NavList:

Tom Sult, you wrote:
"Most users of the almanac are more like me that all of you brainiacs. I simply look up. I don't scan the book for errors etc. "

Tom, I agree with you completely. The vast majority of that relatively small group of people who are able to do celestial navigation today would be highly unlikely to notice suspect data in the Nautical Almanac. Up to a point, of course.

And you wrote:
"The idea that there is security in buying from the government and having it delivered to my door by the USPS makes me laugh. First mail fraud is committed every day."

Yep! People who fall for online scams are frequently mailed impressive-looking printed materials, as the next step in the gradual process of relieving them of their money. Letterhead is the key to a good con game!

And you wrote:
"If the prize is a multi million dollar ransom or what ever. Or just Franks repair of his injured pride (as all super villain are motivated by this) it would be worth the expense."

More likely, revenge for some offense at the beginning of my career of super-villainy. Superheros and supervillains... we all have backstories now! :) But I think it's the sort of pleasure that "hackers" seek that might lead someone to do this for real. Why do people hack the web sites,or more likely these days, the "twitter feeds" of major corporations, government agencies, or merely the rich and powerful? It's not for money usually. Whatever that motivation is, it's the same mentality that might find pleasure in "hacking" any navigation system.

-FER

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