11.12.2008

It's beginning to look a lot like ... Wednesday

Good Morning folks! Putting out fires again this morning. Had a project need to have to be totally rebuilt and now currently pushing to the test network so I've got a little spare time (for a little bit anyway). *chuckle*

We had another awesome meal at lodge last night. Spent some quality time talking to several brothers. Headed into lodge and found out that we were going to have one 1st degree to do. After running through a good portion of the business portion of the meeting, we got the candidate ready and had the 1st degree. We had some more business after the degree and recognized all the veterans in attendance. Our attendance was quite a bit lighter than in past weeks, which as was pointed out to me was a lot of our senior members who probably spent a good portion of their day at veterans day activities.

One of our members I always enjoy talking to was in a unit that invaded Italy during WWII. His unit ended up behind enemy lines and was captured. He spent about two years in a POW camp in Germany near Poland.

The weather in the St. Louis metro area is going to get better for the next couple of days. They are even predicting low 60's on Thursday and maybe a little sun too. But then... ba-da-boom they are saying that we may see some snow flurries on Saturday. By the way, I am on twitter and you can follow me there by going to http://www.twitter.com/digitalcaffeine.


Archaeologist Will Speak on Iraqi Mass Graves Excavation Project

Dr. Michael Trimble, who supervised the mass graves excavation project in Iraq and later was a key witness in the war crimes trial of Saddam Hussein, will speak at 7 p.m. on Monday, November 17, at Lindenwood University

The event, which will be in the J. Scheidegger Center’s Bezemes Family Theatre on the main campus (2300 West Clay Street, St. Charles, MO, 63301), is free and open to the public. Trimble, who works for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, will speak on the work he did on the mass graves project. His appearance is jointly sponsored by the Greater St. Charles Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.

Trimble is the chief of the Curation and Archives Analysis Branch in the Engineering Division of the U.S. Army Engineer District, St. Louis, and director of the Corps of Engineers, Mandatory Center of Expertise for the Curation and Management of Archaeological Collections.

http://www.lindenwood.edu/news/Default.asp?id=477


Freddy, the beagle, returned to owner

A pet beagle that was at the center of a violent custody battle among three homeless people is reunited with his owner.

Authorities say 52-year-old Robert Phillips retrieved Freddy the beagle from the St. Charles animal shelter last week.

http://www.khqa.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=220120


Ameristar profit down 30% in Q3

Ameristar’s profit dropped 30 percent in the third quarter as the company spent money to rebrand its new East Chicago property and to back ballot initiatives in Missouri and Colorado.

The Las Vegas company, which owns Ameristar Casino St. Charles, made $14 million, or 25 cents per share, down from $20 million, or 34 cents per share, a year ago.

http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/2008/11/10/daily3.html


Act II Community Theater: Nov. 14-16 “Who’s in Bed with the Butler” by Michael Parker, $12-$15, http://www.act2theater.com/, in St. Peters.


Center Stage Theatre to present "What I did last summer" Nov 19-23 At SCC

The Center Stage Theatre of St. Charles Community College will present A.R. Gurney’s “What I Did Last Summer” as part of the 2008-09 season. The show will be performed Nov. 19-23 in the theater of the Donald D. Shook Fine Arts Building on the SCC campus. Performances are at 8 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, Nov. 19-22, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23. There will be a school matinee performance at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 20.

http://www.stchas.edu/press/08-10-31%20Last%20Summer.shtml


Warriors head west to Jeff City

The biggest difference between the Helias and St. Charles West football teams might be their offensive formation. The Crusaders like to spread the field, while the Warriors run the option out of the I.

http://suburbanjournals.stltoday.com/articles/2008/11/10/stcharles/sports/doc4918675d800f0826278719.txt



AVG issues incorrect virus signature

An update for the AVG virus scanner contained an incorrect virus signature. If customer unwittingly deletes user32.dll, the PC either won't boot up or goes into endless reboot cycle.

http://www.scmagazineuk.com/AVG-issues-incorrect-virus-signature/article/120780/http://www.informationweek.com/news/security/app-security/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=212001916&cid=RSSfeed_IWK_All


Acrobat continued activity in the wild

It seems those responsible for the prior reported attacks, and followed up only yesterday, are still busy and most probably successful at it.

