I have to print a retraction. My last post announcing a NEW VIRUS was the result of a bet I had with a fellow Security Specialist. He bet me that people (Users) never read Security warnings. In spite of the fact that I put the punch line in bold red letters, everyone assumed I had infected my own computer with an email virus.
I was so sure he was wrong, that I accepted the bet and wagered that someone would notice it. The deal was if Kevin was right; I would post no more security alerts.
Kevin was right. No one noticed. And some even sent condolences.
I APOLOGIZE TO EVERYONE FOR BORING YOU WITH SECURITY INFO. I ALSO APPOLOGIZE TO THE GREAT FOLKS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE OR UNDUE ALARM THE LAST POST MAY HAVE CAUSED. I NEVER MEANT TO SULLY YOUR REPUTATION.
From here on out I will confine my posts to topics of popular interest.
Thank you for putting up with it.
AMERICA
ONE NATION UNDER GOD!
Monday, February 8, 2010
A new virus
I may be off line for awhile. I got a new strain of an email virus. It was from someone I had never heard of. But curiosity got the better of me and I opened and read it anyway. Now I have a lot of work to do. But I wanted to warn all of you before I go off-line.
The message came from some guy in Italy! And was relayed through several open SMTP Relay systems. How he got my Email address is still a mystery. And I may never discover the truth.
This is a very clever, yet very sinister and devastating virus. I hope I can get this posted before my system is destroyed. Let me give you the particulars!
The subject line reads: UofA Virus!
The message looks like this:
I have a lot of work to do now. I'll be back after I format my hard drive and reload my O/S and send that angry message. And if you get an email from me, with UofA Virus! in the subject line. DON'T OPEN IT!
=)
The message came from some guy in Italy! And was relayed through several open SMTP Relay systems. How he got my Email address is still a mystery. And I may never discover the truth.
This is a very clever, yet very sinister and devastating virus. I hope I can get this posted before my system is destroyed. Let me give you the particulars!
The subject line reads: UofA Virus!
The message looks like this:
___________________________________________
===========================================
To: Whom It May Concern.
From: Computer Science Lab, University Of Alabama
Subj: University Of Alabama Virus
Dear Sir or Maam,
Due to the current economic crises in our nation. And in Alabama in particular. We, at the UofA, have suffered severe budgetary cutbacks and have lost funding for software purchases needed to continue teaching our students in the Computer Science program, the skills needed to become effective software programmers in the ever increasing world of instant information. We are proud of our institution. And we have tried everything imaginable to keep our funding. But our complaints have fallen on deaf ears. So we have resorted to this last ditch effort to gain attention to our plight.
We wanted to write an email borne virus and unleash it on the world. Within a matter of a few weeks the entire world would be infected and know of our situation. Then the Board of Regents would be forced to restore our funding. Our virus will reach your inbox. And once you open it. The code will become active, and it will do the following:
1. Search the contents of your system to be sure you haven't already been infected.
2. Then the UofA virus will load an SMTP Email server on you PC. And forward a copy of itself to everyone in your Address Book. After that, the UofA Virus will
3. format your primary hard drive, essentially destroying all contents and then reboot to a black screen that says ""
At that point you would have to reload your operating system and all of your programs. But, once you are done with that, you would be angry enough to send an email to our school: Department Of Computer Sciences and Technology. And once the Regents get enough scathing emails they would have no choice but to cave to the pressure and restore our funding.
That is why you have received this message. But since we have no software to write such a virus we are depending on you and your honesty to support our efforts. You are honor bound to follow these steps;
1. Send a copy of this email to everyone listed in your Address Book.
2. Format your Hard Drive.
3. Reload Operating System and all Programs.
4. Send a really scathing email to the Dean of The UofA School of Technology. And be very angry when you do it.
Respectfully,
Name withheld to prevent prosecution.
===========================================
___________________________________________
I have a lot of work to do now. I'll be back after I format my hard drive and reload my O/S and send that angry message. And if you get an email from me, with UofA Virus! in the subject line. DON'T OPEN IT!
=)
Saturday, February 6, 2010
MOVIE CALL...
What is your favorite movie? It depends on your definition of Favorite! Is it something that moves your emotions? LOVE STORY. OF MICE AND MEN. THE GREEN MILE. A TIME TO KILL. MISSISSIPPI BURNING. APOCALYPSE NOW! GRAN TORINO.
Is it a Thriller, Chiller? HOUSE. THE SHINNING. THE HOWLING. FRANKENSTEIN. DRACULA. NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD. TWILIGHT ZONE. LET THE RIGHT ONE IN. ERASERHEAD.
A Comedy? ROXANNE. UNCLE BUCK. FATHER OF THE BRIDE. THE OUT-OF-TOWNERS. LIAR LIAR. NAKED GUN. THE TRUMAN SHOW. THE LAST REMAKE OF BEAU GESTE.
A Gore fest? PSYCHO. BLOODY BUTCHERS. HALLOWEEN. FRIDAY THE THIRTEENTH. NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET. NO COUNTY FOR OLD MEN.
Sci-fi? FORBIDDEN PLANET. 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY. STARSHIP TROOPERS. STAR WARS. STAR TREK. ROBOCOP. KILLER CLOWNS FROM OUTER SPACE.
Westerns? A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS. ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST. COWBOYS. THE SHOOTIST. UNFORGIVEN. HIGH NOON. A MAN CALLED HORSE. HANG 'EM HIGH.
War Flick? PATTON. THE GUNS OF NAVARONE. WHERE EAGLES DARE. THE DIRTY DOZEN. INGLORIOUS BASTARDS. THE GREAT ESCAPE. THE BRIDGE OVER THE RIVER KWAI. THE HIGHEST HONOR. GALLIPOLI. MERRY CHRISTMAS MR. LAWRENCE.
Swords and Sorcery? CONAN. THE BEAST MASTER. EXCALIBUR. QUEST FOR FIRE. 10,000 B.C.
Is it the one movie you shared with a special friend? A movie you have seen over and over and over and over... Well you get the idea.
Is this too specific? Then allow me to ask: What is your favorite movie genre?
You are not limited to the selections I mentioned above.I promise not to psycho-analyze your choice. I just want to know you better.
Is it a Thriller, Chiller? HOUSE. THE SHINNING. THE HOWLING. FRANKENSTEIN. DRACULA. NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD. TWILIGHT ZONE. LET THE RIGHT ONE IN. ERASERHEAD.
A Comedy? ROXANNE. UNCLE BUCK. FATHER OF THE BRIDE. THE OUT-OF-TOWNERS. LIAR LIAR. NAKED GUN. THE TRUMAN SHOW. THE LAST REMAKE OF BEAU GESTE.
A Gore fest? PSYCHO. BLOODY BUTCHERS. HALLOWEEN. FRIDAY THE THIRTEENTH. NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET. NO COUNTY FOR OLD MEN.
Sci-fi? FORBIDDEN PLANET. 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY. STARSHIP TROOPERS. STAR WARS. STAR TREK. ROBOCOP. KILLER CLOWNS FROM OUTER SPACE.
Westerns? A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS. ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST. COWBOYS. THE SHOOTIST. UNFORGIVEN. HIGH NOON. A MAN CALLED HORSE. HANG 'EM HIGH.
War Flick? PATTON. THE GUNS OF NAVARONE. WHERE EAGLES DARE. THE DIRTY DOZEN. INGLORIOUS BASTARDS. THE GREAT ESCAPE. THE BRIDGE OVER THE RIVER KWAI. THE HIGHEST HONOR. GALLIPOLI. MERRY CHRISTMAS MR. LAWRENCE.
Swords and Sorcery? CONAN. THE BEAST MASTER. EXCALIBUR. QUEST FOR FIRE. 10,000 B.C.
Is it the one movie you shared with a special friend? A movie you have seen over and over and over and over... Well you get the idea.
Is this too specific? Then allow me to ask: What is your favorite movie genre?
