DPChallenge Forums >> Photography Discussion >> Huge problem. Need advice.
put it in a light tent, and shoot through a hole just big enough for the lens to fit through. if the lights are right - the soft glow from the tent should be able to hide the lens reflection.
Place the object inside a "light tent" which can be just a white sheet thrown over a white frame. The white inside of the "tent" eliminates background and provides diffuse illumination.
Eliminate the camera by shooting toward a convex surface, and only allowing the end of the lens to show inside the tent. The reflection of the lens will be *very* small and easy to remove in post.
You need to surround your object with lighttent. Good tutorial.
Message edited by author 2007-05-30 18:09:35.
and we have a winner! soup, buzzing in at 06:06:53 PM, slightly 43 seconds ahead of the still-typing kirbic!
Wow you guys are fast. Thanks so much for the help! I looked at some really cool light boxes the only problem is I'm an extremely broke student and the woman I'm shooting for (for her website) isn't fronting me enough money to buy something like photo equipment. Only enough for small back drops and decorative items. Are there any other answers?
whatever you do, don't use a light tent. That would be a disaster.
Edit to say - you could probably make one with a white sheet. I'd go to Saint Vinnies or Goodwill with a $5 bill, probably make out ok.
Message edited by author 2007-05-30 18:17:32.
Ok fair enough, try using a white backdrop for starters that then bends upwards so you get the "infinity illusion". Then package the object you are taking photos of with something white, preferrably white foam boards or something like that so essentially you package the subject as you would do with a light box, it´s at least cheaper than one.
<br>Perfect! Now off to find a box and cheap light to work with. Thanks again to everyone for the quick help!!
May I suggest using a light tent?
I don't know if any of the azzholes in this thread have suggested it but I think a light tent might be what you need here.
I used to make them using an old PVC frame for laundry bags and draping it with muslin...you can do this outside on an sunny day and save on lightbulbs.
hmmm.... this is too funny. I think it's unanimous there bud.
I hate to be a party-pooper, but sometimes the light tent isn't the whole answer.
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Relating religious and vernacular architecture: Convent of Santo António, a case study in Portugal
A. Rodrigues, A.R. Pereira Roders
Architectural History and Theory
Proceedings of the International Conference on Vernacular Heritage & Earthen Architecture (CIAV2013), 16-20 October 2013, Vila Nova de Cerveira, Portugal
Taylor & Francis/ Balkema
conference; International Conference on Vernacular Heritage & Earthen Architecture (CIAV2013) - Vila Nova de Cerveira, Portugal
conference; International Conference on Vernacular Heritage & Earthen Architecture (CIAV2013)
Rodrigues, A., & Pereira Roders, A. R. (2013). Relating religious and vernacular architecture: Convent of Santo António, a case study in Portugal. In Proceedings of the International Conference on Vernacular Heritage & Earthen Architecture (CIAV2013), 16-20 October 2013, Vila Nova de Cerveira, Portugal Taylor & Francis/ Balkema.
Rodrigues, A. ; Pereira Roders, A.R. / Relating religious and vernacular architecture: Convent of Santo António, a case study in Portugal. Proceedings of the International Conference on Vernacular Heritage & Earthen Architecture (CIAV2013), 16-20 October 2013, Vila Nova de Cerveira, Portugal. London : Taylor & Francis/ Balkema, 2013.
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title = "Relating religious and vernacular architecture: Convent of Santo Ant{\'o}nio, a case study in Portugal",
author = "A. Rodrigues and {Pereira Roders}, A.R.",
booktitle = "Proceedings of the International Conference on Vernacular Heritage & Earthen Architecture (CIAV2013), 16-20 October 2013, Vila Nova de Cerveira, Portugal",
publisher = "Taylor & Francis/ Balkema",
note = "conference; International Conference on Vernacular Heritage & Earthen Architecture (CIAV2013) ; Conference date: 16-10-2013 Through 20-10-2013",
Rodrigues, A & Pereira Roders, AR 2013, Relating religious and vernacular architecture: Convent of Santo António, a case study in Portugal. in Proceedings of the International Conference on Vernacular Heritage & Earthen Architecture (CIAV2013), 16-20 October 2013, Vila Nova de Cerveira, Portugal. Taylor & Francis/ Balkema, London, conference; International Conference on Vernacular Heritage & Earthen Architecture (CIAV2013), Vila Nova de Cerveira, Portugal, 16/10/13.
Relating religious and vernacular architecture: Convent of Santo António, a case study in Portugal. / Rodrigues, A.; Pereira Roders, A.R.
Proceedings of the International Conference on Vernacular Heritage & Earthen Architecture (CIAV2013), 16-20 October 2013, Vila Nova de Cerveira, Portugal. London : Taylor & Francis/ Balkema, 2013.
T1 - Relating religious and vernacular architecture: Convent of Santo António, a case study in Portugal
AU - Rodrigues, A.
AU - Pereira Roders, A.R.
BT - Proceedings of the International Conference on Vernacular Heritage & Earthen Architecture (CIAV2013), 16-20 October 2013, Vila Nova de Cerveira, Portugal
PB - Taylor & Francis/ Balkema
T2 - conference; International Conference on Vernacular Heritage & Earthen Architecture (CIAV2013)
Rodrigues A, Pereira Roders AR. Relating religious and vernacular architecture: Convent of Santo António, a case study in Portugal. In Proceedings of the International Conference on Vernacular Heritage & Earthen Architecture (CIAV2013), 16-20 October 2013, Vila Nova de Cerveira, Portugal. London: Taylor & Francis/ Balkema. 2013

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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This romantic wedding location in Italy is a beautiful wedding venue for your wedding in Italy. The beautiful old Apulian villa (masseria) is set in a vast estate, surrounded by olive groves, and overlooking the Mediterranean sea. It is an unforgettable wedding location for any romantic Italian wedding and offers a host of options for your special wedding day.
There are 39 double rooms available onsite and lots for you and your guests to enjoy doing while you stay. The masseria's private beach with bar will be at your disposal for a beach wedding, and you can take part in horse riding, yoga classes, yachting excursions, and winery visits too. There is also a 9-hole golf course nearby, and a football pitch for the sporty guests. Relax at the masseria's wellness centre with indoor spa pool in the ancient caves, or take some Italian cooking lessons in the gourmet restaurant. The swimming pool is naturally filled with warm sea water. The masseria brims with beautiful places to host each part of your wedding celebrations. For example, the terrace alongside the swimming pool is a fantastic place to host a welcome cocktail reception. The private courtyard is a scenic, secluded space for your outdoor wedding dinner or perhaps the caverns of the old oil mill make a very atmospheric setting in which to entertain your guests. Enjoy a fresh fruit buffet under the bougainvillea while you cut your cake, then party the night away, in the oil mill, or in the lounges and terraces of the masseria. This is a truly beautiful wedding venue and would make a wonderful setting for your Italian wedding celebrations. To find out more about this lovely Apulian Wedding Villa and Reception in the 'heel' of Italy, please contact us using the form on the right. You can send as many requests using the form on venue pages as you need, we will gather your requests and send you information on all of them.


Do you ever get stuck in a beauty product rut? Back in November, I did, so I decided to sign up for Birchbox. For £12.95 per month, you receive five beauty samples each month, and you can cancel at any time. It's cheaper if you sign up for six months or a year, but a monthly payment with no commitment was exactly what I wanted, just in case I turned out to be rubbish at all this 'looking my best' nonsense.
Just a note: this is not a sponsored post, I'm just really excited about trying new things!
You can fill in a beauty profile – hair type, skin tone, what type of products do you want to try (I've asked for extra organic stuff) – and they try to personalise your box based on that. Your products come in a nice reusable card box, which I'm currently using to store the beauty products I don't use.
The wobbly Russian lady is delighted with her beauty products!
I wanted to review the boxes I've received, partly for my own records of what I might like to buy more of, and partly because it might be useful for other people.
Moaning first: I find the delivery service they use quite irritating. They had my December box in the warehouse for about two weeks before I complained and it miraculously arrived the next day – not really sure my complaint did anything, but it was still a long delay, and the delivery company never bothered to reply to my email. From a purely selfish point of view, I wish they'd use Royal Mail because, if I miss a delivery, the sorting office is right by the train station so I could collect it on my way home. I missed one delivery from this company and the guy left my parcel under a pile of leaves by my front door – entertaining, but not exactly secure, and I feel like he might have been mocking my poor gardening/housekeeping skills.
The theme for November was Cosy at Home, which to me means no makeup, but not to the Birchbox folk. See – I'm learning already! There were five beauty products, plus one lifestyle supplement, which I won't review because I gave it to my mum.
Révérence de Bastien Nail Polish No. 10 (normally £16) – Full size!
What: A premium lacquer that's packed with pigment for a luxe finish, and is free from an array of chemical nasties.
Thoughts: I only applied one coat, because I am lazy. It dries the same colour as it looks in the bottle, and I imagine that two layers would give a nice rich colour – it's a bit see through with one layer. I've had it on my toes for two weeks, and it's a bit chipped, but not as bad as a lot of nail varnishes I own. I'm not very inspired by the packaging, which is a bit dated, and the lid feels cheap (as it's full size, I assume the real product is the same), but I like that it's a bit natural (I am uncertain how natural exactly). The colour I received doesn't seem to be available on the Birchbox site, so I'm just linking to everything that is.
Would I buy: Honestly? No. I wouldn't pay £16 for nail varnish. Besides, this one will probably last me for years.
What: Rejuvenate and protect your hair with this luxurious mask packed with argan oil, honey, amber and crushed pearls (yes, really!).
Thoughts: This smells amazing, and I think my hair looks nicer than usual after using it. I got two little pots and gave one to my brother's girlfriend (who is really into beauty stuff) in her Christmas stocking, so this one has been a big old win.
Would I buy: I'm not sure I'm a hair mask person. I didn't really know what to do with myself while I waited in my freezing cold bathroom for 10 minutes while it worked its magic. Still, I've got loads left in the tester pot, so it might win me round.
What: Super fine, matte bronzing pigments create a healthy glow for a burst of radiance (without the tell-tale shimmer!).
Thoughts: Confession time – I don't know the difference between bronzer and blusher. I normally use Dallas by Benefit, which is the latter, apparently. I apply them in the same way, so I guess that's fine. This is quite sparkly, so I don't know what they mean about no tell tale shimmer. At first I didn't think it looked that good with my skin tone, but I've got used to it now, and I really like it.
Would I buy: Dallas is £23.50 per pot, which horrified me when I just looked it up, but I get through about one every two years, so I suppose I can live with that. This is £19 for the same amount (12g), so it's a bit cheaper, and the packaging is nice and smart (my sample is just in a little plasticky pod thing, sadly), so I might switch allegiances.
Pixi by Petra Shea Butter Lip Balm (normally £8) – Full size!
Thoughts: This is nice! I liked the colour, which was subtle enough that I didn't manage to smear it all over my face, but bright enough to make me look like I wasn't dead. It's pretty moisturising, and God knows I love lip balm.
Would I buy: Yes, I think I would. It bridges the gap between lip balm and Clinique chubby sticks. Since I hate Clinique and blame them for everything that is wrong and weird about my skin (clarifying lotion of maximum burn, I'm looking at you), I would be very happy to stop buying chubby sticks.
Dr Jart + Pore Refine Recover Primer (normally £18) – Full size!
Thoughts: I've been using Benefit POREfessional for ages, and I like it a lot. This is a bit different as I think it's more about treating the problem, while providing some level of coverage for your saucer pores. This definitely leaves my skin less greasy at the end of the day (possibly less greasy than wearing no make-up at all). If you're not putting anything on top of it, then I'd go for the POREfessional, since it has a bit of colour to it, but if you add on some extra makeup layers, then this really starts to impress with a silky smooth looking finish.
Would I buy: OUT OF THE WAY DR OETKER, IT'S YOUR PIZZAS THAT CAUSED THIS PROBLEM! DR JART IS MY NEW GP!!! Yes, yes I would. The bottle is massive, so I think it's really good value. I'd also like to try the other products in the range.
Haha! Don't worry – you will.
A full sized Dr. Jart+ product?! I'm so jealous! I never got such good stuff in my Birchbox, which is why I canceled!
Oooh, I've never heard of anything like this before, but I think my sister would love this! It looks like you were really lucky with this.
I'm really pleased so far. After three boxes I've liked most of the products I've tried, so I think it's a pretty good deal!


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January February March April May June July August September October November December 12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Guest Artist Recital: Max Lifchitz
Facility: School of Music (MUS)
Presented By: School of Music
Max Lifchitz, a renowned composer-conductor-pianist from State University of New York in Albany, will collaborate with USF musicians in a project called LIFCHITZ at USF-MUSIC.  The program features all Lifchitz works with performances by Lifchitz and USF artist-faculty, Sang-Hie Lee, Kim McCormick, Calbert Falwell, Jay Coble, Kyoung Cho, and Robert McCormick Percussion Ensemble.  The collaboration will culminate in a concert at USF on February 27, 2011, a subsequent concert in Albany, NY, and (we hope to obtain funds to perform) at Merkin Hall in New York City in the 2011-2012 season. With proper funding support, we plan to produce a CD using the state-of-the-arts recording facility in the new School of Music building.
This program is significant and distinctive because the program features a Mexican-born  artist who has made a significant life-time contribution and achievement in the American musical scene as a pianist, composer, and conductor.  Collaboration with Max will enhance USF music faculty artists� opportunity to perform his stunning music, produce a CD of all Lifchitz work, and an intended concert tour of New York City and Albany.
The expected program includes the following:
Canto de Paz (1983) for soprano, flute and piano
-Kyoung Cho, Kim McCormick, Sang-Hie Lee
Yellow Ribbons No. 43 (2007) for Solo Clarinet in E flat
-Calvin Falwell
Yellow Ribbons No. 44 (2007) for flute and piano
-Kim McCormick and Sang-Hie Lee
Mosaico Latinamericano (1991) for flute and piano
-Kim McCormick and Max Lifchitz
Do Animals Think? (1988) for soprano and trumpet
-Jay Coble and Kyoung Cho
Rhythmic Soundscape No. 5 (1986)
Mov I
Mov II
Mov III
-Max Lifchitz, piano
(w. USF Percussion Ensemble)
Transformations No.3 (1984)
-Jacob Dike, marimba solo
Dos Danzas: Tango Lejano & Danza Rebelde (2005)
-USF Percussion Ensemble
Event Information: For additional event information, please visit: http://music.arts.usf.edu .
Purchase Tickets: http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0D0046449DDD5EDB?artistid=1553633&majorcatid=10002&minorcatid=203
Location: Barness Recital Hall


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ChildFund EU Office
Memberships & Coalitions
Alliance Initiatives
Marginalised rugby players to compete in Ireland
by Viet Nam News
Young female rugby players from Việt Nam, Laos and the Philippines will compete against the girls' team from Belfast at the ChildFund Pass It Back Cup 2017.
The game will be played at the Belfast Harlequins RFC on August 21, a day before the Women's Rugby World Cup semifinal.
ChildFund Pass It Back delivers an integrated rugby and life-skills curriculum for marginalized children and youth from Vietnam, Laos and Philippines. © ChildFund Vietnam
Six Vietnamese players departed from Hà Nội for Belfast yesterday. They will be there for seven days and participate in a range of activities, such as training with Ireland's rugby clubs (Cooke Women's Rugby and Ulster Rugby), meeting with Bill Pulver, sightseeing and picnicking.
"ChildFund Pass It Back was established to help young people who face significant poverty and have few, if any, opportunities to get involved in organised sport. For young girls, the obstacles are even greater," Chris Mastaglio, director of ChildFund Pass It Back, said.
"This is a programme which prioritises gender equity and the inclusion of girls, so we decided to hold this event in the lead-up to the Women's Rugby Cup Final to highlight how women and girls' rugby is developing across the world.
Read the full story on Viet Nam News.
ChildFund Australia Laos Philippines Vietnam Pass It Back Rugby
Public Statement
Lisa MacSpadden / Email
Strategic Communications Advisor
© 2019 Copyright ChildFund Alliance
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Niacin or nicotinic acid is known by the more common name of Vitamin B3, and forms an important member of the water-soluble B-group vitamins. Niacin has been shown to be useful in the treatment of skin and gastrointestinal disorders, circulatory problems, and mental and emotional disorders. In addition, niacin is an essential vitamin involved in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins and thus assists in providing a pathway for the efficient release of energy from the food we eat.
Of particular importance are the cholesterol-lowering properties of niacin. Niacin comes in two basic forms—niacin (or nicotinic acid) and niacinamide (or nicotinamide)—however it is the niacin form that offers beneficial effects on heart health. Studies indicate that Niacin may lower total serum cholesterol levels, including the so-called "bad" LDL-cholesterol by 10% – 20% and total triglycerides by 20% – 45%, while simultaneously raising HDL, the so-called "good" cholesterol.
Niacin is often the first line of treatment proposed for regulating cholesterol levels as opposed to proprietary cholesterol-lowering pharmaceutical medications. It is the treatment of choice recommended by the National Cholesterol Education Program. Studies indicate that niacin can raise HDL levels by 30%, which has beneficial repercussions on the cardiovascular health of most Americans consuming a typical fat-rich diet.
Niacin is a relatively inexpensive and readily acquired supplement but should not be used as a cholesterol-lowering agent at high doses without the guidance of a healthcare professional due to the possible side effects associated with this vitamin. The most common is flushing, which is due to the relaxing effect of niacin on vein and arterial walls allowing for increased blood flow. Many patients can adjust to the effects of flushing, or minimize it through incorporating intake with meal times to reduce symptoms.
Niacin also increases the effect of blood pressure medications and this combined with possible liver problems, gout, and elevated blood sugar levels, means that the valuable benefits of this vitamin are best achieved under the guidance of a medical practitioner. Diabetics should not take niacin supplements except under medical advice.


As of January 1, 2019 the City has 11 operational rooftop Solar Photovoltaic (PV) installations on municipally owned facilities. These Installations were all done under the now phased out Ontario Power Authority's (OPA) Feed-in-Tariff program (FIT) and Micro Feed-in-Tariff (MicroFIT) programs.
The Green Energy and Green Economy Act, passed by the Ontario government on May 14, 2009, amended the Electricity Act to allow a municipality to generate up to 10 MW using a renewable energy generation facility. Previously, municipalities could only generate electricity using an independent corporation. This allowed municipalities to increase their revenue by participating in the OPA's now defunct FIT program and selling electricity into the grid.
Under the now phased out FIT and microFIT programs, generators of renewable energy were able to sell electricity to the grid at an attractive fixed price under a 20-year contract. The FIT and microFIT programs are now closed and no longer accepting new applications.
The following microFIT (10 kW) installations and are all online and generating clean renewable energy.
The following Feed-in-Tariff installations are all online and generating clean renewable energy and revenue.
A 130 kW installation at the Ravensview Water Treatment Plant.
While all of our existing systems are under the FIT and MicroFIT program and are guaranteed in a 20 year contract, with the shutting down of the FIT and microFIT programs all future solar photovoltaic system applications and installations will fall under the Net Metering Program.
Net metering allows the City to send electricity generated from Renewable Energy Technologies such as Solar Photovoltaic to the electrical distribution system for a credit, reducing our electricity costs. Excess generation credits can be carried forward for a consecutive 12 month period to offset future electricity costs. The goal is to over-generate during the summer months, and use up the excess credits during the winter months. The Net Metering program has no contract end date; once it begins producing energy it will continue to benefit the City for decades.
Net metering is being explored in our municipally owned facilities to reduce operating costs, reduced GHG emissions and continue to improve the City's municipal energy mix. All of our new municipal facilities are being designed to have roof and electrical capacity for future net metering solar systems where financially and technically feasible.


