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February 3, 2003 - Vol. 3, Issue No. 39
Review: Ad-aware Plus 6.0 *Top Product!*
Testing Underway: Opera 7.0 and Mozilla 1.2
60-Second Briefs
- Java VM: The Eternal Flame
- Spamnix 1.0 for Eudora Email Build 43
- Linux Is Just as Buggy as Windows
- Outlook 2000 Holidays Revisited
AT&T Broadband to Comcast Update
Link of the Week: Counterexploitation
Tip of the Week: Turn off Win Messenger Service
Scot's Newsletter Forums?
Request for Contributions
My sympathies to the families, friends, and colleagues of the seven NASA astronauts who lost their lives in the space shuttle Columbia.
Review: Lavasoft's Ad-aware Plus 6.0 *Top Product!*
Published Feb. 3, 2003, Scot's Newsletter.
After months of waiting, Lavasoft's Ad-aware anti-spyware utility has come out in a major new 6.0 release, and already at least three new reference files have been released for it. There are three versions of the new Ad-aware: Standard Edition (free), Plus, and Professional. At this writing, the Standard Edition was not yet available, so I reviewed the $26.95 Plus version, which includes Ad-watch 3.0, the real-time monitoring utility that prevents new spyware products from being installed on your system.
Ad-aware 6.0 Standard Edition, the freeware version, is scheduled for release this Wednesday (Feb. 5). Ad-watch is the primary difference between the Standard Edition and the Plus version, although there are several other differences that are detailed later in this review.
The brand new Ad-aware Professional version (available for purchase online) is designed for IT professionals. Lavasoft says it is a lot more customizable in terms of the checks and fixes it carries out, so IT managers can set policies. It's also designed to work on a network.
Worth the Wait
Ad-aware has been on the Scot's Newsletter Top Products! list since January 2001, when I reviewed Ad-aware 4.02 quite positively (in Windows Insider) and named it the Program of the Month.
A lot has changed in Ad-aware since I reviewed version 4.0. There was a series of problem plagued 5.x versions that I used but didn't love. Ad-aware 6.0 is a polished, sophisticated application with the right set of features (at last) and a largely well implemented user interface. It also works exceedingly well. In nearly three years of using various versions of Ad-aware, I have yet to get into trouble with it. Its Quarantine feature, which lets you name and save backups, permits you to roll-back Ad-aware removals. So even if you do get in hot water (for example, if after running it, your browser stopped working), it's easy to get back to where you started.
The 6.0 release also solves the most nagging, annoying problem with the Ad-aware 5.x releases, the fact that the spyware/adware definition-updating tool was separate from the main client and hard to use. The Lavasoft website was also tough to find support info on (in fact, sometimes the site has been tough to find at all), and generally speaking, a lot of us went nuts trying to keep Ad-aware properly installed, updated, and running.
Most of that appears to have changed with the 6.0 release, an overhauled Lavasoft website, and a newly launched support forum. In one stroke, Lavasoft has retrieved its lead in the anti-spyware area.
So what's new in version 6.0? Here's a list of new features taken from the program's Help file. I've edited this liberally for clarity:
Brand new scanning engine
Automatic quarantine (backup) function capability
Reference update module fully integrated into the main program
New and improved user interface
Powerful program configuration options
Includes pop-up stopper with customizable blacklist
Blocks browser hijacking, Active-X, IE save attempts, and unwanted auto-start entries
Well maintained and updated database
Enhanced logging capabilities
Exporting and printing of HTML reports
Extended in-depth registry scans
Advanced process browser that fully supports installed extensions
Smart process-blocking, including filter lists
Customizable automated scanning modes
Powerful command line options for loading configuration scripts and reference files from, and sending log files to, remote drives
New plug-in concept provides powerful expandability and updating without the need to download a new core-application
Ad-Aware 6.0 Features by Program Version
At press time, Lavasoft handed me a word-processed document that compares the features in the three versions of Ad-aware 6.0. Since I haven't looked at the Pro or Standard Editions yet, some of the distinctions seem a bit hazy to me. But here's the list of features found in each version:
Ad-aware Standard Edition 6.0:
Enhanced database, basic command-line parameters, Standard Edition plugins and extensions, automated scanning.
Ad-aware Plus 6.0:
All the features of the Standard Edition plus Ad-watch 3.0, automated blocking, Plus- and some Professional-version plug-ins and extensions, pop-up blocking, ActiveX blocking, browser-hijack and IE download blocking, customizable scanning, Registry protection, executable-file-extension protection, improved safety and redundant backups, improved logging capability, free email support, advanced filtering, and printable reports.
Ad-aware Professional 6.0:
All the features of Ad-aware Plus and full-featured quarantine support, process manager/viewer, additional command-line parameters, additional menu and export options for reports, Professional-only plugins and extensions, and mapped network and RAM disk scanning.
Clearly Superior
Fast scans are the first thing you'll notice with Ad-aware 6.0. It's always been fast, but it's much faster in this release. You can make it even faster by customizing what parts of your system Ad-aware scans, and that's very easy to do with new, highly discoverable options in the updated interface. One of my criticisms of the 4.02 product was that Ad-aware gave no real information about spyware items it found, but now you can double click or right-click individual results to get more information.
The product also includes a popup-stopper with a pre-built list of websites (part of Ad-watch). For my own PC I prefer to manage pop-ups myself. Mostly by promptly closing the pop-ups and never returning to sites that employ them. But if you follow that course — you should leave Ad-watch running (with the pop-up feature scaled back or disabled) and/or you should run the Ad-aware scan regularly to strip out the code some of these sites will inflict on your system.
Another change I find welcome is that Ad-aware 6.0 focuses on eliminating adware and spyware cookies, not cookies in general. A plug-in program will shortly be released by Lavasoft to add back the all-cookies functionality because some people prefer that. But my take is that some cookies are good things. I like 'em. They keep track of things I want to keep track of. Version 6.0 does dump cookies whose primary purpose is to either share information about you with multiple sites or to create a unique identification key about you so they can track where you go in order to build up "demographic" information about you. Both of these activities invade your privacy and offer no advantage to you. For a pretty good summary on the differences between types of cookies, see this Pest Patrol Research page titled Spyware Cookies.
I've only scratched the surface about what's new and improved in Ad-aware 6.0. Let me sum it up this way: This product is clearly the leader in its field. It's well designed, mature, easy to use, and effective. The features are now probably less important than the knowledge that Ad-aware is back and better than ever.
Perfect, No. Excellent, Yes.
The length of time people waited for this update without any reference file updates on the 5.x versions of the program (since late September of last year) has frayed the nerves of the Ad-aware faithful. And, as with all heavily revised software (and Ad-aware 6.0 is a major upgrade), there are bugs.
Some people are disappointed with this new release of Ad-aware.
Lavasoft has had some bad publicity lately. I think the 6.0 release and what appears to be a strong renewal of support by its developers will make all that blow over. Ad-aware 6.0 is an excellent program, and my estimation is that all demonstrable problems will be cleared up shortly.
The one bug clearly identified is a problem with the real-time Ad-watch program and Windows shutdowns. (I haven't experienced this problem.) Lavasoft has already responded with a new build of the program (build 160). For more information, see this thread in the Lavasoft support forum.
There are also many very positive posts, so try not to get caught up in the early negativity. Most of the complaints so far seem to relate to Ad-watch. In my experience, any program that monitors changes on your PC in real-time is going to run into problems sooner or later. I'm not a big fan of such utilities. Uninstallers are another example of the ilk. Using Ad-watch for the last several days, it seems better to me than most. But I doubt I will leave it turned on all the time. But if you've got to have the very best protection, or you're installing something you've got reason to be concerned about, Ad-watch is a very useful tool.
So, from my point of view, there's not much to criticize in Ad-aware. There's just one little nit I have with the user interface, which in all other ways is significantly improved. When you get to the end of a scan, it's not immediately obvious how to handle the desire to remove none of the problems Ad-aware finds. (In most cases, you should probably opt to Remove all spyware objects and other traces it finds, but there are times when you might not want to.) Ad-aware defaults to a view that shows all items checked, and there's no Deselect All button, and no menu items at all. While you can manually remove the check marks from individual items — they don't look very clickable. And if there's a long list of items (I managed to create over 100 such on one test PC), doing so would be laborious.
Of course there is a way to do this. But you have to right-click the results window to get at the "Deselect all objects" option. Like a keyboard combination, a right-click context menu should never be the only means of access a function. It's just bad UI. Perhaps the best idea would be for Lavasoft to add an Actions button beside the other primary buttons that offers the functions on the right-click context menu. But as I said, this is a small point.
Down to This
So new features aside, how well does this product work? That is the heart of the issue, after all. As I said, it works very well. But in testing competitors, I've found that Spybot Search & Destroy 1.1, a freeware program, actually finds things Ad-aware doesn't. In my tests — which involved installing some of the hairiest adware/spyware-infested programs — Spybot turned up the remnants of unwanted programs, such as empty folders, unthreatening registry keys, and so forth. If you're the belt-and-suspenders sort, you're probably going to want to look at Spybot, which also has a simple but effective form of quarantining and built-in definition updating. Spybot is a younger product that shows good promise, but it's rougher around the edges.
I prefer Ad-aware because it strikes the best balance to me. It gets all the major and minor nasty stuff. I know some spyware aficionados will quibble with this, but the last two percent of spyware-related traces just isn't all that important. It's better to make as few changes as you can get away with while still making the PC perfectly safe. That's the right formula to ensure the best user experience — and it's Lavasoft's formula. When you add that to the powerful enhancements in 6.0, you've got a winning combination.
Ad-aware 6.0 is a hands-down Scot's Newsletter Top Product! It's an essential part my own Internet survival toolkit. I recommend it be installed and used regularly on every Windows PC.
$26.95 for Plus, Standard Edition is free, $39.95 for the Professional version; Ad-aware Plus 6.0 Build 158; Lavasoft, Sweden; Phone: +46 (0) 515 530 14; Email contact; Ad-aware 6.0 support forum
As longtime readers of SFNL may know, over the years I've reviewed every major version of Netscape, Internet Explorer, and several versions of the Opera browser. While they may seem pedestrian, Web browsers are to my way of thinking the single most important type of application. Years ago I would have said the word processor held that distinction, or the spreadsheet. But almost everyone connected to the Internet uses a browser. Hence, how well your browser works dictates a big part of your overall experience with your PC.
I spend a huge part of my life (more than I care to admit) reading Web pages on the Internet with my browser. It's my job, my avocation, and I use the Web (as many of us do) for an increasing number of things in my personal life. I can't remember the last time I visited a bank branch office, for example. I order books, medicines, specialty foods, clothes, tools, and many other things online. Let's not belabor the point, the Web browser has become an indispensable tool.
Netscape was my everyday browser until the 4.0 version was released. I switched to Internet Explorer at that time and have been using it ever since. It's not that I'm in love with IE. I just think that during this these last few years, it has been the best browser available. But now that Microsoft more or less dominates the Web browser marketplace, it has stopped innovating. Both Opera and Mozilla (the open-source organization that builds the browser suite underlying Netscape) have continued to dream up new ideas, and Internet Explorer is starting to be left behind.
This is an introduction to an eventual comparison review of Opera 7.0 and Mozilla 1.2 (or possibly 1.3 if it is finalized before my review comes out). Part of the reason it's an introduction is that I'm inviting your comments and insights on these two products. What I need most from you is not an impassioned argument for Opera or Mozilla. I know you may feel strongly about this. What I could really use is a reasoned summary of your experiences — or even better, a list of pros and cons you're finding with either Opera 7.0 or Mozilla 1.2 (I'm not interested in Mozilla 1.3 comments just yet since it is still in prerelease testing). Or specific features you found really cool in either product. Or a specific features you dislike in either product. Write about what you know about, not what you're guessing at or what someone told you. Send your thoughts to me, please.
Here are some first impressions of both products to get you started:
Opera 7.0
There have been many aspects of the Opera browser that I have preferred over the years. It's small, light, very fast, and it showed new ideas (like internal Web page windows and page zooming) in every release. The 7.0 version is a from-the-ground-up redesign, with a brand new HTML rendering engine and a completely different email module. I've eagerly awaited this release for a long time. In particular, I've been hopeful that the new rendering engine would render pages more like IE does. It's not that I prefer IE's rendering per se, it's just that as both a reader of Web pages and a creator of them, I'd like them to all look pretty much alike.
A lot of SFNL readers write me about Opera or Mozilla and say things like: "People who say they create Web pages and don't want to create them for multiple browsers are just lazy." Hogwash, people. I'm a Web publishing professional. I do it both for this newsletter, and for my day job at TechWeb.com. And before that I did it for Winmag.com. And before that, ZDNet. I've been at this longer than most. I'm here to tell you that trying to make any Web page look right in any more than one browser is a tough thing indeed. The rise of IE has made things much easier for the Web publishing community. And don't think that hasn't been an important aspect of the IE phenomenon. We're talking about human nature. Browsers need to render pages alike. They'll never do so exactly alike, but they should be darn close. Otherwise they fall outside of the de facto standard, and any browser that does that *will* get left behind. Because life is short.
My initial reaction to Opera 7.0 in this page-rendering area was disappointment because the problems Opera had with my own website are still problems in 7.0. They are minor problems. I haven't had a chance to make a thorough study of how similarly to IE Opera renders pages yet. But that's on the list. If you find pages that it does a bad job of, please send me specific URLs. Generally speaking, though, I'm not coming across major problems how Opera displays pages, which is good news, and wasn't always the case with previous versions.
As the originator of the idea that multiple Web page windows should be contained within a single browser program window, I'm a little disappointed at this feature in Opera 7.0. Mozilla has imitated the feature (and features that build off this concept), and I think it may do a slightly better job of it than Opera. User-interface-wise, the two programs are more or less the same. You have tabs that represent individual pages — much the way the HomeSite HTML editor provides access to multiple pages (or similar to the way Windows 95 and its successors show programs buttons in the taskbar). Click on any tab to make it the currently displayed Web page. If, like me, you find yourself working with three, four ... seven ... 12 instances of Internet Explorer open on your desktop on a regular basis, this tabbing paradigm in Opera and Mozilla is worth exploring.
Both Opera and Mozilla allow you to have multiple windows open automatically whenever you launch the browser (optionally). Each offers a way to save sets of Web page windows. Opera's named and saved sets work a bit better than Mozilla's because they're integrated into its default start-page configuration.
But Opera 7.0 falls down in one area. It won't properly load (or at least, I haven't found the trick to loading) encrypted pages that require a password — even if you've saved that password with the product's new Wand password-inserting feature. In some cases, I just got an empty page. In other cases the page opened but the Wand didn't appear nor did the Wand's keyboard alternative (Ctrl+E) work.
I'll save the details on Opera's new email program for a later time, but suffice it to say it uses a very different paradigm than most email packages. Instead of storing your mail messages, addresses, and other items in discrete locations or modules, it stores everything in one place. It is very database-like in that it displays views (lists based on a set of criteria) of your email data, such as messages from so and so, messages with this kind of attachment, received addresses, and so forth. While you can create folders, you really might not need them much or at all. The secret to understanding Opera's new email program is to expand all the triangles in the tree view under the Unread messages icon and click on everything you find there.
Just to the left of the address bar (where you type URLs) is the User Mode button. Click the down arrow beside that baby and then make selections from that menu to check out some interesting ways Opera can present Web information.
