Thursday, October 4, 2007

Three Teens Throw Baby Out of Car in Robbery

Yes, after pulling the mother out of the car, the carjackers blithely tossed a 10-month-old baby out of the vehicle. The baby is okay. The suspects are 14 and 15 years old.


A young mother said she followed the cries of her baby Wednesday night after her car was robbed and the boy was thrown out of the vehicle.


The robbery happened around 6 p.m. Wednesday. Police found the vehicle and the suspects shortly after 10 p.m.


Amber Blakeman, 21, and her 10-month-old son, Cayden, were injured in the incident. Witnesses said the infant was thrown from the car.



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Ooops: DC Feds Delete CA.Gov In Response to Hackers

Let's call this one Stupid and Stupider. A hacker apparently hijacked a California government's website, sending those seeking Transportation Authority information to a porno website. Confusing enough if you, say, wanted to learn rules about getting it transported and instead wound up with XXXX-rated getting it on, no rules applied.



So the feds stepped in. Apparently, someone simply deleted an entire domain. OK, out with the porno hacker. Ooops, we tossed the baby, the bathtub, and the entire house out with the bathwater.

As TechDirt noted, the problem escalated when frantic California officials tried to get the problem resolved before Eastern time zone workers headed home.


Even the government shudders when someone says they're from the government and they're here to help.


Case in point: A hacker's diversion of traffic from a California county government Web site to a porn purveyor spiraled into IT chaos yesterday after a countermeasure applied from Washington essentially "deleted the ca.gov domain."


Order was restored only after seven hours of frenzied coast-to-coast communications and a "forced propagation" of ca.gov network systems, according to Jim Hanacek, public information officer for the California Department of Technology Services.


"We don't for sure have the whole picture, but as we understand it, there was some event at the Transportation Authority of Marin Country where their site got hacked," Hanacek told me this afternoon. Traffic was being redirected from that site to one featuring pornography.


A department within the U.S. General Services Administration in Washington oversees and polices the .gov domain.



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Japan Puts Lunar Satellite in Orbit in Largest Lunar Mission Since U.S. Apollo

The second phase of the moon rush kicked into high gear with Japan's announcement that it has successfully placed the lunar satellite SELENE into orbit around the moon. At $279 million, the unmanned scientific mission is the largest lunar venture since NASA's manned Apollo missions.



China is waiting in the wings with its own satellite, which could be launched by the end of this year. The Japanese mission ran four years behind schedule.



Japan has placed a satellite in orbit around the moon for the first time, officials said Friday, in a major space breakthrough for the Asian nation.


The $279 million Selenological and Engineering Explorer — or SELENE — is the largest lunar mission since the U.S. Apollo program in terms of overall scope and ambition.


The mission involves placing the main satellite in orbit at an altitude of about 60 miles and deploying two smaller satellites in polar orbits, according to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA.


Researchers will use data gathered by the probes to study the moon's origin and evolution. The main orbiter will stay in position for about a year.



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Spain: Entire Leadership of Basque Separatist Party Arrested

More than 800 people are alleged to have been killed by terrorist activities of the separatist group Eta. Spanish officials say that Batasuna is the mouthpiece for Eta, and have imposed a crackdown.


Spanish police have arrested the entire alleged leadership of the banned Basque separatist party, Batasuna.


Twenty-two people were detained in the town of Segura on orders from Spain's top anti-terror judge, Baltasar Garzon.


The security forces raided a Batasuna meeting at which the party's old guard was alleged to be transferring control to new leaders.


Mr Garzon led moves to outlaw Batasuna five years ago, accusing it of being a front for armed separatists Eta.



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Earth-Like Planet Forming on Our Doorstep

Future astronomers--and maybe space explorers--may have a front-row seat to watch the development of a new Earth. The discovery of a potential Earth-like planet in the making is exciting scientific news.



Too bad we don't have a webcam watching--yet.


Snuggled into a huge belt of warm dust, an Earth-like planet appears to be forming some 424 light-years away, scientists said Wednesday.


