What word describes someone who breaks into computers? Old style software wizards are proud to be called hackers, and resent the scofflaws who have appropriated the word. On the networks, wizards refer to these hoodlums of our electronic age as “crackers” or “cyberpunks.” In the Netherlands, there’s the term “computervredebreuk”—literally, computer peace disturbance. Me? The idea of a vandal breaking into my computer makes me think of words like “varmint,” “reprobate,” and “swine.”
“Now I’ve put my foot in it,” I thought. “Not only am I talking to the CIA, but I’m inviting them up to Berkeley. What’ll I tell my radical friends?”
“What would the CIA use computers for? Can you overthrow foreign governments with software?”
In her younger and more vulnerable years, she taught eleventh-grade English.
Two eggs, 1 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup regular sugar, 2 sticks softened butter. Fold in 2 1/4 cups flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon baking soda, and a couple tablespoons of vanilla. For an extra chocolate jag, mix in 3 tablespoons of cocoa. Oh, don’t forget 2 cups of chocolate chips. Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes.