News Flashes & Flickers

When you're tired of seeing something on the front door, please cut and paste it here.

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Patch available for the Windows Meta File Exploit

Wow. Somehow, heaven and earth have moved and Microsoft has released a patch early for this exploit issue.

So, click on that Start button, and kick off the Windows Update Process. Go, do it now! Restart your computer, and then breath a sigh of relief.

-- NatePerryThistle - 05 Jan 2006

NOW READ THIS

Regarding the second yellow alert for the Windows Meta File exploit, ALL WINDOWS COMPUTER USERS MUST READ THIS INFORMATION:

• The ISC WMF FAQ

Technical users should read this information:

• All WMF Exploit Articles posted by the ISC
• The US-CERT Vulnerability Note regarding the WMF exploit

The most recent version of this exploit is being sent around in SPAM.

Watch out!

-- NatePerryThistle - 01 Jan 2006

i read it, love! i even looked to see what cert had to say about the situation.

this is the moral i got out of the story: if you run windows and go online, you're screwed. at least until jan 10th when the patch will (hopefully) be released.

-- KathiaZolfaghari - 04 Jan 2006

Yellow Alert!

The ISC has gone to yellow alert as a new Windows Meta File exploit has been infecting computers for the last 24 hours. The exploit works against fully patched Windows XP operating systems. The IE Web browser is easily exploited, and even Firefox can launch the vulnerability if you consent to run the offered file.

Read the Microsoft Security Advisory or the US-CERT Technical Cyber Security Alert. If you'd like to see what the exploit looks like when it runs on a computer you may watch a movie released by Websense Labs. DO NOT VISIT ANY LINKS YOU MIGHT SEE IN THE MOVIE.

There is no patch available yet, and not all variations of the exploit are known to your anti-virus software. Update your virus signatures frequently and be safe in your Web browsing.

-- NatePerryThistle - 29 Dec 2005

The ISC is so fickle. The infocon is back to green, meaning there is no significant new threat. I guess this issue is over 24 hours old now...

Stay vigilant -- the exploit still exists and there is no patch available.

-- NatePerryThistle - 30 Dec 2005

And back to yellow! They (ISC) say, "...We hate going back to yellow for something we were yellow on a couple of days ago and had returned to green, but the more we look at it and the uglier it gets."

Oh yeah, and watch out for that leap second

-- FloydPerryThistle - 31 Dec 2005

Where have you been?

There have been so few changes lately... where have y'all been? Busy? Sick? (That's why I haven't edited for a while.)

What's your story?

-- NatePerryThistle - 23 Dec 2005

People were just here. Other than that, I don't know. I've been here. Nothing to say. I'm with you digeratis and confreres .

-- ParisaZolfaghari - 25 Dec 2005

My story? Once upon a time there was a little girl whose name was Kati. During Christmas she liked to jollificate. And cook, which she seemed to do a lot of.

-- KathiaZolfaghari - 25 Dec 2005

I have been very busy with dirty diapers and holiday cheer!! Hooray!

-- BenPerryThistle - 25 Dec 2005

Well I have had a few things to say about the weather and the Rain. I find it entertaining, but hardly front page

-- FloydPerryThistle - 26 Dec 2005

Nate and I were talking...

And we wondered why we didn't have a movie page on the site. You know, to list movies worth seeing and perhaps not so worthy movies too. So here it is: WatchThis.

-- KathiaZolfaghari - 10 Dec 2005

How about WatchThisOrNot^?

-- FloydPerryThistle - 11 Dec 2005

I liked MoviesWorthWatching^? and MoviesNOTWorthWatching^?.

-- NatePerryThistle - 14 Dec 2005

Kudos to Diego

Because he put up a Christmas list.

-- KathiaZolfaghari - 09 Dec 2005

Yay Diego !!!!

-- ParisaZolfaghari - 09 Dec 2005

Nate deserves a shout out too, because he put up his list too. Way to go, love!

-- KathiaZolfaghari - 10 Dec 2005

A Big Welcome to KimMcCormack

Say hello to the newest P-Tweaker - a gal with attitude. Click the picture to see her big.

See some more of the gang at: PotLuckPartyJanuary2004

-- FloydPerryThistle - 04 Dec 2005

Nate, what did we tell you about tying people down and making them sign up?

-- KathiaZolfaghari - 05 Dec 2005

Um... what was that again?

Actually, we (I) signed her up because of a SafariWebBrowserIssue^?.

-- NatePerryThistle - 05 Dec 2005

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Got 1.5?

Firefox 1.5 is ready for download. This isn't the usuall small security update, it's actually a functionality update (with some security improvements).

-- NatePerryThistle - 30 Nov 2005

The first vulnerability in Firefox 1.5 has been announced. No patch available yet, though there are a number of workarounds (which are also good for your privacy and security settings).

-- NatePerryThistle - 09 Dec 2005

This turns out to be rather unexploitable.

-- NatePerryThistle - 12 Dec 2005

It's time to stop messing around...

... and to get with the program. Christmas lists, people! Unless receiving coal is all you're looking for this year.

-- KathiaZolfaghari - 28 Nov 2005

I've added more stuff to my list. You know—take a look. It might motivate you to get going. Unless you've a burning desire for coal. Because there's nothing wrong with that.

-- KathiaZolfaghari - 07 Dec 2005

Happy Birthday Ben

Click for your song!

-- FloydPerryThistle - 22 Nov 2005

Happy Birthday Brother Ben!

-- NatePerryThistle - 22 Nov 2005

Happy Birthday!

-- ParisaZolfaghari - 22 Nov 2005

Yellow Alert!

You're not using Internet Explorer, right?

If you are, you need to heed this Yellow Alert: a proof of concept exploit is out and there is no patch available. You need to either stop browsing the Web, turn off JavaScript^?, or switch to another Web browser.

-- NatePerryThistle - 21 Nov 2005

NOTE: While the Yellow Alert has been downgraded (as the graphic shows) the flaw and exploit still exist.

-- NatePerryThistle - 22 Nov 2005

NOTE: Thought I'd just mention that this vulnerability still has no patch available... do consider downloading Firefox 1.5.

-- NatePerryThistle - 30 Nov 2005

Hey! A number of updates from Microsoft came out yesterday. One even addresses this problem.

Demand your updates!

-- NatePerryThistle - 14 Dec 2005

NOAA Issues Final Update to the 2005-2006 U.S. Winter Outlook

"The update calls for warmer-than-average temperatures across much of central and western United States, including Hawaii, the Great Plains and Midwest. The Northeast, East Coast, Gulf Coast states and Southern California coast are in equal chances." -- NOAA

In Northern California we appear to have a greater than 50% chance of warmer than the 30 year average weather between December and February and there should be little El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) effect this year as there is neither an El Niño (warmer than average sea surface tempeatures) nor La Niña (cooler than average sea surface tempeatures) present.

-- NatePerryThistle - 20 Nov 2005

Diego's Travel Tips Take Shape

Diego has begun adding some Travel Tips to his pages. I think this is a great idea we should all get behind. Are there any travel tips you've got to share?

-- NatePerryThistle - 19 Nov 2005

Joy Vows to Continue Birthday Celebration Indefinitely!

She wants Dinner on Friday, a Crolf game, four more dragonfly ornaments from B & C, and ??

-- FloydPerryThistle - 10 Nov 2005

Bummer -- I didn't find any dragonfly ornaments at B & C. They have butterflies, but they're not as interesting.

-- NatePerryThistle - 11 Nov 2005

Happy Birthday Joy!

Happy birthday, Ma-ma.

-- NatePerryThistle - 09 Nov 2005

Wooooooooooooooo!!! Birthday!! Happy!!! Ma!!!! (Because I'm an honorary perry-thistle, even if you haven't posted it to make it official yet.)

-- ParisaZolfaghari - 09 Nov 2005

Okay, ok, alright already, by Official Proclamation of the Oldfart : Be it known by all persons henceforth and forever that ParisaZolfaghari is a full-fledged Honorary Perry-Thistle with all of the rights and privileges pertaining thereto.

-- FloydPerryThistle - 10 Nov 2005

Wowsers! Do I have rights and privileges too? And can we get an outline of what those rights are?

-- KathiaZolfaghari - 11 Nov 2005

California 2005 Special Statewide Election Results

The California Secretary of State will be offering Live Election Returns starting at 8 PM this evening.

-- NatePerryThistle - 08 Nov 2005

I feel cheated. I never got a ballot (that I know of). From Oregon, not California. Pshaw!

-- ParisaZolfaghari - 09 Nov 2005

Does Oregon have an election today?

A summary of San Francisco election results is available online.

Nevada County election results are also online, but there are no local measures.

-- NatePerryThistle - 09 Nov 2005

Well, I'm thinking yes, because mother was watching the news and they said something about voting today. And I didn't have a ballot. PSH!! But mother had a ballot. I saw it.

-- ParisaZolfaghari - 09 Nov 2005

Sidney Returns Home...Follow the adventures of the youngest Perry-Thistle!

After Traveling thousands of miles Sidney and her parents are home to recharge. Sidney is shocked at the ease of airline travel...wows the passengers in near-by seats with the wave of one eye lash! Flight attendants want more children like her flying the less-than-friendly skies.

Check the gallery for pictures of Sidney and her relatives.

-- BenPerryThistle - 07 Nov 2005

Help FightWikiSpam

I noticed that Pops was first on the scene of this mornings Wiki:WikiSpam (we've had a lot of bogus registrations in the last week). Thanks Pop!

As I've recently installed a new BlackListPlugin with enhanced Spam Fighting capabilities it's time for a FightWikiSpam topic to emerge. Local TWikiAdminGroup members, these directions are for you!

-- NatePerryThistle - 04 Nov 2005

Thanks for the info - It was actually late last night when I cleaned up and I was too groggy to try to figure out the BlackListPlugin.

-- FloydPerryThistle - 04 Nov 2005

Have you been touched... by His Noodly Appendage?

I realize I'm a little behind the times here... Flying Spaghetti Monsterism had it's beginnings on the Internet almost five months ago, but I must confess that I've just been touched! We'll I've always been a little touched, but I digress.

This fast growing "religion" is a wonderful bit of social commentary, I think. I do hope it won't betray my Godfatherly duties to Sidney to endorse this alternate theory to both creationism, er, I mean "intellegiant design" and evolution, oh, I mean "logical conjecture based on overwhelming observable evidence" (to quote Bobby Henderson).

Interestingly enough, Sidney was recently featured in FullPirateRegalia (so her father claims): "His" chosen outfit. Seems we're well on our way already.

-- NatePerryThistle - 03 Nov 2005

Ramen, brother.

-- KathiaZolfaghari - 03 Nov 2005

Click for big. Long live pastafarianism!

-- FloydPerryThistle - 04 Nov 2005

Standard Time Returns

How did we manage to do it without PTLocoTime? Well we were a little preoccupied with the StudioResources#BigBarn upgrade project. We are now very quietly water cooling the monster Xenon chip. Might be some images appearing soon. Thanks NatePerryThistle, DavidHall, and of course me for all the time and effort.

-- FloydPerryThistle - 30 Oct 2005

In fact, I didn't believe the time change was this week because there was no PTLocoTime. Completely threw me off.

-- KathiaZolfaghari - 30 Oct 2005

I was surprised when I tried to visit the official U.S. time today -- it's been so busy they've disabled the real time Java clock in favor of a static snap-shot.

-- NatePerryThistle - 31 Oct 2005

Another Hurricane Update

The season continues... meet Hurricane BETA.

"Beta extends the record for most tropical storms in a season to 23 and is the first use of the name Beta for a tropical system. Beta is the 13th hurricane of 2005, which breaks the 1969 record of 12 hurricanes. Additionally, it is the first hurricane named with a Greek letter." -- Wikipedia.

-- NatePerryThistle - 29 Oct 2005

Project Daddy

My new cover is up on Kate Perry. A sneak peek at the first chapter too. No, the website isn't fully operational yet, but I've got a great designer working on it.

-- KathiaZolfaghari - 24 Oct 2005

Congratulations Love!

-- NatePerryThistle - 26 Oct 2005

Thanks! I didn't really do anything though. I mean, except write the book. The cover was all some unknown artist slave and the marketing team at Kensington.

-- KathiaZolfaghari - 26 Oct 2005

Didn't do anything?!?

You wrote it, you hooked an agent (thanks Steve!), and together you landed a book deal.

Didn't do anything... how does one express a chortle online?

Harumph!

-- NatePerryThistle - 27 Oct 2005

More Hurricane Info

I updated the NationalHurricaneCenter page to highlight the three major hurricanes of the 2005 season (so far).

Thought I'd quote this forcasters discussion of name assignment should tropical depression 25 reach tropical storm strength:

WITH THE REGULAR LIST OF NAMES EXHAUSTED... WE WOULD UTILIZE THE GREEK ALPHABET SHOULD THE DEPRESSION REACH TROPICAL STORM STRENGTH. THE FIRST NAME ON THIS LIST IS ALPHA. -- FORECASTER ROBERTS/KNABB

It's been a busy season!

-- NatePerryThistle - 22 Oct 2005

It happened. Alpha became a record setting tropical storm overnight, but has already been downgraded back to a troipcal depression after running into the mountains of Hispaniola.

-- NatePerryThistle - 23 Oct 2005

Sidney Fix, Again!

Thanks for the psuedo fix!! I just can't help but post more photos! Enjoy Sidney!

-- BenPerryThistle - 22 Oct 2005

Nice going Ben - thanks for the pictures!

-- FloydPerryThistle - 22 Oct 2005

Thanks a lot Ben!

I've created a new topic for SidneysFirstDays and moved the earliest pictures to that page. Now Sid has two galleries!

-- NatePerryThistle - 22 Oct 2005

It's been raining, a little.

As ever, Pops is recording the CampWeather at CampAugustine. He keeps a CampRainRecord.

That's sorta like news...

-- NatePerryThistle - 20 Oct 2005

Sidney Fix

Thanks Ben, for uploading all those new pictures of Sidney and her parents. And grand parents.

Great work!

-- NatePerryThistle - 16 Oct 2005

Thanks to you Nate for making it so easy!!

-- BenPerryThistle - 17 Oct 2005

Live Event Blogging!

We're here at The Beat on the scene of an early Kate Perry first book celebration.

Litterally almost a dozen fans are on hand for the festivities.

-- NatePerryThistle - 16 Oct 2005

YAY!

The Beat? In Berkeley?

-- ParisaZolfaghari - 16 Oct 2005

Nah - Grassy Gulch - used to be Wall Street, yah know? The management was pretty lackadasical (WordOfTheDay) about the affair and when a band started cranking up most of the almost a dozen of us hiked back up the hill to ChezWarpheads and got involved with some BlueRibbonGingerBread and partied on into the night...

-- FloydPerryThistle - 16 Oct 2005

Yeah. We had guests until after 10:30 PM. It was crazy!!!

-- NatePerryThistle - 16 Oct 2005

Strong earthquake hits Pakistan, north India, and Afghanistan

The 2005 Kashmir earthquake, reported by the USGS as a "major" 7.6 magnitude earthquake, struck Saturday, October 08, 2005 at 03:50:38 (UTC) - Coordinated Universal Time or Saturday, October 08, 2005 at 08:50:38 AM local time at epicenter.

There are "did you feel it" submissions in the Internet community reporting system.

-- NatePerryThistle - 09 Oct 2005

Love!

I only have eyes for you.

-- KathiaZolfaghari - 08 Oct 2005

Oh, love.

-- NatePerryThistle - 09 Oct 2005

Oh boy!

-- FloydPerryThistle - 09 Oct 2005

That's what one gets for dusting off the SmiliesPlugin.

-- NatePerryThistle - 09 Oct 2005

Strange Development

In a rather strange development, ParisaZolfaghari has created a CraigsList page. The troops are scratching their heads on this one as there is no content on the page to suggest what might be going on in her mind.

Well, we're never really sure about that...

-- NatePerryThistle - 01 Oct 2005

CraigsList does have the best personal ads ever. and the missed connections - i used to read those religiously.

-- KathiaZolfaghari - 01 Oct 2005

I put up a missed connections feed on CraigsList for you love.

I wonder if we'll get any trouble for all the stuff we've written on her new page?

-- NatePerryThistle - 01 Oct 2005

She probably has the skills to clean it all up and tell us what she wants to about the topic - if she does happen to have anything in mind.

-- FloydPerryThistle - 01 Oct 2005

To explain about the CraigsList page... Hmm. Apparently for portland you have to have pictures already posted online to post them onto craigslist. I made the CraigsList page in attempt to post the pictures onto it, so I could then sell items (pictures included in the post) on Craigslist. However this was a failed attempt, as I could not get the pictures to cooperate with me. So I decided to try again another day. But in this attempt, I've created a new page for you people to play with, apparently. So yay me!

-- ParisaZolfaghari - 03 Oct 2005

Oh.

-- NatePerryThistle - 05 Oct 2005

Hey Brat, I'm wondering, did you try to "attach" image files to CraigsList? And it didn't work?

So then you should have put a little question in the comment box on UpgradeLog for NatePerryThistle and then he could have put the onus (see WordOfTheDay) on an annoying little bug in TWiki which requires that something be entered in the comment box. I like to use one of the SmiliesPlugin things - - when I don't want to comment.

-- FloydPerryThistle - 07 Oct 2005

There is no "attach" option in portland's craigslist. it's stuck in the middle ages. They're not with the program. Otherwise I would have done that.

-- ParisaZolfaghari - 10 Oct 2005

If I may interject, I think Pops was refferring to the FileAttachment functionality on our P-TWiki...

-- NatePerryThistle - 10 Oct 2005

Yes. I did that. I may need to change my file size.

-- ParisaZolfaghari - 11 Oct 2005

Ah, file size could be an issue. The system is set to allow "Upload up to 10000 KB" or a little less than 10 MB.

-- NatePerryThistle - 11 Oct 2005

Get your Firefox updates!

It's time to upgrade your Firefox browser to 1.0.7. Go get it!

-- NatePerryThistle - 22 Sep 2005

Nyah, nyah! Did it yesterday already!

-- FloydPerryThistle - 22 Sep 2005

Arrrrr Maties

It be the official, international Talk Like a Pirate Day. So get out yer swashbuckles, lash the lads to the masts, and raise a bit o grog to yer Captain!

Arrr!

-- Second Mate Mary Cricket the Salty Heart - 19 Sep 2005

Please update your Firefox/Mozilla WebBrowser

There is a recent security disclosure (thanks for the tip Steve!) for Firefox and Mozilla. An overview can be found on the Security Center page at mozilla.org. Specific instructions for installing the hotfix can be found at: https://addons.mozilla.org/messages/307259.html.

-- NatePerryThistle - 12 Sep 2005

Welcome Sidney Jane Aurelia Perry-Thistle!

Click on an image to zoom in.

Sidney Jane Aurelia Perry-Thistle, 7lb 1oz, 19 1/2 in, arrived strong and healthy at 10:14 AM PDT on the 24th of August, 2005. Mom and Dad doing fine. :)

-- FloydPerryThistle - 24 Aug 2005

UPDATE: Everyone was discharged in great condition from the hospital on Friday and they are home resting.

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Congratulations!! And way to keep the traditional five name thing going. Will we see pictures?

-- ParisaZolfaghari - 24 Aug 2005

Oh goodie!!!

I love all of her names.

-- NatePerryThistle - 24 Aug 2005

I feel for her though. Just think of all the bubbles she's going to have to fill in on her standardized tests.

-- KathiaZolfaghari - 24 Aug 2005

At least she'll be able to hone her bubble-filling skills.

-- ParisaZolfaghari - 24 Aug 2005

Let's do a quick comparison:

nathaniel reuben gabriel perry-thistle = 38 characters
benjamin david elijah perry-thistle = 35 characters
mary catherine doty perry-thistle = 33 characters
sidney jane aurelia perry-thistle = 33 characters

Hmmn, her name has fewer characters than mine, and Benjamin's, and is exactly as long as Mary's. So, not the longest Perry-Thistle name then.

Also, it's not the little bubbles that get you, it's those aging government computer systems that only allow 13 characters for your name.

-- NatePerryThistle - 27 Aug 2005

We're BACK!

Oh, finally my P-TWiki is back. Productivity is going to go down... good thing I'm on a PTO day.

Where were we for the last two weeks? Off-line. Our server had died and it took two weeks to get a new piece of equipment in place. Hey, things take time and I work for a living.

Big SHOUT OUT to Mr. KrisSkrinak for providing the new hardware. Thank you.

-- NatePerryThistle - 12 Aug 2005

AND ALSO to Mr. NatePerryThistle for putting it all together and making it work!

-- FloydPerryThistle - 13 Aug 2005

Intriguing Picture Discovered in Archives

Here is a picture of Joy and Floyd taken some 33 years ago. They are surrounded by more old family portraits. Wait, isn't one of those a glimpse into the future? Check it out!

-- FloydPerryThistle - 12 Jul 2005

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