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alexblackwell.bsky.social
Alex Blackwell
@alexblackwell.bsky.social
750 followers 54 following 1.1K posts
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alexblackwell.bsky.social
Alex Blackwell @alexblackwell.bsky.social · Nov 18
“In every operation there is an above the line and a below the line. Above the line is what you do by the book. Below the line is how you do the job.” – John le Carré (“A Perfect Spy”)
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alexblackwell.bsky.social
Alex Blackwell @alexblackwell.bsky.social · 19h
“Progress doesn't come from early risers — progress is made by lazy men looking for easier ways to do things.” – Robert A. Heinlein (“Time Enough for Love”)
alexblackwell.bsky.social
Alex Blackwell @alexblackwell.bsky.social · 1d
It looks really cool. But some act as if this were a superhuman feat of timing and a professional getting his dialogue in one take. The crew behind the camera, who could cue him, would have been staring straight at the KSC Countdown Clock.
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alexblackwell.bsky.social
Alex Blackwell @alexblackwell.bsky.social · 1d
Well, it is important to the extent that it is not a continuous tracking shot; there is a cut just before the close up. To be sure, it is an iconic scene, but one that was made much more manageable with the cut.
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alexblackwell.bsky.social
Alex Blackwell @alexblackwell.bsky.social · 4d
The new hot dog machine at CIA HQS?
paleofuture.bsky.social
Matt Novak @paleofuture.bsky.social · 4d
Sometimes when I’m on a plane I get sad there’s no SkyMall catalogue anymore but I guess the entire internet is SkyMall now
TikTok screenshot: Shop • Oscar Mayer Hot Dog Toaster wi Free shipping Debbie Oscar Mayer hot dog toaster #oscarmayer #hotdogs #novelty #lunchtime #to... more
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alexblackwell.bsky.social
Alex Blackwell @alexblackwell.bsky.social · 7d
“We wrap up with an overview of how Fiat-Shamir is used in post-quantum cryptography and in blockchains.” doi.org/10.1080/0161...
The Fiat-Shamir: zero(-knowledge) to signature in sixty minutes (of class time)
Many of the new quantum-resistant digital signature algorithms being evaluated and standardized by NIST rely on the Fiat-Shamir transform for security. This transformation takes a zero-knowledge (o...
doi.org
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alexblackwell.bsky.social
Alex Blackwell @alexblackwell.bsky.social · 7d
“The arithmetic correlation or ‘with-carry’ correlation is an analog of the classical correlation of sequences.” doi.org/10.1080/0161...
Notes about imbalance and arithmetic autocorrelation of N-ary half-l-sequences
In this paper, we study the imbalance of N-ary half-l-sequences as well as their arithmetic autocorrelation. The arithmetic correlation or “with-carry” correlation is an analog of the classical cor...
doi.org
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alexblackwell.bsky.social
Alex Blackwell @alexblackwell.bsky.social · 7d
A new open access article. doi.org/10.1080/0268...
Overcoming Anglocentrism in covert action scholarship
This study argues that Anglocentrism in the study of covert action is driven by factors unique to the discipline, requiring novel mitigations which differ from those already recommended for wider i...
doi.org
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alexblackwell.bsky.social
Alex Blackwell @alexblackwell.bsky.social · 12d
Al Gore’s phrase for global warming, “an inconvenient truth,” is applicable here. This is just another example of the powers-that-be ignoring intelligence that conflicts with their worldview. Disaster usually follows.
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alexblackwell.bsky.social
Alex Blackwell @alexblackwell.bsky.social · 12d
Joe Augustyn gives “Swap” three out of four trench coasts in his review @thecipherbrief.bsky.social. www.thecipherbrief.com/hostage-nego...
