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Home Page Chess Life Online 2014 August Record Turnout at 2013 Junior Chess Congress
|Record Turnout at 2013 Junior Chess Congress
|By Salman Azhar
|March 24, 2013
The 2013 Junior Chess Congress kicked off on March 23 at the SFO Airport Hyatt Regency by breaking the previous record of 370 players.
Aksithi Eswaran (952) beat all the grown boys to win the 6 & under Championship with a perfect score. Pradyum Chitlu, Micah Stearman, Leonard Vu, Arnav Lingannagari, Matthew Hwang, and Amar Dhami tied for second place with 4 points each. All the players in this section earned a trophy.
The 8 & under section starts Sunday. The remaining sections have played 3 out of 5 rounds.
Edward Li (2045) and Thomas Hart (1752) lead the 20 & under section with perfect scores of 3.0 and will face off against each other in the fourth round. Charles Tang (1951) leads the 18 & under section with perfect score of 3.0. Alekhya Nandula (1788), Vikram Vasan (1837), and Archit Dasika (1772) are tied at the top with 2.5 points in the 16 & under section.
Cameron Wheeler (2291), Siddharth Banik (2117), and Michael Lei Wang were tied with perfect 3.0 after 3 rounds in the 14 & under section. Tanuj Vasudeva, Jeffrey Tao, and Alexander Feghhi are tied with a perfect score of 3.0 in the 12 & under section. The 10 & under section has a 6-way tie between David Li, Callaghan McCarty-Snead, Antara Garai, Charlie Jones, Dmitri Dobrynin, and Maurya Palusa.
Bay Area Chess (8, 14, 16, and 20 & under), NorCal House of Chess (6, 10, and 12 & under), Foster City Chess (14 & under), Berkeley Chess School (10 & under), Coalinga Club (20 & under), Liu Chess School (18 & under), and Marin Scholastic (16 & under) are contenders for the top honors in team competition. NorCal House has already sealed the 6 & under section with Liu Chess, Berkeley Chess, and Bay Area Chess rounding up the team standings. The 8 & under section starts tomorrow with Bay Area Chess occupying the top seed.
Salman Azhar, Tom Langland, John McCumiskey, Richard Koepcke, Scott Mason, and Jordan Langland are organizing and directing the event. The event is sponsored by BayAreaChess and CalChess have sponsored the event. You can find current pairings and standings at Bayareachess.com/usjr.


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BAXTER'S ATTIC Band of Gypsys "Changes"
I must admit, I can hardly listen to this without experiencing, at least, a slight flashback!!
Every weekday around 9:30, we pull one out of the attic. In case you are new,the Attic is a mythical place where we were "enlightened" by great music…and other stuff.

subset: commoncrawl


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Stocks rise sharply, led by gains in technology
NEW YORK -- Technology stocks roared back Wednesday, driving the Standard & Poor's 500 and Dow Jones industrial average to record highs.
The industry has lagged the broader market this year, but surged after network communication company Adtran reported earnings that were double what Wall Street analysts expected. That boosted optimism that businesses will increase spending on technology equipment.
Chipmakers Micron and Intel jumped, as did other network equipment makers like Cisco and JDS Uniphase. Stocks were also up on an optimistic reading of the Federal Reserve Bank's latest minutes.
Technology stocks rose 1.8 percent, the most of the 10 industry groups in the S&P.
"Tech has performed so poorly, it's oversold and warrants some interest here," said Scott Wren, an equity strategist at Wells Fargo Advisors. "If the economy continues to improve there is going to be some capital spending."
The stock market is reversing course from last week, when investors' confidence fell because of an unexpectedly poor report on the U.S. job market and other signs that the economy slowed in March.
The Dow Jones jumped 128.78 points, or 0.9 percent, to 14,802.24. It was the third straight gain for the blue-chip index and its biggest one-day rise in a month. The Dow surged in the first three months of the year and is still up 13 percent in 2013.
Investors are seeing positive news in the minutes from the Federal Reserve's latest meeting, which were released Wednesday. The minutes revealed that policy makers are becoming more confident that the U.S. economy can grow without the help of the bank's stimulus program, said Brian Gendreau, a market strategist at Cetera Financial Group.
Many Fed members indicated they want to slow and eventually end the central bank's bond-buying program before the end of the year.
, as long as the job market and economy show sustained improvement. The $85 billion in monthly bond purchases has kept interest rates extremely low, with the goal of encouraging borrowing and spending.
"The idea that the Fed thinks that we are closer to the restoration of normality might be positive for the market," said Gendreau.
Among stocks making big moves, Facebook rose 98 cents, or 3.7 percent, to $27.57 after General Motors said it would start running ads on the social network site. Adtran rose $2.75, or 14 percent, to $22.46, and JDS Uniphase rose 64 cents, or 4.8 percent, to $13.98.
Hospital stocks fell heavily after Deutsche Bank lowered its recommendation on the companies because their prices have risen so much that they no longer offer good value. Private hospitals have surged over the past year in anticipation that health care spending will increase following the introduction of Obama's health care plan.
Health Management Associates plunged $2.06, or 16 percent, to $10.53. Tenet Healthcare fell $2.38, or 5.5 percent, to $41.14 and Community Health Systems dropped $1.65, or 3.8 percent, to $42.26.
Bond yields fell as investors moved money out of safe U.S. government debt and into riskier assets. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose to 1.81 percent from 1.75 percent late Tuesday.