You are not limited to the selections I mentioned above.I promise not to psycho-analyze your choice. I just want to know you better.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Going "OLD SCHOOL"
Thirty years ago people met each other face to face. Every encounter was based on chance. Maybe you set out to meet someone. Or finding a friend may have been the furthest thing from your mind. It could have happened anywhere. A church, school, the library, a grocery store, a gym, the 7/11, a bar or coffee shop, at work, a bowling alley, walking down the street, at a red-light or any combination of these would make a great first meeting place. Internet dating sites have tried to become the new "MEETING PLACE." But all they have really done is to take the leg-work out of running into someone. But again somethings never change. How well do you really know someone? If you meet someone today who interests you.Their background is only a couple of mouse clicks away. Regardless of how you met them! Are they married? Divorced? A convict? Do you have Mr. Rogers or Jeffery Dahmer standing in your doorway?
Well, back in the day your dilemma was just as serious. But the age of instant information was still relegated to the realms of future technology, and God. There was an interesting person in my life. Yet I really knew nothing about her. She worked at the MWR (Morale, Welfare and Recreation) Office on base. That's where I met her, when I was buying tickets to a movie. She was drop-dead gorgeous. Tall, 5'10", slim, long blond hair, with the most amazing chocolate brown eyes I had ever seen. And her voice was smother than turtle fur. Soft and gentle like a whispered secret. And when she smiled her entire face was involved. And the whole room brightened. It felt good in my heart just to look at her. With the addition of that satin smooth voice and her bedazzling smile, I was tangled in her. After I paid for my tickets and left the MWR, She was all I could think of. This episode in my life could have been the basis for almost any Romantic Comedy. I was completely smitten. But she barely noticed me. I was just one of a thousand sailors at the MWR Ticket window that day. And she must hear some of the best pick-up lines ever uttered. I heard three just waiting my turn in line that day. This feeling was new to me. These feelings of ??? Love? Lust? Infatuation? I didn't have a name for this feeling. I had never felt exactly this way before. The closest thing like this was the adrenalin buzz I got just before a fight. Heart rate accelerated. Breathing shallower. Stomach full of wasps. Vision focused to the extreme. Total concentration on the person in front of me. This usually ended with someone bleeding on the floor. And on more than one occasion it was me. If any man tells you "I never lost a fight." Feel free to blow the whistle and throw a penalty flag.
DDRRREEETTT! "Offensive foul! Unnecessary BS. 15 yards and a loss of down. One more of those and you're out of the game."
Well as it turned out. I found several movies I needed tickets for that required me to return to MWR. But now I only bought them one show at a time. So that way I had to be there for almost everyday at lunch time. I have always been a fan of going to see movies. And my tastes in cinema were very eclectic to say the least. And there was always something playing somewhere in town that I wanted to see. I won't bore you with the details of my endeavors to meet and marry this tenderhearted beauty. So I skip ahead a few months. And I'm standing in the living room of her apartment. The room is modestly furnished. A small sofa and matching chair at one wall. With a small dark wood coffee table in front of the sofa. A set of coasters sat idle on one corer of the table. The table had no scratches or foot marks on it. A small portable TV (24 in) atop a small hardwood table directly across from the couch. Three feet to the right of the TV was a bookcase. It was homemade. Decorative cinderblocks, with white pine 1x14" planks stacked to form 5 shelves. The carpet was unworn and unstained. The room was immaculate. No clutter. No dust. Like a set of Dress Whites, standing by for Admiral's Inspection. Even the books were dressed to the front edge of the shelves. This room spoke volumes about the person who lived here. Neat. Organized. Meticulous attention to fine detail. Not big on entertaining crowds. But warm and friendly. Not cold and sterile.
Was I standing in the room of Laura Petrie or Lizzy Borden? The Information Super-Highway had not been invented by Al Gore yet. Tartar sauce, IBM hadn't even invented the PC yet. So my best bet was to take a look at the bookcase. So I asked "May I look at your books?" You can tell a lot about a person by the books they own. But not if you are not well read yourself. Otherwise you may as well be standing in front of the magazine rack at the local Eckerd's Drug Store. I have been an insatiable reader since age 5. So when she said "Sure." I began my inquisition.
