I Love Gangsters

I meant in films and books, especially the former. Gangster films are known, and accepted, as not being all that realistic or historically factual. Understandably the stories were often with some changes to add drama, excitement, mystery, etc. For obvious commercial reasons. I especially like the contrary characteristics of most of them, at least in movies, that although they are cruel, heartless, salvage, but at the same time having strict regard for certain scruples, one might see honour amongst thieves. They are nearly always shown to be dutiful sons and loving husbands (fancy ladies on the side is deemed as matter of fact and trivial weakness).

For a time I personally knew a couple of gangsters in Southend, England, in a night club I used to go often, and I found them always polite, respectful to all ladies, meticulously dressed, and treated me with the most correct protocol of a gentleman. Whatever devious thoughts they might have in their minds were never manifested in their behaviour and manners.

I must have seen all the Gangster characters, the most famous or, rather, infamous in the Hollywood film versions. I like Johnny Depp, who plays Dillinger, America's most notorious No. One onemy. The other 2 old ones I have seen included the one of 1945, can't remember who's in it now; and the other in 1973 with Warren Oats as the title character, and a very young Richard Dreyfuss as Baby Face Nelson.

Bank robbers there have been hundreds in the history, what makes Dillinger stand out is not just for his notorious daring but the support and applause of the common people in the street. Coinciding with the worst period of the Great Depression in the 1030's, when the public was blaming the banks for the chaos and misery, lost of jobs and homes, many saw Dillinger as a farmer who dared to do what they would have liked to do but without the guts to put it in action: of vengeance. According to the survey carried out then, Dillinger came up as the most applauded cinematographic figure, more popular than President Franklin D. Roosevelt and the
aviator Charles Lindbergh'
.
"I hardly smoke or drink. I supposed my only vice is rob banks." - John Dillinger

It was speculated that Dillinger used his hand gesture (cocking a pistol) to send a message to his gang while posing with the district attorney of the county Robert Estill. (Photo-Courtesy of Everett collection)

Tags:dillinger,president,gangster

Current Mood: Chipper

The Official Hacker - Legal?

Saw an TV interview with Raoul Chiesa, A man with a very unusual profession, he is an official hacker. "A safe computer? Only one that's disconnected or buried." he said. To him, a computer is an open book. If it's not, he knows how to open it. Listening to him made me nervous how fragile is our position in this cyber-universe, in which all of us are more and more implicated each day. And he made me uneasy that we might wake up one bad morning in our underwear and found us in the open field without any of the familiar scenes and objects we are accustomed to, because some clever and malevolent hackers might hack away all that we know, love or own, just to have a bit of fun. Not Raoul Chiesa though, he sells his talent these days to those who seek to reinforce their all round security in the computer, which is also a great part of people's life. Subject of his talk in the conference in Barcelona. He began to show great interest in computers as early as at the age of 7, in 1982. At 13 he was already a skilled and competent hacker! At first for fun, when there was no legislation on cyber-crime then. The Italian law established in 1994 against any electronic intrusions. He was having so much fun with what he was good at so he turned himself into a ethical hacker. But before that, he had been caught and sentenced to house arrest for 2 years, prohibited to use PC, modem, and mobile phone. He is now investigating commercial, industrial and governmental attacks and give talks and courses to police and military services. He still hacks into all sorts of areas, but legally. Tags:officialhacker

Current Mood: Awake