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Once known as Family Planning WA, our new name positions us as the central point of contact for anything relating to sexual health, and represents our whole of community approach.
SHQ's specialised services cater for the diverse nature of sexuality, and moving forwards, we will have a strong focus on working with and supporting a range of disadvantaged groups.
Last year we undertook an extensive state-wide survey, which has allowed us to better understand the community's sexual and reproductive health needs. The findings will be used to inform SHQ's new direction, especially in regard to how we work with young people.
Our expert staff continue to uphold our strong values around confidentiality and privacy. We look forward to welcoming everyone to our new service.
In the meantime you can find all the current information and resources at Sexual and Reproductive Health WA website.


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Two-tone Cotton Linen King Triangle Three Fold. The popular Thai triangle fold-out pillow is now available in a new fabric and new color combinations. The non-traditional patterns add an eclectic touch to the Thai triangle cushion which is commonly found throughout Thailand - be it in a village, a temple, or modern house. The folding panel makes for greater comfort when placed on the floor. Great back support for reading or watching television.


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A property is probably the most important financial decision you make in your life. You spend a fortune to get hold of that much awaited dream home. Even if you buy a property for the sole purpose of investing and earning profits, the money you spend matters a lot. It is not just about the speculations and the ups and downs of the real estate world, it is also about how smartly you spend your hard-earned money.
One of the factors that highly affect the prices and risk factor of a property purchase is the stage of construction. The property in which you invest, can either be in the pre-launch, under-construction or ready to move in stage. As the property reaches completion, the prices rise and risk factor lowers. Hence, a property in pre-launch stage is the most risky but least priced.
Let us discuss the stages with respect to investment in some detail:
Pre-Launch Stage:- The pre-launch and soft-launch stages are the most risky as a lot depends on the authorities. In these stages, many of the approvals are lacking with the builder. So if the unfortunate flipside happens, you could lose your money. But since the properties in this stage are very affordable, most of the investors are attracted towards it. Several new launch projects in Ghaziabad, Faridabad and in other parts of NCR are being advertised. You must check the background of the developer; find out if his previous projects were completed as promised. Find out if he is under any litigation default. Invest only if you are satisfied with your investigation.
Launch and Under-construction Stage:- This is touted as the most preferred stage to invest in a real estate property. The approvals are in place and the prices have slightly increased. The risk factor is also diminished as the construction work is in full swing. You would make a very good profit if you invest during the beginning of this stage; prices soar as the building takes shape.
Ready to Move-in Stage:- As the property nears completion, prices soar and risk is the least. This stage would be good to buy if you are looking for a home you can immediately shift to. But if it is for investment purpose, completion stage is not very advisable. It burns a hole in your pocket but the returns are not that high.
Resale Stage:- A resale property would also be a good idea if you want to immediately shift to a new house in a well-established neighbourhood. You will also get to see the house exactly how it is. You will also get the amenities and facilities available in the house and in the neighbourhood. The prices will also be reasonable enough for this buy.
So which stage do you prefer? Pre-launch, under-construction, completion or resale? Do let us know by commenting below.
Read More About……..Upsides of Buying Your First Property as an Investment


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ECOL-380 Wetlands Analysis
Wetlands are complex environments that are controlled by chemical, biological and physical interactions. The course explores the structure, function, management and jurisdictional delineation of nontidal freshwater wetlands. Lecture material covers the history of wetlands use/abuse; current definitions and analysis of the common indicators of wetland function; and hydrology, soils and vegetation. The laboratory consists of plant identification, techniques for hydric soil analysis and identification of wetland hydrology indicators using current methodologies for delineation of jurisdictional wetlands. Same as EENV-380. Prerequisites: CHEM-101-102, CHEM-103-104 or CHEM-111-112. 4 SH. 3 lecture hours, 3 laboratory/field hours. CC: Writing Intensive.