The were a couple versions of "The Holy Bible" No problem. I wasn't a believer. But I was familiar with the story. There were a dozen or so Agatha Christie Murder Mysteries. Some of the classics and a couple Dean Koontz novels. There were some by a relatively new author named Stephen King. And on the bottom shelf was a gathering of college level text books. I will never forget the title of the one on the far right of the shelf. It stunned me. The title itself was a paradox. "Elementary Principles Of Multi-Variable Calculus." I didn't know there was anything elementary about the principles of Calculus.
The books spoke of an educated, intelligent, inspired and analytical person. But since the books were not in alphabetical order, she was organized. But not compulsive. She had nothing from the SCI-Fi genre. No Heinlein. No Asimov. No HG Wells. No Arther C. Clark. She had nothing by my all time favorite fantasy author JRR Tolkien. But she had some fantasy novels I had never read. By an author I had heard of and who was a friend and contemporary of Tolkien, named CS Lewis. So it looked like she was a keeper. And I just proof read this to her.
Well, back in the day your dilemma was just as serious. But the age of instant information was still relegated to the realms of future technology, and God. There was an interesting person in my life. Yet I really knew nothing about her. She worked at the MWR (Morale, Welfare and Recreation) Office on base. That's where I met her, when I was buying tickets to a movie. She was drop-dead gorgeous. Tall, 5'10", slim, long blond hair, with the most amazing chocolate brown eyes I had ever seen. And her voice was smother than turtle fur. Soft and gentle like a whispered secret. And when she smiled her entire face was involved. And the whole room brightened. It felt good in my heart just to look at her. With the addition of that satin smooth voice and her bedazzling smile, I was tangled in her. After I paid for my tickets and left the MWR, She was all I could think of. This episode in my life could have been the basis for almost any Romantic Comedy. I was completely smitten. But she barely noticed me. I was just one of a thousand sailors at the MWR Ticket window that day. And she must hear some of the best pick-up lines ever uttered. I heard three just waiting my turn in line that day. This feeling was new to me. These feelings of ??? Love? Lust? Infatuation? I didn't have a name for this feeling. I had never felt exactly this way before. The closest thing like this was the adrenalin buzz I got just before a fight. Heart rate accelerated. Breathing shallower. Stomach full of wasps. Vision focused to the extreme. Total concentration on the person in front of me. This usually ended with someone bleeding on the floor. And on more than one occasion it was me. If any man tells you "I never lost a fight." Feel free to blow the whistle and throw a penalty flag.
DDRRREEETTT! "Offensive foul! Unnecessary BS. 15 yards and a loss of down. One more of those and you're out of the game."
Well as it turned out. I found several movies I needed tickets for that required me to return to MWR. But now I only bought them one show at a time. So that way I had to be there for almost everyday at lunch time. I have always been a fan of going to see movies. And my tastes in cinema were very eclectic to say the least. And there was always something playing somewhere in town that I wanted to see. I won't bore you with the details of my endeavors to meet and marry this tenderhearted beauty. So I skip ahead a few months. And I'm standing in the living room of her apartment. The room is modestly furnished. A small sofa and matching chair at one wall. With a small dark wood coffee table in front of the sofa. A set of coasters sat idle on one corer of the table. The table had no scratches or foot marks on it. A small portable TV (24 in) atop a small hardwood table directly across from the couch. Three feet to the right of the TV was a bookcase. It was homemade. Decorative cinderblocks, with white pine 1x14" planks stacked to form 5 shelves. The carpet was unworn and unstained. The room was immaculate. No clutter. No dust. Like a set of Dress Whites, standing by for Admiral's Inspection. Even the books were dressed to the front edge of the shelves. This room spoke volumes about the person who lived here. Neat. Organized. Meticulous attention to fine detail. Not big on entertaining crowds. But warm and friendly. Not cold and sterile.
