A good time, this lull between Christmas and New Year’s, to tidy up the old email inbox, phone messages, and court summonses and find out what’s on your minds.
First of all, best of the season to all. And, in the spirit of inclusion, I urge this wish with equal feeling upon all my fellow beings, be ye Regular, Oily or Dry and Damaged. I know. That’s large-minded of me but I’ve always been the kind who sees beyond the shampoo category to the human being inside. Oh, here, take my hanky.
Second, thanks to every one of you who has read this column over the past year, even if only to find the secret coded messages that some believe are encrypted in it, possibly holding the answer to the European debt crisis as well as up-to-the-minute traffic updates and chess tips.
Several of you commented on last week’s column about Audrey Traini’s painting, for which I modelled as the Hatter figure in her tea party tableau. It hung in the Louvre in Paris for four days earlier in December.
Among the remarks, John Henley’s taught me something I never knew.
“Now here is the bone of contention,” writes John. “There is NO character called the Mad Hatter.
“Why do I know this? Because I had a company in the U.K. and I wanted to call it Mad Hatter Jokes and Tricks but didn’t want to run afoul of copyright laws so I actually went to an exhibition of Lewis Carroll books and was allowed to look through a first edition of Alice in Wonderland.
“There is the Hatter but absolutely NO Mad Hatter. People have spliced Mad as a Hatter or Mad March Hare onto the original name, but, as a character, the Hatter is just that, the Hatter. So, in the nicest possible way, please accept this email as an update.
“Other than that, Jeff, I love the picture.”
Some of you asked what you could do to help with Robin McKee’s building of a new roof for his friend Maurice Rondeau. I wrote about that in the fall and how Robin arranged the shingles on part of the roof to form a smile.
Well, the SAGE and Main programs at Strathcona School came through big time, donating roofing supplies to Robin and now the job is done. Maurice’s house is dry again.
Congratulations to Martin Hering. You may remember him as the fellow who so faithfully and beautifully restored the Hambly House, a classic example of Streamline Moderne architecture, in Westdale. I wrote about this in the spring. Since then he has received quite a bit of ink and Internet coverage, and in November the Hambly House won a 2011 Urban Design and Architecture Award.
2011年12月25日星期日
2011年6月12日星期日
IMF Targeted in Sophisticated Cyber Attack
The International Monetary Fund has become the latest victim of a cyber attack believed to be carried out by hackers connected to a foreign government. The scope of the breach in the lender of last resort’s computer system is still unknown and the IMF has so far refused to release any details. But the New York Times, the first to break the story, talked to several senior officials who described it as serious. The breach occurred “over the last several months,” before Dominique Strauss-Kahn quit after being charged with attempted rape. The IMF’s board was apparently told of the attack on Wednesday and now the FBI is helping to investigate.
Reuters talks to a security expert who says the attack “was clearly designed to infiltrate the IMF with the intention of gaining sensitive ‘insider privileged information.’” Another expert says the hackers tried to install software that would give a government a “digital insider presence” on the IMF network that could give it access to sensitive, potentially market-moving data. It seems the code used in the attack was specifically developed for the IMF system. There is lots of information within the IMF that could be of interest to hackers, from detailed data about European bailout programs to confidential reports on countries that could be in economic trouble and even records of negotiations with international leaders.
Experts are particularly concerned about the IMF incident because it is the latest in a string of sophisticated attacks against large organizations, amounting to a stark reminder of how vulnerable sensitive computer systems are to hackers. The Washington Post notes this is the third recent attack against a major financial institution and points to “a pattern of cyber-espionage against key economic policymaking institutions” in recent years that some experts believe involves China. “Canada’s Treasury Board and Finance Ministry were targeted in January, and France’s Finance Ministry was hacked in December,” points out the Post. Over the past three months, Google, Sony, Lockheed Martin and Citigroup have all reported being the victims of cyber attacks, notes Bloomberg.
Reuters talks to a security expert who says the attack “was clearly designed to infiltrate the IMF with the intention of gaining sensitive ‘insider privileged information.’” Another expert says the hackers tried to install software that would give a government a “digital insider presence” on the IMF network that could give it access to sensitive, potentially market-moving data. It seems the code used in the attack was specifically developed for the IMF system. There is lots of information within the IMF that could be of interest to hackers, from detailed data about European bailout programs to confidential reports on countries that could be in economic trouble and even records of negotiations with international leaders.
Experts are particularly concerned about the IMF incident because it is the latest in a string of sophisticated attacks against large organizations, amounting to a stark reminder of how vulnerable sensitive computer systems are to hackers. The Washington Post notes this is the third recent attack against a major financial institution and points to “a pattern of cyber-espionage against key economic policymaking institutions” in recent years that some experts believe involves China. “Canada’s Treasury Board and Finance Ministry were targeted in January, and France’s Finance Ministry was hacked in December,” points out the Post. Over the past three months, Google, Sony, Lockheed Martin and Citigroup have all reported being the victims of cyber attacks, notes Bloomberg.
2011年2月28日星期一
Flashback LancasterParking guidance system
DIRECTOR HIRED: John A. Hostetler was named director of the newly created Center for
the Study of Anabaptist and Pietist Groups at Elizabethtown College. Hostetler, 67, was
retired from Temple University in Philadelphia, where he had earned a national
reputation for his expertise on the Amish. (Feb. 28, 1986)
SHOOTINGS: Allegedly angered over an unpaid drug debt, a Parkesburg man shot and killed
two men at a Providence Township mobile home park, then killed himself with the same
revolver 11 hours later, police said. (March 1, 1986)
DRUG TESTING: Although it generally was not happening here yet, local employers said
they believed that the introduction of drug-testing programs for workers — especially
new employees — was coming soon.
Officials with a number of local employers, both public and private, said that the
question of drug testing was a "really hot issue" and was the "wave of the future."
Their comments came as the President's Commission on Organized Crime urged President
Ronald Reagan to direct all government agencies to formulate "suitable drug-testing
programs" for federal workers. (March 4, 1986)
SKYLINE POOL: The Manheim Township Park Board recommended the township consider
purchasing the Skyline Swimming, Racquet and Fitness Center on Eden Road. A feasibility
study estimated the purchase price at $420,000 and the cost of renovations at $259,545.
(March 6, 1986)
50 years ago
BAD METERS: Frustrated with malfunctions of its new parking meters, Lancaster city
officials were discussing whether to return the 650 devices and get back the purchase
price of $27,000 from the manufacturer. (Feb. 28, 1961)
WAGON HEIST: Two men leaving a city nightclub at 2:35 a.m. decided to take along a
souvenir that was parked in front of the Brunswick Hotel. They hitched an old Conestoga
wagon to their pickup truck and pulled it past the police station on East Chestnut
Street, then north on Duke Street, which was one-way south.
Police stopped the pair at Lemon and Cherry streets and returned the damaged 1830 wagon
to its display space in front of the Brunswick. (Feb. 28, 1961)
HIGH-TECH: An official with RCA Corp. made a presentation in Lancaster on the company's
"electronic highway guidance system," which was designed to allow drivers to whiz along
superhighways while playing cards, reading or even sleeping.
The three-stage project involved a "detector network," a "guidance system" and an
"electronic collision-control system."
The project was begun in 1953, the RCA official explained, and was still about 10 years
from completion. (Feb. 28, 1961)
BRAZIL-BOUND: Two young carriers for Lancaster Newspapers Inc. began an 11-day
sightseeing trip of Brazil as the prize for being named "outstanding salesmen" among
LNP's 1,100 carriers.
Accompanied by the company's circulation director, the two youths were scheduled to
visit Rio de Janeiro, Brasilia and Sao Paulo. (March 6, 1961)
75 years ago
MIKE'S FANS: Residents from the neighborhood of Pine, Mary and West New streets jammed
an alderman's office to provide testimony in support of Mike, a large police dog
"arrested" for biting a motorcycle patrolman.
Mike's supporters said he was a lovable and responsible escort to children attending
Mary Street School. But other testimony indicated that Mike had frequent run-ins with
motorcyclists and other dogs.
