Entries in " news "  

Black Hat Hackers Own Us!

The Register has an interesting article about black hat hackers. It contains a list of 10 reasons why the black hats have us "outgunned" Snippet:

1. The Black Hats form a well integrated community that shares knowledge effectively.

Should you, after months of research and effort, create an exploit that allows you to hack Windows or any other frequently used software product, you can auction the exploit on the internet in a well organised manner. Yes, the hackers have their own auction sites (it's true). And if you're looking to write a virus, say, well, there are hundreds of sites out there that can provide you with source code to help you construct something really fiendish. Different modules for setting up a mail server or planting a specific Trojan or whatever. Open source is all the rage, even among hacker

5. There's a market for your data

"OK, I go out onto the net and try an exploit here or there and I hit pay dirt - a whole file of thousands of credit card details. What do I do now?" My advice to you dear boy, is forget about trying to buy stuff on eBay or Amazon with all that stolen data. Simply sell the data and leave it to someone else to do all the dirty work. How much to sell for? Well it depends, but you should be able to get $30 per credit card as an absolute minimum and if you've got really lucky and managed to get the PIN number of the card (a difficult data item to get your hands on) then it should be close to $500 per card. Yes, there are markets out in cyberspace where you can sell data - not just credit card data, but Social Security Card data (for US citizens), birth certificate data, billing data, and driving license data (all of which can be used to set up bogus bank accounts).

6. There are botnets to rent

Don't tell me, let me guess. You've got a great scheme in mind to flood the world with a particular kind of spam and it's bound to pay off. But you just don't have the computer power you need. Let me introduce you to an Asian friend of mind who's been established in the Black Hat trade for a year or two. He repeatedly floods the internet with Trojan viruses to continuously assemble and grow a botnet. He has to keep on doing it because every now and then PCs get cleaned and fall out of the net and anyway the bigger the botnet the more the commercial opportunity. My friend will rent you a portion of his botnet for 20 cents per PC per day (roughly current rates) and he'll throw in a whole database of email addresses too. He thinks of himself as an Internet Service Provider.

10. Not all businessmen are entirely averse to the odd hack (on a competitor)

As you seem determined to embark on a life of cybercrime I have one last piece of advice for you. Don't ignore the business world as a lucrative source of income. I know what you're thinking. Those guys are my prey. Well it's true that some of them are, but some of them could become your customers - if you make the right contacts and do the right kind of marketing. I mean, which businessman could fail to be pleased when his major competitor suffers a big data hack or loses a few days web business because of a DOS attack. Which businessman doesn't think, "hey what if I arranged for something like that to happen?" And which businessman having formulated a good competitive tactic doesn't put it into practice. There's good money to be made in focused hacks, theft of intellectual property, denial of service and large scale data theft. You might even get paid twice - by the customer and the victim.

Apparently, it's the end of the world as we know it. The sky is falling... No really!

Seriously, identify theft has become such a major threat to the average consumer. Dealing with it can take years to straighten out and your credit may never be the same. E-Tailers need to take more precautions when dealing with customer data. I have worked at companies that retain quite a bit of user information and while their practices were decent, most needed to do more. I pointed it out, and usually action was taken... But not always!

Tsk Tsk.

Technorati Tags: black hat, e-commerce, hackers, security, software

Sopranos - Jip or Genius?

I am not quite sure how to feel about the series finale episode last night. I absolutely feel ripped off, in the sense that I just want to KNOW the outcome! Then again, I feel it was the best ending because it really lets us use our imaginations. There were so many clues put in this episode leading to the demise of Tony Soprano in one way or another. I have a big interest in organized crime in America, and there were many lines, or details, in this episode that actually happened in real life mafia situations.

This is what I picked up on. Some of it may be me reading to much into the situation, but I felt it relevant.

1. Black

The show ends with a black screen and credits without any music. This is the first time no music has been played on a show famous for the music selection played during the credits.

A few episodes back there was a scene where Tony & Bobby were in a row boat together. They were chatting it up and the subject of being "hit" came up. "You probably don't even see it coming" (para phrasing here) was used. Tony even said something about "Just goes black".

When Meadow was coming into the restaurant, there were 2 black guys who came in before her. Tony & Christopher tried to use 2 black guys to kill Carmine back when Johnny Sack was trying a take over. Only to back out on the hit, double cross the black guys (kill them) and piss off Johnny Sack.

Remember the attempt by Junior and Livia to kill Tony? They used 2 black guys for the failed attempt.

2. Restaurant

A popular place for mob hits, in both movies and real life, have been restaurants. Of course, the Michael Corleone scene where he shoots Sirlotzo (spelling?) and McClusky the dirty cop. Then there are the real life mob hits. John Gotti had "Big" Paul Castellano killed in front of Sparks Steakhouse on a very crowded Manhattan street. Carmine Galante was also shot gunned to death while dining at an Italian restaurant.

Now what about the guy who walked in right before AJ? He was at the bar and repeatedly looked towards Tony. Then he goes into the restroom? Sound familiar? Very similar to the scene in the Godfather (referenced above). Also, in the episode credits, that man was listed as NICK LEOTARDO? Phil's brother/cousin/son possibly?

3. FBI

When told about Phil Leotardo being executed, FBI Agent Harris said "We're gonna win this thing!" and slapped his hand on the desk. Remember that agent Harris had given Tony information about where he could find Phil Leotardo! In effect, he was an accomplice to the murder. Why is this important? Because real life agent R. Lindley DeVecchio had said the exact same words "We're gonna win this thing!" (with the slap on the desk) when told by a colleague about a mob hit. DeVicchio passed on information on the whereabouts of the victim of that hit. He had given information to "top echelon" informant Gregory Scarpa. Scarpa also happened to be a psycho and mass murderer for the Columbo crime family. Greg eventually died of AIDS and DeVicchio is currently under indictment for wrong doing during the Columbo family war of the early 90's. He is said to have assisted in multiple murders, commited by Greg Scarpa.

4. Snitch

So it was confirmed that Carlo flipped and will be testifying against Tony. Being that Carlo was a top guy, he most likely would be able to put Tony away. A RICO conviction would probably mean 20+ years for someone like Tony. Basically a death sentence in my eyes. Even though Tony is a younger guy (mid 40's) he is obviously very unhealthy and I would assume he would die in prison.

5. STOP

While Tony was at the restaurant waiting for his family to show up he played "Don't Stop Believing" by Journey. As the music played his family showed up one at a time. In the last split second of the episode, tony looks up and the screen goes black. I don't know why this stuck with me but the last word played of the song before going black was "stop". Stuck with me from the look on Tony's face. This is one of those "reading to much into it" moments, but I just feel like it had some importance.

I'm sure i'll come up with some more ideas once I watch the episode again. So is the final episode a jip or genius? A little from column A, little from column B.

Technorati Tags: finale, hbo, sopranos

The iPhones Are Coming!

Since the announcement of the Apple iPhone, the tech community has been a buzz with chatter. I saw one of the TV Ads the other day and got a little excited (read into that what you will). The phones are set to be available on June 29th, a mere 24 days away! I have to think that this will change the mobile phone business in some form. Probably not in the way that the iPod effected the music business, but I am sure it will change for the better.

There are drawbacks however. Mainly that the phone will be limited to use with the AT&T wireless service. A lot of people currently tied to contracts with other services will be wondering if it's worth it. Is it worth the cost of the current termination penalty? I think I pay $150 with T-Mobile, PER LINE (I have 3 lines!) Maybe I can finagle the deal to leave my wife & daughter on T-Mobile while I head over to iPhone bliss? Even if that's possible, the low end model of the iPhone is $499. That's a lot of green backs! Plus general service costs, etc. I can be looking at nearly $1000 to make the move.

Let's see... Overhaul my motorcycle... Or new iPhone??? Which one will turn more heads? Probably the iPhone.

When they do come out, I will probably sit and wait a few months so that any glitches, and there will be glitches, can hopefully get worked out. If you are one of the wild ones, and feel like sharing, please let me know how you like the phone. I am very interested to see how this one turns out!

Technorati Tags: cell phone, geek, iphone, ipod, apple, t-mobile

News Links: Illegal Gambling

Prince William County Police Bust Illegal Gambling Operation
NBC 4.com - Washington,DC,USA
Prince William County police are investigating an illegal gambling operation and arrested several individuals after serving search warrants at two residents ...