Was I standing in the room of Laura Petrie or Lizzy Borden? The Information Super-Highway had not been invented by Al Gore yet. Tartar sauce, IBM hadn't even invented the PC yet. So my best bet was to take a look at the bookcase. So I asked "May I look at your books?" You can tell a lot about a person by the books they own. But not if you are not well read yourself. Otherwise you may as well be standing in front of the magazine rack at the local Eckerd's Drug Store. I have been an insatiable reader since age 5. So when she said "Sure." I began my inquisition.
The were a couple versions of "The Holy Bible" No problem. I wasn't a believer. But I was familiar with the story. There were a dozen or so Agatha Christie Murder Mysteries. Some of the classics and a couple Dean Koontz novels. There were some by a relatively new author named Stephen King. And on the bottom shelf was a gathering of college level text books. I will never forget the title of the one on the far right of the shelf. It stunned me. The title itself was a paradox. "Elementary Principles Of Multi-Variable Calculus." I didn't know there was anything elementary about the principles of Calculus.
The books spoke of an educated, intelligent, inspired and analytical person. But since the books were not in alphabetical order, she was organized. But not compulsive. She had nothing from the SCI-Fi genre. No Heinlein. No Asimov. No HG Wells. No Arther C. Clark. She had nothing by my all time favorite fantasy author JRR Tolkien. But she had some fantasy novels I had never read. By an author I had heard of and who was a friend and contemporary of Tolkien, named CS Lewis. So it looked like she was a keeper. And I just proof read this to her.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Awards Day...
Today is AWARDS DAY!
The following persons are being awarded the KrippledWarrior's HEART OF GOLD.
Blasé of: My Game. It's your move.
UBERMOUTH of: UBERMOUTH RETURNS
Chatty Kelly of: Always learning. Sometimes teaching.
Ms. Anthropy of: MS. ANTHROPY
Edie of: Rich Gifts
My ADHD Me of: Monkeys are funny
For actions set out in the following citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of Ridicule and being accused of Association with a bad element, did on or about 24-31 January 2010, render aid and assistance to a wounded sentinel in a time of severe trauma and prolonged attack by enemy forces. The Sentinel, who was here-to-fore unknown by these brave people, was under continuous harassing fire and had sustained heavy casualties. Upon hearing the firefight in progress, the group of bloggers dropped all personal business, and sent much needed words of encouragement, that led to a regrouping and strengthening of fortifications, which raised the spirits and morale of those afflicted. Their acts were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Blog-O-Sphere and reflect great credit upon themselves and the Blog-O-Sphere in general. Additionally all aforementioned persons are meritoriously advanced to the rank of Chief Petty Officer, in the KW Navy.
Respectfully,
KrippledWarrior
Comander CivPacFlt KW Navy
LADIES AND GENTLEMAN, Here is your Heart of Gold:
The following persons are being awarded the KrippledWarrior's HEART OF GOLD.
Blasé of: My Game. It's your move.
UBERMOUTH of: UBERMOUTH RETURNS
Chatty Kelly of: Always learning. Sometimes teaching.
Ms. Anthropy of: MS. ANTHROPY
Edie of: Rich Gifts
My ADHD Me of: Monkeys are funny
For actions set out in the following citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of Ridicule and being accused of Association with a bad element, did on or about 24-31 January 2010, render aid and assistance to a wounded sentinel in a time of severe trauma and prolonged attack by enemy forces. The Sentinel, who was here-to-fore unknown by these brave people, was under continuous harassing fire and had sustained heavy casualties. Upon hearing the firefight in progress, the group of bloggers dropped all personal business, and sent much needed words of encouragement, that led to a regrouping and strengthening of fortifications, which raised the spirits and morale of those afflicted. Their acts were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Blog-O-Sphere and reflect great credit upon themselves and the Blog-O-Sphere in general. Additionally all aforementioned persons are meritoriously advanced to the rank of Chief Petty Officer, in the KW Navy.
Respectfully,
KrippledWarrior
Comander CivPacFlt KW Navy
LADIES AND GENTLEMAN, Here is your Heart of Gold:
And here is your rank insignia:
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