After listening to the testimony, the alderman said he would take the case under
advisement before deciding if Mike was a "vicious" dog. (Feb. 29, 1936)
SKILL SHORTAGE: Lancaster Chamber of Commerce reported a scarcity of men skilled in the
building trades in the Lancaster area. Inquiries with local manufacturers indicated
particular scarcities of toolmakers, stair-builders, carpenters, machinists and stone
masons.
Officials attributed the shortage to a serious interruption in the training of
apprentices because jobs for young high school graduates had been scarce in recent
years. (Feb. 29, 1936)
the Study of Anabaptist and Pietist Groups at Elizabethtown College. Hostetler, 67, was
retired from Temple University in Philadelphia, where he had earned a national
reputation for his expertise on the Amish. (Feb. 28, 1986)
SHOOTINGS: Allegedly angered over an unpaid drug debt, a Parkesburg man shot and killed
two men at a Providence Township mobile home park, then killed himself with the same
revolver 11 hours later, police said. (March 1, 1986)
DRUG TESTING: Although it generally was not happening here yet, local employers said
they believed that the introduction of drug-testing programs for workers — especially
new employees — was coming soon.
Officials with a number of local employers, both public and private, said that the
question of drug testing was a "really hot issue" and was the "wave of the future."
Their comments came as the President's Commission on Organized Crime urged President
Ronald Reagan to direct all government agencies to formulate "suitable drug-testing
programs" for federal workers. (March 4, 1986)
SKYLINE POOL: The Manheim Township Park Board recommended the township consider
purchasing the Skyline Swimming, Racquet and Fitness Center on Eden Road. A feasibility
study estimated the purchase price at $420,000 and the cost of renovations at $259,545.
(March 6, 1986)
50 years ago
BAD METERS: Frustrated with malfunctions of its new parking meters, Lancaster city
officials were discussing whether to return the 650 devices and get back the purchase
price of $27,000 from the manufacturer. (Feb. 28, 1961)
WAGON HEIST: Two men leaving a city nightclub at 2:35 a.m. decided to take along a
souvenir that was parked in front of the Brunswick Hotel. They hitched an old Conestoga
wagon to their pickup truck and pulled it past the police station on East Chestnut
Street, then north on Duke Street, which was one-way south.
Police stopped the pair at Lemon and Cherry streets and returned the damaged 1830 wagon
to its display space in front of the Brunswick. (Feb. 28, 1961)
HIGH-TECH: An official with RCA Corp. made a presentation in Lancaster on the company's
"electronic highway guidance system," which was designed to allow drivers to whiz along
superhighways while playing cards, reading or even sleeping.
The three-stage project involved a "detector network," a "guidance system" and an
"electronic collision-control system."
The project was begun in 1953, the RCA official explained, and was still about 10 years
from completion. (Feb. 28, 1961)
BRAZIL-BOUND: Two young carriers for Lancaster Newspapers Inc. began an 11-day
sightseeing trip of Brazil as the prize for being named "outstanding salesmen" among
LNP's 1,100 carriers.
Accompanied by the company's circulation director, the two youths were scheduled to
visit Rio de Janeiro, Brasilia and Sao Paulo. (March 6, 1961)
75 years ago
MIKE'S FANS: Residents from the neighborhood of Pine, Mary and West New streets jammed
an alderman's office to provide testimony in support of Mike, a large police dog
"arrested" for biting a motorcycle patrolman.
Mike's supporters said he was a lovable and responsible escort to children attending
Mary Street School. But other testimony indicated that Mike had frequent run-ins with
motorcyclists and other dogs.
After listening to the testimony, the alderman said he would take the case under
advisement before deciding if Mike was a "vicious" dog. (Feb. 29, 1936)
SKILL SHORTAGE: Lancaster Chamber of Commerce reported a scarcity of men skilled in the
building trades in the Lancaster area. Inquiries with local manufacturers indicated
particular scarcities of toolmakers, stair-builders, carpenters, machinists and stone
masons.
Officials attributed the shortage to a serious interruption in the training of
apprentices because jobs for young high school graduates had been scarce in recent
years. (Feb. 29, 1936)
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