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Sunday, September 5, 2010

Happy Labor Day

Happy Labor Day, America.

Let's hope we can dig ourselves out of this Great Recession soon...

- ferg

18 goin’ on 27 ;)

When I had first heard Bryan Adam’s rocking number - 18 Til I Die – more than a decade ago, I had little imagined that this song would become my anthem so many years later!

Crossing my silver jubilee last year had left me depressed enough to do a blog post citing 26 reasons why turning 26 sucks! You can read it here.

This year I feel slightly better - the impact of the shock that any number after 21 gives has not been so much. I think I have 3 more years to go before a full fledged paranoia envelopes my existence :D.

But then, on a more optimistic note, growing older doesn’t really meaning “growing up”! And I am sure the latter process is boring and painful.

So, while I try dealing with my quarter-life crisis, leaving you with this ageless song that has always been a great mood-lifter!!!

I wanna be young - the rest of my life

Never say no - try anything twice

Til' the angels come - and ask me to fly

Gonna be 18 'til I die - 18 'til I die

...

Don't wanna grow up - I don't see why

I couldn't care less if time flies by

...

Ya, it sure feels good to be alive

Someday I'll be 18 goin' on 55! - 18 'til I die...

(The embedded video below does not work - It will route you to the You Tube page that has this song)

P.S. Many people ask me why I am so comfortable broadcasting my age when most women would rather pass off as someone younger. My answer to them is one, stop generalizing us women :p and two, I might be scared of the clock ticking away but I am proud of all the years that have brought me so much joy and learning!

Friday, September 3, 2010

Blackwater Won Contracts Through a Web of Companies

James Risen and Mark Mazzetti write in The New York Times:

Blackwater Worldwide created a web of more than 30 shell companies or subsidiaries in part to obtain millions of dollars in American government contracts after the security company came under intense criticism for reckless conduct in Iraq, according to Congressional investigators and former Blackwater officials.

While it is not clear how many of those businesses won contracts, at least three had deals with the United States military or the Central Intelligence Agency, according to former government and company officials. Since 2001, the intelligence agency has awarded up to $600 million in classified contracts to Blackwater and its affiliates, according to a United States government official.

The Senate Armed Services Committee this week released a chart that identified 31 affiliates of Blackwater, now known as Xe Services. The network was disclosed as part of a committee’s investigation into government contracting. The investigation revealed the lengths to which Blackwater went to continue winning contracts after Blackwater guards killed 17 Iraqi civilians in Baghdad in September 2007. That episode and other reports of abuses led to criminal and Congressional investigations, and cost the company its lucrative security contract with the State Department in Iraq.

The network of companies — which includes several businesses located in offshore tax havens — allowed Blackwater to obscure its involvement in government work from contracting officials or the public, and to assure a low profile for any of its classified activities, said former Blackwater officials, who, like the government officials, spoke only on condition of anonymity.

More here.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Mark Fiore: God-O-Matic

More Mark Fiore brilliance.

Via The San Francisco Chronicle.

- ferg

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Krebs: FCC Must Make ISPs Crack Down on Spammers and Malware

Brian Krebs writes on CSO Online:

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is asking for help in developing a "Cybersecurity Roadmap," an ambitious plan to identify dangerous vulnerabilities in the Internet infrastructure, as well as threats to consumers, businesses and governments.

The one piece of advice I will offer the commission is to begin measuring the responsiveness of Internet service providers (ISPs) and hosting companies in quashing malicious threats that take up residence on their networks. This is an imperative first step to prevent attacks on the Internet infrastructure, in addition to making the Internet a friendlier place for users.

The FCC said that it is seeking comments on how to proceed with the roadmap, which is part of the commission's National Broadband Plan to roll high-speed Internet services to more Americans.

The commission made the request at almost the same time as the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project issued its finding that more than half of Americans disagree with federal efforts to expand broadband deployment, an effort for which the Obama administration has allocated more than $7 billion. The Pew report came as the FCC was releasing data showing that most Americans who are paying for high-speed access aren't getting anywhere near the Internet speeds they've been promised.

More here.

Russian Trojan Blamed for Credit Card Losses at U.S. Diner

John E. Dunn writes on TechWorld.com:

Hundreds of lunchtime customers of a diner in the US city of Memphis are believed to have had funds stolen from their debit and credit cards after PCs at the venue became infected with malware.

Large numbers of customers reported having had funds taken after using Jason’s Deli in recent weeks, which prompted an investigation by the US Secret Service, part of the Department of Homeland Security.

After establishing that staff were not involved, police discovered that a computer system used by to verify credit cards had been infected with unidentified new-variant malware, which had logged and forwarded the data to criminals believed to be in Russia.

“The computers received a virus that was unknown before this event,” said Special Agent Rick Harlow of the US Secret Service in a news conference. “No antivirus program that we ran against it found it,” he said.

More here.