At somewhere between 10 and 16 million years old, the planet's solar system is still in its "very young adolescence," but is at the perfect age for forming Earth-like planets, said lead researcher Carey Lisse of Johns Hopkins University's Applied Physics Laboratory.



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Female Soldier Killed Inside Secure Afghanistan Base--Did She KNow Too Much?

Exactly how Ciara Durkin died remains a mystery. The Army National Guard soldier from Massachusetts was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head in Afghanistan last week, and now her family is demanding answers from the military.


Initially the Pentagon reported that Durkin, part of a finance unit deployed to Afghanistan in November 2006, had been killed in action, but then revised its statement to read she had died of injuries "suffered from a non-combat related incident" at Bagram Airfield. The statement had no specifics and said the circumstances are under investigation.


Durkin had a desk job doing payroll in an office about three miles inside the secure Bagram Air Base. About 90 minutes after she left work last Friday, her family says she was found dead near a chapel on the base with a single gunshot wound to the head.


The 30-year-old soldier, who was born in Ireland and came to the U.S. as a little girl, felt safer deployed in Afghanistan over Iraq, her family told CBS News correspondent Kelly Wallace. Yet she was found dead within a highly secure base, with few answers


(clip)


Adding to the mystery is something the Army Specialist told her family:

if something happened to her in Afghanistan, they should look into it.

She was concerned about things she was seeing over there, one of her

eight brothers and sisters said in an interview.



Canavan told the Quincy, Mass. Patriot Ledger on Wednesday that

when her sister was home three weeks ago, she told her about something

she had come across that raised some concern with her: "She was in the

finance unit and she said, 'I discovered some things I don’t like and I

made some enemies because of it.'"



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Wednesday, October 3, 2007

EXCLUSIVE: ViaTalk Gives Customer's Private Phone Records to a Stranger

Update: 1:45 p.m. October 4
Yesterday, NowPublic revealed in an exclusive story that a ViaTalk user's private phone records had been given to a stranger.

A continuing investigation has uncovered multiple problems with ViaTalk services. In the wake of SunRocket's failure, ViaTalk, the startup of whiz kid Brendan Bader, is in the hot seat as IP telephony struggles to come of age.

In mid-September, PC Magazine writer Rick Broida gave a definite "thumbs down" to ViaTalk service:

"Because getting a support issue resolved is virtually impossible, I can't in good conscience recommend ViaTalk. (Although the service has improved modestly, I still can't recommend ViaTalk wholeheartedly despite the excellent features.) The service itself offers a killer feature package at a very attractive price, but until the company makes significant improvements in customer service, anyone shopping for a VoIP provider would do well to steer clear of it. I've prepaid for the year, so I'm going to stick it out, but you don't have to make the same mistake. " -- ViaTalk Review

At present, I have not received any response from multiple attempts to contact ViaTalk officials. My continuing investigation led me to the ViaTalk forums. The discussion there revealed numerous problems with ViaTalk, including lack of response, lack of porting numbers from old servers in a timely fashion, and billing problems.

Among literally hundreds of posts, users reported:
".... I tried a couple of times to contact support via phone and had to give up after a 45 min hold to get from caller 36 to 21 and then 1 hour hold to get from fifty something to 28. In addition they gave me an out of area code number that is useless to local inbound callers (unless they feel like paying l/d to call across the street). Glad I only paid 14.95 BYOD for the useless experiment."

"ViaTalk has hosed themselves by treating thier new customers so poorly. I will never have a good thought about Viatalk. When my one year of torture is up I am gone."

"....I called them today (3 hour hold, of course) to ask what day they were on regarding porting docs. He said he didn't know. This seems to be a common answer in CS."
"....I was told that I would have to wait for someone to deal with this of which there was no timeline as to when. I said that this was unacceptable and asked to speak to a Manager. He chirped, “sure” instead of saying no one is available, as they did in the past, and the call is sent to an extension that is obviously unmanned, if not a dead VM box. I have left messages before and never got a return call. That’s some CS there. So I left a message. I am now back in the cue at #22 at 83 minutes, of which I was just told that phone support is unavailable at 11:30 PM MDT (isn't support Wednesday: 12:00am - 3:00am & 8:00am - 11:59pm? 11:30 MT = 1:30 ET I still have another hour and a half!) WHAT?!! after waiting on hold for 83 minutes to make sure that this will be dealt with and that the phone ticket has been created and escalated. Since I asked to speak to a manager, I fear a “hold” on the situation. I will also, which may be cutting my throat, submit a ticket as follow up."