Holger reported a site that via obfuscation and redirection pointed back to the same site as where Bojan initially found his malicious pdfs.

http://isc.sans.org/diary.html?storyid=5324


A major exploit of a recently patched vulnerability in Adobe Reader has been detected by Trend Micro

A major vulnerability in Adobe Reader has been detected by Trend Micro.

http://www.scmagazineuk.com/A-major-exploit-of-a-recently-patched-vulnerability-in-Adobe-Reader-has-been-detected-by-Trend-Micro/article/120796/


Microsoft patches critical XML Core Services flaw

The critical Microsoft flaw could be exploited by an attacker to remotely execute code and gain access to critical data.

http://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/originalContent/0,289142,sid14_gci1338570,00.html


Critical infrastructure security grim, study finds

A majority of experts surveyed say energy and other critical industries are vulnerable to cyberattacks.

http://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/originalContent/0,289142,sid14_gci1338408,00.html


Samurai Web Testing Framework - Web Application Security LiveCD

The Samurai Web Testing Framework is a live linux environment that has been pre-configured to function as a web pen-testing environment. The CD contains the best of the open source and free tools that focus on testing and attacking websites. In developing this environment, we have based our tool selection on the tools we use in our security practice. We have included the tools used in all four steps of a web pen-test.

http://www.darknet.org.uk/2008/11/samurai-web-testing-framework-web-application-security-livecd/


SURBL anti-spam blacklist to be a paid service

The SURBL domain name blacklist has introduced a subscription fee for large-scale users.

http://www.heise-online.co.uk/security/SURBL-anti-spam-blacklist-to-be-a-paid-service--/news/111935


Riders on a Storm

Researchers hijack botnet - and find spam success rates lower than previously believed.

http://www.virusbtn.com/news/2008/11_11.xml


Apple iLife / Aperture Image Processing Vulnerabilities

Apple has acknowledged some vulnerabilities in Apple iLife and Aperture, which can potentially be exploited by malicious people to compromise a user's system.

http://secunia.com/advisories/32688/


Visa Tests Credit Card With Random Number Generator

Built-in second factor of authentication could slow online card fraud

http://www.darkreading.com/security/privacy/showArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=X5LRHG2JIJ1HAQSNDLOSKHSCJUNN2JVN?articleID=212001898


Can We Secure Government Networks? Yes, We Can, Theoretically

Government networks face a lot of threats, as private networks do, and securing either is a complicated and expensive process. It's not just a matter of exhibiting leadership.

http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Security/Can-We-Secure-Government-Networks-Yes-We-Can-Theoretically/?kc=rss


Microsoft Fixes Old Along with New on Patch Tuesday

Microsoft fixes three flaws in its XML Core Services as well as a vulnerability affecting the Server Message Block Protocol for Patch Tuesday. If the SMB vulnerability rings a bell, it's because it was disclosed years ago, one security researcher says.

http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Security/Microsoft-Fixes-Old-Along-With-the-New-in-Latest-Patch-Tuesday/?kc=rss


Google Brings Voice, Video Chat to Gmail

Google ratchets up the communication factor by adding voice and video chat to its Gmail messaging and collaboration tool. Users with Webcams can download a free plug-in to access the application.

http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Messaging-and-Collaboration/Google-Brings-Voice-Video-Chat-to-Gmail/?kc=rss


Opera Releases Opera Mini 4.2 Beta, Chides Microsoft

Opera Software releases a beta of Opera Mini 4.2, the next version of the company's browser for mobile devices.

http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Mobile-and-Wireless/Opera-Releases-Opera-Mini-42-Beta-Chides-Microsoft/?kc=rss


The Security Enemy from Within

In this IT Link podcast hosted by Mike Vizard, the chief technologist for Cloakware, Robert Grapes, explains why the lack of tools for managing the privileged passwords of IT administrators is at the heart of a surprising number of recent high-profile data breach incidents.

http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Security/The-Security-Enemy-from-Within/?kc=rss


Review: SanDisk SlotMusic Player

MP3 players have been around for a while now, and have over the years evolved into pretty complex gadgets, capable of playing video, displaying pictures, and sharing music wirelessly. SanDisk takes a few steps back and releases an affordable, yet limited, MP3 player that doesn't store music internally, but reads music via SD cards.

http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Security/The-Security-Enemy-from-Within/?kc=rss


Review: Sony BDP-S350 Blu-ray Disc Player

Back a couple of months, I predicted that Blu-ray players would drop below $250 before Christmas.

http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,2845,2334502,00.asp?kc=ETRSS02129TX1K0000532


Philips pops out the drug packing iPill

An "intelligent pill" with a microprocessor, battery, wireless radio, pump and a drug reservoir to release medication in a specific area in the body was announced yesterday by Dutch electronics firm Philips.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/11/12/philips_releases_ipill/


Nokia E63 smartphone to separate work, play

Details of the Nokia E63 were first leaked almost a month ago, but the Finnish phone giant has now confirmed that the handset is real and coming soon.

http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/11/12/nokia_e63_launch/


Review: Polaroid PoGo handheld colour printer

Weren’t Polaroid cameras fun? Now you can capture those days all over again, only with smaller, more expensive instant photos, using Polaroid’s new PoGo printer.

http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/11/12/review_printer_polaroid_pogo/