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British rocker Matt Bellamy has broken his foot, forcing his band Muse to cancel three upcoming concerts in Europe.
The singer took to Twitter on Thursday to share the news about his injury with fans, even uploading a copy of his X-ray to show his followers.
Alongside the photo, he wrote, "Ouch! Broke my foot… On crutches for a while".
A follow-up post on Muse's official Twitter page subsequently revealed the Uprising hitmakers would be axing a trio of gigs in Norway and Sweden next week.
The message reads: "We're very sorry to announce that Muse's live shows in Oslo, Stockholm and Malmo have been cancelled as a result of Matt's broken foot."
Bellamy, who is engaged to actress Kate Hudson, hopes to be well enough to resume the live shows on December 10, when the group is scheduled to perform in Helsinki, Finland.
The Muse post continues, "The remaining dates are still scheduled to go ahead as planned, but we'll keep you updated on Matt's progress."


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Champions League
Follow the UEFA Champions League on your PC, TV and mobile with Sky Sports.
Last Updated: 16/09/08 9:14am
The knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League are back, live on Sky Sports and skysports.com.
You can follow all the British sides on your PC, TV or mobile phone as they take on Europe's finest and attempt to prise the coveted trophy from AC Milan's grasp.
As well as our unparalleled, interactive television coverage, we will be streaming games live to your PC.
For just £2.99 per game to Sky Sports subscribers or £5.99 to non-subscribers - and free to Sky Sports dual subscribers with multi-room - you can watch a match of your choice.
Skysports.com will also be providing live commentary on every game featuring the British sides, as well as team news, previews and match reports on every game throughout the tournament.
And you can also get involved by giving your verdict on individual performances in our popular player ratings feature and joining in the debates of the day on our fans' forums.
As ever, our interactive television coverage will lead the way in Champions League coverage.
Every matchday we will bring you live games. The main matches will be featured on Sky Sports 2 and Sky Sports Xtra and the rest available via the red button, with goal alerts from every game we are covering.
Even when there are three British sides all playing on a Wednesday, we will cram all three into our schedules so you needn't miss YOUR side in action.
And if you happen to find yourself out and about on a Champions League matchday, fear not - you can see every Champions League goal in-game from our brand new 24-7 Football service on your mobile phone.
So, if you're a fan, Sky Sports is the place to watch the greatest club competition in the world - wherever you are!


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Students, parents protest MLK Day snow day decision
Students and parents gathered to protest at a Des Moines School Board meeting Tuesday night in response to the decision to use the Martin Luther King Jr. Day to make up for a snow day.
"It's ridiculous, and I'm a very unhappy parent, and there are a lot of problems that this day is to be used as a snow day," parent Vanessa Johnson said.
The School Board finalized the calendar more than a year ago. They argue that adding snow days to the end of the school year angers parents who have vacation plans.
"That calendar has already been approved for next year, but we would listen to those young people who want to advocate for revisions in the calendar," School Board President Dick Murphy said.
The School Board promised that students would learn about services to Martin Luther King Jr.'s memory during the make up day, but the NAACP Youth Council is not convinced.
"Though the teachers will be talking about the services we could do, why not get out there and do them on the day of service? That is what MLK Day is for," student Johnneeisha Long said.
School Board member Terree Caldwell Johnson said she will recommend that groups like the NAACP, the Jewish Federation, LULAC and others be included in future school calendars.
The School Board said it would listen to requests for change to the calendar, but no decision has been made yet.