Over the summer ( what a summer it's been!), the young people (teenagers) have been involved in a youth weekend in Chester. The theme was serving others and started with a youth service on the Friday evening, followed by activities on the Saturday where groups of young people had various tasks to do in Chester. These ranged from handing out water and cake, to painting a fence and providing sports activities - all free of charge with the idea that we can bless others. We gathered together for another service to finish the weekend on the Saturday. The youth leaders from the surrounding villages are beginning to plan events to bring the young people from our various churches together. We joined together at the end of July for a fun evening in glorious sunshine. The campfire marshmallows went down a treat!
At our own church we have held a KS2 sleepover and the children and adults enjoyed discovering the caves (some for the first time) and thanks to Ric who showed us campfire skills and marshmallows were eaten over the fire. (The fire pit has been well used) All these activities bring people together and gives them an opportunity to learn new things about themselves; social skills to interact with others, and space to learn more about our Christian faith through practical activities, talks and prayer. We live in such an amazing area and the woods and hills around Frodsham were enjoyed by the people who came to our social at the end of July. Finishing with a barbecue at church. There are other activities planned for the coming months - so check our church website and tots at Frodsham Methodist Facebook page.
We send our blessings and good wishes to the five children who left Toddlers to start school this September. I hope they settle in quickly. Others from our church family are starting High School – may they enjoy the new opportunities available to them and know they are in our thoughts and prayers. We welcome new families in September as the Messy Mice group and toddlers continue to run. A large group of families and young people are going together to Greenbelt again this year, some for the first time. A time to listen to speakers, new bands, poets and watch performances; joining 5000 plus for a Sunday Morning service. Last year we had no rain, not sure it that will be the same this year. Happy camping!


text:
Yvesia is een geslacht uit de grassenfamilie (Poaceae). De soorten van dit geslacht komen voor in Afrika.

Soorten
Van het geslacht zijn de volgende soorten bekend:
 Yvesia acanthosclera
 Yvesia alecto
 Yvesia carnosa
 Yvesia dispar
 Yvesia fallax
 Yvesia gracilis
 Yvesia guernei
 Yvesia hanseni
 Yvesia linguifera
 Yvesia lobata
 Yvesia madagascariensis
 Yvesia mamillata
 Yvesia pedunculata
 Yvesia pertusa
 Yvesia richardi
 Yvesia ridleyi
 Yvesia rosea
 Yvesia spinnulata
 Yvesia spinulata

Paniceae

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


At 50 km from Geneva, joining La Villaz.
The Parmelan is a mountain with impressive cliffs, topped with a plateau worked by erosion that gives its original form: rifts, chasms and cracks draw the limestone slabs.
Throughout the entire path, the landscape is splendid. From the top, we see Lake Annecy, the Massif des Bornes, the Bauges, the Vuache and Lake Geneva.
We return through the Grotte de l'Enfer and the Chalet de l'Anglettaz, then the same forest we crossed on our way up.


INTRODUCTION to EARTH ART, 70th EXHIBITION CELEBRATION.
By way of this preface it gives me great pleasure to present Gerry Joe Weise's first published, and self penned book, "Earth Art, 70th Exhibition Celebration". This book is a celebration of the 70 exhibitions he has produced from 1982 to 2017, spanning 35 years in the international art world. It is a gateway to the understanding of the more difficult avenues of his art, through his own thoughts, analysis and influences. A witness to his style of Earth Art, which encompasses elements of Land Art, Installation Art, Environmental Art, Ephemeral Art and "In Situ". The several layers of meaning that often bewildered critics, who were unable to fathom his application of the Alter-modern, his diaspora, while using physics and philosophy.
I have been following his oeuvre ever since I wrote an article in the 1989 catalog, that accompanied his exhibition at the Centre Culturel Ocre d'Art in Chateauroux, France. I also co-wrote with fellow writers Jean-Marie Le Sidaner and Romuald Krzych, for Gerry Joe Weise's landmark 1990 exhibition catalog, at the famous Arthur Rimbaud Museum in Charleville-Mezieres, France.
Over the years he has evolved in a prolific art career receiving prestigious awards: 1987, Gold Medal, Grand Prix de France, Visual Arts, Reims. 1989, 2nd Prize, Public Choice Award, Grand Prix, Paris, France. 1993, 1st Prize, Graphic Drawing, Art Show, Brussels, Belgium. 1997, Best Installation Award for "Ground Painting", CCA, Munich, Germany. 2015/16 Voted Number #3 on the Top Artists "In Situ" Charts, Land Arts Info Magazine, Paris, France.
Born in Sydney, Australia, he has also lived and worked in Germany, France, Switzerland and the U.S.A. It should be taken into account, that he has led a life completely divided by art and music, unable to separate the two, and leading professional successful occupations in both ventures. With over 70 art exhibitions both solo and and in group, and over 4,000 musical concerts across the globe, which have given him a major worldwide following. Progressive art catalogs illustrating his exhibitions and installations. Exciting music albums, as a blues rock singer guitarist, and as a composer of contemporary classical music, working alongside of famous musicians and producers.
His attributes have led him to teaching, sometimes in art, other times in music (notably at the University of Darwin). While in Europe, he was a part-time English teacher, and he wrote a 7 page article in 1991 for the French Marges art magazine, titled "Peintres Du Monde". Hence the reason for his yearnings to become a writer, and wanting to write this long awaited book; that if you love nature and art, I am sure you will enjoy.