Love bug worm inspires Asian film

Asian film makers have completed filming about a movie inspired by the infamous Love Bug worm.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/11/11/love_bug_worm_film/


Blind NASA engineer solves Russian problem

A U.S. space agency team led by a blind engineer built a system to receive data from a Soyuz spacecraft just days after Russia asked for assistance.

http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2008/11/11/Blind_NASA_engineer_solves_Russian_problem/UPI-93131226440046/


Chandrayaan-1 Almost There

India's Space Agency released the first picture of the Moon taken by the Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft.

http://www.universetoday.com/2008/11/11/chandrayaan-1-almost-there/


GlowBots: Robots that learn what you like

Another video from Stockholm University’s Mobile Life Centre in Kista, Sweden. Here we see a family of GlowBots, tiny round robots that run around and connect with each other. When you “select” one robot with a pattern you like by shaking it, the robot goes on to infect other robots with the general pattern, mutating it as the pattern enters the environment.

http://www.crunchgear.com/2008/11/12/glowbots-robots-that-learn-what-you-like/


AirGlass: Today’s little bit of wow

On the bus back from the Cleantech conference in Stockholm last night I spoke to an investor working with AirGlass, a type of glass that is 97% air. This is actually a sort of aerogel and weighs a mere 50Kg/m³. It would be used as a form of transparent wall and has amazing insulating potential.

http://www.crunchgear.com/2008/11/12/airglass-todays-little-bit-of-wow/


dukaUS Launches Free Conference Calling, Realizes It Won’t Make Money

Jaduka, a communications company that effectively creates an API for telephone-based services, has a launched a new conference call service called dukaUS that’s easy to use and totally free.

http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/11/11/dukaus-launches-free-conference-calling-realizes-it-wont-make-money/


25% Of DNS Servers Still Vulnerable To Kaminsky Flaw

Security researchers say that DNS will remain a primary exploit target because many people don't understand the Internet's domain name system.

http://www.informationweek.com/news/security/vulnerabilities/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=212001825&cid=RSSfeed_IWK_All


Microsoft's November Patch Tuesday Unusually Light

The lone critical vulnerability affects Microsoft XML Core Services and, left unchecked, could allow remote code execution if the user visits a maliciously crafted Web page.

http://www.informationweek.com/news/security/app-security/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=212001861&cid=RSSfeed_IWK_All


Dell Unveils Artsy Notebooks

The latest Studio 15 and Studio 17 notebooks, with covers featuring original artwork from Joseph Amedokpo, Siobhan Gunning, and Bruce Mau, also support the fight against AIDS in Africa.

http://www.informationweek.com/news/hardware/desktop/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=212001863&cid=RSSfeed_IWK_All


Clearwire Prepares For Nationwide WiMax Launch

The company and its partners have been testing a mobile WiMax deployment in Portland, Ore., and are preparing to go live with that network early next year.

http://www.informationweek.com/news/mobility/wifiwimax/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=212001798&cid=RSSfeed_IWK_All


Fujitsu, Hitachi Offer Power-Efficient Notebook Hard Drives

All the drives are halogen-free, which means fewer hazardous materials are used in their production, and each has a read/write power consumption of 1.4 watts at 500-GB capacities.

http://www.informationweek.com/news/storage/portable/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=212001834&cid=RSSfeed_IWK_All


Are you ready for a Darker Superman?

With a lot of superhero movies coming out, it isn’t hard for people to question… Are superheroes always good? That was a question that Brandon Routh thought of during the hold-up of the sequel to ‘Superman Returns’.

http://wearemoviegeeks.com/2008/11/are-you-ready-for-a-darker-superman/


Invention: Excrement antibiotic

A compound found in muskrat faeces can effectively kill food-poisoning bacteria, claims a new patent application

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn16021-invention-excrement-antibiotic.html


Yoggie shows first open source portable firewall

Israeli security company Yoggie has come up with an intriguing new direction for its portable firewall platform - let open source developers create the applications that run on it.

http://www.techworld.com/security/news/index.cfm?newsid=106980


Deep Dyve offers fresh approach to 'Dark Web'

Would-be Google challenger to give access to scholarly papers.

http://www.techworld.com/applications/news/index.cfm?newsID=106973&pagtype=all


SSDs to use SATA for some time

NVMHCI interface might not be in Windows 7 either.

http://www.techworld.com/storage/news/index.cfm?newsID=106954&pagtype=all


Large-scale DDoS attacks surge

Survey points to greater intensity.

http://www.techworld.com/security/news/index.cfm?newsID=106955&pagtype=all


Programmer unlocks hidden Windows 7 features

A programmer has unlocked several still-unfinished features of Windows 7 that Microsoft Corp. has hidden from users who received the alpha build at two recent developer conferences.

http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9119918&intsrc=hm_list


Auto industry bankruptcies could ripple through tech

The auto industry has been offering U.S. lawmakers an apocalypse-level scenario warning them that as many as three million jobs could disappear if automakers run out of cash.

http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9119919&intsrc=hm_list


Apple may benefit from slowing economy

While global economic woes certainly aren't good news for retailers this holiday season, a report by Reuters suggests a silver lining for Apple: its key competitors may be hit even harder.

