammers. Yet hearing the ruthless details told methodically and dispassionately by the person most passionately involved; seeing the pictures and hearing Mike say matter-of-factly, "The only way to describe the damage is that it has been utterly devastating from business, emotional and professional perspectives," - well, this gives a person pause.

Rather than dwell on such a horror, the normal human response is to want to do something.

But here we're stymied. Apart from scribbling a check, one is at a loss to know what to do to help.

This blog is also at a loss but on two fronts:

1) Mike and FTW
2) All of you.

It's probably most beneficial right now for the blog to act as a forum for us to express our reactions to the events described in Mike's article and to exchange ideas. It's unlikely that ideas suggested here will find direct enactment at FTW. But it's quite possible that they can evolve or be adapted to useful notions.

It could also be helpful to all of us to hear from each other at this dark hour.

Thank you all for your extraordinary contributions so far to the various threads, that circulation system through which the lifeblood of your ideas flows.

8 comments:

Jenna Orkin said...

PDX 9/11 Truth Alliance has left a new comment on your post "The FTW Burglary":

I would like to hear Mike's view on who gave Ken Lay a heart attack.

By the way, everyone, I saw Alex Jones' "Terrorstorm" last night. It contains a LOT of coverage of the 7/7 bombings in London, and many historical false flag efforts are revealed. The reporting on the USS Liberty attack is very interesting. I will be looking for ways to confirm all that is said in the movie, but at first look the reporting and presentation is quite powerful.

Has anyone seen it? If so, what do you think?

Jenna Orkin said...

there may be a post at a later date on 9/11 movies but this particular thread deals with the burglary and related ideas. readers should please bear that in mind when they send in their comments. thanks

A peon said...

Hey,guys.Glad no one got hurt physically.Geeze what a mess.I try to picture in my mind somone actually carrying out that destruction,and when I do,it unnerves me how ignorant some people can be,and how dangerous when groups of them come together.I hope whoever did it is caught,and is forced to reimburse you for the damages.

For future reference what forms of payment will be accepted as far as donations:Check,Money Order,Cash(I don't have a credit card)?I'll do my best to sneak a bit of fundage past the Mrs. she tends to keep them on lockdown.

One thing that stuck in my mind about the article is that access was gained into the FTW building with two passkeys.Just wondering how accessable those passkeys are,and how someone who would do something like that would obtain them.

Jenna Orkin said...

from 'dennis from oregon' a great friend of ftw and guide to oregon.

two excerpts from his email:



.....with the exception of some militia types (its real hard to put names to some of these cliques) some patriot types, and some of the radical greens...they are all pretty mellow folk; knowing, like myself, that the pen can be (and usually is) mightier than the sword....


.....Dont let them win. Dont let it get you down.. they took their best shot and it was weak. The only question is do you want to take them on and expose them, or just let it go?? Thats the only important question... you have my support either way, and I have some pretty gemmy goods.......


Good luck, Dennis

JJR said...

Stagger your staff into rotating 24 hour shifts so the building is never empty, and hire security. If Oregon allows CCW (concealed carry), most if not all of the FTW should take advantage of that. This doesn't look like the work of meth-heads--the destruction would have been more random had that been the case. FTW has been targeted before--you have to take more active measures to defend yourselves. Best of luck getting back up and running...your newsletter is one of the most important alternative news information sources in the country, and NOBODY covers Peak Oil and how it's tied to everything else like you guys do. Keep up the good fight.

Jenna Orkin said...

Popeee has left a new comment on your post "The FTW Burglary":

Dear Mike and FTW crew,
Love and prayers for you in your time of trial. What you all do is necessary, and much appreceated, more than you can ever know.
Don, Therapeutic Messenger

giordano bruno said...

Best wishes to MR & FTW.
I believe Mike needs some computer security advice. I deeply appreciated "Rubicon" but I was not convinced of the computer database/snooping software described therin :
1) the software is described as continuous since the 80s
and
2) able to read all databases.
Well re 1): software has gone through many generations since the 80s and as one who has been in the industry since 1969 I reckon you'd need new stuff every 5 or 10 years.
re 2) Universal database access is likely impossible, which is not to say that a huge effort couldnt make a huge program which could read a long list of databases, with moderate reliability.

Anyway, for FTWs defence, consider encryption, and consider protecting the passphrase (beware keyloggers, and find out if LCD screens can be read from around the block as easily as CRTs) - actually for the stuff that FTW _wants_ people to see, replication is more important then encryption.

Jenna Orkin said...

hi walter -
the following link will explain why some services are no longer free. thanks for your comment and for visiting the blog.

http://www.fromthewilderness.com/free/ww3/090506_editors_note.shtml