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What AI-enhanced healthcare could look like in 5 years
This summer, KPCB partner Mary Meeker's 2017 Internet Trends report singled out healthcare as a sector ripe with opportunity. The report proposed that the healthcare market, driven by a number of converging technologies, is approaching a "digital inflection point" and is currently positioned for rapid growth.
This is an understatement.
"Just as the Wright brothers didn't learn to fly by dissecting birds, we will not learn to create intelligence by recreating a brain," says Jeff Stibel. David Plunkert Illustration. Tufts University
Norman Winarsky, Venture Beat July 23, 2017
Due to increasing digitization of inputs since 2013, the amount of global healthcare data has been increasing 48 percent year-on-year, according to Meeker's research. With the rising availability (and accompanying burden) of such rich informational resources, medical and healthcare practices are being reimagined on every front. Leveraging this explosion of data will create a complete transformation of both markets and service delivery norms. Data-consuming AI solutions will occupy a central role in this revolution.
Meeker's analysis highlighted the opportunities surrounding digital innovation in patient empowerment and health management, improvements to clinical pathways and protocols, and preventative health. Innovation in each of these areas is inextricably tied to AI and machine-assisted processes. But what will AI-enhanced healthcare look like in practice?
Data-driven AI technologies are well suited to address chronic inefficiencies in health markets, potentially lowering costs by hundreds of billions of dollars, while simultaneously reducing the time burden on physicians. These technologies can be leveraged to capture the massive volume of data that describes a patient's past and present state, project potential future states, analyze that data in real time, assist in reasoning about the best way to achieve patient and physician goals, and provide both patient and physician constant real-time support. Only AI can fulfill such a mission. There is no other solution.
Technologist and investor Vinod Khosla posited that 80 percent of what human physicians currently do will soon be done instead by technology, allowing physicians to focus their time on the really important elements of patient physician interaction. He wasn't talking about the advent of robot doctors. He was referring to the manual data consumption and generation processes that currently consume so much of the physician's time — and are much better suited to AI.
Juniper Research analysis estimates that the use of chatbots in healthcare customer service alone can produce an "average time savings of just over 4 minutes per enquiry, equating to average cost savings in the range of $0.50-$0.70 per interaction." Or consider the bothers of billing codification or data entry: These are time-eating, easily automatable tasks that neither justify nor require the skill level of the doctor. Such chores can and should be delegated to AI.
The Patient is in App Suite. A secure, ambient intelligent environment which provides remote cardiac patient monitoring, telehealth services, significantly reduces patient wait times, and coordinates teams. Available in the App Store
Healthcare in the age of AI
Within five years, the healthcare sector has the potential to undergo a complete metamorphosis courtesy of breakthrough AI technologies. Here are just a few examples:
Physicians will practice with AI virtual assistants (using, for example, software tools similar to Apple's Siri, but specialized to the specific healthcare application). AI assistants will provide real-time and ongoing support and recommendations to the physician for diagnosis and treatment, as well as administrative support.
A multibillion-dollar AI effort by many companies is already underway, notable in IBM's Watson deployments or ventures such as Ada, which functions like a digital advice nurse. This is just the beginning. AI virtual assistants will assimilate, analyze, and share massive quantities of data relating to individual patients in addition to entire patient populations. (A major part of the effort will first be aimed toward automation that maintains the privacy and security of individual patient data: The technology to do this is also advancing rapidly).
The data will be of all types — patient histories, emerging threat and epidemiology statistics, images, video, location data, physician comments and treatments, and much more — all at scales impossible to digest via human effort alone. Physicians will then use this knowledge to continue to improve treatment. Best practices will shift to require physicians to practice with AI virtual assistants.
Physicians with AI virtual assistants will be able to treat 5X – 10X as many patients with chronic illnesses as they do today, with better outcomes than in the past. According to a recent Research and Markets report, "A basic AI… today in clinical practices can be used for alerts & reminder, diagnostic, therapy planning, information retrieval, and image interpretation."
A tremendous amount of necessary labor can be automated and delivered concurrently via AI. Physician AI virtual assistants will have conversational ability and will be able to support the physician in messaging with patients, answering routine questions, suggesting treatment options, and more.
AI virtual assistants will support both patients and healthy individuals in health maintenance with ongoing and real-time intelligent advice. Our greatest opportunity for AI-enhancement in the sector is keeping people healthy, rather than waiting to treat them when they are sick. AI virtual assistants will be able to acquire deep knowledge of diet, exercise, medications, emotional and mental state, and more.
Manually managing and recording daily nutrition, fitness efforts, etc. has always been tedious and difficult. But new technologies, including computer vision, natural language understanding, and machine learning, present interface capabilities that enable individuals to easily "show" or "talk to" their AI virtual assistant about what they're doing.
Further, AI virtual assistants can leverage other mechanisms to "know" what is transpiring via motion detection, IoT (internet of things) sensor input, and the like, to effortlessly collect valuable, personalized data. Patients will have a constant "friend" providing a digital health conscience to advise, support, and even encourage them to make healthy choices and pursue a healthy lifestyle.
Medical devices previously only available in hospitals will be available in the home, enabling much more precise and timely monitoring and leading to a healthier population. Already, a new generation of in-home health equipment is emerging, tightly aligned with advancing imaging and sensor technology for tracking biometric variables and collecting more frequent measurement data.
For example, AliveCor's mobile pad connects to smartphones and provides a personal EKG. This allows you to know anytime, anywhere if your heart rhythm is normal or if atrial fibrillation is detected. Another example is Scanadu's test kit (under FDA consideration and soon to be launched), which uses AI to measure the level of chemicals in a urine sample and surface indications for several health conditions. There will be hundreds of other new examples in the very near term.
Affordable new tools for diagnosis and treatment of illnesses will emerge based on data collected from extant and widely adopted digital devices such as smartphones. Today's smartphones already have high-resolution cameras, accelerometers, gyroscopes, touch ID, microphones, speaker… all of which facilitate health application. Small hand movements while holding the phone might provide a clue to Parkinson's.
A change in social network usage might indicate depression. Sentiment and/or vocal pattern analysis of speech might identify anxiety. And these are just a few examples of what can be analyzed via data already obtainable from an individual's use of a smartphone.
Robotics and in-home AI systems will assist patients with independent living. Robots are leaving "the cage" where they've traditionally helped manufacture major products like cars, and now will be in your home, reminding you to take your medicine, assisting in everyday household tasks such as doing dishes and folding laundry, accessing out-of-reach objects for wheelchair-bound patients, helping the elderly into showers and baths, even increasingly providing emotional support, as with Japan's robot pets.
You might think that AI is just going through a hype cycle that began over 50 years ago and led to disillusionment. I disagree. With the algorithm developments of deep learning, symbolic AI, computer vision, natural language, and machine learning combined with a smartphone — which puts the power of a supercomputer in everyone's pocket and is always with you, always on, and always connected — we are at the beginning of the AI era. Multiply that power again by 1,000 with cloud computing, and there is no doubt we are on an AI curve of exponential growth.
Many of today's familiar AI engines, personified in Siri, Cortana, Alexa, Google Assistant or any of the hundreds of "intelligent chatbots," are still immature and their capabilities are highly limited. But don't be misled — the best metaphor is that they are learning like humans learn and that they are in their infancy, just starting to crawl. Healthcare AI virtual assistants will soon be able to walk, and then run. Within the next few years they will be conversational, they will learn from the user, they will maintain context, and they will provide proactive assistance, just to name a few of their emerging capabilities.
And with these capabilities applied in the health sector, they will enable us to keep millions of citizens healthier, give physicians the support and time they need to practice, and save trillions of dollars in healthcare costs. Welcome to the age of AI.
Norman Winarsky is cofounder of Siri, Lecturer at Stanford Graduate School of Business, and advisor to Health2047 in venture development and commercialization. He is coauthor (with Henry Kressel) of If You Really Want to Change the World: A Guide to Creating, Building, and Sustaining Breakthrough Ventures, HBR Press, 2015.
Source Venture Beat
jama_naylor_2018
On the Prospects for a (Deep) Learning Health Care System, Naylor CD. JAMA. 2018 Sep 18;320(11):1099-1100. doi: 10.1001/jama.2018.11103. No abstract available.
Mary Meeker's 'future of the Internet' report shows how Silicon Valley thinks it can take over health care CNBC
Siri in healthcare: a "Master Class" in artificial intelligence and the future of Apple computing Gregory Bufithis
The Coming Merge of Human and Machine Intelligence Tufts University
Siri cofounder and ex-SRI Ventures president Norman Winarsky joins Relay Ventures Venture Beat
Co-Founder of Siri: Assistant launch is a "World-Changing Event" (Interview) 9TO5Mac
To Siri, With Love — How One Boy With Autism Became BFF With Apple's Siri The New York Times
Artificial Intelligence ushers in the era of superhuman doctors New Scientist
Functional electrical stimulation, FES, in children and adolescents with c...
Hot pack or cold pack: which one to reach for when you're injured or in pa...
Alberta doctors highest paid in Canada
The tale of two Medicares: Canadian and American
Online intervention reduces knee pain, improves mobility
Clinics without walls
ECG EKG
Health apps
Personal health data
Wearable sensors


Humans are storied creatures. We need stories to understand the world, be it mythic, scientific, humorous and tragic. I've been writing somewhere between those lines, creating weird and delightful, sometimes shadowy, ergodic and jackdaw fictions about our changing world.
Hearthspeaking helps us reinvent a time when we decided to make a home of the campfire, build up the walls to keep in the heat and keep out the dark, and decided to think ourselves separate from the outside. Hearthspeaking quiets us down to hear the fire and the ecologies we inhabit, listen to the snow and the trees, make friends with the snails and the bugs and the owls overhead, and teach us how to reconnect with that world we thought was not ourselves. It's a gathering of community around a common space, the space of what warms and moves us, and teaches us to speak the truth to each other in kindness.
I'm Jason Schindler (aka schinji).
I'm a graduate student and writer living in Oregon. I study environmental philosophy, ecotheory, chemistry and science, and the Dharma of Aikido, Druidry and Buddhism. I enjoy dancing, yoga, collecting lots of weird books, playing tabletop roleplaying and board games, biking, and camping.
See what I'm currently reading over at Goodreads.
Please contact me for more info or reposting questions.


text:
Herley: 4 operations suspended from receiving U.S. contracts
By Katherine Hunt
Published: June 13, 2006 3:33 p.m. ET
KatherineHunt
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Herley Industries Inc. hrly on Tuesday said certain of its operations have been suspended from receiving new contract awards from the U.S. government. The affected operations include facilities in Lancaster, Pa.; Woburn, Mass.; Chicago; and its Farmingdale, N.Y. subsidiary. The result of the suspension is that the facilities will not be solicited for, or awarded new contracts or contract extensions, without special exceptions, pending the outcome of legal proceedings, the company said. Herley said it cannot estimate the effect of the suspension on the facilities at this time. The company said it currently has a funded backlog of about $142 million.


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text:
Why local action is vital
3 ways councils must deliver climate action
Key actions for council climate action plans
A role for the really local –  town and parish councils
The support that councils need
How's the government doing?
Conclusion – we need to work together because we're all in this together
The government's own expert advisors on the Climate Change Committee (CCC) have urged it to step up action to achieve deeper emissions cuts by 2035. But less attention has been given to another vital message – that action is needed at every level of government. The reality is that the short-term emissions cuts needed – and indeed the legal target of net zero by 2050 – can't be delivered without action by local authorities.
Most councils have declared a climate emergency and many are developing climate action plans. These plans need to be ambitious and comprehensive. But even the most forward-thinking councils are stymied by inadequate resources and a lack of powers in key areas. Friends of the Earth, working with local government, other NGOs and academics, has set out what is needed from national government, and now the Climate Change Committee has also called for more support to enable local action.
Local authority action plans represent the 'locally determined contributions' to the national Net Zero target. This is bottom up climate action that meets, or in some cases exceeds, the top down climate objectives of the UK and devolved governments and results in delivery on the targets.
Councils are essential for reaching the UK's legislative target to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 and delivering a green recovery from the impacts of COVID-19. In key areas, like transport and planning, their service delivery and regulatory functions put them front and centre in reducing carbon emissions.
Equally importantly, the relationship that councils have with their communities means that they can engage partnerships in joint action by bringing residents, institutions and businesses on board. As the CCC points out "They are the closest form of government to local people, and know what works best in their areas". Councils are best placed to ensure that there's a just transition to a zero-carbon economy, making sure no one is left behind or unheard, and targeting action to create healthy and resilient places where it's most needed.
Elderly couple crossing urban street with shops in background Unsplash
Local knowledge and action is crucial because we know that the direct and indirect health effects of climate change will not be felt equally across society. Older people are at most risk of extremes of heat and cold. People living in deprived areas have less access to green space, are more likely to experience urban heat-island effects. Tenants are less able than owner-occupiers to modify their homes to adapt to climate change.
With more people in poverty in the UK because of the COVID-19 pandemic this has become even more important. Levelling up across the UK or within the boundaries of each local authority area won't happen without local knowledge and action. And local action needs backing from national government.
There are three ways in which councils need to deliver cuts in emissions:
Cutting councils' own emissions is an important starting point and will show leadership. For example, councils should improve energy efficiency in their own buildings, and switch their fleets to electric vehicles. All councils should be doing this now, although it will only tackle about 2% of total emissions in their areas.
Councils can have a bigger impact through their enabling role, by using their powers and responsibilities as planning or transport authorities, for example. Councils can influence 40 to 70% of emissions in their areas. They should be going as far as they can with the existing powers and resources they have.
Councils can inspire others – encouraging and enabling businesses and residents to take action. All councils should be doing this now.
We're at a good starting point, with most councils showing willingness to act. Around 75% of councils have declared a climate emergency and many of those have produced action plans. Now we need to turn that 75% into 100% and all councils to turn declarations into ambitious action plans and start delivering real change. Councils should not be afraid to speak out when they lack the powers and resources to deliver.
An ambitious and comprehensive approach is needed
Actions taken now, locally, will grow the pipeline of projects, jobs and skills to scale up delivery of zero-carbon buildings and transport, waste reduction and low carbon land use. For local authorities, this does not entail focused emissions cuts in separate sectors, but means transforming whole places towards Net Zero, working with residents, communities and businesses to deliver the right changes and investments for the area. This needs a bold yet adaptable approach, and it needs proper funding and powers in the right places.
Tackling climate change is not like delivering a traditional council service – such as emptying the bins – from a single department. It's relevant to everything the council does and must be front and centre of all local government decision-making and investments, including COVID-19 recovery plans, industrial strategies, local plans, and partnerships across the local authority area, such as Local Enterprise Partnerships. This will require commitment at senior level in the council, and engagement and training for all staff.
Local councils need to set out climate action plans with ambitious targets for emissions reductions in key sectors, setting out priorities for their areas based on an assessment of local emissions sources. Friends of the Earth has set out 50 specific actions that councils should take including.
Retrofitting all social housing to high efficiency-standards – existing buildings must be improved, such as installing better insulation and heat pumps.
All new housing to consist of zero-carbon buildings and have good public transport (design and location).
Identifying locations for renewable energy, including onshore wind, which is still needed despite ambitious plans for offshore wind.
Creation of extensive and safe walking and cycling routes.
New green space so everyone has access to nature (linking carbon storage, nature, our own wellbeing).
Healthy low-meat diets in schools (we need a 50% cut in meat and dairy consumption in UK).
The CCC also recommends that local authorities develop climate action plans that prepare the area to transition to net zero from 2030, including immediate actions to kick-start delivery now.
View of new housing development with solar panels Ashden
Plans into action
Cornwall, Oxfordshire, Islington, Manchester, Bristol and Nottingham are among the councils that have already set out comprehensive plans or frameworks for climate action in their areas.
Of course, targets in plans need to be followed by delivery. And there are some great examples of councils delivering in partnership with communities and companies in their areas. This exemplary kind of action needs to be scaled up and become the norm.
Nottingham City Homes, in partnership with the city council, was the first UK housing association to pilot net-zero retrofits – upgrading cold bungalows and terraced housing to the highest level of energy efficiency by using the Energiesprong approach. Plymouth boasts the biggest development of new Passivhaus housing. 72 new homes were facilitated by Plymouth City Council, which offered a former school site to developers building affordable housing for £1, as part of "Get Plymouth Building". York is on track to have the biggest fleet of electric buses outside London – cutting air pollution in the city as well as climate emissions. Bristol city council plans to double its tree cover and achieve carbon neutrality in the next 30 years, targeting new planting to areas of the city where people lack green space.
Climate action will deliver co-benefits
It's a challenging time for local government, not least because councils are at the front line of the COVID-19 response. Now we're asking them to step up action on climate and nature, when their resources are already stretched and their current focus is on health. This makes it even more important that councils and the communities they serve understand the co-benefits of taking action to cut emissions. For example:
Improving the energy efficiency of homes will deliver health benefits, by reducing fuel poverty, and economic benefits, with great potential for job creation.
Increasing tree cover will also increase climate resilience by reducing flooding and overheating, and improve health by reducing air pollution and increasing wellbeing.
Creating new green space will help reduce inequalities. New research by Friends of the Earth has shown that 42% of England's black and brown communities live in neighbourhoods that are the most deprived of green space.
New street trees outside warehouse development, Leeds Unsplash
The Local Government Association has estimated that 700,000 direct jobs could be created in England's low-carbon and renewable energy economy by 2030.
The co-benefits delivered by ambitious climate action at local level show that it's a no-brainer for national government to invest in councils to deliver them.
A role for the really local – town and parish councils
Parish and town councils may not have the same powers as local authorities, but there are 10,000 local councils across England and 750 community councils in Wales that have an important role to play in taking local action to address the climate and nature emergency and be a force for change.
Using powers in partnership
Like local authorities, town and parish councils understand their community and their patch – arguably they're closest to local people and can be key allies in engaging the whole community. And in an official role as consultees to local authorities they can support net zero-carbon development such as onshore wind turbines, which can face local opposition, and back spending on safe routes for walking and cycling.
For example, Bodmin Town Council is working with Cornwall Council, assisting the community with its aim to make Cornwall carbon neutral by 2030. And Kendal Town Council has set up a citizen's jury to find out what actions local people want to take to tackle climate change.
Town and parish councils, in collaboration with their communities, can also have a direct influence on future development through the neighbourhood plan. For example, by protecting green spaces or identifying sites for renewable energy or new green space. Worryingly the future of neighbourhood planning and other means of public participation is in doubt with the government's proposals to overhaul the planning system.
Local councils should use their budgets to support carbon-cutting initiatives. Baildon Town Council, working with the local Friends of the Earth group, is among several town councils that have formed local partnerships to plant trees. East Ilsley Parish Council in Berkshire is directly involved in creating a community orchard and planting wildflower areas in the village. Frome Town Council has set up an electric-vehicle hire club and also offers free training about domestic energy use – how to reduce energy bills and how to encourage and enable people to turn energy-related advice into action.
The CCC has recommended that the government consider introducing a duty on local authorities to act in accordance with Net Zero, and to develop Climate Action Plans. This will help, but only if it's properly enforced and councils are adequately resourced and empowered to deliver it. A duty is meaningless if national policy fails to support or even contradicts what councils are trying to do. The existing biodiversity duty has failed to stop the decline of nature for this very reason.
Councils have been warning for some time that they won't be able to deliver action at the scale and pace commensurate to the climate and ecological emergencies without additional powers and resources.
So it's welcome that the support needed to turn duty into action is acknowledged by the CCC, which says that "Any new duty should be fully funded" and warns that tensions between national policy priorities will hamper local authorities' ability to deliver their part of meeting Net Zero unless they're addressed.
Around 100 councils recently joined Friends of the Earth, local government organisations and academics to back a blueprint for how the national government should support local authorities to act.
Priority asks include:
Invest more in low-carbon and climate-resilient infrastructure, including public transport networks and renewable energy.
Prioritise and focus support for reskilling and retraining for green jobs, so that local authorities can target training where it's needed, like installing heat pumps.
Ensure that homes are fit for the future, by investing more in retrofitting to high energy-efficiency standards, particularly social housing, and ensuring councils can require that all new houses are zero carbon.
Make it easy for people to walk, cycle, and work remotely, by increasing funds for active travel and enabling local authorities to permanently allocate dedicated space to walking and cycling
Accelerate tree planting, peatland restoration, green space expansion and other green infrastructure, including resourcing local authorities to maintain existing parks, plant trees and address gaps in green-space access in their areas.
A stark example of competing priorities is the tension between building new homes and delivering low-carbon, well adapted development.
Misty view of UK Houses of Parliament, London Unsplash
The government's recently announced 10-point plan, spending review and infrastructure strategy fall far short of what's needed for a green recovery and – combined with policy contradictions – fail to adequately support local delivery of solutions. Areas where the government needs to step up action in relation to the priorities above include:
More investment to retrofit existing buildings with heat pumps and high levels of insulation, with a focus on social housing, which councils are best placed to deliver.
The government's reintroduction of subsidies for onshore wind is welcome. But local authorities are still prevented from supporting wind power by the strict requirements of national planning policy.
Too much public money is still being committed to road building and not enough to public transport, walking and cycling, making it hard for local authorities to transform the way people travel in their areas.
Current proposals for planning reform would remove control from local authorities for a lot of development, especially in proposed growth areas in the north, undermining their ability to deliver high-quality zero-carbon development.
Budgets for maintaining parks have been slashed over recent years. Now, at least £4 billion a year over 5 years is needed to address current gaps in access to green space.
The CCC warns that local authorities "cannot deliver effectively and efficiently without longer term policy and funding certainty to underpin investment decisions. Without some level of coordination from Government, the UK risks pursuing a fragmented strategy towards Net Zero". The CCC points to national policy contradictions such as housing targets conflicting with the requirement for local planning policy to deliver on net zero. It also highlights the need for significant long-term investment in retrofit, heat-decarbonisation infrastructure and public transport.
Conclusion – we need to work together because we're all in this together
Cities, Combined Authorities and local leaders have identified the barriers to action in delivering Net Zero locally and are calling for increased powers, funding and devolution to enable them to get on with it.
This year, Friends of the Earth and other NGOs joined forces with local government organisations and academics to set out what councils need from the national government. We did so because, although we may not agree on every detail, we have the same aspirations to tackle the climate and nature emergencies in a way that also addresses health inequalities. And we know that we can be stronger working together.
The same applies at the local level. Friends of the Earth has over 200 local Climate Action groups that can act as critical friends to councils – pushing councils to develop strong Climate Action Plans, while at the same time helping to bring local communities on board. Similarly, town and parish councils can work with local community groups to encourage behavioural change and back strong climate actions by local authorities.
Friends of the Earth supporters and Climate Action groups are also campaigning for the national policy changes that will ultimately make it easier for councils to deliver their net zero ambitions.
Councils and others can sign up to support the asks of national government on the ADEPT website.
Please note all quotations in this piece are from the Climate Change Committee report.
How can government help English councils act on climate breakdown?
Sandra Bell28 Aug 2020
Local authorities can take some action on climate change but they could do so much more if the government empowered and enabled them.
England's green space gap
Paul de Zylva, Chris Gordon-Smith, Mike Childs15 Sep 2020
This report exposes how widespread green space deprivation is, how it is an issue of racial injustice as well as concern from a public health perspective, and what needs to be done to fix the problem. It also showcases great examples of community led initiatives.