Sheriffs Make 8-Liner Bust In Pflugerville
CBS 42 - Austin,TX,USA
(CBS 42) PFLUGERVILLE Travis County Sheriff’s detectives served search and arrest warrants on two people Thursday for operating an illegal gambling business ...

Sugarcreek Twp. Man Gets Prison Time For Illegal Gambling
WHIOtv.com - Dayton,OH,USA
SUGARCREEK TOWNSHIP, Ohio -- A Sugarcreek Township man who operated an illegal gambling ring has been sentenced to 20 months in prison. ...

Technorati Tags: crime, gambling, news

Mac Mini iRouters!

I stumbled across a pretty clever use of Mac Mini's today. There is a pair of mini's being used as redundant BGP4 routers on the London INternet eXchange (LINX), by the Fubra network. They apparently installed Ubuntu Linux and used the Quagga Routing Suite for the BGP communications.

The mini's were perfect as they are very compact and draw very little power. Apparently, London data centers have power shortages *shrugs*

Details here...

Technorati Tags: bgp, geek, networking, OS X, technology

09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0

OK, I jumped on the f'n band wagon!

09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0
09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0
09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0
09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0
09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0
09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0

Wheeee!

Technorati Tags: geek, hd-dvd, news

Bush Family Ties To Nazi's

Found this video trolling the internet today. It makes some very serious claims about the current president, George W. Bush. I am definitely not a fan of our current administration, but this video is a bit dangerous. This investigative reporter claims that the Bush family fortune began with helping in the laundering of Nazi money. Even claims that his family tree had part in a plot to form a facist government here in the states, mirroring the tactics of Nazi Germany. You be the judge!

Watch the video

Technorati Tags: crime, george w bush, hitler, nazi

Sanjaya... Noooooooo!!

So Sanjaya was voted off American Idol last night. Shit! All my wasted votes! I could care less about the show. I might have seen 2 episodes in my life. Still, I found myself as part of the Sanjaya movement! Why? Well, it's funny. Why not? Since Kelly Clarkson, there really hasn't been any Idol winners that have "IT" and this season is no exception (heh, so I'm told.)

How did I get started voting for Sanjaya? Two Words: Howard Stern. Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a die hard Stern fan. I rarely miss a show and as silly as it sounds, it's fun to participate in the few things we are able to, like the Sanjaya Movement. Did I really get a kick out of voting? Well, yes. I had fun voting, then listening the next morning to everyone call in and say how many times they voted. While I've never called the show, it still put a smile on my face!

"Big Ups" to VoteForTheWorst.com. Combined with the legion of Stern fans, we kept Sanjaya around much longer than he deserved. We almost won, maybe next time we will!

Sanjaya is dead. Long live Sanjaya! (not exactly appropriate, but 'meh')

Technorati Tags: american idol, howard stern, sanjaya

Happy Birthday Modesty!

Today is my oldest daughters birthday! Her name is Modesty, and she is 8 year old today. Yes, I started early! Couldn't help myself. The devil made me do it. My wife was so aggressive. Something like that. Anyways, I wanted to wish her a happy birthday. Waiting on her return from soccer practice so we can have cake & ice cream!

Technorati Tags: birthday, life

The Imus Situation

I am so tired of this story. It's been blown so far out of proportion it's not even funny. Don't fire him for his sexist comment. Fire him because his ratings on both CBS Radio and MSNBC broadcast are among the lowest of his time slot. Now we have to listen to 2 huge racists themselves, Al Sharpton & Jesse Jackson, spew their BS all over the air waves.

Another great write up from Donklephant. Here is a quote:

Imus has been a so-called shock jock for a long time and has uttered an uncountable number of insensitive remarks over the years. CBS and NBC knew who he was and what he was likely to say. Yet this mildly racist, undeniably sexist comment gets him axed? Why? The answer is simple: the media needed the next sensationalistic story. Once that story was running nonstop, advertisers got scared and pulled away. CBS is just following its advertisers who are following the media who are following the immature, irresponsible, narrow-minded ideology that far too often masquerades as journalism these days.

Full article is here.