Opera is highly targeted at providing a Web browsing solution to the mobile marketplace. To get a sense of where they're headed with effort, open any Web page and press Shift+F11 and imagine a small, color cell-phone display.
Be sure to consult Opera Software's page on what's new in Opera 7.0. It's a pretty impressive list of improvements.
Mozilla 1.2
Those of you who are familiar with the Mozilla 1.3 alpha code are, I'm sure, wondering why I'm not testing that product since it includes Bayesian anti-spam capabilities. I will look at that when it's done. I've reached a point where I review prerelease software only when I have to. The reviews are better for it, believe me.
I started my review research on version Mozilla 1.2 by installing Mozilla 1.0.2. I've used Netscape 7.0 in the past, but not for long stretches. I found Mozilla 1.0.2 to be pretty basic, but stable and reliable. So I uninstalled it and installed the final release of Mozilla 1.2. Check the list of what's new in 1.2 in case you're not familiar with it.
One of the additions is an improvement that makes a big difference for me: Automatic saving of multiple browser pages on browser exit that reload the next time you launch Mozilla. You can also save multiple Web pages in Bookmark sets ("Group of Tabs") to your Bookmarks, so you can open multiple page sets very easily. For anyone with a fast Internet connection who routinely uses a sets of Web pages to get something done, this is a real boon. I know I will be making heavy use of it.
As previously mentioned, Opera does a better job of integrating this functionality into your start page because it can be configured to ask you as it launches what saved page set ("session") you want to load. Mozilla 1.2 doesn't do that, but it does a much better job of handling encrypted or authentication-required, password-protected Web pages. If you've saved the password, it just loads the pages. If you haven't, it prompts you for the password.
Without actually benchmark testing, I'm surprised at Mozilla 1.2's performance. Subjectively, it feels almost as fast as Opera. (I will be conducting performance tests when I circle back and complete this review.)
Mozilla's email program is comfortable and offers no surprises. It also has very few bells and whistles. Basically this is the same email program Netscape first delivered in Netscape 4.0. It's only slightly changed since then. I still can't arrange the windows as I would prefer to arrange them. It still won't filter outbound messages (its rules only apply to inbound messages). And it still doesn't offer the Personalities/Identities capabilities offered by Eudora and Outlook Express. Two additions: Filter logging and the ability to run filters locally ("Run now") are welcome additions, but this emailer could be made competitive with Outlook Express if Mozilla wanted to do that. They just don't seem to want to.
In operation, Mozilla still bears some old Netscape trademarks. When you open bookmarks or when you exit the browser, Mozilla thrashes the hard disk. It's hard to believe that's still going on all these years later in a very different open-source version, but it is.
Then there's the stuff that's hard to put into words, the way it feels to use this product. Despite Opera's advantages, Mozilla has that certain something. Opera feels like an old Volkswagen beetle (with a ripping six cylinder engine). But Mozilla feels like a sports car. I find myself gravitating toward the open-source product.
To be continued ...
Java VM: The Eternal Flame
I feel like I've been writing little snippets about the Java for Web browsers all my life, and that it'll never end. But, per usual, there's more to tell you, so I'm back at it again.
Let's hope you don't have any need for Microsoft's version of the Java Virtual Machine (as I did recently) for use with Internet Explorer. At least, not for the next several months. Even though Sun's JRE (Java Runtime Environment) will work with Internet Explorer, many Java applets require one of the later versions of the Microsoft version. That was the case with a program I've been trying to test for weeks.
No doubt you've heard about the court case between Sun and Microsoft. Microsoft is currently not allowed to distribute its own Java VM, and it's in the process of hammering out in court how it will distribute Sun's Java runtime environment.
I asked a Microsoft spokesperson to verify the point that the Java VM isn't available, and this was the response:
That's correct, there is no way to get the code today. But provided Sun meets its obligations, Microsoft will make Sun's JRE technology available on Windows Update within 90 days of the effective date of the order. Sun's technology will be available to all Windows users as a recommended update on Windows Update.
Just today, Microsoft released information about how it will distribute Sun's Java. Apparently it will do so in a re-release of Windows XP SP1 in early June.
I also want to mention I've been getting reports from a number of people about their JVM version number being 5.00.3809 instead of the 5.00.3805 current version I mentioned a few issues back. I've got the 5.00.3809 version myself on several XP machines. I believe the change may be due to one or more of several recent Windows Update/Auto Update Java VM patches Microsoft has released.
What gets funky about this is that many of us have multiple versions of Java installed on our machines, and the Microsoft VM may not be the one our browsers are actually using. And with all the court high jinks going on, this is getting wicked complicated. Because Microsoft's JVM, which is actually required by some Java applications, is a lame duck that will no longer be distributed.
Somehow I have this funny feeling I'll be talking more about Java runtime environments in coming issues of the newsletter.
Spamnix 1.0 for Eudora Email Build 43
A number of people have installed Spamnix for Eudora on my advice, and so far everyone who's provided feedback has been positive about it. Two bits of quick news and a question for those of you using Spamnix:
1. Spamnix author Barry Jaspan issued another minor update to the program. Build 43 includes the useful default option to always accept mail from any email address listed in your Eudora address book.
Spamnix Download
What's New in Builds 41-43
2. In my tests on the last issue of the newsletter, Spamnix 1.0 Build 41 did not trap Scot's Newsletter as spam. It did assign it a 4.7 score, so it was close to branding it as spam. And I expect that some issues will wind up scoring over the default 5.0 limit because it's just too close.
If you're using Spamnix, tell me about your experience, both with the program in general and with whether it tags SFNL as spam.
I'm taking a break from the Let's Fight Spam series for an issue or two. It will return in the future, and I hope to address Bayesian solutions, since several of you have reported positive early experiences with products employing Bayesian concepts.
While I take that break on the spam series, I invite you all to read this very interesting set of InternetWeek.com reader responses to a poll the online magazine ran on spam recently. I promise you it'll open your eyes:
Desperately Seeking Fix to the Spam Problem - InternetWeek.com
Linux Is Just as Buggy as Windows
Fred Langa did an excellent job on this piece in InformationWeek about the fact that Linux has bugs just like every other piece of software. Fred isn't beating up Linux, nor is he praising Windows in some way. He's just telling it like it is; no software is immune from bugs and security flaws. I fully agree with every single word in his article. And it's especially interesting for his analysis of Red Hat 7.2 versus Windows XP patches, which might surprise you.
Linux Has Bugs: Get Over It - InformationWeek
Outlook 2000 Holidays Revisited
The Tip of the Week in the Dec. 23rd issue of SFNL was a fix forwarded to me by reader Tim Downey (thanks again, Tim) aimed at helping people update Outlook 2000's built-in list of holidays for 2003 and beyond.
This tip generated a storm of sometimes conflicting email from Outlook 2000-using SFNL readers. Most people said the tip worked for them, thanks. One guy wrote a specific set of instructions with a step he said I missed. Since no one else wrote about problems installing it, I'm going to discount that one. A couple people wrote to tell me that they already had the 2003 and beyond holidays but had done nothing special to install them. (One speculated that have to with his Exchange server providing the holidays.) Others wrote to say there were problems with holidays listed in other languages (also included in the same file).
Then the storm turned into a firestorm as bulletin boards and newsletters all around the Internet heated up with confused messages about errors in Outloook.txt and installation problems. On January 22, Microsoft released a new version of the Outlook 2000 Holidays file with instructions on how to install it.
According to Woody Leonhard, writing in the January 22, 2003 issue of his Woody's Office Watch newsletter: "As far as I can tell, there's only one error in the U.S. dates: Election Day in 2005 is listed as November 1, when in fact it's November 8."
It's a bit ironic that Microsoft has to issue patches to text files too.
Many SFNL readers wrote to correct me about an inadvertent mistake I made in the story last time about AT&T Broadband customers having their attbi.com addresses changed to Comcast addresses.
I wrote incorrectly that the new email addresses will have the Comcast.com domain name. The new addresses will have the Comcast.net domain name. Comcast reserves the .com extension for its corporate email.
That said, let's get to the good stuff. If you have questions about this transition — even if you haven't been contacted by AT&T/Comcast yet — this FAQ (thanks to Judy Battistelli for sending this link) on the Comcast Connection site explains the transition.
Comcast AT&T Broadband to Comcast Conversion FAQ
Comcast Connection Center
Apparently I may also have been wrong on my guess about Comcast's corporate ego being involved with the immediate, mandatory change in the attbi.com email addresses. Comcast did not respond to my attempts to contact them on the point, but several sources, including an inside source at Comcast who asked not to be identified, wrote to tell me that Comcast is changing the email addresses because they don't have permission to use the AT&T name. Even the term "attbi.com" is, apparently, protected by the AT&T trademark.
Whether Comcast has rights or not, it seems to me that the two companies could have worked out something better than a 60-day transition for millions of subscribers who are being forced into an email-address change. Some of these customers have been through two such changes already not all that long ago. Many have been through one change.
In other Comcast news, an attbi.com reader (who uses an anonymous handle) sent me another interesting Comcast link. This one is for a new high-speed, $95-per-month, 3.5Mbps downstream/384kbps upstream service. The details are on the Comcast High-Speed Internet Pro page.
Several months ago I did some research about a similar AT&T Broadband high-speed service that's already available in some parts of the country. The ATTb service was cheaper as I recall, in the $70-to-$80-per-month range. Anyone who has that AT&T Broadband high-speed service, I'd be interested in learning about it. It's not offered in my area.
There's a good possibility that Scot's Newsletter will opt for this high-speed Comcast service later this year. But we may have to make sure that Cyndy never, ever sees the cable bill.
[Editor's Note: Here's a tip of the week. Instead of trying to keep secrets, try bribery, er ... compromise. You know, "Honey, if I can get Comcast's new high-speed service, we can go see that Jane Austen movie you've been wanting to see." Or better yet, how 'bout getting one or two of those darn satellite dishes off the house! --Cyndy]
[Writer's Note: Who's Jane Austen? Is she hot? Uh, just kidding. And did I mention that I do all the bills? --Scot]
Link of the Week: Counterexploitation and Spyware
My research on spyware and adware for the Ad-aware review turned up an impressive website that was instantly became Link of the Week. Counterexploitation is a large website begun in 1998 jam-packed with information devoted to promoting privacy rights, personal online security, avoiding hassles on the Internet, preventing censorship, debunking scams, and a wide variety of other useful information for savvy or soon-to-be savvy Internet users. It's an intriguing if somewhat cynical (and be warned, vulgar in spots) website that you should definitely check out. It's also effectively a giant personal website with lots of interesting though often off-the-wall documents buried within. Don't get lost.
The spyware content on Counterexploitation is, all on its own, worthy of being named a Scot's Newsletter Link of the Week. The site's Adware, Spyware, and Advertising Trojans page, and the stuff it links to, shines.
As long as we're talking spyware, here are some other excellent destinations on the subject:
Spywareinfo (a past SFNL Link of the Week):
SimplyTheBest: Spyware
grc.spyware Newsgroup
Finally, I've received email recently from one or two readers wondering about "Microsoft's HotBar" being spyware. Apparently there's a spam message still making the rounds that bills an adware utility called HotBar as being an "upgrade to Microsoft Outlook." Not true. For more information on this point, please see PestPatrol's Research HotBar document.
I need your help! Have you discovered a relatively unknown Windows or broadband related website that's a little or a lot amazing? Please send me the URL so I can check it out and let everyone know about it.
Take Control of Your Internet! SentiNet Internet Management Server protects your IP network from intruders. Easy web-based configuration and proactive 1 year support and services for your peace of mind today and tomorrow.
Tip of the Week: Turn off Windows Messenger Service
This tip is for all versions of Windows, although Windows XP users in particular seem to be the most in need of it.
Before I go any further with this, let me head off what could be a major point of confusion. This tip has nothing to do with either the Windows Messenger or MSN Messenger instant-messaging programs. In fact, it has nothing to do with instant messaging at all. Microsoft's Windows versions since Windows 98 have a networking service built into them known as the "Windows Messenger Service." This service was designed to allow warning and administration messages to be sent on LANs.
So, while this is about harassing and/or spam-like messages popping up unbidden on your computer, they aren't instant messages, they're network style messages with an OK box whose title bars are labeled "Messenger Service."
I'm not going to detail the steps here in the newsletter as I usually do because at least two other sites have done this already, and the steps are different for different versions of Windows. The steps at the two sites aren't identical. That's the reason I'm giving you both. I have only tested these steps on Windows XP (where, by the way, the instructions make some assumptions about your customization, or lack thereof, of the XP interface).
StopMessengerSpam.com for Windows 95/98/Me
StopMessengerSpam.com for Windows 2000/NT
StopMessengerSpam.com for Windows XP
StopMessengerSpam.com Background Information
How to turn off Windows Messenger Service
If you'd rather have a program do this for you, StopMessengerSpam.com offers a little freeware program that's a 1.42MB ZIP file download that purportedly does the job. (I haven't tested it mind you.)
Should everyone rush to disable Windows Messenger Service? I recommend that you definitely disable Windows Messenger Service if you're receiving unwanted messages. But if you're on a corporate network and you're not having a problem with the Windows Messenger Service, don't disable it without checking with your network administrator.
There's no real setting to change under Windows 9x/Me, but if you have properly configured your LAN for security, with NetBEUI or IPX/SPX and NetBIOS carrying your LAN traffic and TCP/IP handling your Internet traffic, and TCP/IP file/printer sharing turned off, then you're already set.
Bear with me a minute with a little introduction, because there's a question I want you to take half a moment to answer.
I recently had a minor operation and all went well, thanks. But I found myself stuck in bed for several days, including all of a weekend. I amused myself by downloading and installing various low-cost threaded-message bulletin board software solutions. The one I like the best (so far, anyway), and which works the best with the tools my Web host has provided me, is called Infopop UBB Classic. It's pretty popular board software in use by a wide variety of large and small websites. Here are some examples.
I set up a little demo of it on the SFNL website. The demo is member limited (30 members max.) so I'm not going to pass out the URL generally. It'll be open to everyone if and when I purchase the software and get it fully configured.
What I want to know from you if you have an opinion either way, is: Would you make use of a Scot's Newsletter threaded-message discussion forum (in other words, a Web-based BBS)?
I think the idea might have some advantages for the newsletter in helping it to turn up in search sites (promoting subscriptions). Plus it should generate answers to burning questions faster than I'm able to answer them in the newsletter. I expect it would serve as a lightning rod for problems, issues, and developments. All that could happen if people actually use it. Before I waste time and money to set it up, I'm looking for how many heads are nodding or shaking no. Your input is much appreciated.
If this gets off the ground, I would also welcome co-moderators if anyone is interested in being a regular presence. I don't have all the answers. I always welcome other points of view. [Editor's Note: ... It would just be way too easy .... --Cyndy]
Donations to Scot's Newsletter are strictly voluntary. But if even one in five of the newsletter's subscribers (about 7,000 readers) donated $15 annually to keep it running, I could conceivably quit my day job and devote myself full-time authoring it. Last time I counted, fewer than 1,000 individuals had ever actually sent a contribution. Some have sent money two, three, even four or more times. Thanks to everyone who has ever sent a donation to SFNL! I'm grateful.
But if you've never contributed to Scot's Newsletter, or haven't for at least a year, please consider making whatever donation you can afford at this time.
For more information about donating to SFNL, read this brief document.
You can print that page to send me a donation by cash or check via conventional letter mail. Or you can use PayPal to send me an online contribution.
Click to Donate to Scot's Newsletter via PayPal
Thanks in advance for your contribution. I'll use it to make the newsletter better and keep it coming.
-- Scot


text:
To Be Sung Underwater
Goodnight, Nebraska
The Practice House
The Incident on the Bridge
You Can't Leave Me Now
The Decoding of Lana Morris
Books by Tom and Laura McNeal
Prizes, Best-of Lists, & Reviews
California Book Award Gold Medal Winner
SCIBA YA Book of the Year
Edgar Allan Poe Mystery Awards Finalist
The Horn Book starred review
Publishers Weekly starred review
School Library Journal starred review
Publishers Weekly Best of 2013 list
A School Library Journal Best Books 2013
The Horn Book Fanfare—Best Books of 2013
Booklist Books for Youth Editors' Choice: 2013
Summer 2013 Kids' Indie Next List – Selected "The Top 10" category
An Amazon Best Book of 2013 (Teen & YA)
Audie Award Finalist
Nominated for best-of-the-year status in 12 states: Oklahoma, Indiana, Tennessee, Arizona, Texas, South Carolina, California, Maryland, the District of Columbia, Vermont, Florida, and Nebraska
"Reminiscent of Hansel and Gretel . . . a masterful story of outcasts, the power of faith, and the triumph of good over evil"
--Booklist, starred review
"Enchanting, romantic, and tinged with terror, this modern story subtly weaves the haunting essentials of the fairy-tale tradition into a fascinating and beautifully written homage to its source material."
--The Bulletin, starred review
"Sprightly, assured and original." --The Toronto Star
Buy from Powell's
It says quite a lot about Jeremy Johnson Johnson that the strangest thing about him isn't even the fact his mother and father both had the same last name. Jeremy once admitted he's able to hear voices, and the townspeople of Never Better have treated him like an outsider since. After his mother left, his father became a recluse, and it's been up to Jeremy to support the family. But it hasn't been up to Jeremy alone. The truth is, Jeremy can hear voices. Or, specifically, one voice: the voice of the ghost of Jacob Grimm, one half of the infamous writing duo, The Brothers Grimm.
Jacob watches over Jeremy, protecting him from an unknown dark evil whispered about in the space between this world and the next. But when the provocative local girl Ginger Boultinghouse takes an interest in Jeremy (and his unique abilities), a grim chain of events is put into motion. And as anyone familiar with the Grimm Brothers know, not all fairy tales have happy endings...
First published by Knopf in 2013, Far Far Away is available as an unabridged audiobook from the Listening Library. The edition published in the UK is shown below with its original cover art by the Cuban surrealist Arnays Camaraza Perez. View more of his work here.
You can follow Laura on
Goodreads,

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Lie on the back with knees bent and heels by the buttocks.
Place the inverted palms on the ground by the temples.
Raise the trunk and place the top of the head on the ground.
Balance on the head and the feet.
Raise the arms, cross them and place them on the chest.
Practice once for as long as the breath can be retained, or for long periods with normal breathing for curative purposes.
On the thyroid gland, neck or pelvic region.
Follow with a forward neck bending pose such as paschimottanasana.
Not for sufferers of high blood pressure, coronary diseases, amenorrhea, or people with weak necks.
This asana aligns the upper vertebrae.
In cases of late female puberty it helps to rectify the gonadal hormonal block.
It helps treat leucorrhea and other female disorders.


The Prevalence of Suicide in the U.S.
Suicide is a global problem attracting attention of a wide range of experts in different spheres: sociologist, demographers, general and military psychologist, physiologists, forensic medics, etc. Attitude to suicide has been changing throughout history, and though it is not perceived as a crime anymore, it is a matter of anxiety from the psychological viewpoint. Paradoxically, with all the modern society's tolerance this phenomenon is now more widespread than ever, caused by the fast pace of modern life and availability of various methods. Thus, suicide is a ubiquitous problem having most relevance for psychological studies.
Nowadays one of the approaches to self-murder includes geographic factor. The United States present a special interest to scholars studying suicide due to the large and diverse population. Legal side of self-murder in America embraces doctor-assisted suicide and status of felos-de-se. Suicide in relation to psychology is mostly studied focusing on the premises (conditions breaching the self-preservative instinct) reaction of people to it, ways of prevention and rehabilitation from the attempts. The United States, for example, differ from many other countries by fact of hosting a Foundation for Suicide Prevention and a governmental National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. America with its vast research field explained by the prevalence of the phenomenon stays in the professional focus of many psychologists, which makes the country relevant to the topic.
The notion of suicide is crucial to define. Thus, for example, Vernon J. Geberth calls suicide "the intentional taking of one's own life" (Geberth, 1996). Similar definition – "the act of intentionally ending one's own life" – is given by a group of other American scholars (Nock et al., 2008). Due to a non-specified definition regarding outcomes traditionally fatal and nonfatal (attempted) suicide is delimitated (Encyclopædia Britannica, 2012). One may conclude that classification of types of this act is the major factor for its defining.
The suicide statistics also differentiates between the finished acts and attempts. Thus, as Scientific American suggests, annually millions of people worldwide try to kill themselves — and approximately one million of them succeed (Springen, 2010). The same scholar providesnational data referring to the ages of persons committing suicide claiming that this reason takes the 11th place for popularity in America and that 15- to 24-year-olds die this way in one third of all lethal cases (Springen, 2010). Forensic experts maintain that teenage and early age self-murder becomes "epidemic in proportion to representation within society" (Geberth, 1996). As one may see, the figures are rather striking, especially concerning the younger generation which is naturally more psychologically vulnerable and generally belonging to risk group. The dynamics of suicide data in America is disturbing: 2010 was the fist year in the decade which witnessed the first major increase in numbers. One of the explanations of such a wave of suicides may be economic situation in the country, and financial difficulties seem to be one of the self-murder triggers for a lot of Americans, both common citizens and those in positions of authorities.
The data on the U.S. proves notable variability in the frequency of registering suicidal behavior but consistency in age groups, transition probabilities, and major risk factors (Nock et al., 2008). The same authors conclude their research by the statement that accomplished self-murders are more prevalent among men, whereas nonfatal suicidal behaviors are more characteristic among such population groups as women, minors and young people, also the unmarried or those having a psychiatric disorder. Such statistics may be explained by the fact that transition is easier to arrive at being in the risk group, but the actual disastrous outcome is more likely for persons with a strong will and resolution. What concerns ethnicity, lately the statistics have been substantially supported by Caucasians aged between 40 and 64 (Springen, 2010). Five years later the nationality-related suicide figures in the USA presented such a list (in descending order): Native Americans, Non-Hispanic Whites, Hispanics, Non-Hispanic Blacks and Asian Americans (Tartaro & Lester, 2009).
Risk groups are one of the major aspects of suicide studies in psychology. They maintain the idea that some groups of people are more predisposed to suicidal acts due to certain features of character they possess, like ability to endure pain and impulsive behavior (sometimes enhanced by alcoholic or drug abuse) leading to fearlessness (Springen, 2010). Geberth draws clear parallels between depressioon and suicide and explains symptoms, clinical scenarios, motives and other elements of suicidal behavior relevant to another branch dealing with this problem – forensic, and emphasizing the role of psychology of suicide for investigations (Geberth, 1996). It should be noted that together with risk factors protective factors may be delimitated, as defined by Suicide Prevention Research Center. The experts of the abovementioned body have divided both risk and protective factors into biopsychological, environmental and sociocultural. Biopsychological ones include a mental history of a person and some character inclinations like hopelessness and aggressiveness (Risk and protective factors for suicide, 2001). Unfortunately, possessing some risk factors (like history of attempts) may be a stable feature for a person. In such cases people surrounding a victim of suicide must be very cautious regarding traces of suicidal ideation, as every serious stress might trigger a wish to accomplish the intended act (Orquendo et al., 1999). However, data reveals positive dynamics showing that nowadays more suicidal persons are actually treated than try to commit self-murder (Nock et al., 2008). This fact might find explanation in the active work towards preventing suicidal behavior led in America, which once again proves the relevance of research location.
With all the theoretic basis of the research, its practical aspect is not sufficiently developed in psychology. Scholars note that although it has been studied what risk factors can predict suicidal ideas, plans and attempts, practically no researches have been devoted to investigating behavior that helps predict the crucial moment of transition from ideation to actual acts (Nock et al., 2008). It must be taken into consideration in suicide studies in general and in this work in particular.
The aim of the given work is to explore the prevalence of suicide throughout the United States in synchrony, i.e., at the present moment. The research will include group sessions with young survivals of both genders in public hospitals. An important element of scientific investigation is defining the transition moment from suicidal ideas to committing. Practical work will also incorporate comprehensive interviewing of families of survivals in order to trace emotional background behind every case, possible noticed premises and the changes of attitude towards a relative-felos-de-se.


text:
Juventus rule out January move for Manchester United star
Fabio Paratici says Italian champions will not complete business for Paul Pogba in January
Josh ChalliesSports Content Writer
The future of Paul Pogba remains in the air after news emerged that Juventus have ruled themselves out of the running to sign the Manchester United midfielder in January.
Pogba's future has been the centre of heated speculation as the January transfer window edges nearer with many expecting the 2018 World Cup winner to depart Old Trafford in the new year.
United were able to fight off any potential suitors over the summer for the midfielder, despite interest from La Liga giants Real Madrid.
However, Serie A outfit Juventus, who Pogba left to rejoin United in 2016, are not set to move for the France international in January, with club director Fabio Paratici stating the Italian champions will not complete business in the transfer market.
Manchester United close to reaching another proud landmark
Pogba has been regularly touted for a return to Turin but no move will take place in January, with Bleacher Report quoting Paratici as confirming no business will be completed during the mid-season window.
Paratici said: "As I have already said several times, we have a very competitive and complete squad. We have Emre Can and we have (Sami) Khedira who will come back, so we have no intention of operating on the market."
NHSBlue Monday: How to turn the 'most depressing day of the year' on its headBlue Monday was created by Sky Travel in 2005 when they used an equation to find the most depressing day of the year
Blue Monday: How to turn the 'most depressing day of the year' on its head
NHSBlue Monday was created by Sky Travel in 2005 when they used an equation to find the most depressing day of the year


Brother to presenter June, Sam was the face of Tommy Hilfiger in the US.
Sam Sarpong has died at the age of 40 in Pasadena, California.
Brother to UK presenter June, Sam was an actor, model and also hosted MTV show Yo Momma in 2006 alongside That '70s Show's Wilmer Valderrama. It has been reported that he took his own life.
Sam's rep said in a statement: "It is with great sadness that the family of Samuel Sarpong Jr must share the news that Sam has passed away.
"The family appreciates the thoughts, prayers and other expressions of sympathy, and request their privacy be respected at this extremely difficult time."
Pasadena police confirmed that Sam tragically jumped from a bridge after seven hours of communication at the scene with his family.
British-American Sam was well known in the US, where he modelled as the face for Tommy Hilfiger for numerous years.
He had acting roles in TV shows including 24, Everybody Hates Chris, Bones, My So-Called Life, Veronica Mars and American Crime Story.
Sam also starred in the 2003 movie Love Don't Cost a Thing with Nick Cannon and Christina Milian.
Sam is survived by his father Samuel Sarpong Sr and his sister June Sarpong.
In total shock at the death of SamSarpong.
Readers who are affected by the issues raised in this story are encouraged to contact Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90 (www.samaritans.org), or Mind on 0300 123 3393 (www.mind.org.uk).


Feeling a bit devilish? Well then here is a fantastic costume for you! This lovely Devil like costume is a one piece satin dress with a ruffle skirt, with red feathered trimmings, red sequins along the bodice, with semi lace and semi satin sleeves that flare.


With its numerous high plateaus and mountain pastures this holiday region around Bressanone is a popular hiking area in winter. You can always choose to explore the fascinating mountains with snowshoes or on cleared winter hiking trails. On the Rodenecker, the Villanderer, the Lüsner and Feldthurner Alm there are the perfect conditions for winter walking. On winter walks on the Villnösser Alm you will enjoy fantastic views of the Geisler group with its distinctive peaks. Along the way managed huts represent a cozy retreat for walkers. The Tourist Association Brixen offers guided snowshoe hikes in the Dolomites, in the hiking area on the Plose and the Villanderer Alm. Our guests participate free in these trips.


Why ES remove TTL and how it is replaced?
I guess there must be some issues cased by TTL, can anybody share them(like github issue links) to me?
and how it is replaced?
thanks very much. that's exactly what i need.


We always welcome volunteers to help with our children and youth programs. Because we are committed to the safety and security of our children, all volunteers in children's ministries are required to submit to a background check and either attend a child protection training session, or complete a 2-hour online training session, Stewards of Children.
Because of the growing risk of violent acts in churches, many congregations have added armed security in recent years. Many people attend or visit churches without any idea that they have armed security teams in place.
The Zion Elders have worked with the Deacons to form an Armed Security Team for Zion. Each Armed Security Team member is highly trained and approved by the Session. By law, no one except law enforcement officers may carry a concealed firearm in church without being a designated member of a security team.
The Zion security team is extremely low profile. Our concern is safety. And while we have no reason to think that Zion is a target in anyone's mind, and while we grieve the state of the world that brings matters like this before us, we carefully and prayerfully will continue to find every way we can to make Zion a safe place to gather.


At Tigerpak, custom means more than the customized packaging, shipping and warehouse products we're well known for. It means working with you to deliver the right product for the application in a way that fits with your individual business.
In today's work environment, we recognize that you need more than a large stock inventory, speedy delivery and competitive prices. We must deliver service tailored to your needs. And our experienced Customer Service reps do just that.
That's the Tigerpak customer advantage.


Vande Bharat Express is the fastest train of India and Railway Minister Piyush Goyal shared its video on Twitter to show its plane-like speed but got trolled by the users and Congress. After the video was posted, Congress slams, "Only thing traveling at lightning speed is Mr. 'Ghotala's' lies.' While users called it the magic of fast motion editing, BJP supporters asked people to travel themselves to know the truth.


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They are only babies for such a short time. The MILFs are single, married but looking, or in open relationships and most have busy lives being moms and working. Daily Horoscopes Select Your Sign. The first smile, the first kiss, the moment they proudly find worlds hottest moms naked feet, the first stand, the first bite of food, when they touch your face, when they say Moma, the list goes on. Garden Party Earrings Buy It.
Let me just start with of course there are challenges that come along with motherhood, but when I recently heard another mother complain about her children Ok ok this one is for the moms an dads only! I couldn't help it, I turned around and said "Maybe if you made her feel beautiful she wouldn't have. I promise that I will never worlds hottest moms naked up on my dreams because then you to will never give up on yours!


To offer our members the best in nutritional services, we have partnered with Gates Nutritional Clinic to ensure that our members receive the most expert and current advice in nutritional medical practice. Our programs include analysis, goal setting and motivational tips, along with healthy eating habits you can use for the rest of your life. Our specifically customised plans help our members to learn how to eat healthy, regardless of their goal. Whether you're seeking nutritional advice for the first time or you're a seasoned 'dieter' and feel like "nothing-works", Gates at Fibers will be able to provide you with the best.
Localized Obesity Management Using different medical procedures that include Injection lipolysis: A medical procedure performed to help decrease fat deposits under the skin and reshape the body.
Cavitational Ultrasound Lipolysis device:Medcontour, to help get rid of excess fats under the skin, cellulite and help reshape the body.
Nutrition during pregnancy and lactation.
Physiological wrapping: to help with reshaping of the body.
Ultrasonic wave massage: to help get rid of excess fat deposition under the skin.
Psychotherapy: to promote weight loss efforts and increase motivation of the patients, and this includes human psychology.
Gates is a team of top-notch professionals specialising in dieting, nutrition and other related services. As the name suggests, is a constellation of various "Gates" or doorways that help you pave your way to a beautiful body and healthy life. We take pride in being one of the leading medical centers to date in the field not only in Egypt, but also throughout the Middle East. Gates is run and supervised personally by Dr. Mohamed Aboulghate, one of the most reputable and influential professionals in the management of obesity and the Secretary General of the Egyptian Medical Association for the Study of Obesity ( EMASO) and a significant member of both the North American and European associations for the study of obesity.
What does Gates offer ?
Explore our world of healthy living just by clicking on "Our Services" in the About us section to view a list of what we have to offer.
Who is the Gates team?
Team members are highly trained physicians, who are specialized in Obesity, Nutrition and other related fields. (Physiotherapy, psychotherapy, body contouring). All of which were personally trained and continuously supervised by Dr.Mohamed Aboulghate.


"Earth! Fire! Wind! Water! Heart! By your powers combined, I am Captain Planet!" If you haven't guessed by now, I am a child of the 80s and 90s. Even at a young age, I loved superheroes, a love that has continued on in my adult years. My fascination began with a mullet-haired superhero named Captain Planet whose job was to save the world from villains, pollution, and natural disasters. Thankfully, my choice of superheroes has evolved as I've grown older, yet I still love a good story filled with drama, problems, and the overcoming power of good over evil.
Although it may seem silly for a grown woman to love the stories of Spiderman, Thor, Superman, Captain America, Green Lantern, and Iron Man, I find their stories comforting. Every one of these superheroes has a big weakness, the most famous of which is Superman and his aversion to kryptonite. When he's exposed, he becomes weak and sickly. Yet he always manages to push through his weakness and do great things. If I'm honest, I see truth in the stories of superheroes. Don't get me wrong, I don't think people can fly, turn themselves into an iron machine, or have magical hammers that give supernatural strength, although admittedly, I think that would be amazing to see. Yet I think all people, especially those who are sick, have the ability to rise above the limitations of their weaknesses with the help of God.
The Chinese symbol for crisis is made up of two symbols - danger and opportunity. Although it seems unlikely that a chronic illness could ever come with an opportunity, I've found it to be true. Many sick people have to quit their jobs because their body isn't able to work a 9-5 job, but because of this, they have time to pursue their dreams. I know people who have become photographers, decorators, bakers, and even blanket makers. I became a writer and started this nonprofit ministry. Whether or not it feels like it, you have unique talents and gifts to offer the world. Instead of focusing on the danger/problems of living with a chronic illness, focus on the opportunities. If you don't see it, ask God to help you see what you CAN do. He sees beauty and potential when He looks at you, and He wants to help you become what He created you to be.
God is the greatest superhero of them all. He has supernatural strength and power. He is all-knowing. He is everywhere, all the time. Nothing is greater or more powerful than Him, and the wonderful thing about God is He has no weakness. Nothing can weaken or destroy Him, and this amazing, all-powerful God loves each of us. Scripture tells us that when we are God's children and we cry out to Him, He will fill us with His strength and power through His indwelling Holy Spirit. What destroys us is when we try to live by our own abilities. We become like Superman after he's been exposed to kryptonite – weak, exhausted, and powerless. Yet when we remember that we need God to help us live each day, He will help us rise above the limitations of our sickness and do the amazing things He created us to do.
Will you still have days when you're sick and unable to do things? Most likely, yes. I still have days when I'm too sick to do anything. Yet having a dream and knowing what my purpose in life is what motivates me each day to get out of bed and try. Sometimes, having small goals is just what it takes to push through and rise above the problems that come with a chronic illness.
In my opinion, every person reading this is a superhero. Either you live with a chronic illness or you're the caregiver of someone who's sick, and that makes you special. So you have a weakness; you're not alone. Everyone does. Your worth isn't found in what you can't do. Your value comes from how you respond to your weakness and what you do with the gifts God has given you. He has given each of us the ability to rise above our problems and bless and change the world around us, but if all you do is focus on your kryptonite, you will become the victim of your weakness and never fulfill the purpose for which God created you.
It's time to answer God's call to action. The world needs to see some real-life superheroes – people who rise above their circumstances and make a difference. Are you in?


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The new Shimano Dura-Ace 9000 component group has finally arrived in the Bikerumor office, and here are all the parts fresh outta the box and on the scale.
Shimano had announced all the tech specs and performance claims earlier this year, but there's nothing like getting your hands on it to see all the little details a press release can't convey. First impressions are very good – the boxes all have top quality, glossy finishes, as you'd expect from a group with a suggested retail around $3,100 (components plus pedals, not wheels). Inside the boxes, the gloss gray and black finish is even better, giving the group a stealthy overtone with enough shine to let everyone know you're rockin' the best.
Love it or hate it, Shimano's making a statement with their four-armed crankset. The crankarms use their Hollowtech II hollow forged alloy technology, and the Hollowglide chainrings use similar tech to save weight. Yes, it means a new BCD pattern and size, but once you've committed to the system, you can run all chainring sizes on the same crankset: 50-34T/52-36T/52-38T/53-39T/54-42T/55-42T. And crank arm lengths come in a whopping seven sizes from 165 up to 180 in 2.5mm increments.
…and they're not evenly spaced. In this photo, the bottom two sets are closer to each other than to the top set. Shimano has said the crankset's design puts material where it's needed, and those same studies must've yielded some data on chain pickup points.
The inside of the big ring is close to the small ring with a nice ramped shape so the chain slides up.
The crank preload cap is a composite rather than metal. Since the pinch bolts hold the crank in place after this is snugged down, it can be composite rather than metal.
The cassette holds a few surprises, too. The top five cogs are titanium to save weight, letting this 11-speed cassette come in within a few grams of it's 10-speed predecessor.
On the backside, Shimano did the unthinkable on another of their drivetrain components – they used carbon fiber for the middle carrier for cogs 7-9. Previously, about the only place you'd find carbon on their groups was on a rear derailleur cage or brake lever.
…but the caliper's tell the story. Only about 0.23mm difference in outer plate outside width (11-speed on left).
Making the chain move are the front and rear derailleurs. The rear derailleur doesn't seem to hold any surprises, just a revised cable entry and clamp points that Shimano says makes for lighter shifting effort.
All the details are as minimal as you'd expect on their top end piece. Lots of shaping on the backside shaves grams.
Like the rear, the front mech's cable pull positions were revised, most notably with the very tall leverage arm giving a lot of power over the cages movement. Unlike the rear, though, the front derailleur did have one nice little secret.
Details are also heavily shaped to save weight, looking much more refined than lower level groups. Click any image to blow it up for detail.
The secret is that little bolt hiding underneath the hi/lo adjustment screws (the one with the blue thread compound visible here). Shimano calls it a support bolt that gives the derailleur a more stable contact patch with the frame. We're thinking it's going to make alignment and set up much, much easier. Brilliant.
Tying all of it together are the shifter levers. They make some of the biggest claims of the group, citing 30% less release stroke than the model before, and almost 50% less effort at the end of the shift stroke for both front and rear derailleurs. Part of the reduced effort also likely comes from the new polymer coated cables, too. The hoods are smaller than before, too, which should improve reach and grip ergonomics.
One thing that does carry over from previous groups is the exposed bottom and inside edges of the shifter's internals. Compared to the enclosed mechanics on SRAM Red and Shimano's Di2 shifters, these are almost completely open to the elements. We've been running current generation 105 for more than a year on two separate bikes (one road, one cyclocross) and haven't had any problems with contamination. Those shifters are equally open, so we don't anticipate big problems, but if you regularly ride in foul conditions, might be worth checking and cleaning them once in a while.
Last but not least are the brakes, another item heavily revamped for the 9000 group.
These are the first to get a true dual pivot design, and they open and close on bearings.
As they close, a roller rides along a curved arm to keep action butter smooth and symmetric. A small bolt facing out of the cable side adjusts the angle of the curved arm to fine tune pad position and feel.
We didn't get the bottom bracket in for testing because the bike it'll go on is PFBB30. Pedals are in (as are the new R320 road shoes!), just not shown above. This particular group is going on a rather sick project bike using a custom Argonaut Cycles frame, so first ride impressions are still a few weeks off.
The 11-28 cassette is 192g and chain is 249g.
Derailleurs are 160g rear and 60g front.
Brakes are 150g and 145g each. Difference mainly due to longer bolt on front brake.
Shifter levers are 184g (rear) and 181g (front).
Pedals are 248g and cleats and hardware add 71g. Total: 319g.
Front wheel is 647g with tubeless valve stem, skewer is 61g.
Rear wheel is 854g and skewer is 66g.
Various length brake mounting bolts add up to 21g, but you would only need two if the ones on the brakes don't fit.
The latter piece is included with the wheels, which come set up for 11-speed. For more on Shimano's 2013 wheels, check this post.
Packaging material!?!?! Un-cut chain!?!? No chain pin weight?!?!? For Shame!
@Derek – 65g advertised weight.
Weight schmeight. I've ridden this stuff, and it's phenomenal. Who cares how much it weighs when it works this perfectly? 7900 blew and Shimano knew it, and they told their engineers that this had to work as well as Di2, or there may be no mechanical Dura Ace to speak of. Well, they listened, and they bettered Di2 all around. I see no reason for electronics and batteries when something mechanical works this perfectly.
After a dozen years primarily on Campy, I'm debating a switch, when this stuff trickles down to the Ultegra level.
Seriously people, this stuff is that good.
So what is the total weight and how does it compare to Sram Red or last year's Dura Ace?
~150 grams heavier than 2012 red.
I think the total for the group is 2020 grams or so. Sram's red is exceptional, and now dura-ace works very well. In my opinion, the refinement/tactile feel is on par with or slightly below super record mechanical, but performance is slightly better. There is now very little to choose from between the three's flagship groups: it comes down to small tradeoffs in weight, cachet, and ergonomics.
I tested it, and even though I will never own it, I put it through it's rigors. Tried my best to make it shift poorly, it just wouldn't. As flawless as you can get. Seriously.
Because that's what it's all about, right? Maybe stop for a picnic and stare at the clouds for a minute, next time your out for a ride.
@g…….I don't ride my high end Dura-Ace equipped race bike when I'm out for a picnic or looking at the clouds, I have other bikes for that. Maybe you should re-think your purchase if that's what you want from a high performance "race" group.
This stuff seriously feels amazing all around. Pick gripes if you might (and there's always going to be a few), but after riding this group on a couple different bikes I'm sold on this being a more than competitive flagship for Shimano; as well as representing the direction for the trickle down hopefully. All parts of the group felt really balanced for braking and shifting efforts. Just a damn fine group.
I feel sorry for the people that shelled out for 7900! Had a few rides on 9000 now and it's a massive improvement on all fronts.
Man, I wasn't totally unimpressed with 7900 as it was, but after riding 9000 I'm really impressed as well.
Only shame it not works with 10 speed hubs like campa does.
No that is the preload adjuster for the crank. It isn't a backup.
From what I've been reading (and as you noted), the new cables and housing are a big part of the reduction in shift effort. While you're waiting for that Argonaut dream bike to show up, think you could try a hack and put them on the 105 equipped bikes you've been using? It'd be interesting to see if they could help out other groups that most people can afford!
Nice lookin group fo sho.
Yep, right on–I was thinking the same thing when I read that. It's exactly like on my XT crankset.
I would like to add that this preloader cap goes on BEFORE clamping the two bolts on the arm itself, not after as stated in the article. This is important b/c otherwise tightening it does nothing to preload the BB bearings (the arm will not slide on the spindle if it's already tightened).
Trevor – Ha! No way, man, we're keeping this set pristine until it's fully installed as intended. But, the current 105 group is amazing. Honestly, it works as well as their top end stuff, excepting perhaps the new Dura-Ace, but it's a darn good group. And the black looks pretty awesome, too.
All – Yes, the crank cap bolt goes on to tighten the non-drive crank arm into place (also known as setting preload), then the bolts on the arm tighten it onto the spindle. At that point, it's merely a back up to keep tension set properly and hold the arm on if its bolts accidentally loosen.
The big thing is how many rear shift cables are you going to cut because of the way that the cable runs to the pinch bolt ?
I have the older 7800 and it has probably 40k kms on it and runs flawless, I was thinking about going to 7900, but am I better off waiting for 9000? What was the main probs with 7900? I read some reviews people preferred the older 7800 over 7900!!! what gives?
Pete: 7900 introduced a lot of friction. None of the buttery smoothness that Shimano is known for. Required a lot of force to pull the cables and the shifts were not distinct enough. If you had small hands the levers were too wide for braking purposes. The crankset and brakes were good though.
7900 shifting was very poor with the stock shimano cableset, marginally better with Gore. I just put NOKON on the bike and my old 7900 shifts like a well tuned 7800. This cableset just saved me from having to go out and buy the 9000!
My 7900 shifts better then my 7800. I use Yokozuna Reaction cables. They are a bit on the heavy site, but never had a problem!
Surely when showing such a great new groupset, why use a zoomed in photo of the same chain rather than a real 10spd vs 11spd chain? Looking closely it's clearly the same chain – same dark spot in the background, same shiny spots and bits of debris/lube on the chain itself. I know that's being picky but c'mon guys, it's disrespectful to 9000!
Nick – each photo shows both chains…note the Left picture is 10sp and the Right picture is 11sp. The pic on the right is just a closeup of both chains to show better detail. Note the inner plates are visibly thinner on the 11-speed chain.
Which wheel set was it that you reviewed? These weights are much greater than the C24 claims.


text:
Part 3: Delegation system
59. Delegations
A municipal council must develop a system of delegation that will maximize administrative and operational efficiency and provide for adequate checks and balances, and, in accordance with that system, may-
delegate appropriate powers, excluding a power mentioned in section 160(2) of the Constitution and the power to set tariffs, to decide to enter into a service delivery agreement in terms of section 76(b) and to approve or amend the municipality's integrated development plan, to any of the municipality's other political structures, political office bearers, councillors, or staff members;
instruct any such political structure, political office bearer, councillor, or staff member to perform any of the municipality's duties; and
withdraw any delegation or instruction.
A delegation or instruction in terms of subsection (1)-
must not conflict with the Constitution, this Act or the Municipal Structures Act;
must be in writing;
is subject to any limitations. conditions and directions the municipal council may impose;
may include the power to sub-delegate a delegated power;
does not divest the council of the responsibility concerning the exercise of the power or the performance of the duty; and
must be reviewed when a new council is elected or, if it is a district council, elected and appointed.
The municipal council-
in accordance with procedures in its rules and orders, may, or at the request in writing of at least one quarter of the councillors. must, review any decision taken by such a political structure, political office bearer, councillor or staff member in consequence of a delegation or instruction, and either confirm, vary or revoke the decision subject to any rights that may have accrued to a person; and
may require its executive committee or executive mayor to review any decision taken by such a political structure, political office bearer, councilor or staff member in consequence of a delegation or instruction.
A person whose rights are affected by a decision taken by a political structure, political office bearer, councillor or staff member of a municipality in terms of a power or duty delegated or sub-delegated by a delegating authority to the political structure, political office bearer, councillor or staff member, may appeal against that decision by giving written notice of the appeal and reasons to the municipal manager within 21 days of the date of the notification of the decision.
The municipal manager must promptly submit the appeal to the appropriate appeal authority mentioned in subsection (4).
The appeal authority must consider the appeal, and confirm, vary or revoke the decision, but no such variation or revocation of a decision may detract from any rights that may have accrued as a result of the decision.
When the appeal is against a decision taken by-
a staff member other than the municipal manager, the municipal manager is the appeal authority;
the municipal manager, the executive committee or executive mayor is the appeal authority, or, if the municipality does not have an executive committee or executive mayor, the council of the municipality is the appeal authority; or
a politics structure or political office bearer, or a councillor-
the municipal council is the appeal authority where the council comprises less than 15 councillors; or
a committee of councillors who were not involved in the decision and appointed by the municipal council for this purpose is the appeal authority where the council comprises more than 14 Councillors.
An appeal authority must commence with an appeal within six weeks and decide the appeal within a reasonable period.
63. Duty to report to delegating authorities
A political structure, political office bearer, councillor or staff member of a municipality to whom a delegating authority has delegated or sub-delegated a power or duty, must report to the delegating authority at such intervals as the delegating authority may require, on decisions taken in terms of that delegated or sub-delegated power or duty since the last report.
64. Withdrawal, amendment or lapsing of delegation or subdelegation
The withdrawal, amendment or lapsing of a delegation or subdelegation does not invalidate anything done as a consequence of a decision taken in terms of that delegation or sub-delegation.
65. Review of delegations
Whenever it becomes necessary in terms of section 59(2)(f) to review a municipality's delegations, the municipal manager must submit to the council-
a report on the existing delegations issued in terms of section 59 by the council and other delegating authorities of the municipality; and
recommendations on tiny changes to the existing delegations which the municipal manager may consider necessary.
If the municipality has an executive committee or executive mayor, the municipal manager must submit the report and any recommendations to the municipal council through the executive committee or executive mayor.


text:
package me.lucko.helper.bossbar;

import me.lucko.helper.terminable.Terminable;

import org.bukkit.entity.Player;

import java.util.List;

import javax.annotation.Nonnull;

/**
 * Generic interface for bossbars.
 */
public interface BossBar extends Terminable {

    /**
     * Gets the title of this boss bar
     *
     * @return the title of the bar
     */
    @Nonnull
    String title();

    /**
     * Sets the title of this boss bar
     *
     * @param title the title of the bar
     * @return this bar (for chaining)
     */
    @Nonnull
    BossBar title(@Nonnull String title);

    /**
     * Gets the progress of the bar between 0.0 and 1.0
     *
     * @return the progress of the bar
     */
    double progress();

    /**
     * Sets the progress of the bar. Values should be between 0.0 (empty) and
     * 1.0 (full)
     *
     * @param progress the progress of the bar
     * @return this bar (for chaining)
     */
    @Nonnull
    BossBar progress(double progress);

    /**
     * Gets the color of this boss bar
     *
     * @return the color of the bar
     */
    @Nonnull
    BossBarColor color();

    /**
     * Sets the color of this boss bar.
     *
     * @param color the color of the bar
     * @return this bar (for chaining)
     */
    @Nonnull
    BossBar color(@Nonnull BossBarColor color);

    /**
     * Gets the style of this boss bar
     *
     * @return the style of the bar
     */
    @Nonnull
    BossBarStyle style();

    /**
     * Sets the bar style of this boss bar
     *
     * @param style the style of the bar
     * @return this bar (for chaining)
     */
    @Nonnull
    BossBar style(@Nonnull BossBarStyle style);

    /**
     * Gets if the boss bar is displayed to attached players.
     *
     * @return visible status
     */
    boolean visible();

    /**
     * Set if the boss bar is displayed to attached players.
     *
     * @param visible visible status
     * @return this bar (for chaining)
     */
    @Nonnull
    BossBar visible(boolean visible);

    /**
     * Returns all players viewing this boss bar
     *
     * @return a immutable list of players
     */
    @Nonnull
    List<Player> players();

    /**
     * Adds the player to this boss bar causing it to display on their screen.
     *
     * @param player the player to add
     */
    void addPlayer(@Nonnull Player player);

    /**
     * Removes the player from this boss bar causing it to be removed from their
     * screen.
     *
     * @param player the player to remove
     */
    void removePlayer(@Nonnull Player player);

    /**
     * Adds the players to this boss bar causing it to display on their screens.
     *
     * @param players the players to add
     */
    default void addPlayers(@Nonnull Iterable<Player> players) {
        for (Player player : players) {
            addPlayer(player);
        }
    }

    /**
     * Removes the players from this boss bar causing it to be removed from their
     * screens.
     *
     * @param players the players to remove
     */
    default void removePlayers(@Nonnull Iterable<Player> players) {
        for (Player player : players) {
            removePlayer(player);
        }
    }

    /**
     * Removes all players from this boss bar
     */
    void removeAll();

    @Override
    void close();
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
BEA is one of the world's leading statistical agencies.
BEA produces some of the most closely watched economic statistics that influence the decisions made by government officials, business people, households, and individuals. BEA's economic statistics, which provide a comprehensive, up-to-date picture of the U.S. economy, are key ingredients in critical decisions affecting monetary policy, tax and budget projections, and business investment plans. The cornerstone of BEA's statistics is the national income and product accounts (NIPAs), which feature the estimates of gross domestic product (GDP) and related measures.
URL: http://www.bea.gov/index.htm All Users
CKAN Datahub
The Datahub provides free access to many of CKAN's core features, letting you search for data, register published datasets, create and manage groups of datasets, and get updates from datasets and groups you're interested in. You can use the web interface or, if you are a programmer needing to connect the Datahub with another app, the CKAN API.
URL: https://datahub.io/ All Users
COMMERCE DATA HUB
This site is a first-release of the Commerce Data Hub, a platform to connect data customers with the data they need. Search over 40,000 datasets.
URL: https://data.commerce.gov/ All Users
Data USA
Data USA puts public US Government data in your hands. Instead of searching through multiple data sources that are often incomplete and difficult to access, you can simply point to Data USA to answer your questions. Data USA provides an open, easy-to-use platform that turns data into knowledge. It allows millions of people to conduct their own analyses and create their own stories about America – its people, places, industries, skill sets and educational institutions. Ultimately, accelerating society's ability to learn and better understand itself.
URL: https://datausa.io/ All Users
Economic Indicators - FRASER
Economic Indicators back to 1948 are made available through FRASER, the Federal Reserve Archival System for Economic Research. FRASER is provided through a partnership between GPO and the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. FRASER is not an official version of Economic Indicators and GPO can not guarantee the authenticity or completeness of the data.
URL: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/browse/collection.action?collectionCode=ECONI All Users
Federal Reserve Board - Data
The Federal Reserve of the United States gathers and publishes certain economic data and releases them as a Federal Reserve Statistical Release.
The main categories include:
Principal Economic Indicators
URL: https://www.federalreserve.gov/data.htm All Users
Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED)
A database of 24,619 U.S. economic time series. With FRED® you can download data in Excel and text formats and view charts of data series.
URL: https://fred.stlouisfed.org/ All Users
Google Public Data Explorer
The Google Public Data Explorer makes large, public-interest datasets easy to explore, visualize and communicate. As the charts and maps animate over time, the changes in the world become easier to understand. You don't have to be a data expert to navigate between different views, make your own comparisons, and share your findings.
Students, journalists, policy makers and everyone else can play with the tool to create visualizations of public data, link to them, or embed them in their own webpages. Embedded charts and links can update automatically so you're always sharing the latest available data.
URL: http://www.google.com/publicdata/directory All Users
ILO - Labour Force Surveys
A Labour Force Survey is a standard household-based survey of work-related statistics. A number of countries and territories make their Labour Force Surveys available online. Access wide range of LFS statistics and meta-data through ILO's website.
URL: http://www.ilo.org/dyn/lfsurvey/lfsurvey.home All Users
The IMF eLibrary Complete includes four statistical databases - International Financial Statistics (IFS), Balance of Payments Statistics (BPS), Government Finance Statistics (GFS) and Direction of Trade Statistics (DOT) - and a growing list of over 14,000 books and reports that are derived from the IMF Books and Analytical Papers, Periodicals and Reports, and the Annual Report on Exchange Arrangements and Exchange Restrictions (AREAER) databases. Individual documents are also available from the library catalogue.
URL: http://library.mcmaster.ca/articles/imf-elibrary McMaster Users
IMF: Financial Soundness Indicators (FSIs)
The Financial Soundness Indicators (FSIs) were developed by the IMF, together with the international community, with the aim of supporting macro prudential analysis and assessing strengths and vulnerabilities of financial systems.
The Statistics Department of the IMF, disseminates data and metadata on selected FSIs provided by participating countries.
URL: http://data.imf.org/?sk=9F855EAE-C765-405E-9C9A-A9DC2C1FEE47 All Users
Intellectual Property Statistics
WIPO cooperates with intellectual property (IP) offices from around the world to provide its stakeholders with up-to-date IP statistics. The Organization also publishes statistical reports on worldwide IP activity and on the use of WIPO-administered treaties in the protection of IP rights internationally. Reliable IP statistics are an important tool in understanding trends in business and technology and in the use of the IP system worldwide and across different countries.
URL: http://www.wipo.int/ipstats/en/ All Users
International Energy Data and Analysis
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) collects, analyzes, and disseminates independent and impartial energy information to promote sound policymaking, efficient markets, and public understanding of energy and its interaction with the economy and the environment.
URL: http://www.eia.gov/ All Users
International Relations Data Site
This site is maintained by Paul Hensel and it includes seven pages of links to on-line data resources for the serious international relations scholar.
These pages are meant to include the most useful data sources on processes of international conflict and cooperation, as well as data covering international economic, environmental, political, and social data and data on similar topics for the United States.
URL: http://www.paulhensel.org/data.html All Users
International Social Survey Programme
The ISSP is a cross-national collaboration programme conducting annual surveys on diverse topics relevant to social sciences.
Established in 1984 by its founding members Australia, Germany, Great Britain and the US, the ISSP has since included members covering various cultures around the globe. Its institutional members, each of them representing one nation, consist of academic organizations, universities, or survey agencies.
Since its foundation, over one million respondents have participated in the surveys of the ISSP. All collected data and documentation is available free of charge.
URL: http://www.issp.org/menu-top/home/ All Users
KIDS COUNT Data Center
A project of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, KIDS COUNT is the premier source for data on child and family well-being in the United States. Access hundreds of indicators, download data and create reports and graphics on the KIDS COUNT Data Center that support smart decisions about children and families.
URL: http://datacenter.kidscount.org/ All Users
NBA Statistics
NBA Player and Team Statistics from 2002 to 2017.
URL: http://www.espn.com/nba/statistics All Users
NFL Statistics
NFL Player and Team Statistics from 2002 to 2016.
URL: http://www.espn.com/nfl/statistics All Users
The Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) online library of books, reports, working papers, periodicals and statistical data covering a wide range of subjects including agriculture & food, development, economics, education, employment, energy, environment, finance & investment, governance, industry & services, social issues, migration & health, taxation and transport. Search by keyword(s) or browse by theme or by country name.
URL: http://libaccess.mcmaster.ca/login?url=http://www.oecdilibrary.org McMaster Users
PEW Research Internet Project
This site features select infographics from past reports, presentations, and commentaries of the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project.
URL: http://www.pewglobal.org/ All Users
(-) Census (14)
(-) Industries (25)
(-) International Trade (19)


ARSENAL have been warned teenage talent Jack Grealish has the "world at his feet" and can inspire Aston Villa to a shock Wembley win in Saturday's FA Cup final.
The 19-year-old has emerged as one of the Premier League's most exciting prospects since Tim Sherwood's arrival at Villa in February.
He starred in the semi-final victory over Liverpool at Wembley and team-mate Ashley Westwood has backed the creative midfielder to step up on the big stage again this weekend.
"He's a special talent, the way he just glides past you in training, you feel like whacking him, he floats past you with his quiffed hair!" said Westwood. "He's a great lad, I'm sure he could be our match-winner.
"In training, as soon as you saw him you knew he had something. On that FA Cup semi-final the whole world was watching him, and I thought he was man of the match that day. For a 19-year-old lad to do that just shows what character and ability he's got.
"He believes in his ability and so he should, he's a special talent and he's got the world at his feet. If he can keep playing like that, he can go anywhere.
"He's a Villa fan, Villa through and through, he said he used to stand on the Holte End, to have a fan in your team, that's what you'd want on FA Cup final day. But he now needs to forget he's a fan, he's a professional player now."