The makers of the Hindi remake of Hollywood film 'Fault in Our Stars' revealed the poster. The title of the film is 'Kizie Aur Manny'.
Mukesh Chhabra will mark his debut as a director with this film. Sushant Singh Rajput and Sanjana Sanghi have been brought on board to play the lead roles.
Now, the writer of the 'Fault in Our Stars' took to his Twitter express his excitement for the film. He tweeted, "I want to see this movie more than I have ever wanted to see any movie."
The story revolves around two individuals who are suffering from cancer. According to a report, the film has kicked off its shooting schedule in Jamshedpur. Ansel Elgort and Shailene Woodley were the lead actors of the Hollywood film. Released in the year 2014, the film was helmed by Josh Boone.


• Good user of Microsoft PowerPoint, Word, Excel, Internet and email.
• Meeting potential students, i.e. open days or conferences - delivering campus tours, attracting students.
• Appraisal of performance of existing members - AIESEC journey.
Sep 2006 - Jun 2011 Istituto d'Istruzione Secondaria Superiore "E. De Nicola"


Moo.com is launching full-size business cards after heavy demand from customers. Card design will still use the same Web-based editor that's been available for Moo's other products, although users will be getting more than twice the size they're used to with Moo's flagship mini cards.
Users can grab up to 50 different photos from popular hosts like Flickr, Facebook, Bebo, and others for the back of the card and get them printed out for $21.99. However, users who sign up for Moo's mailing list can get a whopping 20 percent off.
Along with the conventional stock used for the mini cards, Tree huggers are rejoicing over the fact that there's also going to be a new "green" stock for that's made from 100 percent recycled paper.
Android is for the masses, iPhone for the rich?


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ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) Tom Brady was a buzzkill in Buffalo once again.
In silencing a raucous crowd and exposing Bills coach Rex Ryan's brash talk for bluster, Brady threw three touchdowns and 466 yards passing - the second-most of his career and most by any player against Buffalo - in leading the New England Patriots to a 40-32 win Sunday.
And when it came time to have the last word, Brady shrugged by saying he could have done even better.
It was an all-too-familiar performance from a quarterback who has feasted on the Bills during a 15-year run of dominance. Brady improved to 24-3 against Buffalo, while the Patriots are now 27-3 in the past 30 games against their AFC East rivals.
Ryan might be the Bills new coach, but he's seen this type of performance from Brady before.
Ryan then used a profanity in explaining how poor of a job he did.
The Bills had a scare when starting safety Aaron Williams was loaded into an ambulance on the field and taken to the hospital after sustaining a neck injury late in the third quarter. The team announced Williams was released from the hospital after undergoing a series of tests.
The Patriots (2-0) took control by scoring three touchdowns in less than six-minutes spanning the first and second quarters. And then they hung on after the Bills (1-1) mounted a 19-point fourth-quarter rally that eventually fell short.
The Bills' final drive ended when Tyrod Taylor was intercepted a third time after his pass glance off the fingers of receiver Sammy Watkins and into the arms of Logan Ryan.
Julian Edelman had 11 catches for 97 yards and two touchdowns. Tight end Rob Gronkowski scored his fourth TD of the season - and 10th against Buffalo - on a 2-yard catch. And don't forget running back Dion Lewis, who had 40 yards rushing and a touchdown, and added six catches for 98 yards.
It didn't matter much to Lewis that Ryan didn't know his name before the game - or after.
''Winning motivates me,'' Lewis said.
The Bills looked nothing like the team coming off a 27-14 season-opening win over Indianapolis.
They began unraveling after Karlos Williams scored on a 2-yard run on Buffalo's opening drive.
The Patriots eventually scored on three consecutive possessions before building a 37-13 lead after Stephen Gostkowski hit a 50-yard field goal in the final minute of the third quarter.
It proved to be a deficit too big to overcome for a Tyrod Taylor-led offense that managed 127 yards on its first 10 possessions - and 80 of those came on the first possession.
''We killed ourselves,'' said Taylor, who finished 23 of 30 for 242 yards with three touchdowns. He also threw three interceptions and was sacked eight times.
The Bills defense was hardly better in allowing 507 yards offense and 28 first downs.
Discipline was also a big problem. The Bills were penalized 14 times for 140 yards.
Brady took the air out of what began as a raucous environment at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Bills fans were buzzing all week in a bid to set a record for loudest outdoor stadium. They even raised enough money to have a Guinness World Record official on hand to measure the decibel level. The results were not revealed and fans began heading for the exits in the final minute of the third quarter.


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text:
Q: EPPlus : date column returning int rather than the actual displayed text value I am using EPPlus to read excel data. I need to display the excel cells as-is in the grid to the users.
while reading date column EPPlus is giving the OADate int value for the date.
Is there a way I can read the value as string, which users normally see when they open the excel. i.e. the value after applying the excel formats.
There does not seem to be any function on the CELL class which provides valueAsString or valueAsDisplayed, etc...

A: If the dates are stored in excel as doubles (or a whole number if there is no time component) with formatting applied, which would be the "correct" way, you have recreate the date in code and reapply the date format applied in Excel.  The only wrinkle is excel's formatting is slightly different then .net especially when it comes to case sensitivity so you should put a check in there to make sure MMM is not mmm (which would give you minutes in .net).  So something like this works:
[TestMethod]
public void OADate_Test()
{
    //http://stackoverflow.com/questions/28046069/epplus-date-column-returning-int-rather-than-the-actual-displayed-text-value
    var existingFile = new FileInfo(@"c:\temp\temp.xlsx");
    if (existingFile.Exists)
        existingFile.Delete();

    using (var package = new ExcelPackage(existingFile))
    {
        //.NET is case sensive so MMM must be capital but Excel might not be
        const string FORMATDATE = "dd-MMM-yyyy";
        var mydate = new DateTime(2015, 1, 1);
        var datedouble = mydate.ToOADate();

        var worksheet = package.Workbook.Worksheets.Add("Newsheet");

        worksheet.Cells["A1"].Value = "As Date";

        worksheet.Cells["A2"].Value = datedouble;
        worksheet.Cells["A2"].Style.Numberformat.Format = FORMATDATE;

        package.Save();
    }

    using (var package = new ExcelPackage(existingFile))
    {
        var worksheet = package.Workbook.Worksheets["Newsheet"];

        worksheet.Cells["B1"].Value = "As String";

        var datedouble = (double) worksheet.Cells["A2"].Value;
        worksheet.Cells["B2"].Value = DateTime.FromOADate(datedouble).ToString(worksheet.Cells["A2"].Style.Numberformat.Format);

        package.Save();

    }
}

A: I also found a less complex method.
If you change the 'NumberFormatLocal' instead of 'NumberFormat' property to "dd/mm/yyyy" they will import as dates instead of numbers.
So
Sub ChangeExcelColumnFormat()
    Dim ExcelApp As Excel.Application
    Dim ExcelWB As Excel.Workbook
    Dim ExcelWS As Excel.Worksheet
    Dim formatRange As Excel.Range

    Dim strFile As String = "C:\Test.xlsx"
    Dim strSheetname As String = "Sheet1"

    ExcelApp = New Excel.Application
    ExcelWB = ExcelApp.Workbooks.Open(strFile)

        strColSelect = "A:A"
        strFormat = "dd/mm/yyyy"

        formatRange = ExcelWS.Range(strColSelect)
        formatRange.NumberFormatLocal = strFormat

    ExcelWB.Save()
    ExcelWB.Close()
    ExcelApp.Quit()

    ExcelWS = Nothing
    ExcelWB = Nothing
    ExcelApp = Nothing

End Sub

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


The Summer Reading Club kicks off today, and runs through August 4. This is open to adults and children. Come in and pick up your reading log sheets and returned when completed. Turn the sheet in from the first 10 items read (this includes audio books) and receive coupon prizes while supplies last. Every 10 items read and turned in after that gives you another chance at the drawing for additional raffle prizes.


The item is made of premium alloy and is a fantastic and exquisite breastpin, which features an adorable, simple and fashion appearance design. With petrol dripping, it looks gorgeous and shinny especially under the light. Therefore, wearing this special style brooch at your big day or in some parties, you will immediately become the focus and attractive one among people.
- Size: About 3.1x1.8cm(mountain length); 2.1x1.4cm(cloud length).
- A beautiful sturdy pin attached on the back of each brooch.
- Elegant boat brooches pin suit for your every daily dress.
- Easy to pin on your clothes or bag, which is unique.
- Special design and unique structure makes you more attractive.
- Perfect gift for your families and friends.


