From lyger at attrition.org Sat Nov 4 20:55:36 2006 From: lyger at attrition.org (lyger) Date: Sat, 4 Nov 2006 20:55:36 -0500 (EST) Subject: [attrition] dataloss: 462 events in DLDOS, backfill project continues Message-ID: http://attrition.org/news/content/06-11-04.001.html First off, the staff of attrition.org would like to thank everyone who contributes to or has contacted us regarding the Dataloss project. For those of you who aren't familiar with Dataloss, it generally consists of three primary areas: [...] So there you sit, looking at this here web page, wondering how you can help, right? RIGHT! If you know about an event we don't have listed, let us know. Download a copy of DLDOS, take a peek, and fill in a few fields. We've asked before, but we really do feel like this is a community project. We don't only want your comments, we want your assistance. Anyone willing to pitch in and add data will receive a personalized thank-you email from the attrition staff member of their choice and will be entered into our next "Hookers and Cocaine Weekend" lottery drawing. Promise. [...] From lyger at attrition.org Mon Nov 6 00:26:06 2006 From: lyger at attrition.org (lyger) Date: Mon, 6 Nov 2006 00:26:06 -0500 (EST) Subject: [attrition] review: Movie: Banlieue 13 Message-ID: Banlieue 13 2004 Czarina Set in Paris in the year 2010, the violence and disorder in the ghettos have spiraled out of control. Unable to control the inhabitants who are mostly immigrants and their French-born offspring, the French government erects walls to contain the savagery and chaos. The residents of B13, both honest citizens and dastardly criminals have been deemed undesirable and are cut off from Paris and the outside world by a State that professes Liberty, Fraternity, and Equality. The police have begun to pull out of the hopeless terrordome infested with drugs and guns, with the secret hope that the lowlifes will kill each other off -- thus, problem solved. District 13 resident and anti-crime crusader Leito (Parkour co-founder David Belle), has taken it upon himself to fight the drugs and corruption in his neighborhood, bit by bit. He steals drugs from the poison purveyors and destroys them so that users don't get high and pushers don't get rich. This raises the ire of local crime boss (and serious coke fiend) Taha (Bibi Naceri), whom Leito wants to take down. During an attempt to topple Taha and bring him to justice, Leito is imprisoned and his sister Lola (Dany Verissimo) is taken by the drug lord and his henchmen, headed by K2 (the late Tony D'Amario). Now in prison, Leito is no longer a threat to Taha or the mob rule of B13, but there is a new menace that threatens the barrio -- a clean bomb that is set to explode in less than 24 hours and will wipe out the entire slum. [...] From lyger at attrition.org Wed Nov 8 21:36:19 2006 From: lyger at attrition.org (lyger) Date: Wed, 8 Nov 2006 21:36:19 -0500 (EST) Subject: [attrition] rant: Linode took my money and ran Message-ID: http://www.pogowasright.org/blogs/grokthis/?p=317 I recently jumped into the "Virtual Dedicated Server" pit by signing up for a month-to-month plan with Linode.com. Things were interesting for a while, it was nice to have root access, to be able to install and configure different distributions of linux on a remote server, etc, but the problems began when I submitted a service ticket request to upgrade to a more robust account. My ticket was ignored for over 24 hours even though they say they typically respond within in 1-6 hours, so at that point I sent an email. After waiting another two days and getting no response, I joined their IRC channel and bumped into caker, who is apparently the owner. He said he.d process a refund under their .7 day money back satisfaction guarantee. that day. Impressed by this straightforward apology and offer to assist, and really wanting this type account, two days later I opened a new account with Linode, this time paying for 1 year in advance in order to get some additional benefits. This was mistake #2, and the largest error in judgement I've made in quite a while. [...] From lyger at attrition.org Fri Nov 17 22:35:20 2006 From: lyger at attrition.org (lyger) Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2006 22:35:20 -0500 (EST) Subject: [attrition] postal: we want our two dollars Message-ID: http://attrition.org/postal/p0013.html when gang bangs go bad flatlined aging gracefully ... except shoot guns and answer email another satisfied customer at least he was honest not just aol log log log log 0mf6 c0d3z logic hits home From lyger at attrition.org Sun Nov 19 21:13:20 2006 From: lyger at attrition.org (lyger) Date: Sun, 19 Nov 2006 21:13:20 -0500 (EST) Subject: [attrition] review: Book: Brave New Ballot Message-ID: http://attrition.org/~lyger/works/reviews/bnb.html Brave New Ballot The Battle to Safeguard Democracy in the Age of Electronic Voting Aviel D. Rubin - Amazon.com ISBN: 0-7679-2210-7 Morgan Road Books, Copyright 2006 "Brave New Ballot" by Aviel Rubin is quite a surprising read and was honestly enjoyable. For someone who isn't "tuned-in" to most political matters, including the topic of electronic voting, I found this book to be informative and interesting on a few levels. Even though at times Rubin appears to show disdain for those in the political arena who have no "computer security experience", which may be up to 99% of the United States population (my estimate, not his), his concern for honesty within the democratic voting process is quite clear. The book starts off with how Rubin became involved with the concerns about electronic voting. From there, he provides accounts of legal, professional, and personal opposition to his findings and opinions regarding security issues with not just the machines themselves, but the process as a whole. One particular example involves Kim Zetter from Wired News, who Rubin openly admits was right in her assessment of his failure to disclose his past business association with VoteHere (a company assumed to be a Diebold competitor). Rubin admits his mistakes, which is quite a refreshing departure from the "CYA" mentality often shown by those who do make mistakes but fail to admit them. [...] From lyger at attrition.org Mon Nov 20 21:29:40 2006 From: lyger at attrition.org (lyger) Date: Mon, 20 Nov 2006 21:29:40 -0500 (EST) Subject: [attrition] review: Movie: The Fountain Message-ID: http://attrition.org/movies/fountain.html The Fountain 2006 Czarina It's a shame when good movies go bad, particularly when their plots sound so new and promising, stars good actors, and has good buzz with the critics. Well, The Fountain is one of those good movies that went awry in its efforts to deliver a satisfying movie, and I'm a little mad. The movie did manage to do a good job with visual aspect and the actors were genuine in their characters. However, just like a sub-standard soldier in the Army, it fails to be all that it can be. The Fountain is actually an interweaving of 3 stories with the same characters and the same goal-- finding the mythical, medical, and spiritual Fountain of Youth which will put an end of the pesky problems of disease and death. The film's opening is convoluted as it introduces the 3 stories which are all in different stages of progression. The first story introduces us to a Conquistador, Tomas (Hugh Jackman), who is fiercely loyal and dedicated to the service of Queen Isabel (Rachel Weisz), the Kingdom of Spain, and its growing empire. However, the queen is embattled by the Catholic Church, which learns of her plans to find the Fountain of Youth (well actually it's a tree that gives eternal life to whomever drinks of its sap). The queen has been deemed a heretic by Father Avila (Mark Magolis) her prime opponent, who calls for her arrest and undeniably, her execution. [...]