Red vs. Blue: We Are Not Enemies

"As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours: 'we are not enemies but friends. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection.'

To those Americans whose support I have yet to earn: I may not have won your vote tonight, but I hear your voices.
I need your help. And I will be your president too.

To all those watching tonight from beyond our shores -- from parliaments and palaces to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of the world : our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared. And a new dawn of American leadership is at hand.

To those who would tear the world down: We will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security: We support you.

And to all those who have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright: tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity, and unyielding hope.

That is the true genius of America: that America can change. Our union can be perfected. What we've already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.

This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations..."

"[But] it can't happen without You: without a new spirit of service, a new spirit of sacrifice.

So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism --of responsibility-- where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder, and [to] look after not only ourselves, but each other."

From Obama's Acceptance (Victory) Speech, November 5, 2008
full transcript: http://www.thestar.com/News/USElection/article/530862

A Great Day for the Internet

"A Great Day for the Internet" 

It was a great day for the Internet, today [August 1st, 2008].  Just hours ago, the [United States] FCC ruled that Comcast violated federal policy by interfering with certain Internet traffic.  In doing so, it took an important step toward assuring that the Internet remains open and free.  In Chairman Martin's words, consumers are entitled to unfettered access to the Internet. [...] it means that the FCC is prepared to act against tactics that threaten innovation and the level playing field of competition.

... Today's FCC Order does two important things.  First, it makes clear that, while reasonable network management of Internet traffic is permissible, there is a line that cannot be crossed.  Comcast crossed that line, and has been sanctioned accordingly.  Secondly, the FCC endorsed the idea that the rule of law must be accompanied by transparency into what ISPs are actually doing to our Internet traffic.

...

read more: http://blog.vuze.com/index.php/2008/08/01/a-great-day-for-the-internet/

 

50th Anniversary of the LEGO Brick

Google is celebrating 50th anniversary of Lego Brick on January 28th, 2008 by placing the Lego Brick Google Logo.


Happy Birthday LEGO Brick!

Read more about it: the history of the Lego Brick (invention)

2004's Cisco Hacker Convicted this week in Sweden

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A 19 year old man was convicted for hacking activity in Sweden, and "Swedish Radio News ... reports that following the reversal, the American FBI wants the Swedish police to investigate if the 19 year old was responsible for a hacker attack at Cisco." (source: Notes from Sweden /radiowood.com )

[UPDATE, 20 NOV 2007 00:05 UTC : I admit implying that this young man is positively 2004's "Cisco Hacker" in the blog title is misleading :-) ~The Liberty Miller]
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from the ' International Herald ', Monday 19 November 2007:
'Cisco hacking suspect convicted in Sweden'

2007-11-19, STOCKHOLM, Sweden:

A Swedish teenager who is suspected of hacking into the computer network of Cisco Systems Inc. in the U.S. was convicted Monday of 'intruding on the networks of three Swedish universities'.

Overturning an acquittal by a lower court, the Svea Court of Appeal gave the [now] 19-year-old man a conditional sentence and ordered him to pay 160,000 kronor (US$ 25,000; € 17,000) in damages to the universities...

  >> iht.com/articles/ap/2007/11/19/technology/EU-TEC-Sweden-Hacker

Background:

• MAY 2004 (3 years, 6 months ago):
  "Cisco investigates source code leak"
  
  The technology giant confirms that some of the proprietary source code that drives its networking hardware has appeared on the Internet...
  " An unspecified amount of the proprietary source code that drives Cisco Systems' networking hardware has appeared on the Internet, the technology giant acknowledged early Monday.
  A representative could not confirm, however, that network intruders made off with 800MB of code, as reported by a Russian security group over the weekend..."
  
  ~ CNET News.com; May 17, 2004
  
  
• MAY 2005:
  "Cisco Says Swede Detained for 2004 Hacking Incident"
  
  " Cisco Systems Inc. said on Tuesday authorities in Sweden had detained a person for stealing its [Cisco IOS software] source code [last year; Cisco IOS constitutes] the basic instructions for the machines that direct Internet traffic around the globe... "
  
  ~ Reuters; May 2005
  
  
• May 2005:
  "Investigators link Cisco hack to other activities"
  
  " In e-mail messages sent to a University of California, Berkeley, researcher last year, a computer hacker claimed to have breached the computer networks of several U.S. government sites, including military installations, according to a New York Times story published Tuesday.
  After the Cisco source code theft was announced in May 2004, security experts expressed concern that hackers could use the code to look for security holes in Cisco products. Companies using Cisco's networking products often connect them directly to the Internet without firewalls or other security products.
  Cisco applauded the Swedish arrest. "We are very encouraged that an arrest has been made in Sweden and will continue to work with the appropriate law ... "
  
  www.infoworld.com/article/05/05/10/HNciscohack_1.html?NETWORK%20STANDARDS
  
  
  
• May 2005:
  Cisco source code theft part of 'mega-hack' [?]
  
  " Hackers made off [with] the secret blueprint for [Cisco IOS software, the] software that controls the flow of traffic on the internet when they broke into Cisco'snetwork in May 2004 and ... "
  
  ~ The Register, 05/10/2005; cisco_hack_investigation

more:

• current: "FBI investigates Swedish hacker"; 2007-11-17, 'The Local ; Sweden's News In English'
• historical: > google search 'cisco hacker sweden

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Marvel launches online comic service w/ 250 free sample comics!

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Marvel launches online comic service w/ 250 free sample comics:


{ http://m1.2mdn.net/viewad/1495577/1-Digital_Comics_Free_Iron_Man_728x90.jpg }

> Link: Marvel.com Digital Comics HeadQuarters

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your computer might be showing the wrong time today

[submitted by John S., October 28 2007]

A note for our United States readers:

In 2007, Daylight Saving Time (DST) doesn't take effect in the US until the first Sunday in November... this is a change from previous years, in which DST ended the last Sunday in October.

You can double-check the current time at TimeAndDate.com.

"DST ends on Sunday, November 4, 2007 at 2:00 AM local daylight time"