Comments

nzruss • September 24, 2006 7:43 PM

Regarding the comment:

“Some people (including policymakers) take this view seriously and, therefore, are deluded >into thinking that we’re safer than we are,” says Ervin, director of the homeland security >program at the Aspen Institute.”

I dont recall you having said we are safe – you point out the systemic problems. Is this guy ‘Ervin’ smoking crack?

Neighborcat • September 25, 2006 5:25 AM

I guess I prefer the type of man who gets an ego boost from his book sales instead of starting a war.

Chris • September 25, 2006 7:14 AM

Bruce, how strong is the correlation between the appearance of articles that mention you and your book sales? Do these articles help you the same way Chavez helped Chomsky? Do you have any graphs that we can look at?

Kevin • September 25, 2006 7:42 AM

Morning Bruce. Interesting article. Can you elaborate on this (or point to a pertinent URL):

Schneier has repeatedly said “we are
one attack away from a police state,”
and says such a civil-liberties
crackdown would be even more likely
under a Democratic administration.

I don’t recall having seen you express this sentiment about the Democratic Party elsewhere, and am curious about how you substantiate it.

derf • September 25, 2006 10:43 AM

Article makes you sound a bit like Chuck Schumer – most dangerous place in the world to be is between him and a TV news camera.

seattle native • September 25, 2006 11:38 AM

“Evidently, Bruce is most popular in Seattle (coincidentally near Redmond), Washington, D.C., and San Francisco. Read into that what you will.”

Bruce Schneier is read by the smartest, evilest, and sexiest people in the entire world. Also, the Germans think he’s the hottest thing since Hasselhoff (they own cities 4 through 6).

TimH • September 25, 2006 6:46 PM

It did piss me off that the first sentence describes Bruce as ‘geeky’.

Why is it that technical professionals intent on getting it right are nerds, but the equivalent medical, economic, financial experts are always treated with overt respect? Give me one research surgeon ever described as geeky in the press… and that field is as geeky as it can get.

Tack • September 25, 2006 7:48 PM

‘”I’m a media slut,” he admits.’ This immediately reminded me of what Kevin Smith often says: “I’m a press whore.”

Bruce Schneier • September 25, 2006 10:07 PM

“‘”I’m a media slut,” he admits.’ This immediately reminded me of what Kevin Smith often says: ‘I’m a press whore.'”

I used to say I was a media whore. Then I realized that I didn’t get paid.

Bruce Schneier • September 25, 2006 10:08 PM

“Evidently, Bruce is most popular in Seattle (coincidentally near Redmond), Washington, D.C., and San Francisco. Read into that what you will.”

You’d think I’d be popular somewhere near where I lived.

Thomas • September 25, 2006 11:18 PM

“””You’d think I’d be popular somewhere near where I lived.”””

Probably something about a prophet in his own land.

Or, perhaps, near where you live they just think you’re just a restaurant critic who occasionally scribbles weird math stuff on his napkins.

Tammy • September 26, 2006 9:25 AM

“”It did piss me off that the first sentence describes Bruce as ‘geeky’.”

And, I’m not.”

I don’t know – I think you might be just a little bit geeky.

But the article did say that you had turned from a geeky encryption expert into a security guru, so it seems the author thinks your geeky stage is behind you.

Karen Cooper • September 26, 2006 7:53 PM

@dan:

I don’t have a pony tail. Does that reassure you any?

And in which of the various regions where we review do you live or visit, and do you have any hot tips?

david • September 27, 2006 2:39 AM

It’s all a bit bloated this article. A man who claims he’s the only person clicking the padlock (secrets and lies)… it doesn’t suprise me you have an ego boost program either.

Many people bitch on the many security holes in “the system”, but fail to become media whores about it. And saying “the next attack might not involve airplanes at all” still doesn’t interest airport security.

bob • September 28, 2006 7:02 AM

A variation on Chris’ theme; does your book sales peak/trough with a relationship to your blog or the cryptogram?

Terry Cloth • October 18, 2006 2:12 PM

@Karen Cooper: “I don’t have a ponytail.”

You two aren’t helping sexual stereotyping one bit. 🙂

Terry Cloth • October 18, 2006 2:30 PM

=== Of Security and Egos ===

@david: “[I]t doesn’t suprise me you have an ego boost program either.”

Frankly, I’m thankful that he’s a “media slut”. If anything needs press coverage these days, it’s rational analysis of security. If he does all he can to get noticed, it improves the chances of getting the word to those who really matter—the populace. If enough folks realize what a bill of goods we’re being sold, it may slow down our (U.S.) flight from the Constitution.

He does much more for civil liberties and security than someone who publishes the most elegant and insightful papers in academic journals, but never gets any publicity.

Unfortunately, I fear it’s still not enough.

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Sidebar photo of Bruce Schneier by Joe MacInnis.