“This is the first age that’s ever paid much attention to the future, which is a little ironic since we may not have one.”
Authur C. Clarke
[tags]authur c. clarke, quote, future[/tags]
It’s a game developed by the computer people at Carnegie Mellon University. It focuses on phishing and other internet schemes.
link: Anti-Phishing Phil
There is disagreement in the security community about how effective educational programs are in curtailing phishing. - My approach on this issue is that it is far better to raise the awareness of such schemes. Not knowing is not bliss…
Catherine Forsythe
Director of Operations
FlyingHamster: http://flyinghamster.com/
[tags]phishing, security, game, carnegie mellon university, anti-phishing phil[/tags]
“This is the first age that’s ever paid much attention to the future, which is a little ironic since we may not have one.”
Authur C. Clarke
In less than a year, the women’s soccer teams will reconvene in Beijing for the 2008 Olympics. Based on the performance on the U.S. women’s team at the World Cup, there is work to be done. The U.S. women’s team won the consolation match against Norway but they fell far short of their goal to win the World Cup. At the moment, both Germany and Brazil have better teams. There seem to be three immediate pressing issues that face the American team.
The first and most pressing issue is the long ball style that they are playing. This means a long pass to a striker like Amy Wambach and / or set pieces. Possession and creativity at the midfield are not emphasized and this does not create an offensive flow. Other teams can adjust to this style and close off the offensive pressure. An example is how Brazil neutralized the offensive pressure in the semifinal game. This puts enormous pressure on the American defense.
The second puzzling aspect of this World Cup was the substitution pattern that the Americans used. For example, when trailing in the game, the emphasis was to put in defensive oriented players. This further throttles any offensive pressure. Perhaps this would be understandable with a lead but it is baffling when trailing and when offense is needed. At other times, even with a significant lead, the bench was not used to give the starters a rest. It was bewildering.
The third issue is personnel. Is Hope Solo finished as a national player? Will Kristine Lilly be back? Will Greg Ryan’s contract be extended through to the Beijing games? Those are just some of the personnel questions. Apart from the internal drama of the Hope Solo incident, this team was rocked by a overwhelming defeat by the team from Brazil. The team that goes to Beijing will have to contend with Brazil and the current World Cup championship team from Germany. How will they collectively respond?
The positive from this tournament is a renewed spectator interest in women’s soccer. And there are more teams now who feel that the soccer gold medal in Beijing is within their grasp.
Catherine
In less than a year, the women’s soccer teams will reconvene in Beijing for the 2008 Olympics. Based on the performance on the U.S. women’s team at the World Cup, there is work to be done. The U.S. women’s team won the consolation match against Norway but they fell far short of their goal to win the World Cup. At the moment, both Germany and Brazil have better teams. There seem to be three immediate pressing issues that face the American team.
The first and most pressing issue is the long ball style that they are playing. This means a long pass to a striker like Amy Wambach and / or set pieces. Possession and creativity at the midfield are not emphasized and this does not create an offensive flow. Other teams can adjust to this style and close off the offensive pressure. An example is how Brazil neutralized the offensive pressure in the semifinal game. This puts enormous pressure on the American defense.
The second puzzling aspect of this World Cup was the substitution pattern that the Americans used. For example, when trailing in the game, the emphasis was to put in defensive oriented players. This further throttles any offensive pressure. Perhaps this would be understandable with a lead but it is baffling when trailing and when offense is needed. At other times, even with a significant lead, the bench was not used to give the starters a rest. It was bewildering.
The third issue is personnel. Is Hope Solo finished as a national player? Will Kristine Lilly be back? Will Greg Ryan’s contract be extended through to the Beijing games? Those are just some of the personnel questions. Apart from the internal drama of the Hope Solo incident, this team was rocked by a overwhelming defeat by the team from Brazil. The team that goes to Beijing will have to contend with Brazil and the current World Cup championship team from Germany. How will they collectively respond?
The positive from this tournament is a renewed spectator interest in women’s soccer. And there are more teams now who feel that the soccer gold medal in Beijing is within their grasp.
Catherine Forsythe
[tags]world cup, soccer, u.s. women’s team, olympics, beijing 2008, personnel, style[/tags]
There have been discussions concerning the social apathy of the internet generation. Questions have been raised about why the people are not protesting and marching on the streets over a wide spectrum of social issues.
It may be that the internet generation is active socially in another manner. The reach of the internet - and social networking sites - may be far more powerful than local civil protests. The issue in Burma shows the reach of the internet and, specifically, Facebook:
“…Since its creation 10 days ago, 19-year-old Alex Bookbinder’s Facebook group, “Support the Monks’ protest in Burma,” has amassed more than 160,000 members.
The social networking page has become a newswire on happenings in the governing junta’s violent crackdown, a mouthpiece for nearly 200 discussion topics and a planning space for demonstrations from Vancouver to Hong Kong.”
link: ‘Support the monks’ via Facebook
Burma has recognized the threat of the internet and has tried to control online access. Nevertheless, information is on the internet and Alex Bookbinder’s Facebook site grows. Internet access, like this Facebook site, means that some reports are unfiltered and directly from the eyewitnesses to history. Of course, there are both positives and negatives to this dissemination of information. Nevertheless, there is no question that there is a changing paradigm of news gathering and it is happening right on your monitor.
Catherine Forsythe
Director of Operations
FlyingHamster: http://flyinghamster.com/
[tags]monks, burma, facebook, social issues, news, alex bookbinder, censorship[/tags]
The IRS is not sending you an email because it made a mistake. The IRS is not sending you an online survey whereby you can make some money by participating. The IRS does not need your help in an online fraud investigation. The list goes on and on…
The IRS will not email you spontaneously. It is a phishing related activity, with the focus of obtaining personal information from you and using that information for illicit financial gain. Do not give out any financial details. Do not open any attachments. Do not confirm or correct any personal information online. If you want, forward the email to: phishing@irs.gov - and then delete the email. You do not want that trash on your machine.
link: Phishing, Identity Theft and Scams
These schemes are becoming more and more sophisticated. They are designed to play upon your anxiety and your willingness to obey the law. If the IRS really needs to contact you, no doubt that they will - and not through email.
Catherine Forsythe
Director of Operations
FlyingHamster: http://flyinghamster.com/
[tags]irs, security, phishing, social engineering, email[/tags]
Germany defeated an exceptionally dangerous team from Brazil. The score was 2 - 0, with Brazil having the advantage of possession time. The German defense was stellar. Throughout the World Cup tournament - playing six games - Germany did not allow a single goal. Against elite international teams, this is a remarkable statistic. Germany becomes the women’s team to defend its previous World Cup championship.
The German team becomes the team favored to win the gold when the international teams return to China for Olympic competition. Kudos to the team from Germany for a terrific achievement.
Catherine Forsythe
[tags]soccer, world cup, germany, brazil, championship, kudos, records[/tags]
Germany defeated an exceptionally dangerous team from Brazil. The score was 2 - 0, with Brazil having the advantage of possession time. The German defense was stellar. Throughout the World Cup tournament - playing six games - Germany did not allow a single goal. Against elite international teams, this is a remarkable statistic. Germany becomes the women’s team to defend its previous World Cup championship.
The German team becomes the team favored to win the gold when the international teams return to China for Olympic competition. Kudos to the team from Germany for a terrific achievement.
Catherine
