Michael Gracie

And succeeding by living (and working) right.

There are comparisons and contrasts in lifestyle and success. You can make it different ways, and you can spend it different ways. Any path should be set with enjoyment in mind, and sometimes with a quiet mind. Read about how two of the wealthiest men on the planet, Paul Allen and Warren Buffett do business, and how they take care of their winnings.

I look at predictions as part “let me show you how right I can be” and part “I really hope this happens for whatever reason.” But every now and then, someone either gets it right, or pushes someone to do what was predicted. So they serve at least some purpose.

I have already seen predictions from John Battelle, Nicholas Carr, Jason Calacanis, Corante, and the San Jose Mercury News. Even the Slashdot crowd has thrown their ninety-plus cents in. I thought I would put up a few myself (but mostly for the latter cause) - safe knowing Wired won’t care, and therefore won’t put me in the next Foot-in-Mouth Awards list.
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A new trojan has been identified whose purpose is stealing online banking passwords. If criminals were smart, they would have released this bug before the holidays - there isn’t any money (or credit lines) left for them now.

While I don’t buy into the idea that new Windows machines coming with firewalls turned on and trial-ware for viruses and spyware eliminations makes the world a much better place, at least someone is actually aware there are issues.

You can send out all the propaganda you want regarding the spam wars, and how CAN-SPAM is doing such a great job. But more than one person is going to question what you’re saying.

Someone has to clue the government in to the fact that information is extremely widely available, and totally mainstream. The “paid press” is becoming less significant by the hour - and even they know if they spew some nonsense, they’re going to be millions calling them on the carpet over it (and usually within five minutes or so).

While I generally favor what the FTC has been doing on the computer security front, I just have to say they need to be a little more careful (and cognizant) next time they try to give credit where credit isn’t due.

The folks I know in the education space, including some teachers, a few policy makers, and the higher-ups at a couple of for-profit institutions, have pissed and moaned about the Bush Administration’s No Child Left Behind program. I’ve heard funding is the big issue, but I can’t opine on the matter myself, as education just isn’t my “business.” But I see a covert signs that NCLB is actually working.
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I might of actually recommended this list of security precautions, especially considering the target. A lot of folks have just unwrapped their fancy new machines, and now that the kids are all in bed, are probably going to plug them in to the net. They will be quickly infected with some virus or spyware, and that’s all she wrote.

In comes the Department of Homeland Security making suggestions about how to stay safe - but their opening blows the credibility out of the water. Instead of saying trojan horse software “was first discovered in May 2005,” they could have stated “the Department of Homeland Security first discovered the trojan horse threat in May 2005, even though every computer security company on the planet was isolating plenty of them by the late-90’s.”

At least someone might have listened if they were honest. Now a bunch of folks are going to get screwed (with the exception of those who got a boxed Linux distro in their stockings, or were lucky enough to have a loved one who braved the lines at the Apple Store).

To Friends and Family in:

Clearwater, Jacksonville, Orlando, Gainesville, Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, Miami Beach, and Coral Gables, FL;
Alpharetta, GA;
Falls Church and Alexandria, VA;
Washington, DC;
Baltimore and Phoenix, MD;
Newtown, PA;
Carmel, IN;
Chicago, Hinsdale, Evanston, Highland Park, Northbrook and Wilmette, IL;
Denver, Boulder, Fort Collins, and Steamboat Springs, CO;
Salt Lake City and Park City, UT;
San Francisco, Mill Valley, Los Angeles, and San Diego, CA;
Jackson, WY;
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico;
Sydney and Normanhurst, Australia;
Taby, Sweden;
McMurdo Bay, Antarctica;

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah (which you can actually say on the same day this year), and to the couple of Buddhists in the crew, Happy Everything!

The FTC has recently come out with a very long report detailing how CAN-SPAM is working. Brian McWilliams pointed out that while they interviewed numerous people for the work, including folks at the Direct Marketing Association, they forgot to talk to Steve Linford over at Spamhaus.

While this is not a particularly strange omission (as Brian notes Steve was not very happy with CAN-SPAM), I am more curious as to the cause of the sudden shift of gears. The FTC was just saying CAN-SPAM wasn’t working too well a few months ago. Meanwhile, they have been out and about, cracking heads, and getting some decent PR as a result. Cripes, they even even shut down a splog ring!

Then a turf war started between the FTC and Congress, and now it looks like someone has caved. All that comes out of Congress is noise, so they couldn’t have anyone lingering around doing something about the issue. The FTC seems to be backing off (and spewing some sound of their own), and there is no doubt a few politicians will be waving this “report” around and taking the credit. I wonder who is getting the next appointment.

Several high school students are in potentially scorching water after hacking into their school district’s computer network to change some grades and grab a few tests.

These students were obviously very concerned about their grades, and getting into a good college is supposedly very competitive nowadays. Unfortunately, they may not get there, which in a strange way, is…well.. unfortunate. They were talented enough to get into the system - they might have been talented enough to help out some college with their security issues.