24 January, 2005

Odd and Ends

I was busy and then sick over the weekend, but I did collect some links for your anger, disgust, enjoyment, and anyway else you wish to describe them.

On an very interesting note, it seems we can now print skin, or at least the first steps towards it.
"SCIENTISTS at Manchester University have developed a printer able to produce human skin to help wounds heal.

It could be used on patients who have suffered burns and disfigurements. With more research it could even replace broken bones.

Using the same principle as an ink-jet printer, experts are able to take skin cells from a patient's body, multiply them, then print out a tailor-made strip of skin, ready to sew on to the body. The wound's dimensions are entered into the printer to ensure a perfect fit."

Of course, this would probably interest Bane, so he could have a few lovely lasses cover their tattoos- but not the scars, IIRC he likes those.

And for those wondering what types of drugs the students at Harvard take, we have this item:

"The confidential drug purchase histories of many Harvard students and employees have been available for months to any internet user, as have the e-mail addresses of high-profile undergraduates whose contact information the University legally must conceal, a Crimson investigation has found."

Of course, we need not worry about such flaws in the system because this type of software justs keeps getting better, and better:

"Two British companies have come up with a new system that will monitor company PCs for abuse, including criminal activity.

Security company 3ami and storage specialist BridgeHead Software Ltd. claim the Monitoring, Auditing & Security (MAS) system is able to track and store details of every action performed at a PC over time, including taking screenshots of open applications. This information could be retrieved at a later point and would be time-stamped to be legally admissible if a situation went to court.

Examples of abuse are detection of conventional issues such as time wasting and the installation of unapproved software, but the system would also track more sophisticated problems such use of derogatory language in emails, copying of confidential files, and attempts by criminals to subvert organizations from within.

It will also track when users try to hide their tracks by saving files with new file names, copying them to any attached drives or using external applications such as Webmail to send them out of the network."

Of course no corporation wants to admit it owns slaves, even if it was around one-hundred and seventy years ago (170):

"America's second biggest bank, JP Morgan Chase, has made a rare apology for its subsidiaries' involvement in the slave trade 200 years ago, admitting that it accepted slaves as loan collateral and ended up owning several hundred.

The Wall Street heavyweight said parts of the business accepted thousands of slaves as collateral on loans made to plantation owners in the South in the early 19th century.

It sent a letter to employees expressing contrition for its involvement in a "brutal and unjust institution". It made the disclosure to comply with a rule requiring companies to detail past dealings with the trade when they are doing business with the city of Chicago.

Citizens' Bank and Canal Bank in Louisiana, both now part of JP Morgan, served plantations from the 1830s until the American civil war, which ended in 1865.

The banks sometimes took ownership of slaves when the plantation owners defaulted on loans.

The company estimated that between 1831 and 1865 the two banks accepted approximately 13,000 slaves as collateral and ended up owning about 1,250 slaves."

Now, why they should "feel" bad is beyond my comprehension, but they now must "feel" gratified with their confession and public angst having been displayed.

The only thing left for them to do is self-flagellation, as anyone would be want to do after spending some time over at Cryptome reviewing many things that are disappearing from the public- HomeLand Scarity Briefings. You can go and browse them there, but here are the eight (8) from September 27th, 2004:

1. (FOUO) INTERNATIONAL: Commercial Flight Bound for U.S. Diverted due to Bomb Threat. According to CBP Reporting, on 26 September, an Olympic Airways flight from Athens to JFK International Airport was diverted to London following three anonymous phone calls to an Athens news station stating that a bomb was aboard the aircraft. British military aircraft escorted the flight into London?s Stansted International Airport and landed without incident. All passengers, carry-on items, and checked baggage were re-screened with negative results. Due to ?flight hour? restrictions, the aircraft was canceled until 27 September. (CBP Morning Report, 26 Sep 04; HSOC 3576-04)

2. (FOUO) MAINE: Suspicious Persons in Southwest Harbor. According to 23 September USCG reporting, a concerned citizen reported suspicious behavior by three men of possible Middle Eastern descent at a convenience store located in Southwest Harbor. The men were asking if any local businesses rented power boats, kayaks, or bikes. The men were driving a maroon-colored van with Florida license plates. The reporting citizen stated that although he initially thought the men?s behavior was suspicious, he did not think to report it, until he learned that the Queen Mary II would be making a port visit to Bar Harbor on 27 September. An investigation is ongoing. (COGARD Southwest Harbor; 23 Sep 04; HSOC 3577-04)

3. (FOUO) UTAH: Subject Arrested for Making Threats to Senator?s Office. According to FPS reporting, on 22 September, in Salt Lake City, as the result of a joint investigation with the U.S. Capitol Police, an FPS Special Agent arrested an individual who had threatened a Congressional staff member. Reportedly, on 13 September, the arrested individual had contacted the Salt Lake City offices of Senator Hatch and threatened to kill one of the office staff members. On 23 September, the individual was arraigned and remanded into the custody of the U.S. Marshal Service. He will undergo a psychological evaluation. (CCN: D04017091; HSOC 3578-04)

4. (FOUO) MASSACHUSETTS: Possible Video Surveillance of Interstate Highway. According to military reporting, on 22 September, in Lexington, a military member reported observing four Middle Eastern individuals standing on an I-95 overpass videotaping the northbound traffic and recording information into a notebook. Reportedly, the same military member recalled observing two of the individuals on the same overpass in late February or early March 2004. (AFOSI Talon 102-23-09-04-2297; 23 Sep 04; HSOC 3579-04)

5. (FOUO) CALIFORNIA: Security Breach at National City Terminals. According to USCG reporting, on 23 September, in San Diego, a dock worker reported that a soaking wet male was sitting on the dock at the National City Terminal. When questioned by the dock worker, the man stated that his boat had been overturned and he swam to the dock. When security was notified, the man climbed the fence before he could be questioned. San Diego harbor shore and water units responded but could not locate the individual or any signs of an overturned vessel. An investigation is underway. (USCG Operational Summary, 25 Sep 04; HSOC 3580-04)

6. (FOUO) ILLINOIS: Two Incidents of Suspicious Surveillance of the Chicago METRA Trains. According to Illinois State Police reporting, on 24 September, in Chicago, there were two separate suspicious incidents of photographic surveillance that took place at local METRA Stations. The first surveillance incident involved a named individual and occurred at the LaSalle METRA station. The second incident involved a Mexican citizen and took place at the Kensington METRA station. The Illinois State Police is investigating these incidents. (JRIES, 24 Sep 04; HSOC 3559-04 and 3560-04)

7. (FOUO) NEW YORK: Investigation Uncovers Precursors for Explosives. According to law enforcement reporting, on 24 September, in Long Island, Nassau County police noticed an individual who had just gotten out of the water near the Atlantic Beach Bridge. During a consensual search of his vehicle, police found chemicals, batteries, and electronic equipment. A search of the individual?s residence revealed inert 40mm grenades, re-primed grenades, rolls of fuse, a loaded handgun, items possibly used in the formulation of explosives, miscellaneous fireworks, and exploded debris. The individual is a naturalized citizen of the U.S. who has a military special operations background from 1968 to 1970. (HSIN updates 25 Sep 04; HSOC 3581-04)

8. (FOUO) U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS: Chemical Bomb Threat to Airport. According to BTS reporting, on 24 September, at the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport in St. Croix, CBP officers reported that the airport received a chemical bomb threat against the airport from an anonymous male caller with an Arabic accent. Authorities immediately evacuated the airport and notified the appropriate response agencies to search the airport. No bomb was discovered and airport operations were resumed. (BTS Daily Operations Report, 26 Sep 04; HSOC 3570-04)

I really liked the seventh one, as that describes so many homes in Texas. Naturally he could have said he has all of it for hunting. However, if those tools will not bag what you want in the field, you could always do what this enterprising young man did for his class, and go to the pet store:

A Guinea pig and rabbit purchased from a Geauga County pet store ended up on plates at a Cleveland area high school.

A 16-year-old student skinned and cooked the animals during a living skills class on Wednesday, prompting student and parent complaints to the Thompson Township Police Department and Geauga Humane Society. Officials at both agencies said they are investigating.

Friday editions of the CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER detail how the incident may warrant animal cruelty charges.

Geauga Humane Officer Sarah Westman said it's illegal to needlessly kill "companion animals" raised for domestic purposes.

"Something irrational and wrong happened," Westman explained.

Ledgemont Principal Beto Gage acknowledged that "misjudgments" took place but said the boy's actions are far from criminal.

The student - whose name was not released - described what he did in terms of harvesting meat to fix a dish for classmates, Gage said.

The principal described the boy as an active hunter. The Ledgemont district covers the rural communities of Montville and Thompson townships, where killing - and then eating - wild game is fairly common.

The hunt, however, usually doesn't take place at Pet Supplies Plus.

The boy went to the Chardon store and purchased the Guinea pig and rabbit after coming up empty in the great outdoors.

"My skin's crawling over this," said Linda Schempp, a spokeswoman for the pet store chain. "We sell our animals to be family pets - not food."

I not see what he did wrong- and it was educational. I guess I will have to take the family out and buy a rabbit now. I will give everyone a call and let them now how tasty it was...

--WP

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