Inside the High-Stakes World of State-Sponsored Hostage Negotiations
BOOK REVIEW: SWAP: A SECRET HISTORY OF THE NEW COLD WARBy Drew Hinshaw and Joe Parkinson / HarperReviewed by: Joseph AugustynThe Reviewer — Joseph Augustyn is a 28- year veteran of the CIA’s Directora...
www.thecipherbrief.com
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alexblackwell.bsky.social
Alex Blackwell @alexblackwell.bsky.social · 12d
Tulsi ends Global Trends. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/26/u...
Gabbard Ends Intelligence Report on Future Threats to U.S.
www.nytimes.com
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alexblackwell.bsky.social
Alex Blackwell @alexblackwell.bsky.social · 12d
Philip Roth said Le Carré’s “A Perfect Spy” was “the best English novel since the war.” www.wsj.com/arts-culture...
Five Best: Cold War Thrillers
Selected by Charlie English, the author of “The CIA Book Club.”
www.wsj.com
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alexblackwell.bsky.social
Alex Blackwell @alexblackwell.bsky.social · 13d
“‘The Soviet knight is dying inside his armour. He is a secondary power like you British. He can start a war but cannot continue one and cannot win one.’” – John le Carré (“The Russia House”)
alexblackwell.bsky.social
Alex Blackwell @alexblackwell.bsky.social · 13d
Stalin would use this tactic to gather everyone in one location and then have them all arrested.
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alexblackwell.bsky.social
Alex Blackwell @alexblackwell.bsky.social · 13d
The unclassified version of the latest issue of CIA’s Studies in Intelligence (Volume 69, Number 3, September 2025) is now available for download at www.cia.gov/resources/cs...
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alexblackwell.bsky.social
Alex Blackwell @alexblackwell.bsky.social · 15d
The UN environment is a SIGINT buffet.
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alexblackwell.bsky.social
Alex Blackwell @alexblackwell.bsky.social · 17d
Before we canonize Eisner, bear in mind that he, too, caved to political pressure when he ran Disney. For example, he secretly told Chinese officials that Disney wouldn’t promote Martin Scorsese’s “Kundun” when he heard that they objected to the film.
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alexblackwell.bsky.social
Alex Blackwell @alexblackwell.bsky.social · 22d
Being caught with a phone not registered to you might raise suspicions. Most phones are tagged by the manufacturer. Aside from that, convos on burners can be swept up in bulk collection, ID’ed, and monitored, too. And not just by those observing FISA.
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alexblackwell.bsky.social
Alex Blackwell @alexblackwell.bsky.social · 22d
One tradecraft rule is if you’re not supposed to be carrying a burner phone, then don’t have one.
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alexblackwell.bsky.social
Alex Blackwell @alexblackwell.bsky.social · 22d
“Mole” is largely fiction.
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alexblackwell.bsky.social
Alex Blackwell @alexblackwell.bsky.social · 27d
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alexblackwell.bsky.social
Alex Blackwell @alexblackwell.bsky.social · 27d
Bell’s palsy?
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alexblackwell.bsky.social
Alex Blackwell @alexblackwell.bsky.social · 27d
“‘Clown Town’ showcases the series’ best qualities.” www.washingtonpost.com/books/2025/0...
Review | Slough House’s lovable sad sacks are back in ‘Clown Town’
Mick Herron’s new novel showcases his unique perspective on spycraft and his skill in creating complicated, empathetic characters.
www.washingtonpost.com
alexblackwell.bsky.social
Alex Blackwell @alexblackwell.bsky.social · 27d
When clowns are put in power, expect a clown show.
alexblackwell.bsky.social
Alex Blackwell @alexblackwell.bsky.social · 28d
The bomber from January 6th is still unidentified and at large. We still know next to nothing about Thomas Matthew Crooks. And the assassin of Charlie Kirk is in the wind.
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alexblackwell.bsky.social
Alex Blackwell @alexblackwell.bsky.social · 28d
For those who don’t have access to The Financial Review, a preprint can be accessed here. papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
Under (financial) pressure
We examine how financial pressure influences rule enforcement by leveraging a novel setting: NFL officiating. Unlike traditional regulatory environments, NFL of
papers.ssrn.com