"Evan after 4 weeks of signing up with them, they could not send me the adapter or activate my account. None of my tickets never got answered and you have to wait for hours before you get some customer support, whom doesn't know anything. The funny part is they charged me for the past 4 weeks usage without even activating my account. That was the last straw.Today I waited for 3 hours on phone and cancelled my order and got an email saying that they cancelled my order but cannot refund the shipping and activation charges? What the f...? they are charging me even though they gave me nothing? Very funny, I am calling my credit card company and disputing the charges they charged."

Another user has reported seeing unknown calls. (Note: the numbers have been x'd out by the user.) "
Anyone have any idea what the following entries are for out going call log, it shows a call being placed to t it was busy on two occasions and answered on two occasions.


2007-09-05 15:28:50 EST "PRIVATE" [Options] t BUSY 00:00:00

2007-09-04 13:21:47 EST "PRIVATE" [Options] t BUSY 00:00:00

2007-08-30 21:13:35 EST "PRIVATE" [Options] t ANSWERED 00:00:10

2007-08-29 18:43:14 EST "PRIVATE" [Options] t ANSWERED 00:00:10"

Despite numerous efforts to reach someone at ViaTalk yesterday for comments, I have not yet received a response.

I'm now in communication with another user involved in breach of privacy issues. In addition, I have posted a question for users on the forums with a link to this article.

Original story follows.



Amid growing concerns about VOIP security, one ViaTalk customer was horrified to discover that his private phone records had been forwarded to a stranger.

In an exclusive interview, Bill Adler, President of Adler & Robin Books, Inc. in Washington, D.C. told NowPublic that approximately a month’s worth of phone records had wound up in the hands of another user. The security and privacy breach came, Adler said, when his temporary ViaTalk number was transferred to a new customer.

“This is outrageous. There’s nothing more sensitive for a business or person than their phone records,” Adler said. “Fortunately, the new user is an honorable person who called us.”

Adler’s office manager, Jeanne Welch, contacted ViaTalk customer service after the new user called them with the news he had their phone records. Welch was told that phone records transfer with temporary phone numbers when they are reassigned, Adler said.

This leads to another major question: can this security breach become a daisy chain, with successive users receiving others’ records? Adler said that possibility wasn’t addressed during conversations with Customer Service.

“I can’t believe their system allows this to happen. This is very sensitive information. This was so bizarre that at first we didn’t want to believe it,” Adler said.

VOIP transmissions have been the center of numerous security privacy concerns. In March,
TJX admitted that hackers had stolen more than 45 million credit and debit card numbers.

>Other security issues revolve around DoS attacks, spit (spam over internet telephony) & fraud, according to writer Anthony Plewes. The security group Voice Over IP Security Alliance (VOIPSA) has published numerous papers and articles about the challenges of VOIP security and privacy.

ViaTalk’s website says that the company offers a password protection system for phone logs. However, Adler pointed out, any passwords would no longer apply to the account once the number was assigned to a new user.

“Regardless of anything else, what’s done is done. My business and personal phone records were released to a stranger. This does not meet minimum standards,” Adler declared.

ViaTalk’s parent company, HostRocket, was co-founded in 1999 by whiz kid Brendan Brader right after graduating from high school. Recently named to New York’s “Tech Valley Top 10” list, Brader has not yet replied to NowPublic inquiries about the incident.

Robot Love & a Guck Named Hal: Roomba Owners Bond

I wonder how many Roomba owners name their robot cleaners "Robbie"? Isaac Asimov foresaw the potential bond between robots and humans in his series of stories "I, Robot," but somehow, attachment to a round little cleaning device seems well, a digital click beyond.

