Monday, December 26, 2005

NSA's domestic data-mining ops gathered vast troves of info

 

Xeni Jardin: A New York Times story today reports that as part of the Bush-approved domestic spying program, the NSA traced and analyzed far more data from phone and internet communications than previously thought. Snip:
As part of the program approved by President Bush for domestic surveillance without warrants, the N.S.A. has gained the cooperation of American telecommunications companies to obtain backdoor access to streams of domestic and international communications, the officials said.

The government's collection and analysis of phone and Internet traffic have raised questions among some law enforcement and judicial officials familiar with the program. One issue of concern to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, which has reviewed some separate warrant applications growing out of the N.S.A.'s surveillance program, is whether the court has legal authority over calls outside the United States that happen to pass through American-based telephonic "switches," according to officials familiar with the matter.

(...) Several officials said that after President Bush's order authorizing the N.S.A. program, senior government officials arranged with officials of some of the nation's largest telecommunications companies to gain access to switches that act as gateways at the borders between the United States' communications networks and international networks. The identities of the corporations involved could not be determined.

The switches are some of the main arteries for moving voice and some Internet traffic into and out of the United States, and, with the globalization of the telecommunications industry in recent years, many international-to-international calls are also routed through such American switches.

One outside expert on communications privacy who previously worked at the N.S.A. said that to exploit its technological capabilities, the American government had in the last few years been quietly encouraging the telecommunications industry to increase the amount of international traffic that is routed through American-based switches.

Link

Previously on Boing Boing:

NSA spies on US: calls, emails intercepted without warrants

Experiment to see if your mail is being tapped by the gov't


[Boing Boing]

The great Linksys WRT54G debate

 

Xeni Jardin: Glenn Fleishman has been following the geektroversy brewing around the Linksys WRT54G model number issue, and says:
Linksys was using embedded Linux for the WRT54G gateway, a Wi-Fi access point, router, and Ethernet switch, that sells for as low as $50 these days. A couple of years ago, Linksys and Broadcom (the company that makes the device's Wi-Fi chips and created the reference platform that Linksys uses) were pushed to meet GNU and other license terms and release the modified OS and accompanying packages. They're routinely released each update since.

Now folks who hack the WRT54G with their own firmware noticed that newer models stopped allowing these hacks and were, in fact, now running the proprietary VxWorks OS. Linksys started talking publicly about this switchover--which happened in fall--just a few weeks ago, and noted that they needed to get the cost of goods down. They were able to halve the volatile and non-volatile memory with the VxWorks OS. (I and others think it is much less reliable in its early firmware releases, however; that's another story that's ongoing.)

The WRT54G v1 through v4 has the Linux kernel. The v5 (and ostensibly beyond) is VxWorks. Linksys opted to introduce a new model they're calling WRT54GL which is basically the same as the v4 release, but it'll have a street price of more like $70 than $50.

Interestingly, Linksys slipped sales numbers. The WRT54G sells "several hundred thousand" units per month, which could mean four or five million per year. They expect to sell about 120,000 WRT54GLs a year, which is quite sizeable, too, and shows the scope of the firmware hacking market for those commodity devices.

Link.


[Boing Boing]

Droidel, Droidel, Droidel

 

Xeni Jardin: In this Star Wars project for children and full-grown nerds, "the dreidel and the droid R2-D2 combine to make Droidel." Print out the PDF, follow the instructions, pour yourself some soynog, then play. Gaming tip: Let the Wookiee win.
Link. (Thanks, Bonnie!)


[Boing Boing]

Monday, December 05, 2005

Here is Comes for Real!!!

Here is Comes for Real!!!

After the snow and ice yesterday, here is comes again, but this time with real force.  The weather service is saying 5-7 inches, the local weather is saying 8-10.  Either way it will start sometime this afternoon and ramp up in the overnight hours.  Sim is doing the run to the stores for food and salt for the walk.  I have both cars stocked with combo snow brooms and scrapers.  The shovels are ready and the sky is grey and billowing with clouds. The anticipation is heavy.  The week is busy so a snow day would fowl things up badly.  The PaperFlow training class that I am running on Saturday is in final preparation and should be ready by Wednesday for review.  Or maybe tomorrow I will have a lot of time to work on it. Till then the snow is coming, but we don’t really know how much and how long…

L8rs,

Moleman


----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEZ001-MDZ008-NJZ013-014-016>020-026-027-PAZ070-071-051700-
/O.UPG.KPHI.WS.A.0001.051205T1800Z-051206T1200Z/
/O.NEW.KPHI.WS.W.0001.051205T2100Z-051206T1200Z/
NEW CASTLE-CECIL-WESTERN MONMOUTH-EASTERN MONMOUTH-SALEM- GLOUCESTER-CAMDEN-NORTHWESTERN BURLINGTON-OCEAN-COASTAL OCEAN- SOUTHEASTERN BURLINGTON-DE-PHILADELPHIA- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF.WILMINGTON.ELKTON.FREEHOLD.
SANDY HOOK.PENNSVILLE.GLASSBORO.CAMDEN.CHERRY HILL.
MOORESTOWN.MOUNT HOLLY.JACKSON.LONG BEACH ISLAND.
WHARTON STATE FOREST.MEDIA
438 AM EST MON DEC 5 2005

.WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO
7 AM EST TUESDAY.

THE NATL WEATHER SVC IN MOUNT HOLLY HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WARNING.WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO
7 AM EST TUESDAY.

FIVE TO SEVEN INCHES OF SNOW IS FORECAST. ACCUMULATING SNOW IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN LATE THIS AFTERNOON OR EARLY THIS EVENING.& CONTINUE INTO TONIGHT.

LOW PRESSURE DEVELOPING NEAR GA EARLY THIS MORNING IS FORECAST TO MOVE TO NEAR CAPE HATTERAS TONIGHT & THEN LIFT NORTHEAST.

CONTINUE TO STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO ALL HAZARDS OR YOUR FAVORITE MEDIA SOURCE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION. A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE EXPECTED.WHICH WILL MAKE TRAVEL VERY HAZARDOUS OR IMPOSSIBLE.


The Snow has Arrived

The Snow has Arrived!!!

It started in the middle of the Saturday night and by morning there was 2 inches on the ground.  This would have been fine but we were away for our Circuit assembly in Buckingham when it happened.  I went out and cleared the snow off the cars in our group and we started out 1 hour early for the meeting.  Roads were fairly cleared and the only real issue was the ice that had formed afterwards.  As I pulled up under the overhead I received a phone call from the PO saying that the assembly program would be delayed 1 hour later then scheduled.  We were there 2 hours before the program.  The groundskeeper hired a snow plow to come and clear the parking lot.  The site’s plow had not been readied as this was an early snow.  Lunch was shortened to 50 minutes and the afternoon sessions were cut by about 10 minutes each so that the day ended on time.  I have never been to an Assembly were that did that before.  A great weekend full on information and friendship.  

Wednesday, November 23, 2005


It's coming... I hear it knocking... Posted by Picasa

First Snow of the Winter?

Waiting for the First Snow of the year

Will it snow tonight?  The forecast is for flurries tonight.  Just a few miles north of us a they are to expect 1-3 inches.  Maybe, just maybe we will have some stick!  In the mean time Mom arrives tomorrow around noon and the temp then should be 45 degrees.  Coming from Florida will be quite the shock to her system.  Friday up to Connecticut to see my Uncle for the first time in years and a cousin that I haven’t seen since the early 70s.  Saturday off to the Philadelphia Zoo, Liberty bell, and Independence Hall.  And Sunday we will see what other kind of trouble we can get into.  

InformationWeek > PC Maintenance > Langa Letter: A Complete PC Maintenance Checklist > November 21, 2005

InformationWeek > PC Maintenance > Langa Letter: A Complete PC Maintenance Checklist > November 21, 2005

Sunday, November 20, 2005

Counterfeiters send jammed printer for repair | The Register

Counterfeiters send jammed printer for repair | The Register

Sony pulls rootkit DRM CDs | The Register

Sony pulls rootkit DRM CDs | The Register

ISS science sacrificed on Martian altar | The Register

ISS science sacrificed on Martian altar | The Register

US govt. plea in BlackBerry case | The Register

US govt. plea in BlackBerry case | The Register

idiotabroad.com ? CD?s affected by the Sony-BMG spyware

idiotabroad.com ? CD?s affected by the Sony-BMG spyware

USATODAY.com - Bad things hide in PCs using Sony BMG software

USATODAY.com - Bad things hide in PCs using Sony BMG software

BBC unwraps new series' Cybermen | The Register

BBC unwraps new series' Cybermen | The Register

Tuesday, November 15, 2005

Saturday, October 29, 2005

Frost on the Pumpkin

Frost on the Pumpkin
Now I understand just what that means. There was frost on the pumpkin quite literally this morning.  Another sign that autumn has arrived.  The rain that lasted 9 days straight left and has brought cool weather to us.  The wind has picked up and the air is crisp.  The squashes, apples, and cranberries are coming to the farmer’s markets fresh from the fields.  The squirrels have started changing form their summer Lite grey coats to their dark grey or rusty red.  The rain and cool has made the iris think it spring and they have started growing again.  The holly tree on the front yard has a nice array of bright red berries and is full of birds flying between it and the feeder.  The deer are in “rut” season and now the drive to and from work I have to be much more careful as they like to cross the road without notice.  Unfortunately this means several dead deer on the roadside. Saw my first porcupine walking along side the road on the way home last week, just a few miles from home.  He was a lot larger then I thought he would be.  The maple in the backyard has begun to turn yellow and the leaves are falling slowly, but as the wind picks up I expect that to change quickly.  Now the sun is going down, there is a fire roaring in the fireplace and hot mocha coffee with a shot of Irish cream by my side.  The cats are crashed in the front bay windows watching the final feedings of the day.  In the next few weeks I’ll try to get out and take pictures of the area and wildlife and post.  I’ll be striving to post more personal notes to the site.  So that’s all for now…  l8rs all

Friday, October 28, 2005

Using Gmail to...

Using Gmail to...

Student satellite launch a success | The Register

Student satellite launch a success | The Register

Aussies fine illegally-parked corpse | The Register

Aussies fine illegally-parked corpse | The Register

Goodfellas voted top movie ever | The Register

Goodfellas voted top movie ever | The Register

VMware sets partitioning software free . . . as in beer | The Register

VMware sets partitioning software free . . . as in beer | The Register

InformationWeek > Office > Free OpenOffice.org 2.0 Suite Launches > October 20, 2005

InformationWeek > Office > Free OpenOffice.org 2.0 Suite Launches > October 20, 2005

Windows mobile unplugged | The Register

Windows mobile unplugged | The Register

UK celebrates Trafalgar anniversary | The Register

UK celebrates Trafalgar anniversary | The Register

EMC takes on paper with $275m Captiva buy | The Register

EMC takes on paper with $275m Captiva buy | The Register

Thursday, July 21, 2005

Scotty actor's ashes head for space

 

We really tried not to say 'Beam me up...'

[The Register - Odds and Sods]

Scotty, AKA James Doohan, Dies At 85

 

"James Doohan, who fielded the request "Beam me up" as the starship Enterprise's engineer Scotty in the tar Trek science-fiction television series and subsequent films, has died. He was 85. Doohan died of pneumonia and Alzheimer's disease at his home in Redmond, Washington, this morning, the Associated Press reported, citing his agent Steve Stevens. His wife was with him, AP said. The actor also suffered from Parkinson's disease, diabetes and...

[Pocket PC Thoughts]

Write down your password today | The Register

Write down your password today | The Register

Wednesday, July 13, 2005

Star Trek pledge of allegiance gets kid suspended

 

Cory Doctorow: A young Star Trek fan was suspended from school for reciting his own version of the Pledge of Allegiance, in which he pledged to the United Federation of Planets. His mom has posted the hilarious story:
"So, anyway. What did he do?" I picked at the hem of my sweatshirt, looked just to the right of her face. I couldn't meet her eyes. I felt nervous. I felt underdressed. I wondered where 8 was.

So she told me what he did. And as she told me, I started to laugh. I didn't laugh a little, either, but I belly-laughed and grabbed my stomach. My son stood with his class this morning, put small right hand over heart, faced the American flag, and recited his own personal pledge of allegiance:

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United Federation of Planets, and to the galaxy for which it stands, one universe, under everybody, with liberty and justice for all species.

"Mrs. Jaworski. This isn't humorous. The Pledge is an extremely important and patriotic moment each morning in the classroom. I am ashamed of your son's behavior, and I hope you are, too."

Link

[Boing Boing]

Wednesday, July 06, 2005

WeatherNJ - Ocean County

. . . . . Weather Radar Map Link . . . .
http://www.emergencyemail.org/weatherradarmap.asp
. . . . . Airport Closing and Delay Link . . . .
http://www.emergencyemail.org/remoteflight.asp
. . . . . Severe Weather Map Link . . . .
http://www.emergencyemail.org/weathermap.asp



.FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FOR LATE THUR NIGHT & FRIDAY.

A FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR LATE THUR NIGHT & FRI FOR
THE MD EASTERN SHORE, ALL OF DE, NORTHWEST, CNTL &
SOUTHERN NJ & ACROSS EASTERN PA FROM THE
SOUTHERN POCONOS SO. THROUGH THE GREATER PHILADELPHIA METROPOLITAN
AREA.