Technorati Tags: imus, politics, racism, stupid

Illegal Gambling / 3.31.07 -> 4.06.07

Cockfighting club owner arrested for illegal gambling
KTBS - Shreveport,LA,USA
James Butler, 38, is charged with illegal gambling, money laundering, racketeering and contributing to the deliquency of juveniles. ...

GAMBLING: US ban on Internet payment is ruled illegal
St. Louis Post-Dispatch - St. Louis,MO,USA
The US ban on offshore Internet gambling payments is illegal, the World Trade Organization said Friday, upholding a previous decision that allowed for ...

Crackdown is incomplete
Fort Wayne Jounal Gazette - Fort Wayne,IN,USA
Long, a Fort Wayne Republican, wants to spend about $2 million for 25 excise police officers assigned to investigate illegal gambling. ...

Gambling sting nabs city stores
Berkshire Eagle - Pittsfield,MA,USA
At K&J Variety, owner Iqubal Sandhu denied that his business was involved in illegal gambling. He said there was "some confusion," and that his son was ...

Pa. taprooms fear crackdown on poker machines as casinos open
Centre Daily Times - Centre County,PA,USA
In the Lehigh Valley, agents cited 15 private clubs for illegal gambling in the first eight months of 2006. At least two dozen more were raided at the end ...

BETTING BAN RULED ILLEGAL
Free Market News Network - Pompano Beach,FL,USA
In order to comply with the WTO, the US government must retract its ban on Internet gambling, or it must ban all gambling including off-track betting. ...

Police arrest 4 at raid on poker club
Indianapolis Star - Indianapolis,IN,USA
In a continuing crackdown on illegal gambling, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department vice detectives raided a year-old poker club on the Far Westside ...

Gambling games not so innocent
MyFox Tampa Bay - Tampa Bay,FL,USA
But the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office calls it something else: Illegal gambling. "The slot machines are games of chance, not skill, which makes them ...

Authorities Shut Down Two Illegal Gambling Businesses
KTRE - Lufkin,TX,USA
by Ramonica R. Jones. The raids are a result of a joint investigation between the Trinity County Attorney's Office and Precinct 4 constable's office. ...

FBI Investigate Second Life for Illegal Gambling
Next Generation - Brisbane,CA,USA
... get involved in any illegal activities, it is still currently unclear whether or not Linden Lab are responsible for gambling in illegal virtual casinos. ...

Ex-fire captain, victim advocate charged in gambling operation
Charlotte Observer - Charlotte,NC,USA
A former fire captain and a victim advocate have been charged with running an illegal gambling operation in a convenience store, law enforcement officials ...

Online gambling bust nets 17
Forest Hills Ledger - Forest Hills,NY,USA
Police broke up a wide-scale illegal gambling operation which allegedly booked more than $30 million annually in wagers from a Long Island City strip club ...

Thirty-three charged in poker bust
Mineral Wells Index - Mineral Wells,TX,USA
INDIANAPOLIS — The latest in a string of raids on illegal gambling houses struck close to home for some area residents. Officers from the Indianapolis ...

Ozark's Little 'Las Vegas'
WTVY - Dothan,AL,USA
Ledbetter has been charged with 12 counts of possession of an illegal gambling device. He is now out on bond. This is the second gambling ring arrest in the ...

Technorati Tags: crime, gambling, news, sports

Illegal Gambling / 3.24.07 -> 3.30.07

Illegal gaming targeted
Jackson Clarion Ledger - Jackson,MS,USA
Several Jackson business owners and operators were led away from their establishments in handcuffs following a series of raids on illegal gambling ...

Authorities seize alleged gaming machines at diner
Knoxville News Sentinel (subscription) - Knoxville,TN,USA
SEVIERVILLE — Authorities seized four illegal gambling machines during a raid at an Asheville Highway business this week, according to the Sevier County ...

Proposal targets video gambling machines in Indiana
Louisville Courier-Journal - Louisville,KY,USA
Lawmakers have been debating for several years how to deal with the video gambling devices, which are already illegal but are found at many bars, ...

40 Cited for Gambling After Warehouse Bust
WRAL.com - Raleigh,NC,USA
... of 2013 Bulon Dr., Cary – was running an illegal Poker gaming operation. McCoy was charged with one count of Gambling, one count of Possession For Sale ...

Gambling not illegal? You bet
Marquette Tribune - Milwaukee,WI,USA
Office pools and other private gambling are Class B misdemeanors under current state statutes, which carry up to a $1000 fine or 90 days in jail. ...

More than 64 People Arrested in Online Gambling Stings
Gambling911.com - Miami,FL,USA
"We have struck a powerful blow at the organizational level of an illegal gambling organization that has been reaping millions in illegal profits," Monmouth ...

Game-fixing, illegal gambling ruin love of the game
The Orion - Chico,CA,USA
... Jamaica during the Cricket World Cup allegedly because he was going to come clean in an upcoming book about illegal gambling and game-fixing in cricket. ...

Electronic Clearing House in pact with prosecutors
WIS - Columbia,SC,USA
... services known as "e-wallets," which mostly handled illegal transactions with online gambling Web sites, the US Attorney's Office in Manhattan said. ...

Sheriff to face trial on felony charge
Chickasha Express Star - Chickasha,OK,USA
Special District Judge Ken Harris ruled there is sufficient evidence to proceed to trial on a felony charge of conducting illegal gambling. ...

Ex-Cops Busted in Internet Gambling Sting
Associated Content - Denver,CO,USA
The illegal betting web site, 50ksports.com, was managed out of a strip club and a restaurant in Queens. Those managing the illegal gambling operation ...

Eight in Akron area indicted in gambling operations
Akron Beacon Journal - Akron,OH,USA
and Nunzie V. Fragola, 82, of Stow, with illegal gambling business, gambling conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy. The charges follow an investigation ...

NY, NJ Hit Internet Gambling Rings
InternetNews.com - USA
Wire rooms are locations where wagers are accepted in an illegal gambling operation. In both cases, the defendants also maintained toll free telephone lines ...

Technorati Tags: crime, gambling, sports

Illegal Gambling / 3.17.07 -> 3.23.07

Sheriff's Wife, Deputy To Stand Trial On Gambling Counts
KOTV - Tulsa,OK,USA
The judge also dismissed two felony counts for conducting illegal gambling and conspiracy to commit crimes and bad acts due to ``a lack of evidence,'' but ...

Bound over
Chickasha Express Star - Chickasha,OK,USA
Judge Harris found probable cause that the crime of peace officers engaged in illegal gambling was committed by Helen McMullen and Cacy. ...

Trooper caught in gambling raid
Lottery Post - Martinsville,NJ,USA
The doors are now locked to the illegal gambling establishment. A sign on the door tells people on the inside not to open the door to non-members, ...

Comptroller of Sports-Gambling Ring Pleads Guilty (Update1)
Bloomberg - USA
March 16 (Bloomberg) -- A Miami couple pleaded guilty to helping run an offshore sports-gambling ring that booked more than $3.3 billion in illegal wagers ...

Washington Township raid nets 15 gambling suspects
Toledo Blade - Toledo,OH,USA
Fifteen people were charged in an illegal gambling investigation after authorities searched a Washington Township location and found an illegal Texas ...

IMPD steps up attack on gambling
Indianapolis Star - Indianapolis,IN,USA
Police raided two more suspected pea-shake houses Friday in what is becoming the biggest crackdown on illegal gambling in Marion County in at least a decade ...

Indiana Poker Bust Nets Fellow Police Officer
PokerNews.com - USA
There were three men who allegedly were running the operation and they have been charged with felony illegal gambling and one of the ...

5 Men Plead Guilty To Racketeering
WDIV - Detroit,MI,USA
According to the indictment, the conspiracy involved laundering of the illegal gambling proceeds through legitimate businesses the defendants operated.

Miami Couple Plea In $3.3 Billion Online Gambling Operation
North Country Gazette - Chestertown,NY,USA
"The defendants have admitted to be being major players in an incredibly lucrative. and illegal, global gambling operation that took in untold millions of ...

Two Convicted in Internet Gambling Case
Associated Content - Denver,CO,USA
The illegal gambling operation, which rivaled most Las Vegas casinos, utilized a network of illegal bookies in New York who logged into offshore gambling ...