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TUESDAY, Dec. 10, 2013 (HealthDay News) -- Most Americans do not deal with end-of-life issues and wishes, a new study indicates.
Researchers analyzed data from nearly 8,000 people who took part in nationwide surveys conducted in 2009 and 2010, and found that only about 26 percent had completed an advance directive, also called a living will.
There were significant associations between completing an advance directive and age, income, education and health status, according to the study in the January issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
Advance directives were more common among women, whites, married people and those who had a college degree or postgraduate training. People with advanced directives also were more likely to have a chronic disease or a regular source of care.
"For black and Hispanic respondents, advance directives were less frequent across all educational groups. These data indicate racial and educational disparities in advance directive completion and highlight the need for education about their role in facilitating [end-of-life] decisions," Dr. Jaya Rao, who conducted the study while an associate professor in the division of pharmaceutical outcomes and policy at the University of North Carolina, said in a journal news release.
Lack of awareness was the most common reason for not having an advance directive.
Some previous studies have shown that health care costs are highest during the final years of life, but the use of advance directives reduces Medicare spending and the likelihood of in-hospital death.
"Given the current discussions about implementing various models of health care delivery, including the patient-centered medical home, [end-of-life] issues need to come to the forefront of planning efforts," Rao said. "Hopefully, these findings will contribute to the current national conversations about [end-of-life] care."
More information
The U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has more about end-of-life issues.


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Jamaica eyes its expatriates as investment source in efforts to kick start economic growth
KINGSTON, Jamaica – In a bid to kick start Jamaica's chronically stagnant economy, the Caribbean country is wooing its citizens living abroad to invest in the island of their birth.
On Tuesday, hundreds of entrepreneurs and other Jamaican expatriates mingled with government officials and local business leaders, brainstorming ways to boost growth and development. The sessions were part of a four-day "Jamaica Diaspora" conference aimed at tapping into the wealth, education and know-how of the island's expatriates.
"This can lead to a roadmap for Jamaica's future. The people who have come here to this conference have substantial knowledge, connections and interests that can help take the country's development into many, many directions," said Lloyd Grey, a retired engineer from Reading, England, who was raised on Jamaica but moved to Britain decades ago.
Jamaica and other Caribbean nations have long suffered from a "brain drain" that has seen professionals and skilled workers head off to jobs overseas. About 3.3 million Jamaicans are believed to live outside the country, mostly in the U.S., Britain and Canada. Roughly 2.7 million live on the island.
The Jamaican expatriates already send home about $2 billion a year in remittances in what has become the island's biggest foreign exchange earner. But Industry, Investment and Commerce Minister Anthony Hylton hopes to increase that amount to help strengthen the economy.
"Achieving sustained economic growth, with jobs, remains the biggest challenge and the most intractable problem facing Jamaica. This focus on growth and development is therefore very critical if we are to break the vicious cycle of stagnated growth and poverty," Hylton said.
Over 55 companies and organizations are participating in the conference in Montego Bay, which is home to a flourishing call center industry.
Leaders of other Caribbean islands like Grenada and St. Lucia have also been wooing nationals abroad and encouraging them to assist with developing their homelands, but more populous Jamaica has long had the most focused effort to forge relationships with its overseas citizens.
The push to entice more expatriates in investing in their homeland comes as Jamaica's debt is roughly 150 percent of gross domestic product. In February, Jamaica launched a debt-swap program to satisfy conditions to forge a new pact with the International Monetary Fund and halt what the prime minister described as an economic crisis. In April, the IMF approved a four-year, $958 million loan package to stabilize the economy.


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The Elkins II Plush ET Queen Plush Euro Top Pocketed Coil Mattress by Serta at A1 Furniture & Mattress in the Madison, WI area. Product availability may vary. Contact us for the most current availability on this product.
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This weeks Pic(k) of the week is captioned with one of Muhammad Ali's famous quotes. I'm have no interest in boxing, however some of the 71 year old boxing legend quotes , have really resonated with me... "The man who has no imagination has no wings", is surely one of them!
Sticking to the photography theme, my iPhone has really given me the wings to develop my creativity! The above example of an Airbus A380 wing with the New York-JFK Air Traffic Control tower in the background, is a prime example of this.
Unlike most other iPhone images which I normally edit on the phone itself, this one has gone through my normal photography workflow.
On a side note, my little Fuji X-E1 has done something very similar to the iPhone. Carrying a lightweight, far less obtrusive camera, has proved to be very valuable over the last 6 months or so. I've recently purchased the new telephoto Fujinon 55-200 lens for the camera and have therefore come one step closer to possibly giving up the DSLR sometime in the future... Only time will tell!
Image details:
iPhone 4S
ISO 50, 35mm, f2.4, 1/1800s
Lightroom 5 development of the jpeg file
SilverEfex 2 Black and White conversion
Over the years I have collected about 200 iPhone "keeper" images which can be found in its dedicated iPhoneography gallery.
Remember, "The best camera is the one that's with you", Chase Jarvis


