Warning to Internet Users: Hackers get hold of critical Internet flaw

SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) - Internet security researchers on Thursday warned that hackers have caught on to a "critical" flaw that lets them control traffic on the Internet...

"We are in a lot of trouble," said IOActive security specialist Dan Kaminsky, who stumbled upon the Domain Name System (DNS) vulnerability about six months ago...

"This attack is very good. This attack is being weaponized out in the field. Everyone needs to patch, please," Kaminsky said. "This is a big deal."...

Attackers could use the vulnerability to route Internet users wherever the hackers wanted, no matter what website address is typed into a web browser...

The flaw is a boon for "phishing" cons that involve leading people to imitation web pages of businesses such as bank or credit card companies to trick them into disclosing account numbers, passwords and other information...

Read more and beware: Hackers get hold of critical Internet flaw

Ten Guidelines from God - Part I

Effective immediately,please be aware that there are changes You need to make in your Life.These changes need to be completed in order that I may fulfill My promises to you to grant you peace,joy,and happiness in this life.I apologize for any inconvenience,but after all I am doing,this seems very little to ask of you.Please follow these 10 guidelines.

1.QUIT WORRYING:
Life has dealt you a blow and all you do is sit and worry.Have you forgotten that I am here to take all your burdens and carry them for you?Or do you just enjoy fretting over every little thing that comes your way?
2.PUT IT ON THE LIST:
Something needs to be done or taken cared of?Put it on the list.No,not YOUR list.Put it on MY to do list.Let ME be the one to take care of the problem. I can't help you until you turn it over to ME Although My to do list is long,I am after all...GOD.I can take care of anything you put into My hands.In fact,if the truth were ever really known,I can take care care of a lot of things for you that you never even realize.
3.TRUST ME:
Once you've given your burdens to Me,quit trying to get them back.Trust in Me.Have the faith that I will take care of all your needs,your problems and your trials,Problems about your kids,your finances,put them in My list.Problems with your emotional roller coaster,for my sake,put it in My list.I want to help you .All you have to do is ask.
4.LEAVE IT ALONE:
Don't wake up one morning and say,"Well, I'm feeling much stronger now,I think I can handle it from here." Why do you think you are feeling stronger now? It's simple,you gave Me your burdens and I'm taking take care of them.I also renew your strength and cover you in my peace. Don't you know that if I give you these problems back,you will be right back where you started? Leave them with Me and forget about them.Just let Me do my job.
5.TALK TO ME:
I want you to forget a lot of things.Forget what was making you crazy. Forget the worry and fretting because you know I am in control.But there is one thing I pray you never forget.Please, don't forget to talk to Me--OFTEN! I love you I want to hear your voice.I want you to include Me in all the things going on in your life.I want to hear you talk about your friends and family.Prayer is simply, you having a conversation with Me.I want to be your dearest friend .

( Note: I got this from a friend and I have no idea who wrote it,but I was touched by it,that I have to share it with you.I hope that you will be blessed and will share it with others. The last 5 guidelines will be posted tomorrow.)

Who's More Stupid?

Underwear chicken dare puts man in hospital

Break-in suspects found asleep on stolen goods

Men sentenced for setting friend's crotch ablaze

Suspected thieves run out of gas at Goodwill store

Woman runs sword into foot during Wiccan ceremony

Peru wants jail for nude woman who used flag as saddle

Man blows up apartment spraying for bugs

Cancer Center Warns of Cell Phone Risks

By JENNIFER C. YATES and SETH BORENSTEIN, Associated Press Writers
49 minutes ago (3.13pm)

PITTSBURGH - The head of a prominent cancer research institute issued an unprecedented warning to his faculty and staff Wednesday: Limit cell phone use because of the possible risk of cancer.

The warning from Dr. Ronald B. Herberman, director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, is contrary to numerous studies that don't find a link between cancer and cell phone use, and a public lack of worry by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Herberman is basing his alarm on early unpublished data. He says it takes too long to get answers from science and he believes people should take action now — especially when it comes to children...

Read more: Cancer center director issues warning on cell phone risks

BELATED and ADVANCE HAPPY BIRTHDAY

There is a saying it is better to be late than never. Therefore, BELATED HAPPY BIRTHDAY to:

GENEROSO DE GUZMAN - JULY 17

ANTONIO APOLINARIO - JULY 20

JULIA SANTOS - JULY 21

Advance Happy Birthday to:

ALBERTO BAUTISTA - JULY 29

LUCILA QUICHO - JULY 29

From Mrs Maria Fe Diaz Flores

With Heartfelt Sympathy

To the family of our Batchmate,Ramon Lacson ,
whose Father passed away yesterday:

"We are thinking of you.....

And wishing you hope in the midst of sorrow...

Comfort in the midst of pain ...

With heartfelt sympathy "

Soap That Grows on Trees

Revolutionary laundry soap product grows on trees, replaces laundry detergent with eco-friendly solution...

The bottom line: Nature's replacement for manufactured soap products

Read more: Replace your toxic laundry detergent with natural laundry soap that grows on trees!