THE WATCH INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES

IN NJ.
ATLANTIC COASTAL CAPE MAY.ATLANTIC.CAMDEN.CAPE MAY.COASTAL
ATLANTIC.COASTAL OCEAN.CUMBERLAND.EASTERN MONMOUTH.
GLOUCESTER.HUNTERDON.MERCER.MIDDLESEX.MORRIS.NORTHWESTERN
BURLINGTON.OCEAN.SALEM.SOMERSET.SOUTHEASTERN BURLINGTON.
SUSSEX.WARREN & WESTERN MONMOUTH.

IN PA.
BERKS.BUCKS.CARBON.CHESTER.DE.LEHIGH.MONROE.
MONTGOMERY.NORTHAMPTON & PHILADELPHIA.

IN MD.
CAROLINE.CECIL.KENT.QUEEN ANNE'S & TALBOT.

IN DE.
DE BEACHES.INLAND SUSSEX.KENT & NEW CASTLE.

SOME CITIES IN THE WATCH INCLUDE ALLENTOWN.ATLANTIC CITY.
BETHLEHEM.CAMDEN.DOVER.NEW BRUNSWICK.NEWARK.PERTH AMBOY.
PHILADELPHIA.READING.TRENTON.VINELAND & WILMINGTON.

THE REMNANTS OF TROPICAL STORM CINDY ARE EXPECTED TO MOVE THROUGH OR
CLOSE TO OUR AREA ON FRIDAY. HEAVY RAIN ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SYSTEM
MIGHT OVERSPREAD THE REGION AS EARLY AS THUR NIGHT & WOULD
AFFECT THE AREA THE HARDEST DURING THE DAYLIGHT HRS ON FRIDAY.
ALONG THE AXIS OF HEAVIEST RAIN THE LIKELIHOOD EXISTS FOR 3 TO 5
INCHES OF RAIN WITH THIS EVENT WITH SOME LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS IN
ANY THUNDERSTORMS.

ESPECIALLY IF THIS PRECIPITATION WAS TO FALL WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD
OF TIME & OVER REGIONS THAT ARE VULNERABLE TO FLOODING, THIS WILL
CAUSE FLOODING ALONG SMALLER STREAMS & POSSIBLY SOME OF THE LARGER
RIVERS IN THE REGION. EVEN WITHOUT STREAM FLOODING, THERE WILL BE
POOR DRAINAGE FLOODING THAT MAY VERY WELL IMPACT THE MORNING COMMUTE
ON FRIDAY.

THE FUTURE PATH OF THE STORM WILL BE CRITICAL IN SO FAR AS WHERE THE
RAINFALL TOTALS MAY FALL. WHEN WE ARE FOLLOWING THE STORM,   
REMEMBER, WE NEED TO CONCENTRATE MORE ON THE UNCERTAINTY OF THE
TRACK AT THIS JUNCTURE.

RESIDENTS WHO LIVE ALONG THE STREAMS, CREEKS & RIVERS SHOULD
CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST WEATHER FORECASTS. IF YOU ARE IN THE
WATCH AREA, KEEP INFORMED, & BE READY TO TAKE ACTION IF FLOODING IS
OBSERVED OR IF A FLOOD WARNING IS ISSUED. REMEMBER AT THIS POINT
THIS IS ONLY A FLOOD WATCH & THERE IS STILL A MODERATELY LARGE
UNCERTAINTY AS TO WHERE THE FINAL TRACK OF THE REMNANTS OF CINDY
WILL FOLLOW. STAY TUNE TO LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS OR NOAA WEATHER RADIO
ALL HAZARDS, THE VOICE OF THE NATL WEATHER SVC, FOR THE
LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION.

$$

THIS PRODUCT.ALONG WITH OTHER WEATHER.HYDROLOGICAL & CLIMATE
INFORMATION.IS AVAILABLE ON THE WEB AT HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/PHI


WANTON/GIGI





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Wednesday, June 15, 2005


Simmy's Teenage gang... Reunion June 2005 Time 3:00 AM and still going Posted by Hello

Been thee, saw that, bought the button ;-> Posted by Hello

Red Bank Blues and Jazz Festival Posted by Hello

Collier County Commissioners Office: Electronic Permit Filing Saves County Resources

 

Since Collier County is home to some of the more affluent communities in Florida, such as Naples, it is a high-growth area for housing developments. The growth in filings caused the department to run out of space. To manage this massive paper trail, the Collier County Commissioners Office hired Legato's partner Image One, a leading developer and integrator of office automation technologies, to scan all incoming permits and documents, supply storage management to archive the documents and provide immediate access to those documents when queried.