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Brought to you by our friends at the SANS Institute
SANS NewsBites August 21, 2002 Vol. 4, Num. 34
19 August 2002 NIST Warns Against Wireless LANs for Government
16 August 2002 DoD Wireless Policy Nearly Ready
19 August 2002 DrinkOrDie Ringleader Sentenced
15 August 2002 Library Site Defacer Gets 1-3 Year Prison Sentence
14 August 2002 Princeton Admissions Dean/Hacker to be Reassigned
15 & 16 August 2002 FBI Agent Accused of Illegal Computer Access
15 & 16 August 2002 Apache Web Server has Vulnerability; Upgrade
is Available
16 August 2002 Microsoft Releases Patches for Windows 2000, SQL
Server 7.0 and 2000
16 August 2002 Microsoft Funds Initiative For Software Choice
16 August 2002 Think Tank Wants Linux Certified Under Common Criteria
16 August 2002 NIPC Requests Quotes for Contractor Support
15 & 16 August 2002 IRS Can't Account for Computers Lent to Volunteers
15 August 2002 Researchers Develop Personalized Laptop Crypto System
15 August 2002 Variety of Anti-Virus Products Proves Helpful to
Scottish Bank
14 August 2002 Oracle Releases Patch for Debugger Vulnerability
14 August 2002 Cyber Corps Gets an Additional $19.2 Million
14 August 2002 UK E-Commerce Site Removes Exposed Customer Data
14 August 2002 InfraGard Members Warned About Warchalking
14 August 2002 Security Certifications Down Except for Disaster
Planning and Recovery (Not!)
13 August 2002 Burma to Test Passports with Embedded Chips
13 August 2002 Crackers are Targeting Security Professionals
13 & 14 August 2002 Digital Pearl Harbor Simulation
13 August 2002 SSL Vulnerability in Microsoft, KDE
15 August 2002 Microsoft Says SSL Problem is in Windows, Not IE
19 August 2002 Microsoft's Lag Time Frustrates
12 August 2002 Virus Activity Down
--19 August 2002 NIST Warns Against Wireless LANs for Government
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is putting
the final touches on a report that will recommend the US government
not use wireless LANs (local area networks) except in rare cases.
NIST also advises placing LAN access points where unauthorized users
cannot access them and using VPN (virtual private network) clients
and gateways.
--16 August 2002 DoD Wireless Policy Nearly Ready
The Defense Department wireless use policy should be finalized soon.
The policy will address the use of wireless devices in and around
the Pentagon. The policy will prohibit wireless connections to
classified networks or computers. Another policy submitted for formal
consideration addresses wireless devices on the global grid.
--19 August 2002 DrinkOrDie Ringleader Sentenced
Christopher Tresco, who was reportedly a ringleader in the DrinkOrDie
digital piracy ring, received a 33-month sentence for "conspiracy to
violate criminal copyright laws." Tresco was a system administrator
at MIT and allegedly used university computers to distribute the
pirated content.
--15 August 2002 Library Site Defacer Gets 1-3 Year Prison Sentence
Christopher J. Chinnichi received a sentence of between 1 and 3
years in state prison and was ordered to pay restitution of $15,000
for twice defacing the Monroe County (NY) Library System's web site.
The site was shut down for two days after one attack and for three
weeks after the other.
--14 August 2002 Princeton Admissions Dean/Hacker to be Reassigned
The Princeton University dean who hacked into a Yale University
admissions site meant only for applicants has lost his job. Stephen
LeMenager said he was only trying to test the security of the site.
Disciplinary action will be taken against other Princeton admissions
office employees. LeMenager will work in Princeton's communications
office until he is placed in another job at the university.
--15 & 16 August 2002 FBI Agent Accused of Illegal Computer Access
A Russian Federal Security Service investigator has begun criminal
proceedings against an FBI agent has allegedly lured two Russian
hackers to the US, offered them jobs at a fictional company and
harvested passwords to their computer in Russia. The FBI downloaded
the evidence before they had a search warrant. The two allegedly
stole information from large US companies and from two banks, and
may be tied to the theft of credit card numbers from CD Universe and
Western Union. The agent is accused of gaining unauthorized access
to the pair's computers.
--15 & 16 August 2002 Apache Web Server has Vulnerability; Upgrade
is Available
A security hole in Apache Web server version 2.0 could allow attackers
to gain control of vulnerable systems. An upgraded version of the
software is available. The vulnerability researcher who discovered
the vulnerability waited until Apache had posted the upgraded version
of the software to announce the flaw.
--16 August 2002 Microsoft Releases Patches for Windows 2000,
SQL Server 7.0 and 2000
Microsoft released patches for two of its products. The first is for