Sevier Co. deputies shut down illegal gambling operation
WATE.com - Knoxville,TN,USA
SEVIER COUNTY (WATE) -- Sevier County sheriff's deputies shut down an illegal gambling operation in Strawberry Plains. ..

Technorati Tags: crime, gambling, news, sports

Iraq War Perspective

A blog I like to read, Donklephant, had a posting yesterday with some facts I hadn't heard before. The post was based on the cost of the Iraq war and how that money could impact other areas of life around the world. In this case, they used hungry children as the example. Here is snippet from the posting:

"Taking those two figures together, one minute of war in Iraq would feed 2,000,000 children for a day. One day of war in Iraq would feed 20,000,000 children for a year."

Technorati Tags: iraq, life, war

Illegal Gambling / 3.10.07 -> 3.16.07

Game rooms prove to be magnets for robbers
KHOU (subscription) - Houston,TX,USA
One Wednesday night last fall an illegal gambling business off Edgebrook was robbed by two masked gunmen armed with an UZI and a revolver. ...

Illegal Gambling Operation Shutdown
KOTV - Tulsa,OK,USA
Its game over after the state busts an illegal gambling operation. Dozens of officers from Sapulpa, Creek County and the state's ABLE Commission formed a ...

60 people arrested in gambling raid
News 8 Austin - Austin,TX,USA
A total of 150 illegal gambling machines were seized. "We executed four search warrants throughout the city in our ongoing efforts to try to combat the game ...

Goodman prepares proposal to NBA, casinos to defend gambling
Las Vegas Sun - Las Vegas,NV,USA
"Every other city in which there's an NBA team has rampant illegal gambling going on," said Alan Feldman, a spokesman for MGM Mirage Inc. "Why then, ...

Maplewood nightclub was a gamble that hit big
Minneapolis Star Tribune (subscription) - Minneapolis,MN,USA
In 2003, state gambling agents raided the Rock and arrested Ogren for illegal gambling. He told agents at the time that the proceeds were going to the ...

Jumping into a Final Four pool? Dip into Minnesota's gambling laws ...
Pioneer Press - St. Paul,MN,USA
As you agonize over picking those first-round upsets in the NCAA basketball tournament, consider some friendly advice about legal and illegal gambling in ...

Gambling Raids Bust Four Austin Businesses
KXAN-TV - Austin,TX,USA
Since June of last year, area law enforcement officers have seized an estimated 2-thousand machines as part of an effort to stop illegal gambling in Central ...

Police break up illegal gambling raid
WTHR - Indianapolis,IN,USA
Eyewitness News asked the following questions as the owner was being taken into custody: Is this a regular gambling place? Is it high stakes? Cards? ...

Sheriffs raid gameroom outside Calallen
Nueces County Record Star - Robstown,TX,USA
Four people were arrested and up to 100 people were issued written warnings after an alleged illegal gambling business just outside Calallen was raided late ...

Police Say They Raided Gambling Operation; 4 Arrested
INDYchannel.com - Indianapolis,IN,USA
INDIANAPOLIS -- Officers arrested four people and gave court summons to 17 others during a raid on a car-wash establishment where illegal gambling was ...

Vice cops raid alleged 'pea-shake'
Indianapolis Star - Indianapolis,IN,USA
Four people were arrested and 17 others were issued summons for illegal gambling and visiting a common nuisance, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Sgt. ...

Capitol takes shot at illegal madness
UW Badger Herald - Madison,WI,USA
As the NCAA men’s basketball tournament tipped off today, two state lawmakers are proposing legislation that would legalize office pool gambling in ...

Suspect in baseball bat assault now faces federal charges
Honolulu Star-Bulletin - Honolulu,HI,USA
A Waianae man awaiting trial in state court for the baseball bat beating of two men acting as security at an illegal gambling operation has been indicted on ...

Online Wagering: Illegal, But For How Long?
Sports Memo - Brentwood,TN,USA
The bill made it illegal for banks and credit-card companies to make payments to online gambling sites. Following the passage of that bill, ...

"Cuban mafia" chieftain sentenced in Miami
Reuters - USA
The elder Battle built the syndicate on illegal gambling in New York in the early 1960s after leaving Cuba, prosecutors said. It later branched out to south ...

