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Senators and state AGs urge FDA action as deadline nears
Written by Barnaby Page || 8th August 2014 || Business briefing , Regulatory briefing |
The public comments period on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's proposed e-cigarette regulations now has only hours left to run, with the agency likely to have received well over 70,000 responses by the time it closes.
Among those sent this week from powerful names in government were more arguments that flavours and advertising be restricted, and a suggestion that the final version of the regulations should define e-cig components more precisely. A group of law-makers also said that Washington could restrict e-cigarettes under existing legislation rather than waiting for new regulations to come into effect.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which in April issued its so-called "deeming regulations" that would bring e-cigarettes under federal regulation for the first time by extending its authority over tobacco products to the new technology, was reported in U.S. media to have already been sent more than 69,000 comments by Wednesday. The comments period originally ended 9th July, but was extended by a month.
Many of those will most probably have been identical submissions by individual citizens supporting organised campaigns, but some heavyweight voices are also making themselves heard. Among them in recent days have been 13 members of Congress who wrote jointly to the FDA, and a second ensemble of 29 state and other attorneys general.
Both those groups urged tighter regulation than the FDA has suggested, including a prohibition on most flavours for e-cigarettes – which, it is argued, attract minors to e-cigs – and a ban on online marketing, because of the difficulty of age verification. As originally written, the rules cover neither issue.
The members of Congress said the need for rules was urgent, telling the FDA that "strong regulatory actions on marketing to children, e-cigarette flavors, and online sales cannot wait".
The FDA has proposed that e-cigarette manufacturers be given two years from the date that regulations are finalised before products even have to be submitted for approval, let alone actually approved.
But the members of Congress want it to act immediately, and say that the agency can do so through the powers given to it by the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, which "makes marketing new tobacco products illegal without prior FDA authorization. The law also gives FDA the authority to place restrictions on the sale and marketing of newly deemed tobacco products, especially those that pose a risk to children, as a condition of FDA authorization."
Beef up warnings, define components
The 29 attorneys general asked for similar restrictions on the e-cigarette industry. They want a ban on remote sales, including mail order as well as online; the same advertising limitations as for tobacco; and no online marketing.
They also say the health warnings on e-cigarettes should be more powerful than the FDA has outlined – describing effective warnings as "varied, explicit, vivid, and emotionally persuasive" – and they call on the agency to define which components and parts of e-cigarettes should be covered by age restrictions, vending machine sale bans, and the health warning rule.
These would include not only e-liquid but also atomisers, cartridges, tanks, batteries and even chargers, they argue, "as it is foreseeable that manufacturers may market batteries, atomisers, and tanks or cartridges as accessories in order to avoid the requirements and restrictions imposed on them once e-cigarettes are deemed a tobacco product".
They propose a definition that reads: "A component or part is anything that is used or could be used to make or use the finished product that affects the nicotine, controls the nicotine, is affected by the nicotine, can be mixed with the nicotine, is required for proper function of the device, or monitors nicotine use either for refill level or for user data to measure user habits and personal use of nicotine."
The letter from the members of Congress was signed by senators Tom Harkin, Dick Durbin, Jay Rockefeller, Richard Blumenthal, Edward J. Markey, Sherrod Brown, Jack Reed, Barbara Boxer, Jeff Merkley and Dianne Feinstein, as well as representatives Henry Waxman, Frank Pallone, Jr., and Diana DeGette. Several of these have been vocal proponents of strong e-cigarette regulation in Washington.
The attorneys general who wrote to the FDA, meanwhile, were from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, and Washington.
What we said
ECigIntelligence was also among those submitting comments to the FDA this week. Describing ourselves as "welcoming coherent, proportionate, equitable and enforceable regulation without taking a position on specific detail", we encouraged the FDA to consider "a significant and sometimes overlooked point: that marketplace trends in the consumer purchase and use of e-cigarettes cannot be disconnected from the public health effects of this product category".
In particular, we said:
"A widely-documented shift away from 'cigalike' products (which strongly resemble combustible tobacco cigarettes, in both appearance and use) to 'tank systems' (which bear much less resemblance to conventional cigarettes) may diminish any 're-normalisation of smoking' effect that e-cigarettes might have. This shift may also markedly affect individual consumption patterns; moreover, there is evidence to suggest that tank systems are most favoured by more experienced e-cigarette users who no longer smoke tobacco, and this also may mean that the calculus of their public health effects differs from that for cigalikes."
"Restrictions on flavours may lessen the appeal of e-cigarettes to consumers, and thereby diminish any net public health benefit of e-cigarettes over tobacco cigarettes, by discouraging existing tobacco smokers from switching to e-cigarettes (research consistently demonstrates that virtually all e-cigarette users were previously tobacco smokers). FDA may wish to set this point against the common assumption that flavours are primarily, or substantially, marketed in order to attract minors to the products."
What This Means: Some of the thousands of comments delivered to the FDA will have focused on conventional tobacco products such as small cigars, which are also addressed by the deeming regulations.
But it is likely that the majority relate to e-cigarettes, and will be expressing potent arguments on both sides – in favour of tighter regulation, primarily to protect minors, or advocating of a looser regime, to maximise the potential of e-cigarettes in reducing tobacco smoking.
Which way the FDA will turn is anyone's guess, but in the face of apparently irreconcilable arguments it may have a hard time fully maintaining its commitment to science-based regulation, given the absence of conclusive science on some of the biggest questions.
Last-minute comments for the FDA can be submitted here.
– Barnaby Page ECigIntelligence staff

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


There is no need for "new" evidence. There is simply evidence that none of the former Tory Home Secretaries saw a pressing urge to act upon.
On Monday the Home Secretary Sajid Javid announced his intention to proscribe the political wing of the Tehran-backed Lebanese paramilitary organisation Hezbollah as a terrorist group. While Mr Javid has been planning this move for some time, first announcing his intentions at last year's Conservative party conference, that did not stop a Labour spokesperson from using the opportunity to imply the Home Secretary was bringing forward the motion due to "leadership ambitions", while bizarrely asking if there was any "new evidence" to prove that Hezbollah's political wing deserved proscription.
Labour may well have been justified in asking the Home Secretary why this decision was being made now, and what exactly has changed since the last time the Home Office refused to move on the situation. But there is no need for "new" evidence. There is simply evidence that none of the former Tory Home Secretaries saw a pressing urge to act upon, including current Prime Minister Theresa May, even during the height of Hezbollah's brutal war crimes against Syrian civilians.
The Home Office has been dragging their feet over the issue since the Blair government, and very little has changed, even while Jewish groups repeatedly protested the group's flag being openly flown on al-Quds day.
But who can blame the Home Secretary for taking a decision to proscribe a terrorist organisation the leader of the opposition once famously called his "friends". It was just over a year ago that Jeremy Corbyn's office was pushing Labour MPs to reject calls to ban Hezbollah's political wing.
The Home Secretary must have been rubbing his hands in glee at the open goal policy waiting for him, an easy victory for a shamelessly ambitious politician who has placed populist proposals above ethical ones, as evidenced by his decision to strip Islamic State member Shamima Begum of her citizenship rather than bring her home for prosecution.
Mr Javid seemed entirely unbothered by the potential of creating a dangerous legal precedent for second class citizenship status for Brits holding dual nationalities. If proscribing Hezbollah was the wrong call both diplomatically and ethically, as many Middle East policy experts believe his Begum decision to be, then why shouldn't Labour question his reasoning behind proscribing Hezbollah?
Ultimately, Labour did not rise to Mr Javid's bait. Considering the immense pressure Mr Corbyn has been under following multiple antisemitism scandals, and his own historical fraternisation with armed militant groups, this was not a scandal Labour could even afford to add to its plate right now. Whether that represents cynical politicking or a changing of position on Hezbollah's legitimacy is a question that would be best posed to the leader of the opposition.
The deeply cynical nature of the partisan showboating yesterday however should not distract anybody from the truth – Hezbollah are a violent, sectarian gang of murderous criminals. It was 14 years ago this month that Hezbollah assassinated former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri in a car bomb that killed him along with 21 others in downtown Beirut. Today the group has carried out a sectarian slaughter campaign in Syria to buttress the regime of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad.
At this stage in Hezbollah's history it would take an international tribunal many decades to get through even a fraction of the war crimes the group is responsible for.
There has never been any distinction between Hezbollah's military and political wings. In fact, the only place that distinction has ever existed is in the minds of naive Western diplomats who have tried and failed since 2004 to convince the group to disarm in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions.
The failure of that policy could not be clearer: Hezbollah controls 13 seats in the Lebanese parliament, but in reality de facto controls the country through its sheer military power. Hezbollah has assassinated and brutalised all that have stood in their way, from critical journalists to senior Lebanese security officials investigating the scope of their crimes.
The group is controlled by its secretive leader Hassan Nasrallah, who in turn receives his orders from Tehran. It operates a state within a state, with its own military and intelligence services that are free to act with impunity. My own neighbourhood in West Beirut has been occupied by armed Hezbollah thugs since they violently seized control of the swathes of territory in 2008. Residents live in silent fear of a group that they have no hope of defeating or disarming.
The idea that there is a distinction between Hezbollah's political and military wings is so laughable that even Hezbollah's own senior officials publicly mock the idea.
Like all foreign policy proposals, the argument that this decision may complicate the British government's diplomatic relationship with Lebanon should be considered carefully. Britain has pursued a policy of the nominal recognition of the legitimacy of Hezbollah's political wing for many years now, under both Labour and Conservative governments. That policy has led to Hezbollah growing into one of the most deadly regional military powers, and that has had catastrophic consequences for the civilians that live under its iron fist.
It is long past time for a rethink on how Britain treats Hezbollah, and a policy that recognises the group in the same terms that it sees itself should not be controversial for anybody other than the group's many apologists.
It may well have taken cynical politicking from both Labour and the Tories for this correct change in policy to have finally been made, but after many years of foot-dragging, it is finally a step in the right direction.
However, with the terrorist organisation back in the ascendency following its successful campaign of mass murder in Syria, true justice for their many victims seems as far away as ever, and this proscription barely scratches the surface.
At the very least those who have suffered under their reign of terror will no longer have to suffer the indignity of seeing Hezbollah's fascist flags flying on the streets of London ever again.


Daniel Blackburn was arrested with outstanding warrants and possible abduction according to KPD spokesperson Doug Stout on February 15, 2018. He said that KPD got a 3rd party tip that a woman was being held against her will at a trailer park. They tracked down what trailer park and what trailers were vacant. Searched both trailers in Tall Timbers finding him and a woman. The windows were boarded and the door had furniture against it. The woman said that she had been held against her will for the past 2 weeks. Last minute instructions are passed on as police yell "police" before entering trailer 9.


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Showing results for tags 'he162'.
Me 163, He 162, Me 262 (Schemes and Decals), Kagero Topcolors
JeroenPeters posted a topic in Tools, Books & Misc.
Last Hope of the Luftwaffe Me 163, He 162, Me 262 (Painting Schemes and Decals) Jacek Pasieczny, Simon Schatz, Arkadiusz Wróbel Kagero Books (Topcolors series #37 / 15037) Available from Kagero for €12,50 Lets take a look at one of the latest releases of Kagero books featuring profiles and decals for three Last Hope weapons of the Luftwaffe. This book marks the 37th release in their amazing Topcolors series. For only €12,50 you not only get the book with profiles, but also a quality sheet of decals to build them. Not only in our glorious 1/32 scale, but also in 1/48 and 1/72. Earlier volumes in these series feature both armour and planes. Sometimes linked by topic, like Panzerwaffe 1941-1943 or Fighters over Japan. Sometimes by particular subject, like the P-38 Lightning or Pz.Kpfw III. What amazes me is the €12,50 is a fair price for a sheet of Cartograf decals. Right? But with these series you get the book as a nice bonus. Or you get the decals as a bonus with the book. Depends on how you look at it. In this case we get 10 beautiful color profiles of the Me 163 (Super Timing!!), He 162 and the Me 262. The book is size A4 and counts 18 pages. The language is featured in both Polish and English. The first 3 profiles feature: << Needless to say, but the next three profiles could not have come on a better time. The new Meng kit will be a perfect platform to try one out on. Click here to read James Hatch' review. >> • Me 163 B V53; W.Nr. 16310062, 'White 9'. Flown by Uffz. Kurt Schiebeler of 1./JG 400, Brandis Germany, Early August 1944. This plane really did see a lot of action and held a score of downing 6 bombers at the end of the war. • Me 163 B; 'White 10'. Flown by Lt. Hans-Ludwig Löscher of 1./JG 400, Brandis, Germany, Late February 1945. This plane has some mystery clouding it's Werknummer, so a good subject to sink you teeth in. What strikes is the interesting presence of a DF loop antenna on the spine. • Me 163 B V52; W.Nr. 16310061, 'Yellow 1', flown by Lt. Reinhard Opitz, Kapitän of 7./JG400, Nordholz, Germany, April 1945. If you can't decide between normal camo and mottling, then this is the profile for you! • Heinkel He 162 A-1; W.Nr. 310003, 'Yellow 5' of 3./JG 1, Leck, Germany, May 1945. This plane has three nice small badges on the left side of the fuselage, of: 1./JG 1, 3./JG and JG 1. • Heinkel He 162 A-2; W.Nr. 120067, 'White 4' of 1./JG 1, Leck, Germany, May 1945. The wingtips show the thin green flowery lines. Difficult to get right with free hand airbrushing, but an interesting feature. • Heinkel He 162 A-2; W.Nr. 120028, 'White 3' of 1./JG 1, Leck, Germany, May 1945. An early production aircraft with lots of RLM 76 on the fuselage. A nice break from the more seen later schemes. • Heinkel He 162 A-2; W.Nr. 120231, 'White 6' of 1./JG 1, Leck, Germany, May 1945. Yes! This is my favorite. Not just because I dove into this scheme quite deep and used it for my own build, but mainly because of the un-painted fuselage and filler lines. The are quite a lot of different interpretations of this plane, but I do believe this profile knocks it out of the park. • Messerschmitt Me 262 A-2a, W.Nr. 110613, '9K+DK', flown by Ofw. Hermann Wieczorek of 2./KG 51, Rheine-Hopsten, Germany, 25th February 1945. You better set your airbrush to 'fine' for this snaky mottling. Very interesting scheme. Especially with the white outlined swastika on the tail, which is not common for this production batch. • Messerschmitt Me 262 A-1a, 'Yellow 2' of 3./KG(J) 54, Prague-Ruzyně, Czechoslovakia, May 1945. Very interesting scheme with a blue/white checkered band on the fuselage and thin RLM 81/82 lines between the camp patches. A small unit badge with a Totenkopf tops it all of. And last but certainly not least: • Messerschmitt Me 262 A-1a, 'White 34' of III./EJG 2, Brunnthal, Germany, May 1945. The next 262 I'll build will most definitely be in this scheme. Unpainted wings. Filler over panel lines. Natural metal. Primes. A nose donated from a different plane, as well as the left wing tip. This has Frankenstein written all over it. I'm sold. Every profile has a short description of the plane and it's most noticeable features. The decals themselves are printed the way we can expect from Cartograf. Perfect in register and true of color. Conclusion Basically the most comprehensive set of decals to be found. And with the new Meng Me 163 this set could not have come at a better time! Very highly recommended Our sincere thanks to Kagero Publishing for the review sample. To purchase directly, click HERE. Jeroen Peters
topcolors


Deacon Barry Beckett, aka "The Seekin' Deacon" has an extensive background in the Lutheran ministry. He enjoys community outreach, bible studies, and evangelism. Deacon Barry is known for his unique style rarely seen in anything other than cowboy boots and jeans while preaching. Deacon Barry also serves as Director of Evangelism for Prince of Peace.


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Intoxication charge against SkyWest pilot is…
Intoxication charge against SkyWest pilot is dismissed
RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota has dismissed a criminal charge against a SkyWest Airlines pilot accused of being under the influence of alcohol before a flight at an airport in the state.
Pennington County Chief Deputy State's Attorney Lara Roetzel said Monday that the state filed for dismissal because a blood draw taken hours after a preliminary breath test showed no measurable alcohol in his system.
The 39-year-old pilot was arrested Oct. 26 at Rapid City Regional Airport after a security worker said the pilot smelled like alcohol and notified authorities. The pilot was arrested before passengers had boarded the 50-seat jet.
Although the breath test showed a level above the legal limit of 0.04 percent, that level had dissipated by the time his blood was drawn four hours later, Roetzel said. Breath test results are not admissible in court.
The flight to Salt Lake City, Utah, with a passenger list of 45, was delayed for two hours until a new crew arrived. The airline based in St. George, Utah, issued a statement Monday saying the pilot was immediately grounded and remains on unpaid leave while the investigation continues.
Following his arrest, the pilot posted $300 bail and was released from jail.
Don't get scammed — events this week help avoid elder financial scams, fraud | Scam of the Week
First case of potentially deadly coronavirus from China lands in Seattle


The Tapestry is a 55+ Active Adult Community in Garner, NC with 99 villa homes starting in the mid $200s.
RALEIGH, NC, June 19, 2017 /24-7PressRelease/ — Fleming Homes, North Carolina and Tennessee's premier homebuilder is creating a new neighborhood in Garner, NC, designed specifically for today's 55+ active adults. The Tapestry will feature 99 attached villa homes, a clubhouse (The Lodge) and 5 unique pocket parks.
The Tapestry offers 5 unique floor plans ranging from 1,645 to 2,507 square feet, and each has a two-car garage. The villas offer one-floor living and either unfinished storage or finished bonus rooms on the second floor. Each villa also includes Fleming Homes' "Legendary Standard Feature" package. Many luxury items such as; gas fireplace, granite kitchen & bathroom countertops, wood flooring, ceramic tile baths, stainless steel appliances – considered an extra charge at other communities – are all included at The Tapestry.
Giving back to the community is also a vital part of Fleming Homes' mission. For example, a portion of every home sale goes to support the MS Foundation.
Fleming Homes was created to meet a very real need in today's home building market. In an industry dominated by large national corporations, Fleming Homes was conceived to be different. The goal is to create a unique brand founded on integrity. At Fleming Homes we know your name. We also understand your dreams, and what it will take to make your new house, your new home.


Please Note: Cos 222 has been replaced by Cos122 as from 2017 academic year. Students who have already passed Cos 222 will be credited for Cos 122.
This module is offered at the end of the first year of study. The duration is at least two weeks during which the students receive practical training in computers and computer networks. The module may for practical reasons be offered in a different time slot (e.g. at the beginning of the next year of study).
This module is offered at the end of the second year of study. The duration is at least two weeks during which the students receive practical training in computers and computer networks. The module may for practical reasons be offered in a different time slot (e.g. at the beginning of the next year of study).
Background knowledge, problem-solving skills, conceptual understanding and reasoning skills required by COS 132.
Background knowledge, problem-solving skills, conceptual understanding and reasoning skills required by COS 110.
Transient response phenomena in RC, RL and RLC circuits: Natural response and step response. Alternating current (AC) circuits: Phasors, impedances, and power in AC circuits. The application of Ohm's law, Kirchoff's circuit theorems, matrix methods and Thevenin and Norton equivalents to sinusoidal steady-state analysis. Three-phase circuits: Balanced three-phase circuits, star/delta configurations, and three-phase power transfer calculations. Magnetically coupled circuits: Mutual inductance, coupling factor, transformers, ideal transformers and autotransformers. Application of circuit theory to an induction machine: basic principles of induction machines, equivalent circuit and analysis thereof, calculation of power and torque through application of Thevenin's theorem. Synoptic introduction to other types of machines.
Frequency domain analysis of linear time-invariant systems. Laplace, Fourier and Z-transforms applied to periodic, aperiodic and sampled signals; exponential and trigonometric Fourier series. Nyquist sampling theorem, transfer functions, poles and zeros, bandwidth and rise time, frequency response, impulse response, Bode diagrams, natural frequency, natural and forced response. Instability and oscillations. Computer simulation.
This module is presented at the end of the first semester during the recess period and lasts for one week. The module serves as an introduction to programming and computer simulations using a high-level industry-standard programming language to develop and support programmatic problem solving skills.
Introduction to digital circuit design, digital representations of numbers, device electronics in digital circuits, representation and simplification of logic functions, components of combinational circuits, analysis and design of combinational circuits, components of sequential circuits, analysis and design of sequential circuits, programmable components for combinatorial and sequential logic.
Practical application of neural networks, fuzzy logic, genetic algorithms and expert systems. Introduction to pattern recognition, optimization and problemsolving using intelligent systems techniques.
Modelling and simulation of physical systems. Block and signal flow diagrams. State variable formulation. Time and frequency domain analysis. Stability and sensitivity. Design methods, cascade (eg. PID) and feedback controllers.
Basic Signals Theory, Transform theory (Fourier, Laplace and Z-transform) and Linear Systems. Overview of stochastic processes: Stationarity and ergodicity. Noise and channel models. Transmission effects. Definition of information and coding of analog information sources. Shannon's Channel Capacity Theorem. Introduction to channel (error) detection and correction coding: Block and Convolutional coding. Maximum-likelihood sequence decoding: The Viterbi algorithm. Analysis of digital modulation techniques in AWGN. Optimal Receiver design. Nyquist and Partial-Response systems. Power Spectral Density (PSD) of random data signals. Digital Transmission through band-limited channels: ISI, Nyquist criteria and equalizers. Data communication standards and protocols. The focus will be on applications in the computer and network environments.
This module is offered at the end of the third year of study. The duration is at least two weeks during which the students receive practical training in computers and computer networks. The module may for practical reasons be offered in a different time slot (e.g. at the beginning of the next year of study).
Introduction - electromagnetic spectrum, parameters of digital signals, circuit theory vs. microwave techniques; Transmission lines - lumped element model, transmission line equations, wave propagation, lossless lines, input impedance, short and open circuited and ?/4 lines, power flow, transients, S-parameters; Electrodynamic fields - plane waves, propagation in dielectrics and conductors, shields, Lenz's law, Faraday's law, Maxwell's equations, transformers, storage fields vs. radiation fields, near and far fields, mechanisms of radiation; Static electric and magnetic fields – sources of fields, voltage, electrostatic induction, capacitance, electric and magnetic dipoles, permittivity, permeability, conductivity, magnetic materials, etc.; Non-ideal components – non-ideal resistor, - inductor, - capacitor, - wires, high-frequency measurements; Electromagnetic compatibility – spectrum of digital signals, interference, PCB layout, PCB shielding, grounding methods, power supply decoupling, ground loops, differential and common mode radiation, cable shielding.
Hardware based introduction to system designing microprocessors. General microprocessor architecture assembly language and limited C embedded code development, with specific focus on a RISC (Microchip PIC 18) and MIPS (Microchip PIC 32) type processor, memory interfacing and address decoding, microprocessor input/output and interfacing, general programming concepts, general microprocessor system design principles, current trends and new processors exposure to development boards and integrated development environments.
Amplifier concepts: gain, input impedance, output impedance, bandwidth, cascaded stages. Amplifier power dissipation and power efficiency. Operational amplifiers: non-ideal, limitations, low power, programmable. Diode operational circuits: Logarithmic amplifiers, peak detector, clamp, absolute value, voltage regulators. Feedback and stability in amplifiers. Operational circuits: Instrumentation amplifiers, multipliers, oscillators, filters, translinear circuits, and sampling electronics.
Software engineering deals with the application of engineering principles to develop and maintain high-quality software that is reliable and that works efficiently. Software engineering includes defining software requirements and performing software design, software construction, software testing, and software maintenance tasks. The module exposes students to various methodologies in the different stages of the software life cycle, the problems of group work, and software configuration management with versioning systems such as CVS. The student is exposed to object modelling techniques and languages such as UML, as well as advanced debugging and testing techniques.
In this module, students are required to generate a creative system design through synthesis and integration of components and subsystems. Students have to acquire technical knowledge through independent learning, and demonstrate a competency to work in a technical design team to realise and demonstrate a working product. This practical component is augmented by theoretical instruction in the fundamentals of system engineering, industry standards and practices, PCB layout techniques, and packaging technology.
This module aims to provide a strong foundation for allowing students to understand modern computer architectures and systems. Microarchitectures and instruction set architectures (ISAs) will be studied in detail, as well as computer memory types and their organisation. The study will also cover performance acceleration techniques such as caching and pipelining.
Topics relating to parallel processing will be studied, including instruction level parallel processing (SIMD), multi-threading and multi-core processors as well as their synchronisation. Specialised architectures and techniques used in embedded processors (such as those found in smartphones) will be explored. The module also provides an overview of advanced computer communication buses, memory and storage systems prevalent in enterprise class computing (data centres), including topics such as: network-attached storage NAS, virtualisation, clusters, grid computing and cloud computing. Practicals will demonstrate various elements of computer architectures using VHDL.
Commerce via the Internet, electronic payment systems, virtual organisations and electronic business. Introduction to data security, system security, network security, user considerations, firewalls, encryption, access control and social engineering.
This module entails the individual completion of an engineering project from concept to delivery. The student must demonstrate independent mastery of an engineering project. The module focuses on the formulation of an engineering problem, the development of appropriate technical specifications, project planning and management and then completion of a technical project of a given nature, scope and complexity. The nature of projects is either mainly design (design, synthesis and testing) with a smaller component of investigation (experimental work and data analysis), or, alternatively, mainly investigation with a smaller component of design. As final step in the project, the student evaluates the final outcome of the design or investigation against the specifications and he/she also evaluates the impact of the project (social, legal, safety and environmental). Oral and written technical communication is evaluated as an important part of the module.
Four weeks practice-orientated experience at any institution of the student's choice (preferably in electrical, electronic or computer engineering). The student must acquire experience in the working environment and more specifically work ethics, ecology, economy, punctuality, knowledge of human nature, etc. One week after the commencement of the second semester the student must submit a report on the aspects of his/her work experience as determined by the Head of the Department.
Specific niche areas from computer engineering are addressed within the context of a research project. The student should be able to demonstrate competence in designing and conducting investigations and experiments; to analyse the results; to select and use appropriate engineering tools and software; to interpret and derive information from the data; to draw conclusions based on evidence and to communicate the purpose, process and outcomes in a report.
Fourier-Transform: revise the Discrete Fourier-Transform (DFT); Fast Fourier-Transform (FFT). Digital filters; cyclic convolution; overlap-and-add as well as overlap-and-save methods; design of FIR- and IIR-filters (incorporating the effect of finite word lengths). Implementation: computer architecture and DSP processors; Mapping of DSP algorithms onto DSP hardware. Projects: simulation (in C) and real-time implementation of selected signal processing algorithms on DSP hardware.


