Okay, guys. We KNOW it's a joke. Ye Editor (Patricia) and La Webmonger (Mel.) do Internet security consulting for their employers and do know a hack from a prank from an inside job.

Here's the scoop: Someone posted a note to the TvTome board shortly after the "hacks" went up at E-com-con, letting us know it had happened.  We haven't a clue who did it, either, but it was a perfect chance to take the ball and run with it -- turn a joke into a 'Fannish Event'.

So, with the help of Mavis Fletcher, Morris Fletcher's evil twin reporter sister, I'm taking the joke to its illogical extremes, creating a fake security company and a "news site" (with links to some real security stuff) about the hacks and the upcoming "conference."

It's a chance for all of you to play along, if you like -- we need comments from "Corporate managers," "h4x0rz", semi-literate knuckle-draggers, and everyone else. I'm going to run the joke through Friday, when I go to Seattle for the Gunchicks "Bunker and Breakfast" -- the "sit in Erynn's living room and watch the premiere together" event. At that point, the "security corporation website" will be locked and archived along with a note explaining what it is and how it came to be.

If you'd like to participate, make up your own character (we need corporations, security experts, hackers, activists, and others), and leave a comment in the guestbook (I'm cheesy and pressed for time so I'm using a commercial guestbook service on this). 

Fox/1013/etc are NOT sponsoring this (as far as I know, they don't know that we've decided to run with the gag.)  They're a pretty demented bunch, judging from those upcoming titles for "The Lone Gunmen", but they're not behind this and certainly haven't sanctioned it. I don't know any of them. This is a Fannish Event, by the Lunatic Geek Squad.

If captured, the U.S. Government will disavow all knowledge of this event. (yes, I meant to say it just like that.)