My master plan to write a tell-all book about the Pentagon’s cyber-security and upload it to the Internet so everyone can read it for free
Let’s cut to the chase. I’m going to tell you my master plan for the next 25 years. I’ll reveal it on this website because I want you to wonder if I’m serious.
After my wife died, I used the life insurance money to buy my cohort out of Vmyths. After long thought, I’ve decided I will run no ads. Period. Not at Vmyths, not at SecurityCritics, and not at HumorControl. I’m getting close to the day when I can retire and, quite frankly, I can afford a simple hobby like this.
When I finally retire, I’m going to drive my RV to military bases all over the country. I’ll stay as long as it takes to peruse their historical archives. I will "consult the ancient scrolls" that discuss military cyber security in the quarter-century between 1985-2010. Then I’ll drive off somewhere and analyze what I found.
And I’ll upload all of my research to the web for free.
"Waitaminit, Rob, you could turn it into a book and make a few bucks!" Yeah, but why? My financial advisor assures me I can afford to do obscure research from the comfort of my RV when I finally retire. That’s what I want to do and I’m going to do it.
My retirement is still a few years out and I understand the value of a dollar. I won’t run ads or sell books — but I’ll gladly let anyone buy me out. That’s right: you can finally snatch the white hat from my balding head. You’ll own everything at Vmyths & SecurityCritics & HumorControl. Lock, stock, and barrel. I’ll toss you my white hat and go straight into retirement.
Mind you, I don’t actually need the money. My retirement plan will fund all of my research efforts if I let it percolate for the next 8-10 years. If no one takes me up on the offer, I’ll just continue to wear my white hat and make a hobby out of criticizing the computer security industrial complex.
The total cash price in 2008 is US$1.5 million and it will drop $75K each year. In 2010 I’ll sell out for $1.35M in cash; in 2012 I’ll sell out for $1.2M; and so on. "Why would you drop the price each year, Rob?" Because I know what I need to retire on and I don’t need to be greedy. I’m here to change the world, not to get rich.
"Will you include House 2.0 in this buyout?" My RV is my home; I sold the house at no profit to a military veteran after Denise died. His family struggles to make ends meet, so I helped them out. I even left behind one server for each kid as a gift. Like I said: I’m here to change the world, not to get rich.
I’ll retract this offer in 8-10 years when I’ve got enough money to fund my research project. If that happens — if I actually retire with my white hat — then may Heaven help the computer security industrial complex. They’ll be fully entwined in the military-industrial complex by then, you know.
So if you’re a gazillionaire who’d love to see me do research on the military’s initial forays into computer security … or if you’re a vendor who’d love to buy the white hat from an annoying computer security critic … well, here’s your chance. $1.5M in 2008.