Gambling "room" shut down, neighbor catches raid on tape
WMC-TV - Memphis,TN,USA
"Many times when you have illegal gambling, illegal drug use, there are other things that are occuring too, much more serious." ...

Technorati Tags: crime, gambling, news, sports

Review: 300

I saw 300 on opening night (3.09.07) at the IMAX theatre in the Universal City Walk - Hollywood. I was able to score some tickets early as this place was sold out for all showings! I showed up about 45 minutes early to find out that there was already a line of about 70 people waiting to enter the theatre. Great. Luckily, I hurtled my way through the crowd to land perfect seats for me and my wife.

Now, the reviews I had read for this movie had not been kind. I have been excited to see this flick since I first saw a trailer for it in late '06. I didn't want to let what I had read dampen my spirits, but I did go in with lower expectations. When the movie ended, all I could say was "Wow!"

A big complaint I read about was the "green screen effect." The feeling of just watching a video game. Well, I didn't have that feeling. I felt the background was done very well. Let's not forget, the entire point is to bring the graphic novel to life. Much like Sin City, the movie is given the feel of the book. I don't think it could have been done better on a live set. Not for this type of project.

Some of the narration was annoying, and a few parts a little over acted, but the entire movie was entertaining! A lot of muscle and bravado, but most of the attitudes did mimic the actual behavior of the Sparta population. Although, at one point King Leonidas did make a comment about how the men in Athens were "boy lovers." As far as I know (read: history channel documentary) the Spartans encouraged homosexuality in it's ranks. The idea being that the soldiers will be more emotionally invested in their brothers in arms and more willing to die for them.

There is plenty of blood, guts & gore. I can't think of a single hand to hand combat scenario where blood, guts & gore were not present. I don't understand the complaint here? What were these critics expecting? If you don't want to see the results (exaggerated, sure) of battle, don't go see this flick.

What? No sex? Hold on there little fella. There is a sex scene thrown in to satisfy the little pervert living in all of us. Leonidas' wife, Queen Gorgo, was played by Lena Headey. Put it this way, my wife was commenting on how hot she looked!

Verdict? Go see the damn movie!

Technorati Tags: 300, life, movies

Illegal Gambling / 3.03.07 -> 3.09.07

Authorities Crack Down On Illegal Gambling
Pittsburgh Channel.com - Pittsburgh,PA,USA
PITTSBURGH -- The district attorney is making it harder for illegal gambling to take place in Allegheny County. The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported that ...

Whitefish cowboy sparks a likely change
The Missoulian - Missoula,MT,USA
The law, said Gene Huntington, is clear: Devices manufactured for gambling are illegal. Huntington administers the state's Gambling Control Division, ...

Illegal VFW gambling probe continues
Nashua Telegraph (subscription) - Nashua,NH,USA
Under the state’s gambling statute, RSA 647:2, owners and managers of illegal gambling operations can face class B felony charges. ...

Rutgers forms center for study of gambling
Newark Star Ledger - Newark,NJ,USA
... the research is important because legalized gambling is a huge economic engine in New Jersey and both legal and illegal gambling are growth industries. ...

Two Cleveland County Men Plead Guilty in Illegal Video Poker ...
The Lincoln Tribune - USA
On February 22, 2007, HICKS HELTON of Mooresboro pled guilty in US District Court in Asheville to one count of conducting an illegal gambling business. ...

Appeals court overturns conviction of Racing Services operator
Bismarck Tribune - Bismarck,ND,USA
Bala was convicted by a jury in 2005 of 12 felonies in what authorities said was the largest illegal gambling case in North Dakota history.

Court Overturns ND Gambling Conviction
Houston Chronicle - Houston,TX,USA
Bala, 52, was convicted by a jury in 2005 of 12 felonies involving charges of running an illegal gambling business. Bala and RSI were ordered to forfeit ...

City Council to vote on anti-gambling proposal targeting game rooms
Austin American-Statesman (subscription) - Austin,TX,USA
Austin City Council members are expected to vote today on an ordinance aimed at cracking down on illegal gambling and other crimes at game rooms that have ...

Let the Madness Begin!
LAVoice.org - Los Angeles,CA,USA
Illegal gambling on March Madness is more rampant than underage drinking in college and more costly to productivity than ebay and myspace put together. ...

