Taken from [URL="http://www.whattheduck.net"]What The Duck[/URL]

[URL="http://redtape.msnbc.com/2008/08/almost-everyone.html"]http://redtape.msnbc.com/2008/08/almost-everyone.html[/URL]

Fooling people nowadays is too easy. The technology we use puts us in a very vulnerable place.

I know my ex roommate used myspace profiles to target retards, uh, [I]young[/I] impressionable girls. He'd search for the ones "online now", narrow by age, maybe location and only those with photos. Then read a little over their profile (takes 30 seconds, seriously) and then he would send a message, in essence a form letter, along the lines of:

[QUOTE]"hi

I saw your profile and noticed you were [insert info from profile]. I really like [comparative interest, from profile]. It's great to see someone who [insert activity listed in profile]. Your pictures are [insert witty adjective], especially the one where you are [bla bla bla]. . . " [/QUOTE]

Get the drift?

He would send 20, 30 or more, out of those not all replied, but many did. I can't say it's wrong, but imagine that was your kid or little sister?

We are also too lazy to build strong passwords and strongholds to keep our information private. We fall so easily for the phishing scam and the "enter your email/cell to subscribe to our crap, cancel any time, really, honest!" I don't care if they mean the best and are truly not scumbags, all it takes is one site where you have personal info to be compromised and you're in the shithole if you're not smart.

[URL="http://www.ghettowebmaster.com/myspace/phished-myspace-accounts/#more-24"]http://www.ghettowebmaster.com/myspace/phished-myspace-accounts/#more-24[/URL]

I mean, "password1" and "abc123" as passwords? Really?

So, take a look at your info and how it's distributed. Security questions are lame so spice them up. Make up an alter ego. When they ask you for your grandfather's middle name, say it was Sniffles and your first pet's name was JesusChrist, the school you attended was Corona and your favorite country is Uranus.

Check this out, at my job, we deal with a company that handles part of our clients' investments. All our clients are international, most from Latin America. In Latin America, most use both last names, paternal and maternal. Two of the security questions (you only need to answer two of six) are "what's your mother's maiden name?' and "what's your favorite country?"

Oh, and chain letters. A big FUCK YOU if you've ever sent one. I don't care if it was to give us the location of Osama Bin Laden's lair, use the blind copy. Even a retard manually copying the addresses can get to your info from the "To" header. Hello? it's right there!

In any case, if you're stupid enough to believe that [URL="http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/nothing/billgate.asp"]Bill Gates will give you free money[/URL] or that [URL="http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/medical/mallory.asp"]you will save a sick child by forwarding a message[/URL], then you deserve to be scammed and flooded with spam and viagra offers (but don't drag anyone else into it).

By the way, last I heard Snopes was pushing adware from Zango, but I'm not sure as of today.

And last, this is not related whatsoever to me being pissed at MySpace, Tagged and other sites being able to bypass my popup blocker. Not at all. Honest.

I'm so sorry but I didn't take a single photograph!

It was a wonderful and busy week - there's a big choice of workshops every day culminating in a performance on the last evening to the rest of the camp.

I participated in the advanced intermediate Djembe with Mokoulou Swane who's a strict but very good teacher. The rhythm we learnt was tricky and I thought I'd never get the hang of it as there was so much to remember, but we got there in the end.

The other workshop was my usual sabar drumming with Modou Diouf which was fantastic as ever.

Apart from that, I dropped into several workshops as an observer including baka song. I also sang two songs at the Doris open mic - it didn't go very well but hey - you can't win them all and it stops me getting too cocky ha ha!

The weather was erratic with quite bad wind and rain at times but I was snug in the Moon Palace.

The closing ceremony was wonderful with performances from the complete beginner drummers and some hand bell ringers.

I can't begin to describe what a wonderful week I've had musically, creatively and personally........................ lovely!

Watch this space.

PS:

I did take a few pics after all!

[IMG]http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b253/chandrajmoon/IMG_8491.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b253/chandrajmoon/IMG_8479.jpg[/IMG]

Will move out soon from the chalet's area soon. I have got the key of my new rental house. Hmm ..soon need to locate the new costing for the financial. Sick of me!
Now, need to pay monthly car,house..and adding with the petrol consuming which cost me about RM20-RM30 per two day. But it depends on the distance.
This evening, with my two staffs will arrange to clean the new house. and I hope I will be happy with the new house. Ky seems fine with my choice of house since he will transfer to new office this coming September. At last, after his promotion, he got to move out from the island. Hope we will be happy soon!