a critical flaw in the Network Connection Manager (NCM) component
of Windows 2000 that could allow an attacker to gain control of a
vulnerable system. The second is a cumulative patch for SQL server
7.0 and 2000.
Windows 2000:
SQL Server 7.0 and 2000:
[Editor's Note (Ranum): Shoot. I guess this means that Microsoft's
"stand-down" to fix all the bugs didn't work. I'm shocked, shocked,
I tell you.]
--16 August 2002 Microsoft Funds Initiative For Software Choice
Microsoft has joined a group called the Initiative for Software
Choice, which was created after several countries including, France,
Germany and Peru passed or were considering legislation requiring
their governments to use open source software.
[Editor's Note (Northcutt): In what is probably a tempest in a teacup,
the Digital Software Security Act, has been proposed to require
California state government to use open source.
(Schultz) Secure software does not depend on whether it is open-
or closed-source, but rather on the quality of the development process.
(Paller): Microsoft has a valid case in asking that governments not
automatically exclude Microsoft software in favor of open source
software. However, two Microsoft pressure tactics may backfire.
The first is the company's expansive funding and subsequent control of
specific lobbying initiatives of organizations that claim to represent
far broader interests. The second is Microsoft's more direct efforts
to pressure US Department of Defense executives to halt support for SE
Linux when, in reality, the government has spent far more on projects
that help improve security of Microsoft products than on projects
that make Linux products secure.]
--16 August 2002 Think Tank Wants Linux Certified Under Common
The Cyberspace Policy Institute at George Washington University
wants Linux to be certified under the Common Criteria, which would
allow Linux to be purchased for "sensitive government applications."
The Institute is offering to be the repository for the federally,
certified Linux. http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1104-950123.html
--16 August 2002 NIPC Requests Quotes for Contractor Support
The National Infrastructure Protection Center (NIPC) is requesting
quotes for contractor support in identifying and predicting threats,
analyzing and assessing threat information and disseminating
information among its partners and the public. NIPC has been
criticized for being slow to issue warnings about cyber security
--15 & 16 August 2002 IRS Can't Account for Computers Lent to
According to an audit report from the Office of the Treasury Inspector
General for Tax Administration, the Internal Revenue Service
(IRS) cannot account for some portion of 6,600 computers it lent
to volunteers to help prepare returns for low income, disabled and
senior citizens. Earlier this year, the Inspector General found 2,300
computers missing from other areas of the IRS. The missing machines
may contain sensitive taxpayer data.
--15 August 2002 Researchers Develop Personalized Laptop Crypto
Brian Noble and Mark Corner, researchers at the University of Michigan,
have developed a system that will encrypt computer data when the
computer's owner steps away from the machine. The system works by
the owner wearing a transmitter strapped on like a watch; when the
owner is a designated distance away from the computer, the data is
automatically encrypted. The wireless communication is also encrypted.
[Editor's Note (Schultz): File encryption is such a two-edged sword.
It can assure confidentiality of data, but can also result in
effectively losing encrypted files. I know of several Windows 2000
users who have lost all their files due to loss or corruption of their
File Encrypting Key. And, unfortunately, key management schemes are
usually pretty inadequate.]
--15 August 2002 Variety of Anti-Virus Products Proves Helpful to
Scottish Bank
The Halifax/Bank of Scotland uses different anti-virus products at
each layer of its IT infrastructure, a strategy it says has reduced
the number of virus incidents in its systems by a factor of 10,
from 3,000 to 300 a month.
--14 August 2002 Oracle Releases patch for Debugger Vulnerability
A security hole in Oracle9i's debugging mechanism could crash
vulnerable servers. The mechanism is enabled by default. Oracle has
issued a patch for the vulnerability.
--14 August 2002 Cyber Corps Gets an Additional $19.2 Million
President Bush signed into law a supplemental funding bill that
allocates an additional $19.2 million for the Cyber Corps: the
federal scholarship for service program in information security.
Cyber Corps also funds capacity-building programs.
[Editor's Note (Schultz): This investment in cybersecurity will
undoubtedly return huge benefits in time.]
--14 August 2002 UK E-Commerce Site Removes Exposed Customer Data