Decorative Arts & Home Furnishings Online Auction — Harritt Group, Inc.
Selling online the eclectic lifetime collection of a late UPS Executive and his wife from their Asbury Park home located near Prospect and Springhurst. Nearly 400 lots including Gallopalooza Horse, artworks of world renowned artists including paintings, sculptures & glassworks, Persian hand knotted rugs, contemporary furniture & accessories, Waterford crystal, art glass, Asian home furnishings, turtle collection, clocks, garden decor & furniture, UPS memorabilia, mink coats, designer purses, books, kitchen & housewares.
Lifesize fiberglass horse sculpture draped with American flag representing "Freedom" the 1967 Kentucky Derby winner, and a Gallopalooza book which it is featured in. Rare opportunity offered to the public.
Contemporary designed pieces include dark lacquer buffet server with aluminum feet, & matching (6) lacquer dining chairs, burl walnut glass door corner cabinet, 72" (open) round wood dining table with perimeter leaves, English oak table/chair combination, Howard Miller grandfather clock cabinet, pyramid shaped curio cabinet, Pulaski curio cabinet, (3) blonde maple bookcases, lavender loveseat & ottoman, pair of aluminum bar stools, sea turtle glass top cocktail table, art deco style bar/display cabinet, (2) desks including Contemporary Gallery desk unit and frosted glass top desk, glass shelf display cabinet, swivel & occasional chairs, 3-piece Century bedroom furniture, retro dresser, accent tables on rollers, Asian teak wood includes 4 door display cabinet, pair of display cabinets, corner chair, plant stand and (2) garden stools, faux bamboo solid door cupboard, bamboo chair, pair of twisted wood carved tables, 15-drawer apothecary cabinet, (3) porcelain Jardinieres on stands, (2) ceramic garden stools & umbrella stand, iron trundle day bed, dresser, oak drop leaf table, 35" burl marquetry lazy susan and Panasonic reclining massage chair.
Whimsical multi color blown art glass chandelier, contemporary stainless 24-branch starburst chandelier, Waterford Lismore brass 3-arm chandelier, Tiffany style reproduction table lamp, glazed ceramic table lamps, torchiere & art glass floor lamps and desk lamps.
*Chandeliers removal at buyer's expense by licensed electrician.
61" x 58" Original Rashid Hashim oil painting titled "Underwater Nirvana II Turtles", Artist Proof giclee Wyland titled "The Mermaid & The Turtle", Wyland cold cast bronze wall plaque turtle porthole, Wyland bronze turtle mirror, original acrylic David Dunlevy titled "Cape May Night", numbered serigraph Christian Lassen titled "Voyage of the Ho'okulea", Peter Max Eastern Europe Museum Tour American flag artwork, Ramsey Mapunde framed leopard print, Gus Butcher silk painting, Wyland North Shore print, Rafael watercolor, framed Cheverny tapestry, frameless acrylic models on canvas, Asian hand painted panels & textiles, Empress portrait, several Chinese peasant folk art prints, James Dean & Gene Autry prints & collage, Indian Royalty color print, (2) New York City numbered prints named "And Our Flag Was Still There" & "Whassup NY", framed world maps, and others.
Lorenzo Ghiglieri American Eagle bronze sculpture, (2) Dino Rosin, Italy 24" glass turtle sculptures, Anthony Atkins "Tranquil Glass" etched glass panel, George Bucquet art glass turtle console bowl, numbered Mark Hopkins sea turtle bronze sculpture, numbered double sea turtle sculpture, Ruth Brockmann "A World on a Turtle's Back" art glass turtle mask, Charles Fazzino NYC apple sculpture, (6) hanging leaded art glass including turtle, American flag, geometric, amber, Geisha & turtle suncatchers, Matthew Lovein Raku wishkeeper, Jacobson Naked Raku ginger jar, beaded sea turtle, decorated wood carved African mask, plastique "Bag O" Sweets" by Pergola, cast bronze buddha, engraved hanging brass tray, decorated pyramid dresser box, piranha mirror & leaded glass turtle mirror, stone heart, artist display vases and bowls, and other sculptures.
(14) hand knotted wool and silk rugs of various sizes and colors purchased from around the world.
Large selection of Waterford crystal including John Rocha black vase, Spirit of America bowl, 6-piece John Rocha wine set, (10) vases, (4) bowls, sherbets, pitchers & carafes, stemmed glassware & tumblers, bar & table accessories, Christmas figurines & (40+) ornaments, 6-piece Nativity set, cross, candleholders, Times Square bell and paperweights, Tiffany 4-piece set of brandy snifters, Noritake Fitzgerald Service for 12 dinnerware, Happy Holidays Nikko Service for 20 dinnerware, selection of Belleek china, assorted leaded crystal, pressed and cut glass.
Lalique Sidonie turtle, (2) Baccarat crystal paperweights, several Swarovski crystals including sea turtles, tortoises, tulip and others, (4) jeweled trinket boxes, (2) Herend Hungary porcelain turtles, (5) Limoge France trinket boxes, Steuben & Orrefors art glass sculptures, Lladro Sea Turtles porcelain figurine, Lenox turtle collection, colorful blown & clear glass turtles, Wade porcelain turtles, (7) Cloisonne' trinket boxes, Netsuke turtles, Hungarian porcelain turtles, turtle collection of all materials including Jade, pewter, brass, wood & ceramic, (26) toy lead soldiers & military musicians, German beer steins, African didgeridoo & other musical instruments, chalet cuckoo clock, whimsical art clocks, Brownie Hawkeye camera in original box and Pentax ME 35mm camera, empty watch boxes include Rolex, Patek, Jaeger LeCoultre and others, 1983 Cabbage Patch doll, Longaberger baskets, unopened Jim Beam Bourbon bottle, walking sticks & canes, kaleidoscopes, Irish collectibles, Louisville Stoneware luminary and other pieces, Goebel "Home from the Market" & (2) Goebel Angel Christmas Candle Holder figurines, (3) pair Asian water carriers & figures, (10) ceramic tea light houses, whimsical children's items, Bichon collectibles and more.
1988 Chinese silver Panda coin, (2) pair of salt & peppers, (6) napkin rings, serving spoon, small turtle trinket box, and Tiffany .925 cake server set.
Yudofsky full length mink coat, Yudofsky sheared plum mink jacket, red suede and mink jacket, multicolor fur & faux jacket, (5) designer vests, (3) capes, designer purses including Mary Frances, Hobo, Coach and other whimsical small handbags.
UPS framed needlepoint, (2) framed UPS jets, UPS model jets & delivery trucks, commemorative coins & unopened Maker's Mark bottle, paperweights, mugs, desk sets, Tasco binoculars, key rings, books and more; Marine collectibles include Iwo Jima sculptures & prints, books, drink glasses, mugs, and more.
Muller "Holy Story" pyramid, (20) Radko ornaments, Department 56 Halloween villages and other Halloween decor, Thomas Kinkade village Christmas tree, Danbury Mint New York sculptures, (25) Hallmark ornaments and others, Christmas yard art, figurines, and dishes, assortment of St. Patrick's Day & Fourth of July decor.
Cutco knife set, Newbridge silverware & knife set, International 28-piece Christmas dinnerware, teapots, set of 12 novelty shot glasses, set of 6 wine glasses African style, pasta dinnerware, bakeware, stainless cookware, Seltmann Weiden espresso cups, hand blown tortoise shell drink set, Fire-King Jadite batter bowl and other mixing bowls, Happy Apple Valley horse nut bowl, colorful entertainment dishes & platters, small appliances, Elmer Lee bourbon barrel lazy susan, portable heaters, air purifiers, towel warmer, Singer & Kenmore sewing machines, linens, large selection of books, TV's, bamboo flooring, storage closet units, Marineland corner aquarium on stand, overflowing Fibber McGee's closets and cabinets.
Steel plate Fleur-de-lis park bench, aluminum bench, mosaic iron bistro set, Frontgate table & chairs, lifesize whimsical standing turtle, standing stainless steel wire turtle, enameled iron wall flower, 5' tall iron sunflower, 8' windmill, copper sprinkler, assortment of shepherd's hooks and garden art, concrete cherub, Werner 6' step ladder, Frontgate & Cosco aluminum step ladders, yard tools, Craftsman tool bench & tools, shop vac, stainless Tommy Bahama cooler and more.
I-265 to Exit #34 Crestwood Brownsboro Road. East past Paddock Shops to right on Springdale Road. 1 mile to left on Asbury Park Blvd. to immediate right on Broecker Blvd.


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text:
Chandigarh University wins human-powered vehicle race
Four-day Mechnovate' 16 comes to a close at VIT university
At the end of the four-day Human Powered Vehicle Challenge (HPVC) at VIT University, the team from Chandigarh University bagged the top spot for their vehicle.
Events of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers - HPVC and Students Professional Development Conference – featured at the four-day Mechnovate' 16 at VIT university.
Students of Mechanical Engineering from various universities and colleges designed and manufactured human-powered vehicles for the challenge.
Out of 40 cycles, which were taken up for safety tests on Friday, 34 qualified for the next level of racing.
On Saturday, the 34 human-powered cycles entered into the endurance test. The race was conducted for 2.5 hours. It mandated covering 13 rounds by applying only human energy. It tested how far the cyclists had covered the distance, and the speed of reaching the destination, a press release said.
The event came to a close on Sunday. While the team from Chandigarh University bagged the overall first place, KIIT University, Bhubaneswar bagged the second place, followed by B.H. Gardi College of Engineering and Technology, Gujarat in third place. In the endurance race, Sir M. Visvesvaraya Institute of Technology, Bangalore came first, followed by B.H. Gardi College of Engineering and Technology, Gujarat in second place, a release said.


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text:
Pakistan takes a position on Qatar Saudi Arabia row
ISLAMABAD – Pakistan has decided to remain impartial in the Saudi-Qatar row during a meeting presided over by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at Foreign Office on Friday.
He was briefed on important foreign affairs by Advisor to the PM on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz. Mr. Ishaq Dar, Minister for Finance and senior officials of the Foreign Office were also present.
Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif expressed his resolve to continue support the Kashmiris struggling for their independence.
He expressed his disappointment over the complete silence in the US-India joint statement on the atrocities being committed by the Indian security forces against innocent Kashmiris.
The prime minister also reiterated his priority for a peaceful neighbourhood and resolution of disputes through dialogues.


text:
Celebrity birthdays for the week of Dec. 19-25
Pearl Jam singer Eddie Vedder and his wife Jill McCormick arrive at the premiere of the film "West Side Story," Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021, at the El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
(Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Dec. 13, 2021 6:10 AM PT
Celebrity birthdays for the week of Dec. 19-25:
Dec. 19: Actor Elaine Joyce is 78. Actor Tim Reid is 77. Musician John McEuen (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band) is 76. Country singer Janie Fricke is 74. Jazz drummer Lenny White of Return to Forever is 72. Actor Mike Lookinland ("The Brady Bunch") is 61. Actor Scott Cohen ("Gilmore Girls") is 60. Actor Jennifer Beals is 58. Actor Robert MacNaughton ("E.T.") is 55. Magician Criss Angel is 54. Guitarist Klaus Eichstadt of Ugly Kid Joe is 54. Actor Kristy Swanson is 52. Model Tyson Beckford is 51. Actor Rosa Blasi ("Strong Medicine") is 49. Actor Alyssa Milano is 49. Actor Tara Summers ("Mercy Street," "Boston Legal") is 42. Actor Jake Gyllenhaal is 41. Actor Marla Sokoloff ("The Practice") is 41. Actor Nik Dodani ("Murphy Brown") is 28.
Dec. 20: Actor Tommy Cole ("The Mickey Mouse Club") is 80. Drummer Bobby Colomby of Blood, Sweat and Tears is 77. Former Kiss drummer Peter Criss is 76. Illusionist Uri Geller is 75. Musician Alan Parsons is 73. Actor Jenny Agutter ("Call the Midwife") is 69. Actor Michael Badalucco ("The Practice") is 67. Actor Blanche Baker ("Shakedown," ″Holocaust") is 65. Singer Billy Bragg is 64. Singer-bassist Mike Watt (The Minutemen, fIREHOSE) is 64. Actor Joel Gretsch ("V″) is 58. Country singer Kris Tyler is 57. Singer Chris Robinson of The Black Crowes is 55. Actor Nicole deBoer ("The Dead Zone") is 51. Singer David Cook ("American Idol") is 39. Actor Jonah Hill is 38. Actor Bob Morley ("The 100") is 37. Singer JoJo is 31.
Dec. 21: Talk show host Phil Donahue is 86. Actor Jane Fonda is 84. Actor Larry Bryggman (TV's "As the World Turns," film's "Die Hard: With a Vengeance") is 83. Singer Carla Thomas is 79. Guitarist Albert Lee is 78. Actor Josh Mostel ("Billy Madison," "Big Daddy") is 75. Actor Samuel L. Jackson is 73. Singer Nick Gilder is 71. Actor Dennis Boutsikaris ("Better Call Saul") is 69. Actor Jane Kaczmarek ("Malcolm in the Middle") is 66. Country singer Lee Roy Parnell is 65. Entertainer Jim Rose of The Jim Rose Circus Sideshow is 65. Former child actor Lisa Gerritsen ("Phyllis," ″The Mary Tyler Moore Show") is 64. Actor-comedian Ray Romano ("Everybody Loves Raymond") is 64. Country singer Christy Forester of the Forester Sisters is 59. Drummer Murph of Dinosaur Jr. is 57. Guitarist Gabrielle Glaser (Luscious Jackson) is 56. Actor-comedian Andy Dick is 56. Actor Michelle Hurd ("Law and Order: Special Victims Unit') is 55. Actor Kiefer Sutherland is 55. Actor Karri Turner ("JAG") is 55. Actor Khrystyne Haje ("Head of the Class") is 53. Country singer Brad Warren of The Warren Brothers is 53. Actor Julie Delpy is 52. Contemporary Christian singer Natalie Grant is 50. Singer-guitarist Brett Scallions (Fuel) is 50. Singer Lukas Rossi of Rock Star Supernova (TV: "Rock Star: Supernova") is 45. Actor Rutina Wesley ("True Blood") is 43. Keyboardist Anna Bulbrook of Airborne Toxic Event is 39. Actor Steven Yeun ("The Walking Dead") is 38. Actor Kaitlyn Dever ("Last Man Standing") is 25.
Dec. 22: Actor Hector Elizondo is 85. Country singer and actor Red Steagall is 83. TV anchor Diane Sawyer is 76. Guitarist Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick is 73. Actor BernNadette Stanis ("Good Times") is 68. Rapper Luther Campbell (2 Live Crew) is 61. Guitarist Chuck Mead (BR549) is 61. Actor Ralph Fiennes is 59. Actor Lauralee Bell ("The Young and the Restless") is 53. Country singer Lori McKenna is 53. Actor Heather Donahue ("The Blair Witch Project") is 48. Actor Chris Carmack ("Grey's Anatomy," "The O.C.") is 41. Actor Harry Ford ("Code Black") is 39. Actor Greg Finley (TV's "The Flash," "The Secret Life of the American Teenager") is 37. Singer Jordin Sparks ("American Idol") is 32. Singer Meghan Trainor is 28.
Dec. 23: Actor Ronnie Schell ("Gomer Pyle, USMC") is 90. Actor Frederic Forrest ("Lonesome Dove") is 85. Guitarist Jorma Kaukonen (Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna) is 81. Actor-comedian Harry Shearer ("The Simpsons") is 78. Actor Susan Lucci ("All My Children") is 75. Musician Adrian Belew (King Crimson) is 72. Guitarist Dave Murray of Iron Maiden is 65. Actor Joan Severance (TV's "Wiseguy") is 63. Singer Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam is 57. Jazz trumpeter Irvin Mayfield is 44. Actor Anna Maria Perez de Tagle ("Hannah Montana," ″Camp Rock") is 31. Actor Spencer Daniels ("Mom") is 29. Actor Caleb Foote (TV's "The Kids Are Alright") is 28.
Dec. 24: Actor Sharon Farrell ("Hawaii Five-0") is 75. Actor Grand L. Bush (TV's "The Visitor," film's "Demolition Man") is 66. Actor Clarence Gilyard ("Walker, Texas Ranger") is 66. Actor Stephanie Hodge ("Unhappily Ever After") is 65. Bassist-synthesizer player Ian Burden of Human League is 64. Actor Anil Kapoor ("Slumdog Millionaire") is 62. Actor Wade Williams ("Prison Break," "The Bernie Mac Show") is 60. Singer Mary Ramsey of 10,000 Maniacs is 58. Actor Mark Valley ("Boston Legal") is 57. Actor Diedrich Bader ("The Drew Carey Show") is 55. Actor Amaury Nolasco (TV's "Deception," "Prison Break") is 51. Singer Ricky Martin is 50. "Twilight" series author Stephenie Meyer is 48. TV host Ryan Seacrest ("American Idol," ″Live with Kelly and Ryan") is 47. Actor Michael Raymond-James ("Once Upon a Time," "True Blood") is 44. Actor Austin Stowell ("12 Strong") is 37. Actor Sofia Black-D'Elia ("Your Honor," "The Mick") is 30. Singer Louis Tomlinson, once a member of One Direction, is 30.
Dec. 25: Actor Hanna Schygulla ("Barnum," ″Casanova") is 78. Singer John Edwards of The Spinners is 77. Actor Gary Sandy ("WKRP In Cincinnati") is 76. Singer Jimmy Buffett is 75. Country singer Barbara Mandrell is 73. Actor Sissy Spacek is 72. Blues musician Joe Louis Walker is 72. Actor CCH Pounder is 69. Singer Annie Lennox is 67. Singer Steve Wariner is 67. Guitarist Robin Campbell of UB40 is 67. Singer Shane McGowan (The Popes, the Pogues) is 64. Actor Klea Scott ("Millennium") is 53. Guitarist Noel Hogan of The Cranberries is 50. Singer Dido is 50. Singer Mac Powell of Third Day is 49. Country singer Alecia Elliott is 39. Singer Jess and Lisa Origliasso of The Veronicas are 37. Actor Perdita Weeks (2018′s "Magnum P.I.") is 36. Singer-guitarist Lukas Nelson of Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real is 33.
Some TV characters have lofty goals
Comedian, talk show host and political influencer Jon Stewart has been named the 23rd recipient of the Kennedy Center's Mark Twain Award for lifetime achievement in comedy
The 44th annual Sundance Film Festival is back, and entirely online once more
A Mexican multi-millionaire is building a replica of his northern Mexico mansion to serve as a museum for his art collection, an endeavor criticized because it is funded in large part with public money
Amazon's "The Lord of the Rings" series has forged a name for itself
The immersive 'Beyond Van Gogh' is finally in San Diego. Here's what it's like walking through the exhibit
The scoop on Hillcrest's Great Maple
Saint Archer bought by MillerCoors
Audie Cornish, formerly of NPR, to join CNN streaming
'The Huntress' follows search for a war criminal hiding in America
Review: Bride saved from a brutal husband in 'The Runaway'
Emerging talents in spotlight at hybrid Paris Fashion Week
"The Voice of Holland" talent show hit by #MeToo scandal


text:
Phish like an APT: phenomenal pretexting for persuasive phishing
tldr; This blog post is nothing more than an essay on why we should think about what kind of phishing email we send out during adversary emulation assignments. Of course, initial foothold is often gained (by adversaries) by using a weaponized spear-phishing email. But have you ever wondered what phishing strategy real-world adversaries use? And how these scenarios compare with the scenarios that you use during your adversary emulation? Find an overview of four of the most used adversaries and their characteristics on this page.
If you did, you probably found out that there's a lot of research about adversary techniques, tactics, and procedures, like the use of specific malware or attack vectors. Still, there are few public resources on which techniques those attackers use to convince a non-suspecting person to aid them in their operation. In this blog post, an analysis is presented of hundreds of phishing emails that were used in actual campaigns. All characteristics of an email, like the method of influence, tone of speech, and used technologies, are classified and measures how well a phishing campaign is designed, scoring from "obvious spam" to "near-realistic original mail." By comparing and measuring the state of these phishing emails, we can learn more about how certain groups operate and how much "effort" they put into their scenarios. Essential knowledge for both attackers and defenders.
So let's start with the spear-phishing technique. In the last couple of years, more than 90% of all cyber attacks begin with a spear-phishing email1. Why? Because "it just works." As mentioned earlier in this blog post, people interact with phishing emails because of a lack of sufficient security awareness training or because they're distracted at that time - like being undercaffeinated or stressed after a day full of Teams meetings. We have to make decisions all day, every day. Having sufficient security awareness means the information in the newly delivered phishing email is associated with existing patterns, just like mental shortcuts. So what do phishers do? Use an influence technique to make that decision-making a little bit easier for you (thanks!).
Principles of influence used by adversaries
These techniques (also covered in the earlier mentioned blog post) are reciprocation, scarcity, authority, liking, and social proof2. But how do adversaries use these principles of influence to persuade the recipient to interact with the email?
Principle of reciprocation
Principle of scarcity
Principle of reciprocation. I do this for you and you do this for me, so I give something back. The recipient of the email might feel indebted and returns the 'favor.' In this case (see example) the recipient got notified by the IT service desk that the account was about to expire. You're happy that someone notifies you before your account expires, so you fill in the credentials.
Principle of scarcity. When someone has access for only a short period. In this example - a confirmed phishing mail sent by APT38 (Lazarus Group)3 - the recipient gets an offer that's valid for only a couple of days. You feel you need to act immediately before that offer is invalid. This is why marketing people would be great phishers: when you didn't finish your order at a website and get a discount email for a limited time, the influence of scarcity is applied. Smart marketeers.
Principle of authority
Principle of liking
Principle of authority. You feel you need to obey, whether it's the CEO of the company or a known authority like the Police. This principle is used in CEO fraud: an email is sent by the CEO to the finance department to get payment done. TA505, a Russian criminal group, sent the displayed email. A weaponized Excel file with pending charges was attached to this email.
Principle of liking. Do we have shared interests? Do people already know me and like me? If yes, the principle of liking could be used to persuade the recipient. This email is slightly inspired by APT28, who used a Christmas theme4 - with Santa as the sender of the email - with a weaponized Christmas greeting in the attachment.
Principle of social proof
And the last one: the principle of social proof. The image shown above is not a phishing email but the header of a LinkedIn profile[^6]. Why? This is an excellent example of the principle of social proof. APT38 (Lazarus Group) is known for creating characters and building a good relationship with their victims. In this case, the adversary copied a LinkedIn profile, added the victim's connections, and invited the victim to connect. The profile of the adversary showed several shared connections with the profile of the victim, so the victim decided to accept the invite.
All elements of an email or message contribute to the influence of the email: it's the full package of the sender, the email body, the theme and the goal of the email.
The phishing classifying model
In this previous blog post, a classifying model was created to measure the scenario of an email. This model is reused to classify adversary emails and compare the characteristics over multiple groups. In addition, the medium the message is sent on, like email or social media accounts, is added to this model as spear-phishing of adversaries didn't only happen via email. The classifying model is displayed below.
Context Theme Important value, recent event, current theme, timeless activity
Sender Own organization, known/unknown organization, private person
Goal Obtain credentials or access, initiate offline action
Principle of influence Reciprocation, scarcity, authority, liking, social proof
Medium Email, LinkedIn, Twitter, WhatsApp, Telegram
Content Language and text Correctness, clarity, engagement, delivery, style guide
Design Copied corporate identity, neutral identity, plain text
Personal information Correct salutation, real names and personal information
Domain name Sender Compromised mailbox, spoofed email address, expired domain name, typosquat domain name, irrelevant domain
URL to phishing website Expired domain name, compromised website URL, typosquat domain, irrelevant domain, external platform or service
Attachment or download Document Office documents, HTML page, archive file
Each adversary is plotted on this model to show the difference between several adversaries.
Selecting the adversaries and creating the data set
The hardest part of researching adversary emails is - right - obtaining the adversary emails. It depends on the adversary and their motive: the minor progressive groups trying to let the victim download a dropper to install ransomware on your network will be more likely to send out more near-spam campaigns than espionage groups trying not to get detected. The first step is to select the adversaries for this research: which adversaries use (spear)phishing as a technique? For example, MITRE defined spear-phishing as technique T15665 with three sub techniques:
Spear-phishing attachment - adversaries send emails to the victims with a malicious attachment added to the email, like a weaponized document or archive. The sender usually tries to convince the recipient to open the document and bypass protections (like the 'Enable macros' in Office documents).
Spear-phishing link - the emails contain a link to an external website, like a (cloned) credential harvesting page or file download page (for example Dropbox or Google Drive) where a malicious document can be downloaded. In a few cases, a browser exploit is used to obtain access or data.
Spear-phishing via service - the adversary makes use of an existing service or platform, like LinkedIn or WhatsApp, to deliver a document or just to gain trust from the recipient and then switch to a different platform, like a personal email account (which might have an easier to evade spam filter).
Groups using these phishing (sub)techniques are listed on the group pages of the ATT&CK framework or the page of each sub technique. During adversary emulations, threat analysis is performed to select a relevant threat group that poses the most significant risk for the organization. Generally, those threats are an insider threat, a big crime group, or a nation-state or proxy. The insider threat won't be selected during this research as this attack won't start with a spear-phishing email. Well, at least it's unlikely.
Selecting the adversaries is dependent on the size of the data set available for the group. First, a list of groups matching the crime group or nation-state criteria + if they have the phishing technique listed as a used method is made. Based on this list, phishing emails will be gathered. Emails in .eml or .msg format are retrieved in these ways:
From the brilliant guys from the Threat Intelligence department
By scraping Twitter with a query consisting of the group name and keywords like "maldoc," "phishing," "IOC," "github," "virustotal," "pastebin" Sometimes this will give you a direct link to the VirusTotal page of an email or the attachment, sometimes to a list of email IoCs6
Browse through platforms like AlienVault Open Threat Exchange or Malpedia
Check VirusTotal for each maldoc hash and check if this malicious document has an email parent
Do an advanced search by checking out the results of the Thor APT scanner7 by Florian Roth
Do an advanced search where the group name + the tag "attachment" form the search query to find only attachments of emails
Search for specific malware families only used by particular groups and check if these are sent as an attachment
Next to creating a data set based on these search results, the data set is enriched with other types of data, like associated IoCs (phishing domains, maldocs) and screenshots published in research from threat intelligence providers. A part of the data set will be analyzed automatically by parsing the EML files. The sender name and subject will be checked from the header, and the body will be examined by the SpaCy package and the Grammarly API.
Based on the availability of this data plus the mentioned selection criteria, the following four adversaries are selected to plot on the created framework (hover for associated names): TA505, APT28, APT40, and APT38. By clicking on the screenshot below, you will find a complete overview of all characteristics mentioned in this post:
TA505 (click for full overview)
A better word for TA505 might be 'lazy mode.' A lot of emails were available for this threat actor. Not surprising as this threat actor has a financial motive and is more leaned towards a spam campaign than spear-phishing. As they have many people associated with this group, it's a little bit harder to define a 'typical' email as the level of the email (writing, theme, etc) differs. However, different similarities were found, like how they compose their emails: they are not personal and could be sent to everyone, for example. It's hard to find a principle of influence in the text of the emails - as they are mostly quite plain with email bodies like "This email is sent automatically" or "Please see attachment" - but the principle of liking pr scarcity is the most likely principle they use in their emails. As this threat actor pretends to be a victim's colleague, they use the advantage of the relationship between the sender and the recipient by applying some time pressure from time to time.
When zooming in on the layout and text of the email, no layout or corporate branding is present in almost all the cases, just plain text. URLs to malicious downloads are included in the email and look legit as words as 'onedrive' and 'dropbox' are used. In other cases, just a malicious document like an Excel document or HTML page are attached to the email.
The most noteworthy attribute of the email is the sender. In order to prevent having the email flagged as 'spam', this threat actor uses already compromised email accounts to send emails to their victims as they have the correct DKIM and DMARC settings. Multiple exact copies of one email, sent to various employees of different organizations with the subject 'pending payments to be cleared today, immediately' are sent from the same sender name (R.V. KRISHNA PRASAD) but with different email addresses. The sender names don't match the sender's email addresses.
APT28 (click for full overview)
A more advanced group is definitely APT28, a Russian group associated with the GRU. Emails sent by this adversary show different principles of influence, like the influence of liking and authority. For example, the group pretends to be a colleague or manager by sending emails with copied internal corporate identity of the company and spoofed email addresses they are mimicking. By choosing authorities like Google, they gain trust from the victims and persuade them into interacting with the email. So, in short: they use an authority for external to internal and a colleague when the email is from internal to internal.
The email body uses plain text, sometimes with minor changes (like a different font color) or copied corporate identity. The sender's email addresses are spoofed or use a typosquatting technique - replacing letters by similar letters - or have a predictable pattern: office365-onedrive.com is used as a link in an email instead of the legit URL onedrive.office365.com, and natio-int.com is used instead of the legit URL nato.int. Next to URLs in the document redirecting to a credential harvesting page or malware download page, weaponized attachments like Word documents, Word template files, and archive files are added as an attachment.
Emails of this adversary are hard to find, so make sure not to send too many emails to employees of the organization you are Red Teaming.
The Chinese attributed group APT40 is all in for relevant themes for the recipient. By using the influence of liking, they bring emails with local news, activities, and events as the central theme. Victims are selected and profiled by scraping their social media accounts and other open sources. The emails of this adversary vary in how hard they are in distinguishing them from realistic emails: sometimes terrible grammar is found in their emails, sometimes it's pretty sophisticated. People who interacted with this adversary experience outstanding initial emails, but when this group replied to the recipient's question (like 'how do I enable macros?'), the email body showed several flaws. This might indicate that someone is asked to compose the initial email but is not engaged with further correspondence.
The group tries to reach their goal by adding malicious documents as an attachment or hosting them on Google Drive and supply a link in the email. In many cases, a payload redirects the victim to the legit document after being downloaded and executed.
The last one and definitely a favorite is the North-Korean government-affiliated adversary APT38, also known as the Lazarus Group. They know how to influence (#influencer). Trust with the victim is built by creating full characters or impersonating people. This includes creating social media profiles for these characters, using LinkedIn, Twitter, Telegram, and email. As they carefully pick their victims, they also put effort into creating relevant profiles for the victim. The group, for example, adds your LinkedIn connections to their connections to gain trust. Because if your contacts trust the adversary, you will likely do the same.
Chaining different methods and services is typical for this attacker. For example, start the conversation on LinkedIn or Twitter, switch to Telegram or personal email to send information that can be used to compromise the victim. Email addresses are spoofed from real people, or a fictitious company is created, like a recruitment company. In the latter case, the name is not crucial as recruitment services with a random name still sound like a recruitment service. In addition, the language and form of speech used in their messages are adapted to the victim's way of writing but are not always flawless. Dropbox and OneDrive are used platforms to host weaponized documents for the victim to download.
Your next adversary emulation
With this essay, the phishing characteristics of four adversaries are outlined. During the next adversary emulation, I would encourage not to just grab a default scenario from the shelf that is proven to work but dive into the characteristics of an adversary phishing scenario. Be more creative and keep the principles of influence in mind when crafting the email itself. Of course, actual adversary operations could take months or years and adversary emulations will probably take weeks. They can also put more effort into their tooling and emails, but keep these characteristics as inspiration would definitely upgrade your adversary emulation.
This little research is entirely dependent on a good data set. If you have more adversary emails (EML or MSG or screenshots), this model can be finetuned and more reliable. Please hit me up if so!
This research was presented on DEF CON (Adversary Village):
Presentation DEF CON
Research by Trend Micro ↩
Principles of Persuasion in Social Engineering and Their Use in Phishing ↩
Global COVID-19 related phishing campaign by North-Korean operatives Lazarus Group exposed by CYFIRMA researchers ↩
Two years of Pawn Storm ↩
Technique T1566: phishing ↩
TWINT - Twitter Intelligence Tool ↩
THOR APT Scanner - Nextron Systems ↩


Sandstone block with decoration executed in raised relief. The scene represents Thutmose III running left with a flail in his hand. In front of the king two standards are shown, above him the royal protocol in columns is carved.


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The ongoing legacy of the Mabo decision
Mabo forced us to confront the convenient fiction upon which Australia was built, writes George Williams.
Published on the 05 Jun 2017 by George Williams
OPINION: Saturday was the 25th anniversary of the High Court's Mabo decision. The impact of this landmark case still reverberates today in debates on Indigenous recognition and disadvantage. It is rarely far from the surface as we struggle to come to grips with our colonial past.
After the British settlers arrived in Australia in 1788, the so-called "barbarian" theory of law was applied. It treated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as being so "low in the scale of social organisation" that they were not entitled to have their laws or customs recognised. As one judge said, it is "idle to impute to such people some shadow of the rights known to our law".
The system treated Indigenous peoples as if they did not exist. Australia was regarded as terra nullius, meaning an empty continent in which the land belonged to no one. It was a convenient approach because it permitted the British settlers to strip Aboriginal people of their lands without compensation.
Mabo changed this. After a protracted 10-year struggle, Eddie Mabo succeeded against the odds in convincing the High Court that Australian law was based on racial discrimination and false understandings. The court instead set down a radically different perspective of Australia's first peoples.
As Justices William Deane and Mary Gaudron stated, it may be "accepted as beyond real doubt or intelligent dispute" that the Australian continent in 1788 was occupied by up to a million or more Aboriginal people. They lived under local laws and customs that were "elaborate and obligatory". It was also accepted that the boundaries of their tribal lands were "long-standing and defined".
In short, despite centuries of denial, Aboriginal peoples had rights and interests that could and should be accorded protection under the common law. The court did so by recognising the continuing rights of the Indigenous people to their ancestral lands and waters.
The Mabo decision was handed down on June 3, 1992 in the High Court's grand courtroom in Canberra. I was there as a young associate working for a judge, and saw the jubilation and relief of Aboriginal peoples whose rights had been recognised after more than two centuries. This though was tinged with sadness as Eddie Mabo had died just months before.
Prime minister Paul Keating responded to the court's decision by seizing the opportunity to legislate for a national native title act. It engendered a long-running, and often bitter, political debate that culminated in 1998 in prime minister John Howard's 10-point plan. In the words of then deputy prime minister Tim Fischer, this sought to pour "bucket-loads of extinguishment" on the native title rights of Indigenous Australians.
The Mabo case gave rise to great expectations and fears. Some people produced maps showing how swathes of the Australian continent would be transferred into Aboriginal hands. Others foresaw that the courts would recognise further Aboriginal rights. None of these has occurred.
One reason for this is that the High Court has refused to extend the Mabo decision. Soon after, Chief Justice Sir Anthony Mason rejected any notion that Aboriginal peoples were sovereign nations. Native title existed only because these rights were recognised by the law of the colonisers. He also rejected an attempt to recognise the customary criminal law of Aboriginal peoples.
Native title has also produced mixed results. Some Aboriginal people have made large gains, while for others the process has been lengthy, unwieldy and unproductive. A key problem is that native title is hard to prove. The High Court has said that a claimant must show a continuous observance of traditional law and customs since the British arrived. However, the dispossession and dispersal of Aboriginal peoples can make this impossible, meaning that native title rights have been lost.
A quarter of a century on, Mabo was a necessary and important step in our development as a nation. It forced us to confront the convenient fiction upon which Australia was built and lands taken for development. The decision has brought about important processes of agreement making, and enabled a new generation of Indigenous leaders to come to the fore.
However, the case has not proved to be the panacea that many had hoped. It has not borne out the inflated expectations of the time, with native title often proving elusive and no further rights beyond land being recognised.
One legacy of the Mabo case has been to shift the debate back to the political realm. For the time being, there is little appetite in the courts to further develop Aboriginal rights. Given this, it is no surprise that Aboriginal people are instead seeking justice and political empowerment through constitutional change and negotiated agreements such as treaties.
Professor George Williams is Dean of Law at UNSW.