Time for our own gogo hair shampoo to hit the international market! Any business entepreneurs amongst the batch?

Other health items that may be of interest:

Seven Foods to Balance Your Blood Sugar Levels

Honey Better Than Cough Medicine For Soothing Kids' Cough Symptoms

Taking Steps to Prevent Dementia in Old Age Is an Important Consideration

Frequent Mobile Phone Use Boosts Tumor Risk by 50 Percent

Philippine Newsbits

British man drowns in Bataan waterfalls

Dagupan teener is Asia’s Sudoku math champion

Filipinos: Diligent, overqualified coffee servers in S’pore

English is really crazy

There is no egg in eggplant nor ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in pineapple. English muffins were not invented in England or French fries in France. Sweetmeats are candies, while sweetbreads, which aren't sweet, are meat.

We take English for granted. But if we explore its paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square, and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.

And why is it that writers write, but fingers don't fing, grocers don't groce, and hammers don't ham? If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn't the plural of booth beeth? One goose, 2 geese. So, one moose, 2 meese? One index, two indices? Is cheese the plural of choose?

If teachers taught, why didn't preachers praught? If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat?In what language do people recite at a play, and play at a recital?

Ship by truck, and send cargo by ship? Have noses that run and feet that smell? Park on driveways and drive on parkways? How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites? How can the weather be hot as hell one day and cold as hell another?

When a house burns up, it burns down. You fill in a form by filling it out, and an alarm clock goes off by going on.When the stars are out, they are visible, but when the lights are out, they are invisible. And why, when I wind up my watch, I start it, but when I wind up this essay, I end it.

Clipped from : http://www.ahajokes.com

Bored brains shrink faster: study

The old adage "use it or lose it" is literally true, according to Australian research showing the brain shrinks faster if it is not stimulated.

Brain scans have revealed that people who do not engage in complex mental activity over their lifetime have twice the shrinkage in a key part of the brain in old age.

The finding sheds more light on the link between lifestyle and dementia, and adds strength to the evidence that mental gymnastics, like puzzles and new languages, stave off ageing diseases.
"We've got strong evidence here that people who use their brains more have less brain shrinkage,"...

"I hope people take this as a further call to arms to get out there and use their brains, get engaged in anything from tai chi to world travel, in the knowledge that it may help delay or prevent the onset of dementia."

Mental activity has been found to delay the onset of the degenerative brain diseases, such as Huntington's, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, in large population studies...

Read more: Bored brains shrink faster: study (AAP)

Some Photos

Batchmates !! I am sharing my photos taken during the Team Building Session of our office in Bolinao,Pangasinan last May.Am still waiting for a less stressful workday when I can really write an interesting blog.

July 4th Cookout

July 4th, a (US) holiday went really well for some of your batch mates from Maryland and the Garden State (NJ). A small gathering, but I’d say “ Hail to the Chef!”

Manoling Rivera (Baluyot) and bride, Debbie, went out of their way to host a small party at their residence in Brooklyn Park, Maryland in celebration of the July 4th holiday weekend. Annie and I (driver) came first, followed by Larps. Unfortunately Pres. Mike Cruz could not make it due to work commitments. I called it a small gathering but with big results. Manny’s culinary expertise can’t be overlooked. The menu consisted of lumpia, pancit, barbecue chicken on the stick, and marinated (beef) steak, grilled to order, if I may add. It was quite a task, even with his wife helping out. You would think Manny and Debbie were feeding a lot of people. But that was it, all five of us! Of course, Manny’s mother-in-law and Debbie’s son came much later. Annie brought ukoy, with a pint of apple cider vinegar laced with mashed fresh garlic. Debbie and her mom, loved the ukoy. They called it vegetable fritter with shrimp! And for dessert she made sapin-sapin. There goes the diet plan. We all talked about the mini-reunion in San Diego, and how it went well. Manny planned to be at the 2010 reunion. He said he’s getting his karaoke ways revived, and looking forward to challenge Azon for the singing marathon. Or something to that effect. But the jokes and stories kept rolling almost non-stop. Thanks again, Debbie and Manny for the scrumptious meal, your hospitality and the loads of laughter. We really have a great 4th of July celebration. We didn’t even miss any fireworks display. Wish you were all here, Class of 63!

How to save on gas

Here are some tips that can help:

1. If you can, downsize and use a car with a smaller engine, particularly a 1.3-liter engine. It will use up less gas than, say a car with a 2.0 liter engine. Cars with automatic transmission use up more gas too.

2. Consider switching to diesel or LPG gas for cars. This may involve selling your car and getting another one. Weigh the cost.

3. How about carpool? You’re not the only one driving to Makati from Quezon City every day. As you said there are thousands of you. Find two or three people working in your building who would be open to having a carpool service. You may even share driving duties, which should be a welcome relief given the daily traffic jam.

4. Have your car regularly maintained. Go for scheduled tune-ups, check if your tires are inflated properly (check the guide in your car manual or the sticker by the driver’s door for the correct tire pressure), and make sure filters are clean. A well-maintained car will work efficiently and contribute to fuel economy.

