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Monthly Archives: August 2006

MS06-040 Patch a trojan horse for NSA

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When the Department of Homeland Security pushes so hard for everyone to patch a Microsoft security hole, I get suspicious as in here; DHS Recommends Security Patch to Protect Against a Vulnerability Found In Windows Operating Systems

If the patch can prevent this problem;

if exploited, could enable an attacker to remotely take control of an affected system and install programs, view, change, or delete data, and create new accounts with full user rights.

Couldn’t this patch also enable such a ‘backdoor’ as well? Wouldn’t that be such a nice gift for all the nice people in the NSA, CIA, FBI and of course DHS. 😉

Another Clueless Republican

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This a good article why the republicans are not only clueless about what democracy is, but are actively hostile to it’s true intent. In the article Demeaning Democracy Mr. Kennedy describes the republicans in exactly the same terms as I’ve used in past posting here.

Cheney and his crowd are all for free and open elections – as long as they turn out their way. They are all for free speech – provided it supports the administration.

And I’m glad that other people can see as clearly as I, what despicable langers the republicans are.

What are we loosing, when terrorist assault air travel

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I’ve been thinking too much lately, and I can’t help but think that the use of airplanes in terrorist plots have a deeper significance, or not, you decide.

One element of Islamic reaction is a more or less a conservative reaction that even conservatives in the west can identify. One of the greatest features of the western world is mobility, most dramatically represented by air-travel and airplanes. One of the most active agents in change is mobility. Change in a culture that suppresses individual initiatives and freedoms, in favor of religious dogma and enforced religious rituals would have to resist any mixing of ideas and people, mobility is the enemy. This is exactly the same for both the west and islam. The funny thing is neither side understands this. And reacting to this, or even trying to prevent this mingling of cultures is the one change in the world that neither side can prevent.

What it means to us, the public who have to live in the real world, and not some religious fantasy of a pure ethnic nirvana. Is that all the elements that make our modern world work are under attack in the misbegotten belief that change can be stopped. The one thing the rest of us can do, remove the conservative fanatics on both sides of the equation.

What means is that the West and Islamic moderates will have to eliminate their respective far right fundamentalists from positions of power. And start talking to their opposite number.

Solar Maximum and Global warming

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There may be a glimmer of hope, a slim one, and I can’t say for sure. But as we approach Solar Minimum, the effects of global warming are amplified by the increased intensity of solar thermal output. This current minimum is estimated to be 2007. Minimum Sunspots, maximum thermal output. After 2007 the sun spot activity increases to Solar Maximum So there is hope that global warming will slow down after 2007.
More here. Sun’s Output Increasing in Possible Trend Fueling Global Warming

Outsourcing motovation.

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I was thinking about outsourcing again, and the subject of what benefit to the business results from outsourcing. As there are no costs saving for outsourcing the actual work, another reason had to be found, Pensions! News articles like; Are Pensions the Next Fiscal Crisis? and Whoops! There Goes Another Pension Plan have illuminated the chief benefit of outsourcing, the elimination of pensions. Many companies are more and more eliminating pensions in the form of contributions to 401K plans which do not need long term funding, many companies have been underfunding their pensions so long now that anyone approaching pension age should be leery of ever cashing in on one, at least without legal council. This has become the new cheat in hiring practice, promise a pension, then don’t deliver it. Or better, use the pension scheme as a tax free slush fund, then don’t deliver.

As a cautionary warning, if a big company offers you a pension, ask for cash, or have the money placed into a personal 401K or private pension fund. there is no sense trusting a company to look after their employees, that’s history.

Do you feel safe with Bush?

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What is it with George, he can’t even speak two cohesive sentences during a press conference. Do you feel safe with him at the controls? Even though Bush is the worst president in history, he still has the job, and should be doing it. Instead he resorts to politics and tired, tired, talking points. Complete incompetence should result in his impeachment and removal from office. What more do people need, another disaster at his and the republican’s hands? It was the British, not The Homeland Security who caught this. If he wants to be remembered and judged by history, this is his chance. I’m afraid he’s going to blow it.

Anti-War is NOT Anti-Security

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The republicans are afraid and are attacking the democrats on the false point that being Anti Iraq War is the same as being Anti Security.

The attacks came as Republicans are openly alarmed that their party seems to be heading for big losses this November. Republican polling has also said that national security is the most effective issue Republicans have to motivate the most loyal voters in their party.

I think most americans are waking up to the fact that the Iraq war is creating LESS Security not more, and that the Bush and GOP Congress are to blame for the growing feelings of insecurity.

Anti-War is not Anti-Security

A new policy, a tactical and practical policy to deal with terrorism is necessary, and the current Congress, and Executive Branch are not competent to carry out such an improved War on Terrorism. Time to throw out the Incumbents and replace them with better people, Lieberman is just the first.

Irish Labor party

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I’ve had to add a category to my links, as, to my amazement a Labor Party politician has actually read and commented on one of my posts. So now I have ‘Irish Politicians’ as a category, and Seamus Ryan the first on the list.

I also did a perusal around his blog site, and that of many other Labor Party members blogs, and I’m impressed with the style they have standardized on, very nice.

Here’s hoping they help throw out Fianna Fáil at the next election.

Frightened GOP going after democratic new blood.

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It looks like Martin Peretz is the new attack dog for the failing GOP Neo-Cons as his new piece Lieberman is making like new democratic contender, Ned Lamont is just a child and the voters should continue to support a loser like Lieberman. but he comes off looking like a paranoid republican. That can only enhance Lamont’s chances at winning the primary, a problem the GOP does not want to face in november. Losing the GOP lapdog Lieberman would be a serious blow to the Neo-Cons and I’m looking forward to november even more now that Lieberman is nearly gone. Lets hope the GOP haven’t fixed this primary election outcome.

UPDATE: Well it looks like we have new blood, Lamont has a shot at being in Congress. I hope this scares the hell out of all the incumbents in the House and Senate.

9/11 education lacking in both Islam and the West

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The Sunday Times had an interesting article that indicates that a majority of Muslims in the U.K. believe that there was a U.S. conspiracy that led to the attack of 9/11 and that is was not a Muslim attack. But these same people believe that muslims bombing the U.K. on 7th, was a necessary reaction to the U.K. in Iraq. There seams to be a serious conflict in this thinking. Mind you the information from the hearings on 9/11 held in the U.S. were at best suspect. But there is also the same beliefs in the U.S..

Fundamentally the real issue is education, and the lack of any clear information from any of the governments involved combined with the press who have been negligent in investigating and reporting the real truth. Communications seems to be the tool of the war maker. Communicating the facts may be the only way to halt this relentless move by both the Islamic and Christian fanatics towards a war that is meaningless. But in the face of things from both sides of the conflict, transparency is the one thing that neither will allow, a transparency born of honest and direct communications. Both sides believe that manipulation of the media will some how grant them righteousness where none exists.

Truly we are entering a new dark age, where both religions twist the truth to enforce secular control of people by clouding the mind and poisoning communications.

Bush to stand trial for war crimes.

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Not that it’s for real but it may have to become a reality for the United States to regain the trust and respect of the world.

Bush will have to be impeached and stand trial for beginning a war with Iraq for personal gain, violations of the U.S. Constitution, Geneva Conventions and any other treaties that may have been violated including the illegal renditions through Irish and any other country who’s sovereignty may have been violated.

At this stage I don’t see any other path to restoring respect for the U.S.

If you are of a different mindset, please comment, but I’ll bet you will be hard pressed to come up with a better way. Please don’t use the tired 9/11 issue as it really has no bearing on the incompetent GOP Neo-Con government who has squandered world respect for short term oil profits, corruption and criminal disrespect of their own citizens, let alone the world at large.

Cuba, and Bush’s Democracy

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In a world where Bush calls the U.S. Constitution “a goddamned piece of paper!”. When Bush calls for democracy in Cuba and assumes that any constitution is worthless, doesn’t he just define the Cuban government? Isn’t he wishful that he too, wants to be the autocrat of the world? Emperor George the first? Isn’t it amazing when Rice broadcast dismissed by Cuba is taken with surprise. While the Cubans are hardly free, or in many cases well informed. They are still aware of the nature of Bush regime, and believe they are better off where they are.

The Bush Democratic machine is a sham when they claim to support democracy, then withdraw support when Hamas wins an election, when one democracy, attacks another democracy in the the form of Lebanon vs Israel. When they support Egyptians voting for a one party candidate and call it democracy, but condemn it when the same vote happened for Saddam before they attacked them.

Bush and is followers do not have any concept of democracy, freedom or liberty, and never will. They continue to twist the meaning to one that supports them, and only them in power.

Meaningless words do not make a democracy. A constitution, made of laws which apply to everyone, and a government that is held to those laws which protect the rights of citizens of that country makes a democracy. And when Bush is finally held accountable for those violations of the U.S. Constitution, then we will have democracy.

Swamp Demonstration in Cork

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The City of Cork is having a demonstration of how swamps are produced in Fitzgerald’s Park in Cork this week.

Mind you, I don’t think that was their intention, but with the fountain out of commission there is no oxygenation of the pond, and hence the algae are killing the pond and creating a wonderful swamp.