Then again, I now have a new-generation Roomba, made by iRobot. As the story points out, people have forgiven earlier models that died (as mine did). I haven't yet tried my new Roomba because the floor had some doggie hair dust bunnies that needed to be cleaned up first.

And I didn't want to glom up the works of my new robot. You know. It's all bright and clean and shiny.

Research shows that Roomba owners have named their little cleaning robots. Others have created costumes for their Roomba pal.

In fact, Roomba has led to a thriving business enterprise for some kids who just wanted to make Mom a unique present. Now myRoomBud is up and running as a model of creative business enterprise.

The myRoomBud kids have created a Second Life Roomba experience. Their froggie costume appears in a Tech Blog ranking of the top Roomba hacks. They also have a Dashboard for Roombas with bluetooth interface that allows owners to have conversations with their Roomba via voice synthesis programming.

This story now leads me to ponder--I've repeatedly named my computers (except, ironically, this Dell desktop that seems to be establishing a career of crashing). I've said "good morning" to Kirk, and bid a sweet "good night" to Picard.

Am I now destined to name my Roomba? Frankly, I'm too busy. I have to dress my guck (a bird statue that looks like a goose and a duck combined) in his Halloween costume and get him out on the front porch.

Hal, my guck, has a series of outfits for special occasions. It's time for the witchy ensemble, after which it's "dress up as a turkey" time.

Hal recently had a horrible accident when yard workers knocked him over, and, he took a nasty fall. However, thanks to some great glue, and convalescent time, his neck is nicely healed, although there's still a tiny hole in his head. The ensemble hats should cover the hole up, I hope.

What were we talking about? Oh yes. Thanks for reminding me. People who actually name their Roomba robotic vacuum cleaners and dress them up. Can you imagine? Then again, those froggie and ladybug costumes look awfully cute.


From FoxNews, a glimpse into a Georgia Tech study on Roombas and their human partners.

People give them nicknames, worry when they signal for help and sometimes even treat them like trusted pets.

A newly released Georgia Tech study shows that some Roomba owners become deeply attached to the robotic vacuums and suggests there's a measure of public readiness to accept additional robots in the house — even flawed ones.

"They're more willing to work with a robot that does have issues because they really, really like it," said Beki Grinter, an associate professor at the school's College of Computing. "It sort of begins to address more concerns: If we can design things that are somewhat emotionally engaging, it doesn't have to be as reliable."[/p]

Lab mix-up leads to wrongful double mastectomy

More and more, health care is becoming more a matter of "let the consumer beware" than actual medical care and concern. In this case, a lab tech reportedly "cut corners" in sampling techniques, and a 35-year-old woman underwent a double mastectomy, praying to live through a deadly cancer--that she didn't have.


When she heard the diagnosis of invasive lobular carcinoma, Darrie Eason had but one thought: Please don't let me die.


Four months and a double mastectomy later, doctors told Eason that her tissue sample had been mislabeled, and that she never had cancer.


"I didn't know what to believe," said Eason, a 35-year-old single mother from Long Beach. "They told me I had cancer and now they're telling me I didn't. I didn't know if the next day they were going to call me and say, 'Sorry, we made a mistake, you really do have cancer.'"



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Tuesday, October 2, 2007

From "Hot" to "Not", Some Cars Now Out of the Hit Parade

Ah, cars. I have to admit that I love them. If I could, I'd have a garage of cars, including a 1939 roadster with a rumble seat.



Americans do have love affairs with cars, but sometimes, we're fickle. Writer Tom Wilson gives us a list of formerly hot, hot cars that now are definitely chilled.

Among them: the Hummer. Unless you're looking for a small war to tool through, I'm not sure why a Hummer was ever a great idea.

Good news for me though--the Ford Mustang remains, as always, on the "hot" list. That makes me want to get busy and get mine (bright red, of course) out of the garage. A thorough cleaning, a beauty makeover, and a bit of engine work too.