Personal data belonging to about 1,700 UK Shopping City on-line
customers was exposed on a website. A UK Information Commissioner's
Office compliance manager said the unauthorized release is a
violation of the Data Protection Act. UK Shopping City has removed
the exposed customer data. The affected customers had each referred
three friends whose names and e-mail addresses were also exposed.
The managing director speculated that the problem occurred when the
company changed servers recently.
--14 August 2002 InfraGard Members Warned About Warchalking
An FBI special agent warned Pittsburgh-area InfraGard members about
warchalking - the practice of marking the locations of wireless access
points on sidewalks and the outsides of buildings. One web site lets
wardrivers submit their information and then creates street maps that
note the access points. The agent says warchalking poses a threat
to criminal investigations. InfraGard is a partnership between the
FBI and businesses that allows them to share information about cyber
security concerns.
--14 August 2002 Security Certifications Down Except for Disaster
Planning and Recovery (Not!)
The number of security certifications obtained during an 8-month period
in 2002 is significantly lower than the number obtained during the same
span a year earlier, according to a Brainbench Cyber IQ Defense Report.
The trend affects all areas except disaster planning and recovery
certifications, which are up 90% over last year.
[Editor's Note (Murray): CISSP certifications and still growing.
(Northcutt) After reading this story, and seeing fellow Editor Bill
Murray's comment that the CISSP was continuing to grow, I checked
the GIAC certification numbers: They have grown substantially in the
past year. So it was obvious something was wrong with this story.
I contacted Eileen Townsend, one of the principle authors of the
technical report on which this article is based, and she told me that
the only source of data were the number of people taking their own
Brainbench tests. Lower numbers of people using their service does
not mean fewer people are attempting to earn security certifications.]
--13 August 2002 Burma to Test Passports with Embedded Chips
Burma will test an electronic passport system. As part of the 5,000
person pilot program, diplomats and some business people will receive
passports with embedded microchips that contain personal information
like fingerprints and photographs.
--13 August 2002 Crackers are Targeting Security Professionals
A hacker group called "e18" appears to be targeting security
professionals. The group may be responsible for a Trojan that
infected OpenBSD code. The group has intercepted e-mail, stolen
files from people's computers and published the personal documents
in their e-zine. The group is unhappy with the fact that security
professionals publish vulnerabilities.
Unhappy that vulnerabilities are being published? Yet they are using them to do malicious activities? Idiots...
--13 & 14 August 2002 Digital Pearl Harbor Simulation
The US Naval War College and Gartner Research teamed up to conduct a
"Digital Pearl Harbor" simulation. Analysts concluded that cyber
terrorists could do serious damage to US critical infrastructure,
but they would require five years of preparation time and significant
amounts of money and intelligence. Recovery from the attacks would
be difficult because there are no early warning systems for cyber
attacks and no organized response to them.
--13 August 2002 SSL Vulnerability in Microsoft, KDE
Microsoft is investigating a vulnerability in the way Internet
Explorer (IE) versions 5.0, 5.5 and 6.0 handles digital certificates.
The security hole in IE's implementation of the Secure Socket Layer
(SSL) standard could be exploited to trick users into thinking they
are visiting a legitimate website that can be trusted with personal
--15 August 2002 Microsoft Says SSL Problem is in Windows, Not IE
Microsoft says the SSL implementation problem lies not in Internet
Explorer (IE) but in Windows itself. Microsoft is developing patches
for Windows 98, Me, NT4, 2000 and XP.
--19 August 2002 Microsoft's Lag Time Frustrates
Microsoft's delay in addressing this and other security issues has
frustrated users. KDE, developers of other software with the same
security hole, released a patch within hours of the vulnerability's
--12 August 2002 Virus Activity Down
Explanations offered for the decline in virus activity over the past
year include improved anti-virus software, more secure systems and
new laws that assign stiffer penalties for hacking and the like,
including life in prison. Some warn that people should not get
complacent; virus activity will pick up again.
[Editor's Note (Schultz): This is a fascinating statistic. If it holds
over time, it will represent a genuine victory for the information
security arena.]