h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I just made an entry for the defcon "hacker" convention that is held in las vegas each year, and I'm hoping for a little feedback. http://www.h2g2.com/A419320

I forgot to mention that I've avoided the use of the word "hacker" to avoid the linux/ESR/jargon faq flames about using the word "cracker" (which is also inaccurate)

Hi,

Just had a quick read. Interesting and enjoyable article! If I could make a few suggestions:

1) I'd try and concentrate on the defcon convention, leaving out the first paragraph and renaming the article 'defcon convention' or thereabouts.

2) Instead of the foot notes [~], [+] and [*], you could use the GuideML footnote tags, which tend to look alot neater.

3) The bit about the bypass doesn't fit in too well.

4) The last sentence confused me a bit.

5) A few typos (amateur, pigeons) - I'm nit-picking now!

I did find the article interesting and I think it will have a place in the edited guide, I just think it needs a little refining.

Hope this is helpful - just trying to be constructive!

- Adam

Thanks for the feedback. I'll modify it tonight

You said the "last sentance" was confusing. Did you mean the footnote about government recruitment or the "mostly harmless" reference

OK, the entry is redone in XML. The only thing I have not changed yet as per your recommendations is the confusing sentance...please tell me which one is confusing

I like this entry a lot. However, I think maybe it could do with a little more information. Perhaps if you mentioned some of things that have taken place there, for instance the launch of BO2K and what that is (as in Backdoor or remote management tool ). Are there any people who have appeared who might be well known in the IT community?

Keep at it and this article will be really good!
William Jenkins

Hi!

I meant the third point you made about defcon being mostly harmless, but now you've fiddled around with it, it makes perfect sense!

Cheers,

- Adam

All my questions about defcon are definitely cleared up (assuming I had any...). Nice article.

Under the new Scouts system launched on Monday on a given week a Scout has to 'claim' an article for editing. I would love to claim this one unfortunately it ain't my week until Thursday 31st of August. I'm sure you can get one of the other Scouts to look at it before then though and if none of them have I'd be happy to take it.
William Jenkins.

Yeah, I'm in the same boat Will. Good article though. LOL at the third footnote's bit about recruitment of skilled amateurs.

I think the 'earth city' will probably be changed to just 'city' as the Guide assumes that all of it's readers are from here. Or at least the ones that aren't drooling.

>at least the ones that aren't drooling
That's me out then I fear!

William Jenkins said:
"I like this entry a lot. However, I think maybe it could do with a little more information."

Thanks for the feedback William.
I'll go ahead and add some information about CTF, the TCP Drinking Game, the cDc, etc.

That would be great!

OK, I added references to BO2K, capture the flag, Black and White Ball, the TCP/IP Drinking Game, and Hacker Jeopardy. Any other suggestions?

Also, should I submit the supporting entries I made like A421336 (Back Orifice),
A419014 (WarGames), A419023 (Convention), A419717 (defcon - military term),
and A419050 (passenger pigeon) to peer review?

At the moment I'd wait until one starts going through before you submit another, but it is up to you.

cool. I'll hold off on submitting anything else (no point, if the defcon entry isn't in
the edited guide, anyway.) what do you think of the revision to include information
about games and people? Is that what you had in mind?

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