Definitely time for a winter project--get the hot wheels rolling again!


Hot when it first landed, thanks to a shift in the environmental winds the Hummer H2 is now the redneck's parade float.


Click to enlarge


by Tom Wilson


In the automotive fashion cycle, some cars go from hero-to-zero faster than junior-high socialites.



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Monday, October 1, 2007

University of Memphis Closed After Football Player Shot Sunday Night

Classes at the University of Memphis have been canceled Monday after a football player was fatally shot late Sunday night on the school's campus.


Taylor Bradford, 21, of Nashville was shot in the chest and pronounced dead a short time later at the Regional Medical Center. The school newspaper, the Daily Helmsman, identified the victim.



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Firms Brace for Crackdown on Illegal Labor

Will businesses actually be held accountable when they hire illegal aliens? This lawsuit has the AFL-CIO and other groups fighting what they say can be discrimination, but also adds the additional layer of employer responsibility.


As a crucial hearing looms on a planned government crackdown on illegal immigrants in the workplace, many businesses are scrambling to figure out how they will cope with an expected loss of illegal labor.


A U.S. district court in San Francisco could decide as early as today whether the Social Security Administration can send out thousands of "no match" letters to employers whose workers' names don't jibe with their Social Security numbers. The notices would be accompanied by letters from the Department of Homeland Security outlining new penalties for hiring undocumented workers.



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Eating Dark Chocolate May Help With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

This one could be filed under "happy news, very happy news"--yet another way that chocolate is good for you. This time, British researchers have demonstrated that eating dark chocolate helps those with chronic fatigue syndrome feel better.



Earlier research has indicated several health benefits from eating chocolate, including the lowering of blood pressure and cutting the risk of blood clots. There's another benefit from chocolate as well: the earning of brownie points with special women by gifting really fine chocolate.




A daily dose of dark chocolate may help reduce the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome, say UK researchers.


Patients in a pilot study found they had less fatigue when eating dark chocolate with a high cocoa content than with white chocolate dyed brown.


The researchers from Hull York Medical School said the results were surprising but dark chocolate may be having an effect on the brain chemical serotonin.



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Woman Runs Over Her Own Legs in McDonald's Drive-Through

This is definitely a weird story. From what's here, I'd guess that she was leaning out of her car to pick up something she'd dropped (change?), fell out, and the car kept moving.



Just a guess, folks. But what about seat belts? This story is definitely strange.


The Phoenixville Police Department is investigating a freak accident in which a borough woman ran over both of her legs in the drive-through lane at McDonald’s, 651 Nutt Rd., Friday afternoon.


According to Cpl. Pat Mark, a black Chevrolet Blazer, driven by a 53-year-old borough woman, was in the drive-thru lane at McDonald’s around 1:55 p.m. September 28.


“For some unknown reason, her legs were run over by her vehicle,” said Mark. “We are investigating how this accident could’ve happened.”



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Sunday, September 30, 2007

Tortured to Death in Mexico: The Fate of American Horses Sold To Slaughter

Be forewarned--this story is graphic. The everyday cruelty dealt out to horses who are bought by horse traders for sale to slaughter houses is appalling.


he American mare swung her head frantically when the door to the kill box shut, trapping her inside. A worker jabbed her in the back with a small knife seven, eight, nine times.


Eyes wild, she lowered her head and raised it as the blade punctured her body around the withers, again and again.


At the 10th jab, she fell to the floor of this Mexican slaughterhouse, bloodied and paralyzed but not yet dead.


She would lie there two minutes before being hoisted upside down from a chained rear leg so her throat could be slit and she could bleed to death.


The primitive procedure at the Ciudad Juarez plant is now the fate of thousands of exported U.S. horses since court rulings have shut horse slaughter operations in the United States.


The roan mare was one of nearly 30,000 American horses shipped to Mexican processing plants this year, a 370 percent increase from the number recorded this time last year.


By the time she and her peers were led into this city-owned plant, they had typically traveled in packed trucks 700 miles or more, say the American traders who ship them.



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