[ITPapers.com - Recent Document Management White Papers]

Tuesday, June 14, 2005

WeatherNJ - Ocean County

. . . . . Weather Radar Map Link . . . .
http://www.emergencyemail.org/weatherradarmap.asp
. . . . . Airport Closing and Delay Link . . . .
http://www.emergencyemail.org/remoteflight.asp
. . . . . Severe Weather Map Link . . . .
http://www.emergencyemail.org/weathermap.asp




DEZ001-MDZ008-NJZ012-013-015>022-027-PAZ067>071-142300-
ATLANTIC NJ-BUCKS PA-CAMDEN NJ-CECIL MD-CHESTER PA-CUMBERLAND NJ-
DE PA-GLOUCESTER NJ-MERCER NJ-MIDDLESEX NJ-MONTGOMERY PA-
NEW CASTLE DE-NORTHWESTERN BURLINGTON NJ-OCEAN NJ-PHILADELPHIA PA-
SALEM NJ-SOUTHEASTERN BURLINGTON NJ-WESTERN MONMOUTH NJ-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF.PHILADELPHIA.VINELAND.TRENTON.
PERTH AMBOY.NEW BRUNSWICK.CAMDEN.WILMINGTON & NEWARK
516 AM EDT TUE JUN 14 2005

.HEAT ADVISORY TODAY.

THE NATL WEATHER SVC HAS ISSUED A HEAT ADVISORY FOR TODAY.

UNDER MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES TEMPS ARE FORECAST TO RISE INTO THE
LWR & MIDDLE 90S TODAY.  WITH HIGH HUMIDITY LEVELS THE HEAT
INDEX SHOULD NEAR 105 THIS AFTERNOON.

THE HEAT ADVISORY INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES.

IN EASTERN PA, BUCKS, MONTGOMERY, CHESTER, DE &
PHILADELPHIA.

IN NJ, MIDDLESEX, MERCER, INLAND MONMOUTH, INLAND OCEAN,
BURLINGTON, CAMDEN, GLOUCESTER, SALEM, CUMBERLAND & INLAND
ATLANTIC.

IN DE, NEW CASTLE.

IN NORTHEASTERN MD, CECIL.

LIMIT OUTDOOR ACTIVITY IF POSSIBLE, ESPECIALLY DURING THE HOTTEST
PART OF THE DAY FROM NOON TO AROUND 7:00 PM.

BE SURE TO CHECK ON ELDERLY RELATIVES & NEIGHBORS.  THE ELDERLY
ARE MOST SUSCEPTIBLE TO HEAT RELATED HEALTH PROBLEMS.

THE HOTTEST PART OF THE AIR MASS IS EXPECTED TO PASS OFF THE COAST
TONIGHT.  WHILE IT WILL REMAIN RATHER WARM ON WEDNESDAY,
TEMPS SHOULD BE ABOUT 5 DEGREES LWR THAN THOSE EXPECTED FOR
TODAY.  ALSO, THE HUMIDITY IS FORECAST TO BE SLIGHTLY LWR.

A STRONG COLD FRONT IS EXPECTED TO PASS THROUGH THE REGION ON
WEDNESDAY NIGHT & IT WILL BRING AN END TO THE CURRENT SPELL OF HOT
WEATHER.

$$

IOVINO





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Sunday, May 29, 2005

BOFH: Lucky in computing... | The Register

BOFH: Lucky in computing... | The Register

It's that time again

USAF seeks space weapon mandate | The Register

USAF seeks space weapon mandate | The Register

can these guys learn for the movies that "star wars" weapons always end up being used for evil.

Supreme Court okays net wine sales | The Register

Supreme Court okays net wine sales | The Register

so run to to http://www.wvwinery.com otherwise know as Warwick Valley Winery and order a case of Doc's hard cider


the main grinding wheel. Posted by Hello

The grinding wheel powered by the mill also... Posted by Hello

Part of the old mill that shelled corn for feed and ground it for corn meal.  Posted by Hello

It's a ground hog and she's (baby was not far away) not seeing her shadow. Posted by Hello

Batsto, NJ is the town that almost didn't exist. While once a thriving Iron, timber, and concrete industrial village for generations, but by the earlier 1900's it was fading into the pine barrens. But a man called Wharton bought it all and then NJ state bought it as part of a State forest preserve. Cool place to visit. Lots of history and a very nice guided tour. Learn about what village life was like back in the 1800's. Posted by Hello

Just the beginning of the blooming. Looks like there are hundreds of bulbs around the yard.  Posted by Hello

Monday, May 16, 2005

Friday, May 13, 2005

Park-map brochure from Michael Jackson's Neverland

 

Cory Doctorow: Who needs a show trial when you can just download this map of Michael Jackson's backyard theme-park, Neverland. Link (via Danny's Land)

Update: Matthew sends in a link to a satellite photo of the ranch courtesy of Google Maps.


[Boing Boing]