text:
How many house movies are there?
Is House 1986 a remake?
What does house 4 mean in astrology?
Is The House scary on Netflix?
What does your 4th house rule?
What is the point of The House movie?
Who is Van Schoonbeek?
Which body part does 4th house represent?
House1985
House II: The Second Story1987The Horror Show1989House IV1992
House/Movies
Who is House 4?
Section 1 of 4: What is the Fourth House in astrology? The Fourth House is the House of Home and Family. It represents all aspects of domestic life, including your family and where you live.
We have just learned that Steve Miner's 1986 horror film House will be getting the remake treatment. Friday the 13th director and House producer Sean S. Cunningham sat down with Fangoria and discussed his plans for the project.
Is the house 2022 a horror?
The House presents show-stopping animation and features three talented directors whose sensibilities coalesce enough to craft an ethereally frightful horror film entry. January 31, 2022 | Rating: 7.5/10 | Full Review… Look, weird can be good.
The Fourth House sits at the base of the chart and symbolizes home and family. Natal planets in the Fourth House reveal an individual's relationship with the maternal figure, as well as their unique outlook on domesticity.
What body part does the 4th house rule?
Well, the 4th house is called the house of domestic happiness and is referred to as Bandhu Bhava in Astrology. The body parts signified by the 4th house include the chest and lungs.
The film isn't traditional horror, but it has deep-rooted horror elements that may creep up on viewers, just like those dancing parasites do. Two of The House's three stories look like they could take place in the same world as Wes Anderson's Fantastic Mr.
Who plays Mabel in The House?
Mia Goth: Mabel (segment "I") Photos (2)
Planets moving across the Fourth House often encourage us to invest in our infrastructure by creating more private, nurturing spaces that make us feel safe, loved, and cared for. The Fourth House also rules your relationships with people (and pets) who are family, either blood or chosen.
Who played Paul Drake's son on Perry Mason?
William Katt
served as Mason's private investigator in the first nine films. Drake's son was played by William Katt, real-life son of Barbara Hale, who played Della Street both in the TV series and the TV movies.
It's clear that this is a story about an attachment to superficial signifiers of wealth and opulence, something that comes at the expense of the characters' humanity. They become the things they desire.
What was the point of The House Netflix?
Netflix's three-part stop-motion animation special The House is one of the streamer's strangest and most unique releases, but the three stories work together to send a clear message which is a biting critique of consumerism.
Van Schoonbeek is one of the three main antagonists (alongside The Odd Couple) of the 2022 Netflix animated film The House, serving as the main antagonist of the first story titled "And heard within, a lie is spun". He is voiced by Barney Pilling.
Who voices rose in the House?
Michelle Ruff
Ruff in 2019
Other names Georgette Rose Sophie Roberts
Education Michigan State University
Occupation Voice actress
Who rules the fourth house?
The traditional ruler of the fourth house is the zodiac sign Cancer, and therefore, it's ruling planet, the Moon. The underlying foundations of one's family and birthplace are conveyed here.
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text:
Volume V - Issue #50
Correction: Last week we told you about Bruce Schneier's essay exploring whether the Blaster worm had a role in the August blackout. But we forgot the URL. Here it is:
http://news.com.com/2010-7343-5117862.html?tag=nefd_gutspro
We hope to see you at the largest information security conference in history with over 600 hours of training. In 6 more days (On December 23) the website for SANS 04, April 1-9, 2004 Orlando on the Disney property will be available at www.sans.org. Don't miss this one!
Spammers Indicted in Virginia
Classified Disks Missing at Los Alamos National Laboratory
Government Cyber Security Report Card Analysis
European Banks to test Facial Recognition Authentication Software
Security Manager's Journal
Sobig-F to Blame for Spam
Treasury Gives $2 Million for Financial Services ISAC Upgrades
SCO Web Site Hit by DDoS Attack
Beta Windows XP Service Pack 2 to be Released Soon
Roundtable Focuses on Government Regulation, DHS Role in Cybersecurity
Man Fined for Trying to Install Keystroke Logger
Johnson Appointed DHS Security Chief
Putnam Pushes for Cyber Security Accountability
W32/Yaha-Y Worm
Windows 98 Moves to Non-Supported Phase Next Month
Worm Propagation in Networks
Phony e-Mail Caused Police Switchboard Denial of Service
Developer Error Exposes Database
Air Force Establishing Network Operations and Security Center
Considering Camera Phone Policies
Voting Machine Companies Form Election Technology Council
DHS and Private Sector Need to Work Together for Cybersecurity
VULNERABILITY UPDATES AND EFFECTS
Microsoft Investigating IE Vulnerability
Buffer Overflow Vulnerability in Windows Workstation Service
No Microsoft Patch Release in December
XP Fix Unexpectedly Delivered
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http://www.tripwire.com/literature/poster/index.cfm?djinn=1396
Highlighted Immersion Training Conference of the Week
CDI West, in San Diego at the end of January, is the place to find all six of SANS most popular courses, including Forensics, Hacker Exploits, Firewalls, Securing Windows, Intrusion detection, and SANS Security Essentials. It also offers an interactive vendor exposition and an extensive evening programs. And San Diego in the winter is lovely.
San Diego: http://www.sans.org/cdiwest04
Spammers Indicted in Virginia (11/12 December 2003)
Jeremy James, a.k.a. Gaven Stubberfield, and Richard Rutowski have been indicted on charges they conspired to send out large quantities of spam in violation of Virginia's anti-spam law. In addition to exceeding the legal volume for spam, they are accused of falsifying information to disguise the spam's origin. If they are convicted, they could each receive a five-year prison sentence and be ordered to pay a fine of up to $2,500.
-http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A56209-2003Dec11?language=printer
-http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/internet/12/12/spam.charges/index.html
[Editor's Note (Ranum): Most states already have legislation regarding spam, and the recent, much-touted national spam legislation actually weakens some of it. For example, in many states it is a serious crime to send pornographic spam under a falsified Subject: line that does not clearly indicate its nature. Unfortunately, few states are trying to enforce the law. I applaud Virginia for its leadership. ]
Classified Disks Missing at Los Alamos National Laboratory (12 December 2003)
A routine inventory of classified electronic storage media at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) found nine floppy disks and one large-capacity storage disk unaccounted for. LANL officials have instituted a "limited security stand-down" for all employees who work with classified data; they will not be permitted to handle removable electronic media until they undergo retraining. Officials at LANL believe the disks were probably destroyed "as part of a regularly scheduled disposal process."
-http://www.computerworld.com/printthis/2003/0,4814,88167,00.html
[Editor's Note (Schneier): It's stories like this that give federal agencies their failing grades. And the stories keep coming and coming. ]
Government Cyber Security Report Card Analysis (11/12 December 2003)
Despite the overall low grades given to the government for cyber security, the improvements can be viewed in a positive light. For instance, while the Department of Transportation's grade rose from an F last year to a D+ this year, the improvement is due to a score increase from 28 to 69. In addition, several agencies' grades did improve significantly; the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's grade rose from a C to an A, and the National Science Foundation's grade rose from a D- to an A-. Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) regulations are likely to bring about greater improvement in next year's report card.
-http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2003/1208/web-grades-12-12-03.asp
-http://www.gcn.com/vol1_no1/security/24378-1.html
[Editor's Note (Schultz): Improvements such as those mentioned in this news item should indeed be viewed as positive. It takes time to improve security in today's computing environments.
(Northcutt): Northcutt: A word document with the grades themselves is available:
-http://www.reform.house.gov/UploadedFiles/2003-2000_Computer%20Security%20Grades
.doc]
European Banks to test Facial Recognition Authentication Software (11 December 2003)
European Internet banks will begin testing facial recognition authentication software. Customers who participate in the trial will have their facial biometrics stored either on their own PCs or on smart cards; the stored faces will be verified with web cams. The marketing director of the company that makes the software says it can detect when people try to use video footage or a model of a head to trick the system.
-http://www.silicon.com/networks/webwatch/print.htm?TYPE=story&AT=39117316-39
024667t-40000019c
[Editor's Note (Schneier): This is a proper use of biometrics -- for authentication and not for identification. It'll be interesting to see what bugs show up in actual use.
(Pescatore): Facial recognition has failed miserably in most trials, but using it indoors for people sitting in front of PCs provides a very technology friendly environment. However, limiting customer's ability to do online banking only from PCs that have a web cam (and possibly a smart card reader) eliminates a lot of the convenience of online banking. An alternative is the use of SMS messaging and cell phones for strong authentication, a technique which has see widespread success in the European Union.
(Grefer) Assurances from marketing are not very assuring. The "BioFace" study currently conducted by the Fraunhofer Institut IGD on behalf of the BSI (Bundesamt fx81r Sicherheit in der Informationstechnik, Germany's Federal Information Security Agency) and the BKA (Bundeskriminalamt, Germany's Federal Bureau of Investigations), concluded that the algorithms employed by various vendors still offer vast opportunities for improvement.
-http://www.igd.fhg.de/igd-a8/index.html?projects/bioface/index.html
German article:
-http://www.heise.de/bin/nt.print/newsticker/data/ju-22.10.03-001/?id=82128aa1&am
p;todo=print
The same article machine-translated into English:
-http://babelfish.altavista.com/babelfish/urltrurl?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.heise.de%
2Fbin%2Fnt.print%2Fnewsticker%2Fdata%2Fju-22.10.03-001%2F%3Ftodo%3Dprint&lp=
de_en&tt=url]
************************ SPONSORED LINKS ******************************
Privacy notice: These links redirect to non-SANS web pages.
(1) ALERT - Spam is an attack on your email systems. Protect your enterprise. WHITE PAPER
http://www.sans.org/cgi-bin/sanspromo/NB269
(2) Simplify secure file transfer! Download a white paper and evaluation software.
(3) Get the story behind the headlines. Computer security intelligence from the experts
Security Manager's Journal (15 December 2003)
Security Manager's Journal author "Vince Tuesday" describes how his company deployed firewalls to protect its network and that of their parent company from each other.
-http://www.computerworld.com/securitytopics/security/story/0,10801,88175,00.html
Sobig-F to Blame for Spam (9/12 December 2003)
According to MessageLabs' end-of-year report, the Sobig-F and other similar worms are responsible for two-thirds of all spam.
-http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/56/34422.html
-http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1105_2-5117873.html
