rambling on through the world

Interesting article about security in the Windows environment. It notes a particuliar theme that I have heard mentioned a number of times - MS puts out a patch and within weeks a hacker has reverse engineered that patch to create a virus since they know that people are slow as snot about updating their computers. To Fix Software Flaws, Microsoft Invites Attack By STEVE LOHR Microsoft's Security Response Center in Redmond, Wash., is the computing equivalent of a hospital emergency ward. When a problem comes in the door the center's director, Kevin Kean, and his staff must swiftly make an assessment: Is the security weakness detected in a Microsoft software product only minor? Or is it possibly so serious that, if exploited by a vandal's malicious code (as happened last month with the Blaster worm) it might crash computers and networks around the world? If the threat appears grave, the problem goes immediately into the center's emergency operating room, where i...

Hmmph, the Defense Intelligence Agency says that the intelligence provided by the people that - in effect the Bush Admin paid - wasn't accurate about the state of Iraq weapons. What a surprise.... Agency Belittles Information Given by Iraq Defectors By DOUGLAS JEHL WASHINGTON, Sept. 28 — An internal assessment by the Defense Intelligence Agency has concluded that most of the information provided by Iraqi defectors who were made available by the Iraqi National Congress was of little or no value, according to federal officials briefed on the arrangement. In addition, several Iraqi defectors introduced to American intelligence agents by the exile organization and its leader, Ahmad Chalabi, invented or exaggerated their credentials as people with direct knowledge of the Iraqi government and its suspected unconventional weapons program, the officials said. The arrangement, paid for with taxpayer funds supplied to the exile group under the Iraq Liberation Act of 1998, invo...

FILE SHARING A CRIME? UM implements digital music firewall across campus

Not only do they want to be scumbags - they want to be EFFICIENT sumbags!! Washington Insiders' New Firm Consults on Contracts in Iraq By DOUGLAS JEHL WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 — A group of businessmen linked by their close ties to President Bush, his family and his administration have set up a consulting firm to advise companies that want to do business in Iraq, including those seeking pieces of taxpayer-financed reconstruction projects. The firm, New Bridge Strategies, is headed by Joe M. Allbaugh, Mr. Bush's campaign manager in 2000 and the director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency until March. Other directors include Edward M. Rogers Jr., vice chairman, and Lanny Griffith, lobbyists who were assistants to the first President George Bush and now have close ties to the White House. At a time when the administration seeks Congressional approval for $20.3 billion to rebuild Iraq, part of an $87 billion package for military and other spending in Iraq and Afgh...

OK - so this is the story. The White House get's pissed that someone tells the world that they were wrong and then a story comes out with the name of the guys wife (and I still don't understand how this was important) who was UNDERCOVER for the CIA.... and we are to believe that the reporter just stumbled on it?? And then, the White House says that the Justice Department - which need I remind you is lead by a man who lost an election to someone that was DEAD and who was then appointed to the post by George Jr. (Shrub) - is the one that should lead the investigation? When Clinton got a blow job - we needed special prosecutors. When a CIA operatives life may have been put on the line - that isn't important enough? Hmmmm, priorities, priorities, priorities...... White House Denies a Top Aide Identified an Officer of the C.I.A. By ERIC LICHTBLAU and RICHARD W. STEVENSON WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 — The White House today dismissed as "ridiculous" the suggestion th...

complete and total proof that the french are morons.... Europe Heat Wave Killed Some 19,000

Hmmm - what a surprise. The weapons hunters haven't found anything in Iraq. Geez, I guess if they would have then Shrub and Dick and Rummy would have been swining from chandeliers! Draft Report Said to Cite No Success in Iraq Arms Hunt By DOUGLAS JEHL and JUDITH MILLER WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 — An early draft of an interim report by the American leading the hunt for banned weapons in Iraq says his team has not found any of the unconventional weapons cited by the Bush administration as a principal reason for going to war, federal officials with knowledge of the findings said today. The long-awaited report by David Kay, the former United Nations weapons inspector who has been leading the American search for illicit weapons, will be the first public assessment of progress in that search since President Bush declared an end to major combat on May 1. Mr. Kay's team has spent nearly four months searching suspected sites and interviewing Iraqi scientists believed to have ...

This is VERY cool news from the city... City Unveils Plans to Turn Old Rail Line Into a Park By WINNIE HU The Bloomberg administration moved ahead yesterday with its plans to transform an abandoned elevated rail line into a 1.6-mile-long park and make it the centerpiece for new commercial and residential developments along the western edge of Chelsea. At a news briefing, city planning officials unveiled a detailed proposal to carve out a special redevelopment district along 10th and 11th Avenues, between West 16th and West 30th Streets. The plan is part of the city's overall effort to encourage and control development on the West Side, Manhattan's most undeveloped area. Zoning there would be changed from manufacturing and commercial uses to allow up to 4,200 units of new housing, primarily along the avenues. Running through it would be the High Line, a railroad viaduct from the 1930's that extends from Gansevoort Street to 34th Street. Development along th...

NCAA says no to ACC championship game with just 11 teams in conference

September 24, 2003

interesting first step for a music company. BMG Offers Legal Song Sharing

September 24, 2003

Wow - take a look at what the people across the pond are saying about our move to electronic voting! There are an excellent collection of links at the bottom of the article that will let you review a number of other stories. It's always interesting to read news about the US from a place as different as Russia - very different and fascinating take on the news. Chris Floyd's Global Eye - The St. Petersburg Times - Russia

September 24, 2003

Mike and Mike in the morning are AWESOME!! Are Mike and Mike metrosexuals?

Stuck looking for a present for me - here's a hint!! Sebastian

With God as my witness, I thought those turkeys could fly...... Gordon Jump dies at 71

interesting story about what is coming out of the NYC 311 center. Local - 311: Making a better city