Gambling charges brought against barrooms
Brockton Enterprise - Brockton,MA,USA
... Beverage Control Commission was transferred to Treasurer Timothy Cahill in 2003, the agency has prosecuted more than 40 bars for illegal gambling. ...

Bill to Ban Cockfighting in New Mexico Passes House of ...
PR Newswire (press release) - New York,NY,USA
The roosters are often given drugs to enhance their aggression. Cockfights almost always involve some form of illegal gambling.

Stakes raised in gambling battle
Daily News - Galveston County - TX,USA
The chamber also argues that legalizing video lottery terminals at tracks could help combat illegal gambling throughout the state on so-called eight-liners. ...

More than police could crack down on illegal gambling
Beatrice Daily Sun - Beatrice,NE,USA
People who allow illegal gambling machines in bars and other locations across the state could be busted by people other than the police. ...

Technorati Tags: crime, gambling, life, news, sports

Windows Vista Activation Flaw

Apparently there is a method to bypass the MS Windows Vista activation process. It is done using the Paradox OEM Bios Emulation Toolkit. I stumbled across this while browsing My Digital Life. Read the full article here.

I wish I could test this, but the only PC hardware I have is running FreeBSD and I have no Vista discs. Have fun with this one.

Technorati Tags: microsoft, news, windows vista

Illegal Gambling / 2.24.07 -> 3.02.07

One suspect pleads guilty
Chickasha Express Star - Chickasha,OK,USA
“He pled guilty to the Felony crime of being a police officer engaging in illegal gambling and to the Misdemeanor crime of neglecting his duty of office. ...

Racetrack suspected of illegal betting
Lawrence Journal World - Lawrence,KS,USA
... the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission, said there is an administrative complaint “regarding allegations of a conspiracy to engage in illegal gambling. ...

Harmless fun or illegal blights?
Indianapolis Star - Indianapolis,IN,USA
"There's never been any kind of tacit authorization of pea shakes or any illegal gambling," said Deputy Mayor Steve Campbell. "If you do something illegal, ...

Is this arcade just adult fun, or gambling?
Boston Globe - Boston,MA,USA
Although he voted to grant Lucky 7 its license last year, Beaudette said he must act on the allegations of illegal gambling. ...

First NZ conviction for illegal gambling
Casino City Times - Newton Center,MA,USA
She became the first person to be prosecuted by Internal Affairs for illegal bookmaking since the Gambling Act came into force in 2003. ...

Officials Say They Raided Milford VFW Hall In NH
WCSH-TV - Portland,ME,USA
Officials say they have seized five illegal video poker machines and tens of thousands of dollars from the Milford, New Hampshire Veterans of Foreign Wars ...

State raids VFW over video poker
Cabinet.com - Milford,NH,USA
Officers went into a downstairs room and seized the machines because they were being used in illegal gambling, according to Kyle Metcalf, ...

Sheriff’s hearing resumes Wednesday
Tuttle Times - Tuttle,OK,USA
... and former Chickasha officer Lt. Jerry Tyler will continue their joint preliminary hearing on the charge of peace officers engaged in illegal gambling. ...

Agents bust illegal gambling house
Baltimore Examiner - Baltimore,MD,USA
BALTIMORE - State and local law enforcement busted an illegal gaming operation at a Baltimore City bowling alley Thursday. ...

Regional digest
Worcester Telegram - Worcester,MA,USA
Without debate, the License Commission revoked the license based on police complaints that the bar hosted an illegal gambling ring. ...

Technorati Tags: crime, gambling, life, news, sports

Put your hands up for Detroit??

I am not the biggest fan of dance music, outside of a night club anyway, but this new song is being played everywhere. I have to admit... I did download it and add it to my iPod. Very catchy song. The song I am talking about is "Put your hands up for Detroit" by Fedde Le Grand. I hear it nearly daily on my Sirius radio, flipping through the stations (during the rare times I take a small break from the Howard Stern show.)

The video for the song is pretty unique, I guess. I can't complain to much about it, being a huge fan of hot chicks wearing next to nothing, which this video has it's fair share of. For your viewing pleasure, I embedded the video below from YouTube. Enjoy!

Technorati Tags: dance, ipod, music, nightclubs