[Editor's Note (Grefer): This serves as a reminder that personal firewalls are essential. In a dial-up configuration, a personal firewall may be the only defense a consumer has. Microsoft's firewall shipped with Windows XP provides a false sense of security because it doesn't check outgoing traffic. Once malware like Sobig-F has established itself on the system and tries to "call home," a full-fledged personal firewall is one of the few means of detecting and stopping such unauthorized communication. ]
Treasury Gives $2 Million for Financial Services ISAC Upgrades (9/10 December 2003)
The Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center (FS/ISAC) will receive $2 million from the Treasury Department for upgrades, which include network enhancements to expand service and create a secure real-time information sharing forum.
-http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2003/1208/web-fsisac-12-10-03.asp
-http://www.gcn.com/vol1_no1/daily-updates/24377-1.html
-http://www.forbes.com/work/newswire/2003/12/09/rtr1175402.html
SCO Web Site Hit by DDoS Attack (10/11/12/15 December 2003)
The SCO Group says its www.sco.com website was the target of a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack last week. The site was also the target of DoS attacks in May and August of this year. SCO servers were back on line approximately two days after the attack began.
-http://www.eweek.com/print_article/0,3048,a=114374,00.asp
-http://news.com.com/2102-7355_3-5120706.html?tag=st_util_print
-http://zdnet.com.com/2102-1105_2-5121828.html?tag=printthis
SCO's servers were hit by denial of service attacks again over the weekend and on Monday.
Beta Windows XP Service Pack 2 to be Released Soon (12 December 2003)
Microsoft will release a beta of Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) before the end of the year; the beta will be made available to several hundred thousand testers, largely software developers and IT professionals, through Microsoft's Developer Network. Along with the usual updates and rollups, SP2 will include improvements to XP's overall security. A final version of SP2 should be out by June of 2004.
[Editor's Note (Pescatore): Currently, less than 10% of enterprise desktops are running Windows XP while 50% or so are on Windows 2000. The XP improvements will mostly benefit consumer users. While XP's penetration will be higher (and Windows 2000 lower) by 2Q04, Microsoft should commit to issuing significant Windows 2000 Desktop security updates by then as well. ]
Roundtable Focuses on Government Regulation, DHS Role in Cybersecurity (12 December 2003)
Three security analysts took part in a roundtable teleconference in which they debated the best ways to improve cyber security. Sanctum CEO Peggy Weigle expressed support for government regulation. Former White House cyber security advisor Richard Clarke is more reluctant about regulations, saying they should be carefully thought out and should include third-party audits. Clarke was also critical of DHS for allowing the first Cyber Security Summit to be sponsored by a small group of IT vendors. John Pescatore, vice president of research for Gartner, would like to see the government leading by example, and called for more liability for software manufacturers.
[Editor's Note (Ranum): What nobody seems to want to admit is that security is not something that is achieved through consensus and debate. It's achieved through high-level policy-setting by those with the knowledge and enforced by those with the power and will. Right now security looks like a well-funded football that everyone's scrambling to grab hold of. ]
Man Fined for Trying to Install Keystroke Logger (12 December 2003)
The Johannesburg Commercial Crime Court convicted Innocent Madlala under South Africa's Electronic Communications and Transactions (ECT) Act for attempting to install a keystroke-logging device on an Internet banking computer. Madlala was fined R20,000, approximately US$3178.
-http://allafrica.com/stories/200312120540.html
[(Grefer): This is a huge fine in a country where the average annual household income is approximately US$16,800. ]
Johnson Appointed DHS Security Chief (12 December 2003)
Jack Johnson has been officially appointed Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) chief security officer.
-http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2003/1208/web-dhs-12-12-03.asp
Putnam Pushes for Cyber Security Accountability (11 December 2003)
Representative Adam Putnam (R-Fla.) last month tabled legislation that would have required companies to include results of independent security audits in their annual reports after various organizations asked if they could have the chance to develop accountability standards without government regulation. The Corporate Information Security Working Group has met twice to develop best practices and guiding principles in that hope that private sector organizations would voluntarily adopt them. If the group does not achieve its goal, Putnam says he will reintroduce his legislation as soon as next spring.
W32/Yaha-Y Worm (11 December 2003)
A variant of the Yaha worm, dubbed W32/Yaha-Y or Win32.Yaha.Z, is spreading. The worm blocks access to anti-virus web sites, tries to install a key logger and may try to launch a denial of service attack against certain targets.
-http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/12/11/1071086178204.html
-http://www3.ca.com/virusinfo/virus.aspx?ID=37722
-http://www.sophos.com/virusinfo/articles/yahay.html
Windows 98 Moves to Non-Supported Phase Next Month (11 December 2003)
A recently released paper warns that Microsoft's plan to move Windows 98 to "the non-supported phase" in January 2004 will mean an increase in threats for those still running the operating system; an accompanying survey of 670 companies found 80% running at least one computer with Windows 98 or 95. While people using the older OS can still get on line help, Microsoft will no longer be obligated to provide hotfixes for vulnerabilities.
-http://www.techweb.com/wire/story/TWB20031211S0009
[Editor's Note (Schultz): Microsoft's dropping support of Windows 98 is not by any means any kind of catastrophe for the security community. This OS is not at all conducive to security in the first place. Hopefully, dropping support of Windows 98 will trigger more use of Windows XP, which (despite the many vulnerabilities that have surfaced in this OS) is not all that bad from a security perspective. ]
Worm Propagation in Networks (10 December 2003)
This article analyzes the propagation behavior of three different worm families in networks.
-http://www.securityfocus.com/infocus/1752
Cambridgeshire (UK) police have arrested a man suspected of sending hoax e-mail messages to people informing them their credit cards had been debited x9c399.95 (approximately US$698) for an iPod. The e-mail encouraged them to phone a customer service number, which was actually the Cambridgeshire police main switchboard number; the deluge of calls caused a denial of service attack on the switchboard.
-http://www.silicon.com/software/security/0,39024655,39117270,00.htm?nl=d20031210
-http://www.vnunet.com/News/1151399
[Editor's Note (Schneier): This is a modern-day version of the pizza attack. (Ed: The pizza attack involved ordering pizza from dozens of outlets and asking that it be delivered to a person - the victim - who didn't want it and didn't want to pay for it.) ]
Developer Error Exposes Database (9 December 2003)
A developer error allowed a widely used database containing people's names, social security numbers and other personal information to be accessed by the public for several hours last week. A developer had apparently opened access to the database while LocatePlus.com, the company that provides the database service, was testing an application to make the database available on wireless devices. LocatePlus logs users' Internet addresses, so it has a record of who accessed the database during its vulnerable period.
Air Force Establishing Network Operations and Security Center (9 December 2003)
The Air Force is setting up a Network Operations and Security Center (AFNOSC) to "identify network security issues, vulnerabilities and attempted intrusions and attacks and develop appropriate responses."
Considering Camera Phone Policies (9 December 2003)
META Group vice president for Technology Research Services Jack Gold recommends that companies develop clear policies regarding the use of camera phones on business premises; they should also consider whether the devices should be allowed on site at all. Camera phones could be used to photograph proprietary information.
-http://informationweek.securitypipeline.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleId=166
Voting Machine Companies Form Election Technology Council (9 December 2003)
Six electronic voting machine companies have created the Election Technology Council, which has three main focus areas: creating an industry code of ethics, developing certification and standards recommendations and reviewing security best practices.
-http://www.fcw.com/geb/articles/2003/1208/web-etc-12-09-03.asp
[Editor's Note (Schneier): Do I hear the sound of wagons circling? ]
DHS and Private Sector Need to Work Together for Cybersecurity (8 December 2003)
Members of the House Homeland Security Select Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Science and Research and Development spoke to the need for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to develop strong relationships with the private sector in order to effectively guard against cyber attacks.
-http://www.gcn.com/cgi-bin/udt/im.display.printable?client.id=gcndaily2&stor
y.id=24362
[Editor's Note (Ranum): This is a constant and useless refrain. If the government wants to get serious about cybersecurity they can. Continually pointing at the private sector is a cop-out. ]
Microsoft Investigating IE Vulnerability (10/11/12 December 2003)
Flaw could allow phishers to spoof web sites.
-http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/12/12/1071125632006.html
Buffer Overflow Vulnerability in Windows Workstation Service (10 December 2003)
A patch released in November addresses the problem, but workarounds recommended at the same time, which suggested using a firewall to block certain UDP and TCP ports, will not work because the new vector of attack uses a different UDP port.
No Microsoft Patch Release in December (10 December 2003)
Microsoft says it will not be releasing its monthly security package in December because they have "nothing that has passed the bar from a quality perspective."
XP Fix Unexpectedly Delivered (11 December 2003)
A fix was unexpectedly delivered to some Windows XP systems last week, despite Microsoft's announcement that they were not sending out a December security package. The fix was originally issued in November, but only to XP systems running Microsoft's Internet Information Service (IIS). A change in distribution parameters caused the fix to be distributed to a wider range of XP systems.
===end===
NewsBites Editorial Board:
Kathy Bradford, Roland Grefer, Stephen Northcutt, Alan Paller, John Pescatore, Bruce Schneier, Eugene Schultz, Gal Shpantzer
Please feel free to share this with interested parties via email, but no posting is allowed on web sites. For a free subscription, (and for free posters) or to update a current subscription, visit
http://portal.sans.org/
"Because of the use of real-world examples it's easier to apply what you learn."
- Danny Hill, Friedkin Companies, Inc.


Asif Kapadia's movie "Far North"
The film-maker talks about the challenge of filming in the North Pole.
On Thursday's Riz Khan we speak with Asif Kapadia about his upcoming film, Far North starring Michelle Yeoh and Sean Bean. Shot on location in the harsh climate of the Arctic Circle Far North is the story of two women whose fragile equilibrium is shattered when they find a mysterious man in the snow.
Kapadia's first film, Warrior, won him critical acclaim and a ticket to Hollywood. But after doing a major studio production starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, Kapadia decided to leave the politics of Hollywood behind. Far North marks his return to making films his way – opting for cinematic visuals and creative freedom over heavy dialogue and big budgets.
We talk to Kapadia about the rigors of making films in challenging locales like the North Pole, the Hollywood machine and whether or not good cinema is viable at the box office.