5. Plan your trips. If you’re going to one area, do all your errands there. With this strategy, you won’t have to go on short out-of-the-way trips after work every day. For instance, if you have to go to the mall to buy a schoolbag for your child, you might as well do other things there such as grocery shopping, banking, having a haircut, meeting a friend for coffee, etcetera. This will also maximize your parking fee.

6. When driving, avoid idling the engine too long. If you have to wait in the car while your companion goes to a store, turn the engine off.

7. Maintain a steady speed while driving. Driving too fast then braking hard wastes gas.

8. Wait out the traffic. If you can, wait until traffic gets lighter. Find something to do while waiting for the rush hour to end—you can go to the gym, read a book, or meet with friends. Ask your boss if you can work flexible hours. You can come in at 7 a.m. and leave at 4 p.m. or work at 10 a.m. and leave at 7 p.m. An even better option is telecommuting.

9. Lighten up the trunk. More weight in your car trunk will make your car work harder, using up more gas.

10. At the gas pump, don’t top off the tank. The excess gas may spill and will amount to waste. Just stop filling at the automatic level.

11. When parking, choose a shady spot to prevent gas from evaporating under the heat.

12. Fill up your tank in the morning or evening when the air is cooler. At midday, gas may expand due to the heat and you will end up getting a lesser amount of gas.

13. Do you use a credit card to pay for gasoline purchase? Switch to one that gives fuel rebates and shop for the best rebate offer.

14. Bargain for gasoline allowance as an additional employee benefit. It doesn’t hurt to try asking your boss for this benefit as long as you have been turning in good work consistently.

15. Consider living closer to your place of work. You may either relocate to Makati or find a job closer to home. Not only will you save gas; you will also be less tired with a shorter commute every day.

(INQUIRER.net and Citibank invite readers to ask questions regarding financial matters. Send your questions to personal_finance@inquirer.net or comment through our personal finance blog called MoneySmarts )

*Disclaimer: Readers are solely responsible for their own investment decisions and should thus conduct their own research and due diligence and obtain professional advice. INQUIRER.net will not be liable for any loss or damage caused by a reader's reliance on information obtained from our web site. INQUIRER.net receives no compensation of any kind from companies or industries or funds that are mentioned here.

Related Site:

Citibank

SOURCE: Inquirer.net June 20, 2008

An Incredible love story

HOPE is a Waking Dream ... with LOVE everything is POSSIBLE!

(May I share with you this beautiful and inspiring love story? I know that there are many hopelessly romantic ones in the batch. Count me in!)

An incredible love story has come out of China recently and managed to touch the world..
It is a story of a man and an older woman who ran off to live and love each other in peace
for over half a century.


The 70-year-old Chinese man who hand-carved over 6,000 stairs up a mountain for his
80-year-old wife has passed away in the cave which has been the couple's home for the last
50 years. Over 50 years ago, Liu Guojiang a 19 year-old boy, fell in love with a 29 year-old
widowed mother named Xu Chaoqin...


In a twist worthy of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet,
friends and relatives criticized
the relationship because of the age difference and the fact that Xu already had children.

At that time, it was unacceptable and immoral for a young man to love
an older woman.. To avoid the market gossip and the scorn of their communities,
the couple decided to elope and lived in a cave in Jiangjin County
in Southern ChongQing Municipality .


In the beginning, life was harsh as they had nothing, no electricity or even food.
They had to eat grass and roots they found in the mountain, and Liu made a
kerosene lamp that they used to light up their lives.

Xu felt that she had tied Liu down and repeatedly asked him, 'Are you regretful?
Liu
always replied, 'As long as we are industrious, life will improve..'

In the second year of living in the mountain, Liu began and continued for over 50 years,
to hand-carve the steps so that his wife could get down the mountain easily.

Half a century later in 2001, a group of adventurers were exploring the forest and
were surprised to find the elderly couple and the over 6,000 hand-carved steps.
Liu MingSheng, one of their seven children said, 'My parents loved each other so much,
they have lived in seclusion for over 50 years and never been apart a single day.
He hand carved more than 6,000 steps over the years for my mother's convenience,
although she doesn't go down the mountain that much


The couple had lived in peace for over 50 years until last week. Liu, now 72 years,
returned from his daily farm work and collapsed. Xu sat and prayed with her husband as
he passed away in her arms. So in love with Xu, was Liu, that no one was able to release the grip he had
on his wife's hand even after he had passed away.


'You promised me you'll take care of me, you'll always be with me until the day I died,
now you left before me, how am I going to live without you?'

Xu spent days softly repeating this sentence and touching her husband's black coffin
with tears rolling down her cheeks.

In
2006, their story became one of the top 10 love stories from China , collected by the
Chinese Women Weekly. The local government has decided to preserve the love ladder

and the place they lived as a museum, so this love story can live forever.

IRONY

Philippines elected vice-president of UN Human Rights Council ...

The country's election to the post demonstrates "the confidence of the international community in the Philippines as an active and constructive member of the United Nations committed to the promotion and protection of human rights," said DFA.