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/08/11/12/apple_may_benefit_from_slowing_economy.html


$149 Costco iPhone rumor, $5 iTunes movies, Gmail AV chat

One report is suggesting that Apple will not only expand iPhone sales to Costco but cut pricing at the same time. In a more confirmed price drop, Apple is now touting $5 movie purchases as a regular feature. Also, Google has launched its own video chat feature and has started tracking the spread of the flu through searches.

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/08/11/11/149_costco_iphone_rumor_5_itunes_movies_gmail_av_chat.html


Apple may turn to carbon fiber for lighter MacBook Air

Apple enthusiastically claimed ownership to the world's thinnest notebook earlier this year with the introduction of the MacBook Air, but is rumored to be unsatisfied with the system's weight, which it now hopes to drop below 3 pounds.

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/08/11/11/apple_may_turn_to_carbon_fiber_for_lighter_macbook_air.html


VMware wants to put a hypervisor in your handset

VMware may have big plans for the mobile market following its purchase of TRANGO, a company that makes hypervisors for ARM and MIPS processors. But not all of the parties that would need to sign on to this are likely to share its enthusiasm.

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20081112-vmware-wants-to-put-a-hypervisor-in-your-handset.html


Can you spare $500? Nigerian scammers turn to Facebook

What would you do if you got a message from your best friend on Facebook, saying that he's stranded in Nigeria and needs money to get home? Well get ready, because that's exactly what's beginning to happen as Nigerian scammers get into people's accounts in order to ask "friends" for money.

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20081111-can-you-spare-500-nigerian-scammers-turn-to-facebook.html


Best Buy Warns After Circuit City Tanks

A week after Circuit City began a downward spiral that began with massive store closings and layoffs and ended with a filing for bankruptcy protection competitor electronics retailer Best Buy sharply cut its 2009 outlook in the face of the "the most difficult climate" it has ever seen.

http://blog.wired.com/business/2008/11/best-buy-warns.html


Air Force Starts to Sing from Gates' Hymnal

The most startling change in Robert Gates' Pentagon has been the outbreak of common sense. Today's real-world wars has been emphasized over tomorrow's imaginary ones; battle-planning bluster has been replaced with quiet, measured competency.

http://blog.wired.com/defense/2008/11/the-most-startl.html


Tricked-Out Samsung Netbook Lasts Eight Hours on a Single Charge

The intrepid, lab-coated researchers over at Laptop Mag have been testing the endurance of Samsung's NC10 to the limits. By taking some rather drastic measures, they managed to squeeze eight hours out of the netbook's little six-cell battery.

http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2008/11/tricked-out-sam.html


Abrams' New Enterprise Leaves Drydock

Take a good look at the ole', classic NCC-1701 USS Enterprise up there because, in J.J. Abrams' new Star Trek, it gets a makeover. Entertainment Weekly has an exclusive first look at the new Enterprise today.
http://blog.wired.com/underwire/2008/11/abrams-enterpri.html


A friend of mine sent me the following links that might be of interest:

OfficeDepot.com coupon: 15% off no min - http://tinyurl.com/5trh4y

Newegg - RiData DVD+Rs - 100 Pack - $17.99 with Free Shipping: http://tinyurl.com/6gfuwg

USB2 Flash Drive Roundup: Deals from $8 - http://tinyurl.com/64ob5y

1350mAh Portable Solar Power Pack for $15 - http://tinyurl.com/5yac8f

Seagate.com Outlet Sale: Hard drives from $30 - http://tinyurl.com/4uc34u

Merrell Men's World Council Casual Shoes $35 - http://is.gd/77j1

Newegg - HAMMER Morespace 1TB External Hard Drive - $99 After Rebate + Shipping: http://tinyurl.com/5llr8y

Asus WL-520gU 802.11b/g DD-WRT Compatible Wireless Router w/ USB Print Server $26 after $20 MIR http://tinyurl.com/6fph3h

Dell PowerEdge SC440 Server: Pentium Dual Core E2180 2GHz, 512MB DDR2, 80GB HDD, CD-ROM $219 http://tinyurl.com/6huzhr

Cavalry 1TB USB 2.0 External Hard Drive $125 Shipped at Buy http://tinyurl.com/5lrdpo

Sears.com - Tricam 2-in-1 Ladder - $79.99 + Shipping: http://tinyurl.com/6fguc4

Shop4tech.com 17% off no min - http://tinyurl.com/5fk74x

No comments: