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Vulnerability Scanning Data
Analyzing Reliability and Accuracy
by Marc Ruef
time to read: 13 minutes
Keypoints
Analyzing the Quality of Vulnerability Scans
Automated vulnerability scanning software can identify potential vulnerabilities quickly and efficiently
But automation goes hand in hand with the risk of false positives
Accordingly, results must be examined to ensure that they are reliable and accurate
Understanding the relevant tests allows conclusions to be drawn with respect to functionality and quality
Modern IT infrastructure is diverse and fast-moving. It's tough to keep track of which components could have weaknesses and security gaps. Comprehensive manual testing isn't possible anymore, which is why automated vulnerability scanning solutions are used for broad-based analyses. The results such analyses produce may often fail to take individual and complex relationships into account, which translates into variable quality. However, it is essential that we identify this quality if we are to continue working with the results.
Analyzing checks helps to build an understanding of how they work so as to derive the expected quality. A security check – and thus also a relevant scanning plugin – can be based on three different mechanisms:
Derivative: Obtained information is used as a basis for deriving a property. Banner grabbing, where an application's (e.g. a web server's) welcome banner is grabbed and evaluated, is a typical example of this. If an old software version is shown there, it is assumed that the corresponding vulnerabilities exist even in this version.
Scanning: Specific access can be used to identify a resource or to provoke a behavior. But this isn't exploiting the vulnerability yet. This mechanism is traditionally used by CGI scanners that can identify potentially vulnerable scripts on web server installations.
Exploiting: A suspected vulnerability is specifically exploited and the target object's behavior is checked in an invasive manner. If the behavior is consistent with successful exploiting, the vulnerability is declared to exist. This is the case, for example, if inputs lead to an SQL injection and an increase in database access can therefore be achieved.
Manufacturer information in plugins and reports
For certain products, the manufacturer helps to explain how the functional principle is structured and what quality of results can be expected.
An indication of quality by the manufacturer
Some manufacturers indicate how high a check's trustworthiness is, often referring to it as accuracy or confidentiality. This creates a simple starting situation so that the quality can be assessed.
When it comes to a classification such as this, how the quality is measured and created is naturally always questionable. Manufacturers tend to rate their results better than they really are. The achievable quality level and the form it is communicated in should be investigated using random samples as a basis. Qualys, for example, tends to report derivative tests with Accuracy: poor.
Notes in the title and description
Purely derivative checks can be identified by their title and description. Mechanisms must be assumed to be derivative as soon as version numbers are recognizable or countless vulnerabilities are identifiable (from a patch, for example).
Sometimes, the text description explicitly states how it works. Take 105729 – EOL/Obsolete Software: Nginx Server Detected by Qualys, for example:
The unauthenticated check tries to fetch the version from the version exposed in the Server: tag of a HTTP response
So, it is clear here that this is a derivative plugin that derives the information from the welcome banner as a non-authenticated user.
Checks based on scans often have a title or description that refers to exposed components – or, in the case of a web server, the exposed file paths. Usually, this is referred to as File /cgi-bin/foo.cgi found rather than a specific vulnerability. Here are some examples from Qualys:
10931 VBulletin members2.php cross-site scripting vulnerability
11076 YABB SE Reminder.PHP SQL injection vulnerability
12767 Moodle badges/external.php cross-site scripting vulnerability
86410 Apache web server/server-status information disclosure vulnerability
If successful exploiting has taken place in a further step, the results are usually recorded in the report. HTML outputs with the injected code fragments are displayed when testing cross-site scripting vulnerabilities, while directory traversal reveals the contents of the read files.
Determining functionality
The best way of assessing a check's basic quality is if its functionality is determined generally and specifically. There are various approaches to this, which will be discussed below.
Analyzing code
The simplest, most reliable and most sustainable method is examining a check's code. This can be done without any problems using open source solutions. The commercial product Nessus from Tenable has been a good example of this for nigh on 20 years.
The Nessus checks are implemented as single plugins that are written in NASL (Nessus Attack Scripting Language), a scripting language based on C. The plugins can be easily loaded into a text editor, where they can be examined or adapted. Nmap performs a similar process here to NSE scripts written in LUA, which are included in the standard package or can be developed independently.
Nessus' core component was also open source for years, but was not released as source code anymore for commercial reasons. There are also some precompiled libraries that are included. Seeing how they work isn't easy.
Commercial products such as Qualys do not claim that they can guarantee such transparency. There are no sources available – neither for the core component nor for the individual checks. Active efforts are even being made to make it more difficult to analyze (reverse engineer) the components.
Deriving a vulnerability
If there is no way of gaining an insight into a check's sources, the first step is to derive the expected functionality from the vulnerability to be checked.
During this process, it is important to remember that vulnerability scanners want to achieve a result in as simple and straightforward a way as possible. So it's not unusual for most checks to be derivative or at most scanning checks by nature. Implementing a real exploiting check is complex, error-prone and risky.
Certain protocols, platforms and check classes – take typically classic protocols such as HTTP, SMTP and FTP, for example – lend themselves to being implemented in a purely derivative manner. They are kept very simple, communicate in plain text and usually show the installed software when a connection is established. By evaluating this welcome banner, the product and sometimes even version can be recognized by means of simple pattern matching.
This is why certain vulnerability scanners come with checks that explicitly identify outdated versions and then attach corresponding defects to them. Here are some examples from Qualys:
12913 PHP 5.5.x and 5.4.x denial-of-service vulnerability
13481 jQuery prior to 3.4.0 cross-site scripting vulnerability
19000 MySQL banner
87329 Apache HTTP server prior to 2.3.30 multiple vulnerabilities
If a banner older than 2.3.30 is identified on a web server, then this check is assumed to be correct.
The reliability of a check such as this must be discussed on three levels:
How good is the banner investigation?
How accurate is the information obtained?
How reliable is the derivation with regard to the vulnerability?
Banners can be modified with some web server implementations. Alternatively, the information required for a check (such as the installed patches) is not shown. In this case, faulty derivations could take place. This makes derivative checks very unreliable.
Scan access goes one step further than purely derivative checks. This is where effective access is gained to determine the existence or behavior of components. But exploiting does not take place, as this is often associated with decisive disadvantages due to its complexity and invasiveness.
Many vulnerability scanners have generic checks for identifying typically vulnerable scripts. This task used to be done by what are known as CGI scanners, which tried out different URLs. As soon as a status code gives an indication that the vulnerability exists, it is assumed that the file, and thus the vulnerability introduced by it, exists.
Similar to the purely derivative approach, the number of potential false positives is not negligible. After all, just because a component exists and/or behaves as one would expect it to, does not mean that the vulnerability will remain. A component could have been updated or corrected with a patch, but this detail is not detected by scan-only access.
Extensive exploiting is only enforced in rare cases. This is time-consuming, invasive and therefore risky. Commercial vulnerability scanners practically never perform such tests. Only extended active scanners (e.g. Burp Suite from Portswigger) or exploiting frameworks (e.g. MetaSploit or ATK – Attack Tool Kit) are consistently based on this option.
Access behavior
One approach that is not considered in the literature is analyzing the timing behavior. The basic rule is that the more complex a check is, the longer it will take. On the one hand, this is due to the increase in the number of work steps. But it can also be related to the load on resources (e.g. required clock cycles, RAM processing).
Unfortunately, the three methods do not allow typical time values to be assigned. Each check must be examined separately. Nevertheless, it is conceivable that testing a single vulnerability with the three different variants will result in different timing behavior. Rhythm can also play a revealing role during this process.
The access rhythm and volume can be examined as an alternative or in addition. A simple welcome banner query requires less data volume than additionally importing the exploit code and reading the successful return. The table below illustrates the increase in this complexity.
Exploiting
Establishing a connection ✓ ✓ ✓
Reading the banner ✓ ✓ ✓
Requesting a resource ✓ ✓
Sending an additional exploit code ✓
Response received ✓ ✓
Disconnecting ✓ ✓ ✓
The fact that complex protocols, compression, retransmissions and piggyback mechanisms can lead to a distorted perception must be taken into account. So, in this case, we must strive to perform extensive examinations to reach a conclusion.
Vulnerability scanners have become an indispensable and integral part of comprehensive security checks. Their associated automation ensures enhanced efficiency and coverage. But this always carries the risk of incorrect results. Determining how trustworthy a product is, or the results it generates are, helps with finding out whether and to what extent it can be used.
The behavior of the software or the individual checks can be examined during this process. A distinction can be made in this regard between derivative checks, scans and exploiting. A check's title and description often give an indication of what approach is used. Ideally, the check's source code can be examined to provide clarity.
Wherever this is not possible, an attempt can be made to analyze the access behavior. The timing, rhythm and data volume can provide indications so that appropriate derivations can be made.
Marc Ruef has been working in information security since the late 1990s. He is well-known for his many publications and books. The last one called The Art of Penetration Testing is discussing security testing in detail. He is a lecturer at several universities, like ETH, HWZ, HSLU and IKF. (ORCID 0000-0002-1328-6357)
https://nmap.org/
https://nmap.org/book/nse.html
https://portswigger.net/burp
https://www.computec.ch/projekte/atk/
https://www.metasploit.com/
https://www.qualys.com/
https://www.tenable.com/
https://www.tenable.com/products/nessus
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#Edsa30: Keep the Edsa flame alive
The 'Who's who?' of Edsa, and where they are now
By: Inquirer Research - @inquirerdotnet
Philippine Daily Inquirer / 07:23 PM February 25, 2016
Thousands made possible the historic Edsa People Power Revolution on Feb. 22 to 25, 1986. Some of them remain familiar names in recent headlines, while some have been seemingly forgotten.
Here are some of Edsa's key personalities–in alphabetical order–and the roles they played in changing Philippine history during those four crucial days.
1. COL. JOSE ALMONTE. One of the founders of Reform the Armed Forces Movement (RAM), who warned then opposition leader Corazon Aquino, her brother Jose Cojuangco and Jaime Cardinal Sin about an impending event on the third week of February 1986. He also offered to provide security to Aquino. In RAM's planned coup d'etat, two groups would attack Malacañang and capture then President Marcos. Almonte's assignment, along with Lt. Col. Victor Batac, was to man the RAM command post at Nichols Field, where a battalion from Trece Martires in Cavite would join them. The coup was aborted when Marcos discovered the plot a day before its launching. Subsequent events led to the Edsa revolt. Almonte was the first to be promoted general by Aquino when she assumed the presidency. After he retired from military service, Aquino appointed him head of the Economic Intelligence and Investigation Bureau. He was also the chief security adviser of President Fidel Ramos from 1992 to 1998. He launched his book "Endless Journey, a Memoir" last year.
Eugenia Apostol (right) and Letty Jimenez Magsanoc
2. EUGENIA APOSTOL. Founding chair of the Philippine Daily Inquirer and publisher of the tabloid Mr. & Ms Special Editions, two of the leading papers that openly opposed the Marcos regime. On the afternoon of Day 1, Feb. 22, Apostol was in the Inquirer office when she got a call from Cristina Enrile, wife of then Defense chief Juan Ponce Enrile, informing her about the latter's arrest. "Will you help us? Will you call the cardinal for us?" she asked Apostol, who then called the Archbishop's Palace but failed to talk to him. Apostol told colleagues Betty Go Belmonte and Lita Logarta to find a way to get in touch with the cardinal, while she dashed off to the Enriles' house in Dasmariñas Village. She also told then Inquirer editor in chief, Louie Beltran, about the call, which led to the newspaper being in the midst of the Filipino people's unfolding big story which was developing so fast that the Inquirer had to publish three Extra editions (on Feb. 23, 24 and 25, 1986) to report the news as soon as it happened.
Butz Aquino. Photo Source: Chronology of a Revolution
3. AGAPITO 'BUTZ' AQUINO. A founding member of the August 21 Movement (Atom), which was set up after the 1983 assassination of his brother, Ninoy Aquino. It was Butz who first rallied people to go to Edsa, after declaring Atom's support for the Enrile-Ramos group. Over the radio, he asked other anti-Marcos groups to convene at Cindy's fast food on Aurora Boulevard in Cubao. Atom members were among the first to do so. Aquino served in the Senate from 1987-1995. He passed away at the age of 76 on Aug. 17, 2015.
Former President Cory Aquino. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
4. CORAZON AQUINO. Widow of Sen. Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr., the staunchest critic of Marcos, who emerged as the leader of the opposition after he was assassinated on Aug. 21, 1983 on his return from exile in the US. When Marcos called for snap presidential elections in late 1985, she was drafted as opposition candidate, with former Sen. Salvador Laurel as her vice president. Marcos was proclaimed winner in the elections held on Feb. 7, 1986, amidst allegations of widespread fraud and violence. Aquino disputed the results in a Tagumpay ng Bayan (People's Victory) rally at Rizal Park attended by at least four million supporters, where she vowed to lead a civil disobedience campaign and a boycott of crony-owned businesses to force Marcos to step down. On Feb. 25, Day 4 of the Edsa uprising, she took her oath as president before Supreme Court Senior Justice Claudio Teehankee at Club Filipino. She served as President until 1992. She was honored as Time's Woman of the Year in 1986, and later, as one of Time's 60 Asian Heroes in 2006. She died on Aug. 1, 2009 after a 16-month battle with colon cancer. She was 76.
Rodolfo Biazon. Photo Source: senate.gov
5. RODOLFO BIAZON. A Marine commander based in Davao City who was convinced by businessman Chito Ayala to protect Corazon Aquino in her supposed civil disobedience campaign in the city. Biazon's aide had learned of the plans and was ordered by his superiors to shoot Biazon if he defects. Biazon was declared on the radio to have defected to the side of Enrile and Ramos. But reports later revealed that he had actually not. After the EDSA revolt, he became the commanding general of the Marines and eventually rose to become the AFP chief of staff in 1991. Known as one of the military officers who stayed loyal to Aquino, he helped quash the 1987 and 1989 coup attempts staged by military rebels. A year later, he won a seat in the Senate, and then held two consecutive terms from 1998 to 2010. Currently on his second term as a representative of Muntinlupa City, he is running for senator under the Liberal Party in the coming elections.
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6. BRAULIO BALBAS JR. A deputy commandant of the Philippine Marines during Edsa, two battalions under him were given the mission of assaulting and seizing the Ministry of Defense Building at Camp Aguinaldo. He was repeatedly ordered by Maj Gen Josephus Ramas, then commanding general of the Philippine Army, to fire his howitzers at Camp Crame. Balbas hesitated and reported that he was still positioning the howitzers. Balbas' decision not to fire his howitzers was a critical moment that eventually led to the peaceful end of the crisis. He retired as head of Western Command in Palawan with the rank of brigadier general.
June Keithley (top) with Paolo and Gabe Mercado. Photo Source: Chronology of a Revolution
7. JUNE KEITHLEY-CASTRO. Radio broadcaster during the Edsa revolt who gave the Filipinos a blow-by-blow account of the revolution despite prevailing media censorship. After announcing their breakaway from Marcos on Feb. 22, Enrile and Ramos asked Fr. James Reuter to have someone go on air to give guidance to the people. Reuter sent Keithley to the Church-run Radio Veritas, which had broadcast Cardinal Sin's historic appeal for the people to go to Edsa. After government forces shut down Radio Veritas, Keithley and her team moved to the dzRJ facilities in Sta. Mesa. To keep their location secret, the group used the Veritas' frequency of 840 and took the name "Radyo Bandido." She passed away on Nov. 24, 2014 after a lingering battle with cancer. She was 66.
Juan Ponce Enrile. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
8. JUAN PONCE ENRILE. Marcos' defense secretary and central political figure in the coup plot against him with rebel troops from RAM. It was planned at 2 a.m. of Feb. 23, 1986, but was discovered the day before. Hours after the discovery, Enrile withdrew support from Marcos along with Fidel Ramos, then vice chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. They also recognized Aquino as the duly elected President. He was among those charged with rebellion and murder for his alleged participation in a military coup against President Aquino in December 1989. He served as senator from 1987 to 1992, 1995 to 2001, 2004 to 2010 and 2010 to present. He was also briefly a representative of Cagayan's 1st District (1992 to 1995). He was Senate President from November 2008 to June 2013. In July 2014, Enrile was indicted for plunder for allegedly pocketing P173 million in kickbacks for allowing the diversion of his pork barrel allocation to ghost projects and fake foundations connected with businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles. He was later detained at PNP General Hospital and was able to return to the Senate in August after being granted bail. He is 92 years old.
Media men sleep under the gazes of the Marcoses. Photo Source: Chronology of a Revolution.
9. FOREIGN PRESS. The Manila-based foreign correspondents went straight to Camp Aguinaldo on the night of Feb. 22 upon learning about the failed coup plot and stayed with Enrile and his mutineers. Their presence emboldened Enrile to warn Marcos the next day against killing him, lest he "go down in history as butchers of your own officers and men, of the Filipino people, and of foreign mediamen." A number of them wrote books on Martial Law and Edsa, like the late Time Magazine foreign correspondent Sandra Burton, who wrote "Impossible Dream."
Photo Source: congress.gov
10. ROILO GOLEZ. Appointed by Marcos as Postmaster General in 1981, he served as head of the post office for many years. Before and after the Feb. 7, 1986 election, he was everywhere on TV predicting a Marcos victory. But on Feb. 22, 1986, Golez arrived at Camp Aguinaldo to support Defense Secretary Juan Ponce Enrile and AFP vice chief Gen. Fidel Ramos. Former AFP chief Romeo Espino and Brig. Gen. Ramon Farolan were also there. He surprised Filipinos when he later read his irrevocable resignation over the radio. He became the first senior government official to officially resign from the Marcos administration after Enrile and Ramos. Post-Marcos regime, Golez was elected in the Congress as the representative of the lone district of Parañaque in 1992. He served consecutive terms until 2001. He served as the National Security Adviser of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo from 2001 to 2004. He was re-elected as representative in 2004 and served consecutive terms again until 2013.
11. GREGORIO HONASAN. Enrile's chief security aide cofounded the RAM with four others in 1982 following reports of plans to eliminate Enrile and the "MND (Ministry of National Defense) boys." Also one of the masterminds behind the Malacañang assault, together with Col. Eduardo Kapunan and Col. Victor Batac. On learning that Malacañang had fortified its troops against RAM, Honasan and Kapunan convinced Enrile to fly to Cagayan and hide, but Enrile instead decided to regroup at Camp Aguinaldo. He has been tagged in the November 1986, July 1987 and December 1989 coup attempts against the Corazon Aquino administration and was imprisoned for some time. He was granted amnesty in 1995, the same year he won in the senatorial elections. He is currently running for vice president as Vice President Jejomar Binay's running mate.
12. EDUARDO KAPUNAN. An original member of RAM, Air Force Lt. Col. Eduardo "Red" Kapunan was one of the few AFP officers who openly went against Marcos early on. According to the RAM plot, Kapunan and Lt. Col. Rodolfo Aguinaldo would lead the group who would attack the Presidential Guards on the south bank of the Pasig River. His group would complement Honasan's smaller assault team who was to capture Marcos at dawn of Feb. 23. When the plot was uncovered, Kapunan and other RAM members took a last stand in Camp Aguinaldo with Enrile.
Doy Laurel (right) with Corazon Aquino. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
13. SALVADOR "DOY" LAUREL. The former senator organized the opposition during the martial law years and gave up his presidential ambitions in favor of Corazon Aquino in the 1986 snap elections that preceded Edsa. On Feb. 25, Day 4, he was sworn in as vice president and was appointed prime minister in the Cory government. In September 1987, Laurel resigned the foreign affairs post, citing differences with Ms Aquino on the insurgency and other issues. He died of lymphoma on Jan. 28, 2004.
14. ALFREDO LIM. Metropolitan Police chief who ignored orders to disperse the crowds at Edsa who were there to protect the rebels holed up at Camp Crame. Malacañang had sent tanks to assault Crame but could not get through the crowds. Lim's order was to disperse the crowd of less than 1000 with the 800 policemen he had with him on Day 2, but he refused. On Feb. 25, Lim and his men entered Camp Crame and were welcomed by Ramos. Lim was mayor of the Manila from 1992 to 1998 and 2007 to 2013. He also served as senator from 2004 to 2007. He is currently running for Manila mayor under the Liberal Party in the upcoming elections.
Former President Ferdinand Marcos and Imelda Marcos. Photo Source: Chronology of a Revolution.
15. FERDINAND MARCOS. Elected president in 1965, Marcos declared martial law in September 1972 and stayed on as president until his ouster during the People Power Revolution in 1986. His twenty-year rule was marked with thousands of cases of human rights violations, torture, deaths and disappearances. With the signing of Republic Act No. 10368, or the Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act, in February 2013, more than 75,000 persons (as of May 2015) have come forward to file their claims as human rights violations victims of martial rule (1972-1986), or as next of kin of victims who have suffered, died or disappeared during those dark years under the dictator. Marcos died in exile in Hawaii on Sept. 28, 1989. A Transparency International Global Corruption Report has listed Marcos as among the world's most corrupt leaders, having embezzled some $5 to 10 billion during his term.
16. IMELDA MARCOS. She was initially reluctant to leave the Palace and seemed in denial about the situation. After Marcos' oath-taking ceremonies at the Malacañang Ceremonial Hall on Feb. 25, 1986, whose television coverage had been abruptly cut off by rebel allies, the Marcoses took to the balcony and waved to their supporters. An impeccably groomed Imelda led the crowd in singing "Dahil Sa Iyo." She also handed out payroll envelopes with P10,000 each to the remaining Palace personnel before they left. She was exiled in Hawaii with her husband after their ouster in 1986. She was first elected to Congress in 1995. She is seeking a third term in Congress as a representative of the second district of Ilocos Norte in the upcoming elections. According to the Presidential Commission on Good Government, the former First Lady's jewelry collections, seized by the government after the fall of the dictatorship, are now worth at least P1 billion.
Bongbong Marcos (center, in fatigue) with his family. Photo Source: Mr. and Ms. Magazine
17. FERDINAND "BONGBONG" MARCOS JR. Only son among three children of Ferdinand Sr. and Imelda. Dressed in fatigues, he acted like a security agent to the sickly dictator as they left the Palace on the evening of Feb. 25, 1986. Since their family's return from exile, Marcos has served as congressman of Ilocos Norte's 2nd district (1992-1995, 2007-2010) and Ilocos Norte governor for three consecutive terms (1998-2007). Elected to the Senate in 2010, he is currently running for vice president as Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago's running mate.
18. IMEE MARCOS-MANOTOC. Marcos' eldest daughter was in tears with sister Irene, pleading with their father to leave for the US amid his vow to die in the Palace. Her husband Tommy Manotoc had relayed the offer of US Brig. Gen. Ted Allen for them to use American helicopters or boats to move Marcos out. The incumbent Ilocos Norte governor is running for re-election in the upcoming elections.
Nuns were among those who stopped tanks to protect protesters on Edsa in 1986. Photo Source: People Power: An Eyewitness History.
19. NUNS STOPPING TANKS. Heeding Cardinal Sin's call for them to protect the breakaway groups, members of religious orders trooped to Edsa, among them Religious of the Sacred Heart nuns Maribel Carceller, Digna Dacanay and Edy Talastas, who were among the first to get there. Like other religious groups, they distributed food to the soldiers, led in praying the rosary and as shown in subsequent photos, kneeled in front of tanks to stop forces loyal to Marcos.
20. PROSPERO OLIVAS. Senior general of the Metropolitan Command who was unable to carry out Marcos' orders to bomb Radyo Veritas (the only station airing live coverage of Edsa) and to disperse the crowd at EDSA, saying it was beyond his troops' control. Before EDSA, he was accused of being one of 26 linked to the Aquino assassination.
Fidel Ramos (left) with Juan Ponce Enrile. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO.
21. FIDEL RAMOS. The former chief of the Philippine Constabulary (forerunner of today's Philippine National Police) and Armed Forces vice chief of staff withdrew support from Marcos and joined Enrile's planned coup as leader of military and police operations. When he heard the premature news that Marcos had left Malacañang on the third day of Edsa, Ramos jumped with joy, an iconic image he would use in his presidential bid in 1992. He served as President until 1998.
22. FR. JAMES REUTER, SISTER SARAH MANAPOL, PABLO AND GABE MERCADO. Keithley, Reuter and Manapol ran the clandestine "Radyo Bandido," which broadcast updates of the events unfolding at Edsa from Feb. 22 to 25, despite threats of arrest from the pro-Marcos military. Pablo and Gabe Mercado (then 13 and 15 years old, respectively) were the volunteers who helped Keithley at the secret station, while Sister Sarah Manapol provided the information for broadcast. Fr. Reuter passed away on Dec. 31, 2012. He was 96 years old.
Jaime Cardinal Sin. Photo Source: Chronology of a Revolution.
23. JAIME CARDINAL SIN. The Archbishop of Manila became a driving force in ousting Marcos when he sounded the clarion call for people to mass at Edsa to defend the rebels led by Enrile and Ramos. Although it was Butz Aquino who made the first call for people power, even he acknowledged that it was Sin who packed them at Edsa. From about 2,000 people midnight on Day One, the crowd swelled to 100,000 by noon of Day Two, thanks to the Cardinal's call. Sin, who was honored as 'Liberator of Filipinos', died on June 21, 2005.
24. ANTONIO SOTELO. This former Air Force chief turned the tide in favor of the rebels when he led the defection of the Air Force's 15th Strike Wing, ignoring Marcos' order for them to disable the helicopters in the rebel-held Camp Crame on Feb. 24. Sotelo's defection came at a decisive moment, just after a Marcos loyalist Marine detachment had infiltrated Camp Aguinaldo and set up artillery and mortars across Edsa, from where the rebel forces were holed up. Sotelo was among the first officers promoted to general by Aquino. He became Air Force chief in February 1987 and was AFP vice chief of staff with the rank of lieutenant general when he retired in August 1989.
Col. Fabian Ver. Photo Source: Chronology of a Revolution
25. FABIAN VER. Armed Forces Chief of Staff loyal to Marcos who was accused of rewarding loyalty instead of merit. On Feb. 22, Day One of the revolt, US Ambassador to the Philippines Stephen Bosworth and Philip Habib, US President Ronald Reagan's "trouble-shooter" told Marcos of the worsening political crisis and the need to remove Ver from office. A Marcos loyalist to the very end, Ver fortified the Palace on learning of the impending coup by RAM. He also ordered that Radio Veritas be destroyed and that troops loyal to Marcos launch a final "suicide assault" against the rebel forces on the afternoon of Feb. 24. He and his family fled to Hawaii with the Marcoses on the evening of Feb. 25. He was charged by the majority members of the Agrava Fact-Finding Board as a principal in the double murder of Ninoy Aquino and Rolando Galman. But in late 1985, the Sandiganbayan acquitted him and other military respondents. Ver was charged as an accomplice in a new trial ordered by the Supreme Court. But he was not tried in his absence and the case against him has been shelved. On Nov. 21, 1998, Ver died of a lung ailment in Bangkok, where he had been living in exile for four years.
Compiled by Kathleen de Villa, Rafael L. Antonio, Marielle Medina, Kate Pedroso and Minerva Generalao, Inquirer Research
Sources: Inquirer Archives, senate.gov.ph, congress.gov.ph, Chronology of A Revolution by Angela Stuart-Santiago, Ferdinand Marcos: Malacañang to Makiki by Arturo Aruiza
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Use business and management principles to problem-solve a variety of workplace challenges.
Apply analytical tools and technology applications to develop analyses and solutions to address the needs of an organization and its stakeholders.
Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of commercial banks and other financial institutions, and on the interaction of participants in money and capital markets, including funds acquisition, capital management, and portfolio management.
Use financial statement information to analyze a firm's financial position, interpret the results, and make recommendations.
Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the principles of finance from an international perspective through the following: the determination of exchange rates, parity conditions in international finance, and various techniques used by multinational corporations to hedge against risk.
More Skills
Accreditation Matters
Our MBA with a Specialization in Finance is accredited* by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) www.acbsp.org
An Education on Your Schedule
Balance work and life while preparing for your future. Keller Graduate School of Management offers the flexibility to complete your MBA on your schedule because when you succeed, we succeed. Hybrid and online program and course availability vary by location.
Graduates of our MBA Finance Specialization may consider, careers such as:
Investment Fundamentals and Security Analysis
Keep in mind that these potential career paths may not be available with every employer. Job titles in this field are not standardized, and the application requirements may vary from company to company. Learn more about Careers in Finance. Learn more about Careers in Finance
Accounting & Applied Mathematics
ACCT500* Essentials in Accounting, Finance and Economics
ACCT503 Financial Accounting: Managerial Use and Analysis
ECON545 Business Economics
FIN510 Corporate Finance
MATH534* Applied Managerial Statistics
Finance Concentration
FIN516 Advanced Managerial Finance
Students may select six credit hours from remaining FIN courses
MIS540* Innovation through Technology
MKTG525 Strategic Marketing
HRM587 Managing Organizational Change
HRM591 Strategic Human Resource Management
HRM595 Negotiation Skills
FIN565 International Finance
HRM584 Managing International Human Resources
INTL500 Global Perspectives for International Business
MGMT601 MBA Capstone
Leadership and Technology
MGMT501* Organizational Structures and Business Processes
LEAD510 Digital Leadership
MGMT591 Leadership and Organizational Behavior
BIAM500 Applications of Business Analytics I
MGMT520 Legal, Political and Ethical Dimensions of Business
MGMT550 Managerial Communication
MIS525 Essentials of Information Systems and Programming
NETW583 Strategic Management of Technology
PROJ586 Project Management Systems
*Students who hold an undergraduate business degree, a technology degree or a degree with a technology specialization may be eligible to waive up to three courses (nine credit hours). Students with undergraduate degrees in other disciplines may also be eligible to waive select courses upon review of their undergraduate transcript. Course waiver availability varies by location. See Course Waivers for details.
Course Waivers at Keller
FAQs: Finance specialization
What does an Finance specialization do?
An MBA with a specialization in Finance can help you learn vital finance skills while also teaching you about the different ways they can be applied in a business setting. If you complete an MBA with a specialization in Finance program, you'll most likely have a range of skills that you can leverage as you prepare to pursue a career in this field, as well as a graduate-level credential to add to your resume.
How long does it take to earn an MBA with a specialization in Finance?
Typically, an MBA takes a bit more than two years to complete. At DeVry, you can earn your MBA with a Finance Specialization in an estimated 2 years and 8 months, or even more quickly with qualifying transfer credits3.
Is an Finance specialization worth it?
We think an Finance specializationcan absolutely be worth it if you're interested in gaining both business and finance skills through a single degree program. As an MBA program, the MBA with a Specialization in Finance at DeVry can help you build up your business skills, potentially helping you prepare to pursue both business and finance career paths. Our MBA is also a graduate-level degree, which may help you to stand out in applications for certain entry-level or intermediate-level positions, depending on its requirements.
Finance specialization vs. Master's in Finance
An Finance specialization and a Master's in Finance are both graduate-level degrees with a finance focus. The primary difference between the two is found in the coursework for each degree. An MBA in Finance is a business degree first, meaning that you'll take a variety of business classes in addition to any finance classes that are part of a specialization. A Master's in Finance focuses more on only finance courses, and specifically lists finance on your degree. However, you will have the option to note that your MBA had a finance specialization on your resume once you begin applying for jobs. Once you leave school, the differences between the two degrees may become less significant, in some cases, as both can give you the opportunity to learn skills that may allow you to consider some of the same job titles.
Master's Degree in Accounting
Master's Degree in Accounting & Financial Management
All Accounting Degree Programs
All Business Degree Programs
Programs vary by location. For specific program details for Pennsylvania, refer to:
Pennsylvania catalog
Coursework - Finance specializationfor Pennsylvania residents
*Conferral and Assessment Data - Available for all of DeVry and Keller's ACBSP accredited programs. For a full list of DeVry University's business and accounting degree programs accredited by ACBSP, please see the Accreditation page.
1Eligibility and application of course waivers varies based on the type of course waiver credit earned, the student's enrolled location and/or the student's state of residence. For more information, please refer to the Course Waiver section of the Keller academic catalog.
2Students who hold an undergraduate business degree, a technology degree or a degree with a technology specialization may be eligible to waive up to three courses (nine credit hours). Students with undergraduate degrees in other disciplines may also be eligible to waive select courses upon review of their undergraduate transcript. Course waiver availability varies by location. For more information, please refer to the Course Waiver section of the Keller academic catalog.
All students enrolled in site-based programs will be required to take some coursework online and, for some programs and locations, a substantial portion of the program may be required to be completed online.
3Not including breaks. Assumes year-round, full-time enrollment.
Have a question? We're here to help. Connect with a DeVry University representative.


To celebrate Alex Pardee's move home to the west coast, 3DRetro is releasing this epic retailer exclusive Darkness Edition The Astronaut vinyl figure! Rumor is this will be the last colorway ever for The Astronaut, and it may just be its best! This spooky colorway features a variety of shades of black and grey with a glow in the dark alien on top. Produced by ToyQube, the 3DRetro Exclusive Darkness Edition The Astronaut stands 10" tall and is made of polystone and PVC.
Limited to just 100 pieces, collectors can purchase this sick new figure at a very special The Astronaut Darkness Edition Capsule Release Party this Saturday, October 21st, at 3DRetro from 6-10pm PST. Pardee will even be in attendance so you can get your new figure signed by its creator.


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Now that we can find rational zeros for a polynomial function, we will look at a theorem that discusses the number of complex zeros of a polynomial function. The Fundamental Theorem of Algebra tells us that every polynomial function has at least one complex zero. This theorem forms the foundation for solving polynomial equations.
Suppose f is a polynomial function of degree four, and f ( x ) = 0. The Fundamental Theorem of Algebra states that there is at least one complex solution, call it c 1 . By the Factor Theorem, we can write f ( x ) as a product of x − c 1 and a polynomial quotient. Since x − c 1 is linear, the polynomial quotient will be of degree three. Now we apply the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra to the third-degree polynomial quotient. It will have at least one complex zero, call it c 2 . So we can write the polynomial quotient as a product of x − c 2 and a new polynomial quotient of degree two. Continue to apply the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra until all of the zeros are found. There will be four of them and each one will yield a factor of f ( x ) .
The Fundamental Theorem of Algebra States that, if f(x) Is a polynomial of degree n>0 , then f(x) Has at least one complex zero.
where c 1 , c 2 , ... , c n are complex numbers. Therefore, f ( x ) has n roots if we allow for multiplicities.
Does every polynomial have at least one imaginary zero?
No. A complex number is not necessarily imaginary. Real numbers are also complex numbers.
Find the zeros of f ( x ) = 3 x 3 + 9 x 2 + x + 3.
The Rational Zero Theorem tells us that if p q is a zero of f ( x ) , then p is a factor of 3 and q is a factor of 3.
The factors of 3 are ±1 and ±3. The possible values for p q , and therefore the possible rational zeros for the function, are ±3 , ±1, and ± 1 3 . We will use synthetic division to evaluate each possible zero until we find one that gives a remainder of 0. Let's begin with –3.
We can then set the quadratic equal to 0 and solve to find the other zeros of the function.
The zeros of f ( x ) are –3 and ± i 3 3 .
Find the zeros of f ( x ) = 2 x 3 + 5 x 2 − 11 x + 4.
The zeros are –4, 1 2 , and 1 .
A vital implication of the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra , as we stated above, is that a polynomial function of degree n will have n zeros in the set of complex numbers, if we allow for multiplicities. This means that we can factor the polynomial function into n factors. The Linear Factorization Theorem tells us that a polynomial function will have the same number of factors as its degree, and that each factor will be in the form ( x − c ) , where c is a complex number.


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Beauty Patches
H&MUA Team 9 November 2014 1600s, 1700s
Once upon a time, it was all the rage to adorn oneself with beauty patches. These little material creations were stuck onto the skin to emphasise the whiteness of the complexion and to conceal blemishes. Here's a look at the patching rage and what the little marks came to signify.
1. History of Beauty Patches
1.1. Roman
1.2. 16th Century
1.5. 20th Century Onwards
2. Opposition and Satire
3. Shapes, Colours and Materials
4. Placement and Meaning
5. Patch Boxes
History of Beauty Patches
Patches were seen during the Roman era. Roman woman wore small, round beauty spots called splenia, and sometimes profusely, as noted by Roman poets including Ovid and, as quoted below, Martial:
A number of beauty spots covered her superb forehead."
A Roman lawyer, Regulus, apparently wore a patch on the right of his forehead when pleading for the defendant, and on the left when working for the plaintiff.
In the 16th century, beauty patches were seen again, most likely to cover up skin blemishes. The use of harmful lead-based cosmetics, as well as diseases like smallpox, left people with damaged skin, scars and pock-marks. Patches were a convenient way to cover up such things.
Engraving by Gilles Edmé Petit, "The Morning or Lady at her Toilet", showing application of patches.
It was during the 17th century that patches really took on and became a fashion statement, in particular for the upper classes, and were worn by men and women alike.
In France, the use of patches increased dramatically under Louis XIV (1638-1715) and continued into Louis XV's reign. French nobility had a fondness for lily white skin and white-coloured wigs, and to emphasise someone's place in society, white face paint, rouged cheeks and the wearing of patches was the done thing. The French called beauty patches mouches meaning "flies".
The influence of the French court on makeup fashion was seen across Europe, and patching was popular throughout the 18th century.
Patching finally fell out of fashion in the late 1700s, particularly as more subtle or natural makeup become the favoured look. While patches had not completely disappeared, their presence was no longer commonplace.
20th Century Onwards
Beauty patches have on occasion re-emerged in more modern times, simply as a fad or as use as a fashion adornment. Clara Bow, for example, was photographed with little black patches on her face in the 1920s. Patches had a short-lived revival in the late 1940s, where boxes of manufactured patches in a variety of shapes could be bought.
Opposition and Satire
As with many fashion trends, beauty patches did not go without scorn, satire and even outright banning. The amount of patches worn by some did not go unnoticed by those who opposed the fashion, and was often commented upon in poems, plays and publications such as The Spectator.
A pedlar selling fashion accessories, including beauty patches.
English clergymen were often opposed to patching (with others having been noted as wearing them!) and some in society felt this vanity, along with the painting of one's face, was the root of all evil, leading to things like prostitution or plague. Patch fans no doubt simply ignored all such naysayers.
Oliver Cromwell was a spoilsport in general and disapproved of many things – and patching didn't go unnoticed. He managed to ban the practice, if only for a short time, in England in the mid-1600s, using the power of the government. After the Restoration in 1660, patching resumed and flourished.
The region of Zwickau in Germany prohibited patches by law in 1705.
Shapes, Colours and Materials
Patches came in a variety of shapes, from the understated spot to stars, crescents, diamonds and hearts.
Even more elaborate designs could be had, featuring animals, insects and figures. A coach and horses design, as well as a tree complete with birds have also been seen!
Woodcut of a well-patched lady (English, c.1650).
The most popular colour was black, as this emphasised the whiteness of the skin the most, but patches could also be made in other colours to match a lady's attire or her eyes.
The common materials used were taffeta, velvet and silk. Paper could also be used and poor people may have used mouse skin to create their patches. Whatever the material, mastic was used to adhere patches to the skin.
Patches could be homemade, or purchased from pedlars, who would advertise their wears by not only wearing the patches, but by shouting out catchy rhymes.
Placement and Meaning
Using Thomas Gainsborough's Lady in Blue (c.1790) to illustrate the meaning in placement of mouches.
During the reign of Louis XIV, the placement of a patch was more than mere decoration or concealment – locations symbolised a mood or conveyed a message and were given names:
By the corner of the eye was known as "passionate";
Middle of the cheek was called "gallant";
On the nose was known as l'impudent or l'efrontée;
On the laughter lines (nasolabial fold) were called l'enjouée ("playful");
By the corner of the lips was called a "coquette" and was considered flirtatious;
On the temple was an "assassin" and considered to be more dignified;
On the centre of the forehead was called "majestic";
A patch used to cover blemishes was la voleuse ("thief"), but also known as "the concealing".
Other messages that patches could convey included someone's marital status. For example, an engaged woman wore a heart patch on the left cheek, indicating she was not available. However, once married, she transferred the patch to the right.
In England, patches took on a political meaning: female supporters of Whigs wore patches on the right side of their forehead, while supporters of Tories wore patches on the left side.
We wonder whether the misplacement of a patch resulted in an erroneous message!
Patch Boxes
The fashionable would keep their patches in a patch box. This was a small rectangular, oval or round box with a lid, often decorated with a hand-painted design. They were similar to snuff boxes, which could also be used.
Portable patch boxes were slimmer than the ones made for the dressing table. This made it easier to carry, therefore allowing someone to replace patches or slap on more as needed.
Boxes were made from various materials including tin, gold or silver. They had a hinged lid, often with a mirror inside. Patch boxes for the dressing table could also be made from carved wood, porcelain or enamel.
Patch boxes from 1770-1790. Two hinged boxes and a larger box more likely used on the dressing table
So, that's a look at the beauty patch. It was all the rage for a good hundred years or so for the upper classes across Europe.
Hair and Beauty Adverts from the 1950s


All businesses…and especially small businesses…look outside their own companies for some of the services and support they need to be successful and profitable. Whether it's marketing, computer technology, accounting, legal assistance or other specialized services, business people often look to others.
The first place to seek those specialized services is within the East Portland Chamber of Commerce. A benefit of chamber membership is getting to know who offers the services you need…and building business relationships with people who come to know and trust. Additionally, the chamber offers on-going seminars aimed to helping its members learn more about the many aspects of running a successful business.
By participating in chamber networking meetings, business people also gain from the experience and expertise of their fellow chamber members. In the community, there are many organizations and agencies that offer resources to businesses on everything from hiring qualified help to getting the proper permit for a new business sign.


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The Cold War in Intellectual Property Law Policy: Russian Music Site Allofmp3.com to reopen
November 13, 2007 in Copyright, Digital Downloads1by Editor
Popular Russian online music store Allofmp3.com announced its plans to
reopen following a ruling by a Moscow district court acquitting its former
head of copyright violation. After persistent pressure and attempts by an
angry U.S. recording industry to smother the site, the plug was finally
pulled on the site earlier this year by the Russian government in light of
the sour point that became of it in its negotiations with the United
States government over Russia's accession to the WTO.
The site has been on the firing line as it offered more than 500,000
songs-some of which, such as those of the Beatles who have till date not
consented to the release of their works in any digital media format, are
not available on "authorised" retailers like iTunes- literally "for a
song", without the standard anti-piracy protections such as Digital Rights
Management encryption, and without permission from the artists or
copyright owners. The bigger problem for the record companies is that the
site claims that its operations are legal under Russian law under which it
operates.
The bases for Allofmp3's claim are provisions in Russian copyright law
which provide for compulsory licensing of copyrighted material, whether
Russian or foreign, as long as royalties are paid to organizations
collectively managing copyright-holders' rights. So in effect, these
societies don't need the copyright owner's consent when they license out
their works. Allofmp3 has agreements with two such collecting societies to
which it pays 15 percent of every sale, which is then supposed to be
distributed to copyright owners. According to some statements reported in
the press, the site is also considering paying original performing artists
5 percent of their sales revenue, regardless of whether they still hold
the copyright to their music.
Given this position in domestic law, one then wonders whether the foreign
record labels may have any recourse to any of Russia's international
treaty obligations. The answer, I think, is unfortunately in the negative.
The multilateral intellectual property treaties to which Russia is a party
lay down only minimum standards, which seem to me insufficient in meeting
the ends of the U.S. and other major record labels. For example, under the
Berne Convention, protection extends only to music composers and not to
recorders and performers, and which interestingly also makes way for
compulsory licensing in consideration of an equitable compensation to the
right holder. Similarly, the Rome Convention may also not afford relief as
Allofmp3's mechanism of royalty payment to management organisations may
qualify under the Convention's allowance for broadcast of music without¦lt;br /> the rightholders' consent in return of sufficient remuneration. Nor is
Russia a signatory to the 1996 WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty
which was introduced specifically in light of technological advances, and
which gives the producers of the work the exclusive right of distribution
of their work in all media.
While the true legal position of Allofmp3 may be hazy at the moment, two
things emerge clearly from the hoopla surrounding it. One is the
inadequacy of national laws, coupled with the territoriality of
intellectual property regimes, to deal with infringement in today's
digital age. The other- related but larger- issue which I feel strongly
about is of the difference in values and priorities between the IP policy
of modern capitalist societies and that of communist/post-communist
societies such as Russia, and how a hegemonising discourse has been built
around the former. ¦lt;br /> The whole controversy around Allofmp3.com can be related to a
rightholder-centric, capitalist IP policy which, laden with its values of
individual rights and profit-maximisation, has come to be the dominant
discourse in intellectual property law policy, and hence, almost
emotively, to be synonymous with what is "right" and "fair" in this domain
of the law. In this bargain, the user-centric, communitarian policies of
nations like Russia and China having a communist background, which place
emphasis on the dissemination of information and ideas to the public, have
come to be undermined and criticised.¦lt;br /> Intellectual property rights are not hegemony; they are just certain
incentive-based, and sometimes dessert-based, entitlements against which
the public interest in access and dissemination- has to be counterweighed.
The function of copyright law is to attain and maintain the balance
between the interests of the creators, owners and users. A regime of
compulsory licensing coupled with royalties and protection of moral rights
of creators is perhaps one way of achieving this balance. This means that,
in the case of Allofmp3, the focus should turn from shutting down the
website to ensuring that the remuneration to the creators and
copyright-holders is adequate, and more importantly, that it reaches them.
Sonam Kathuria
Paolo Mazzeo says: November 29, 2007 12:02 pm
Studying intellectual property has really been an eye opening experience for me. Never before did it occur to me how complex the issues surrounding so many things we take for granted really are, and the controversy surrounding allofmp3.com is a perfect example.
Music has always been a pretty simple thing for me. If I really really liked an artist or album I would go to my local music store and be ridiculously over-charged. Other than that I would take free over paying any day.
Things were simple…but then came Intellectual Property, fall 2007. Now I have been enlightened. I am fully aware of the implications illegal downloader's like me have had on an entire industry. Sales are down, Metallica is in court, blah, blah, blah – still no one cares.
Don't get me wrong – I can be sympathetic the arguments of those trying to shut sites like allofmp3.com down. Copyright law is an infinitely important concept for our society to function as we would like it to. The problem I have with all of this is that nothing has changed. CD prices are the same, illegal downloading sites remain open and readily accessible, and pirated DVD's are sold in plain site in malls across the city. If things are to change then an international effort must be made to create a policy of policing this problem which is actually effective. Politicized media seeking behaviour – like this allofmp3.com thing – will be ignored time and time again.
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text:
Teaching about homosexuality in North American public schools
Topic 4: Historical Movement
Towards Equality In The U.S.;
Trends; Public Opinion Polls.
Historical movement towards equality:
Many people develop their beliefs about race, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, etc. during their childhood or teen years, and resist changing them during their life. Thus, country-wide change is slow. Social acceptance of oppressed groups usually takes generations or even centuries to complete.
Three major conflicts in which groups have worked to attain equal rights, privileges and protections in North America are:
Slavery: Anabaptists started to oppose slavery in the late 17th century. They were joined by Quakers and Mennonites. When John Wesley, founder of the Methodist movement, focused on slavery in the 18th century, the small protest became a mass movement for the abolition of slavery.
Slavery in Canada was phased out, starting in the early 19th century. Slavery in the U.S. was abolished in the 1860s as a result of the Civil War. The process in North America took two centuries. However negative affects of slavery in the U.S. and Canada endure to the present time in the form of racism, racial segregation, vote suppression, etc.
For example, a report in 2003 by Harvard's Civil Rights Project found that:
"At the dawn of the 21st century, education for Blacks is more segregated than it was in 1968.
Black students are the most likely racial group to attend what researchers call "apartheid schools," — schools that are virtually all non-white and where poverty, limited resources, social strife and health problems abound. One-sixth of America's black students attend these schools.
Whites are the most segregated group in the nation's public schools. Only 14% of white students attend multiracial schools (where three or more racial groups are present).
Latino students are the most segregated minority group in U.S. schools. They are segregated by race and poverty; immigrant Latinos also are at risk of experiencing linguistic segregation.
Asian American students are the most integrated group in the nation's public schools. Three-fourths of Asian Americans attend multiracial schools.
Racial segregation in schools is strongly linked to segregation by class. Nearly 90% of intensely segregated, black and Latino schools are also schools where at least half of the student body is economically disadvantaged."
Women's rights: The drive for equal rights and opportunities for women in North America gained strength in the late 19th century. Women were granted the right to vote in 1920. Almost a century later, women had attained equal rights in many areas. However, they are still not permitted to function in certain military roles. Also, the Roman Catholic Church, Orthodox Churches, many conservative Protestant churches, and other religious organizations prohibit female ordination.
Overall, women's earnings are significantly less than men's. During 2015, in the U.S.:
"Women's median weekly earnings for full-time work = $726 compared to $895 for men." 1
This is a gap of slightly under 20%. However, a comparison of men and women with the same educational background, job continuity, training, etc. shrinks this gap somewhat. For example, many women will leave employment to have and raise children, which places them at a financial disadvantage later in life.
Major move to equality has taken over a century so far and continues to progress.
Homosexual rights: In colonial days, homosexual behavior was often considered a capital crime. Changes in attitudes accelerated in the mid-20th century. The "homosexual agenda" has as one of its goals the general acceptance of homosexuality as a normal, natural sexual orientation. This is the position expressed by the American Psychological Association in 1994:
"Homosexuality is neither mental illness nor moral depravity. It is simply the way a minority of our population expresses human love and sexuality.
A half century has passed since the first meaningful study of homosexuality, and many advances towards equality have been accomplished, including the legalization of same-sex marriage in Canada during 2005 and in the U.S. during 2015. But much remains to be done.
Trends towards acceptance of homosexuality:
In 1950, psychologists and psychiatrists still regarded homosexuality as a severe emotional disorder.
During the 1950s Evelyn Hooker completed the first meaningful study of homosexuals in society and showed that "homosexuals were not inherently abnormal and that there was no difference between homosexual and heterosexual men in terms of pathology." More details
There was a delay of about one generation while mental health professionals gradually accepted the findings of studies by Hooker and subsequent researchers.
In 1969, a revolt by gays, lesbians, transsexuals and others against police harassment at the Stonewall Inn in New York City, NY, triggered the gay liberation movement.
In 1973, almost a generation after Hooker's work, the American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality from its list of mental illnesses. Subsequently, many other mental health, legal, educational, and social work professional associations issued statements accepting homosexual orientation.
During the next generation, homosexual rights organizations gradually whittled away at laws which criminalized homosexual behavior,. They successfully promoted anti-discrimination laws and bylaws in many cities and states.
In the year 2000, a Vermont bill to allow same-sex couples to enter into civil unions became law.
The year 2003 saw many developments:
In the case Lawrence v. Texas, the U.S. Supreme Court declared state anti-sodomy laws to be unconstitutional. These laws existed in 13 states. They banned same-sex sexual behavior in private between consenting adults.
In the case Halpern et al. v. Canada (A.G.) et al., the Ontario Superior Court of Justice ordered the Canadian province of Ontario to start issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
In the case Goodridge et al v. Department of Public Health, the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts ruled that the state constitution allows same-sex marriage or civil unions.
On 2005-JUL-20, a federal bill in Canada was signed into law to legalize same-sex marriage throughout the country.
On 2015-JUN-26, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling in the case Obergefell v. Hodges that legalized same-sex marriage throughout the country.
Recent legal developments became possible because the general public's perception of homosexuals influenced the courts and legislators. Also, the decisions of various courts and legislatures to grant homosexuals equal rights have influenced the public's beliefs about homosexuals.
Other contributing factors were:
An increasing number of gays and lesbian have come out of "the closet" in recent decades, and gone public with their sexual orientation. Coming out is a risky process. However, this has vastly increased the percentage of North Americans who personally know at least one gay or lesbian. A Kaiser Family Foundation survey in the year 2000 showed that among those who don't know any homosexuals, 68% agreed with the statement "Homosexual behavior is morally wrong." Among those who know a homosexual as a personal friend, the percentage dropped to 47%. 2
A vast amount of information has also become available in recent decades about sexual orientation in general, and homosexuals, lesbians and bisexuals, their relationships, their families, and their children in particular.
However, change cannot come fast enough for the approximately 40% of homeless youth who are lesbian, gay, or bisexual. They are over-represented by a factor of about four in the homeless community.
Shifts in public opinion:
From 1977 to 2008, the Gallup Organization found that the percentage of American adults agreeing with the statement "Should homosexuals have equal rights in terms of employment" went from 56% to 89%.
Over the same interval:
The percentage approving of gays and lesbians in the military rose from 51% to 80%.
The percentage approving of gays as clergy rose from 35% to 61%.
The percentage approving of gays as elementary school teachers rose from 27% to 56%.
From 1996 to 2004, the Gallup Organization found that the percentage of American adults who felt that marriages between homosexuals should be recognized by the law as valid rose from 27% to 42%.
Between 1987 and 2003, the UCLA / ACE survey of 7 million entering collegians in America showed that the percentage who agreed that "It is important to have laws prohibiting homosexual relationships" dropped from 53% to 26%. 2
Zogby International and Hamilton College conducted a poll of "class of 2001" high school seniors. This is particularly indicative cultural trends in our future, because that class would be in their mid 30's by 2017, and would be more influential in government and private employment. They found that:
92% felt that homosexuals should be able to serve in the military.
88% support anti hate-crime legislation to protect gays and lesbians.
85% believe that gays and lesbians should be accepted by society.
78% of students who have a close gay friend favor same-sex marriage. This reduced to 59% for those who only know a gay person, and to 55% for those who don't know any gay persons.
66% feel that same-sex marriages should be legal.
More polling data.
Site navigation: Home > Conflict > Homosexuality > Religious impact > Teaching > here
"Women's Earnings and Income," Catalyst, 2016-APR-08, at: http://www.catalyst.org/
Cited in David G. Meyers & Letha Dawson Scanzoni, "What God has joined together? A Christian case for gay marriage," HarperSanFrancisco, (2005-JUN), Pages 140 to 147. This is based on a proof version of the book; the page number may be changed in the final published copy. Read reviews or order this book safely from Amazon.com online book store.
Originally posted: 2005-MAY-8
Latest update: 2017-JAN-23
Go to the previous page, or to the "teaching about homosexuality" menu, or choose:


text:
How to Keep Your Solar Battery Charged During a Power Outage
The Pros and Cons of Solar Energy
Can solar panels power an AC unit?
The Two Types of Solar Photovoltaic Systems
Rocky Mountain Power to Pay for Solar
How Solar Batteries Last: A Comprehensive Guide
The Best Portable Solar Panels for Your Off-Grid Adventures
Why You Should Install Commercial Solar Panels on Your Business Property
The best commercial solar energy companies in the world
This is a question that many people are asking as the cost of living continues to rise
3kw Solar System: Can We Run AC on It?
How Much Power Does A 3Kw Solar System Generate?
kenbrooksolar.com
A 3kW solar system typically generates around 8,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of power per year. This average is based on the assumption that the solar system is installed in an area that receives an average of 4 hours of sunlight per day.
3kW solar systems are a popular choice for homeowners and businesses alike. But how much power do they actually generate?
On average, a 3kW solar system will generate around 9-10 kWh of electricity per day. This is enough to power around 30 lights, or 10 home appliances, for an entire day.
Of course, the amount of power generated by a solar system will depend on a number of factors, including the time of year, the weather, and the angle of the sun. But on average, a 3kW system will generate around 900-1,000 kWh of electricity per year.
So, if you're looking for a solar system that can power your home or business, a 3kW system is a great choice.
A 3kw solar system can generate enough power to run a small home or business. It is a good investment for those who want to save money on their electric bill and help the environment.
How Many Solar Panels Are Needed For A 3Kw Solar System?
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When it comes to solar power, the more the merrier – especially when it comes to solar panels. The average 3-kilowatt (kW) solar system in the U.S. contains between 12 and 36 solar panels, depending on the specific product and the manufacturer. So, how many solar panels do you need for a 3kW solar system?
A 3kW solar system will require between 8 and 12 solar panels. The number of panels you'll need for your system will depend on the wattage of the panels you choose and the amount of sunlight your location receives.
Assuming you are asking how many solar panels are needed to power a 3,000 watt (3 kilowatt) solar system, the answer is:
The number of solar panels needed to power a 3,000 watt solar system would be ten 250 watt panels, eight 300 watt panels, or six 375 watt panels.
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A 3kw solar system typically costs between $6,000 and $10,000. However, the cost will vary depending on the specific system, the location, and the company installing the system. Solar systems can save homeowners money on their electric bills, and they are a good way to help the environment by reducing emissions from power plants.
A 3kw solar system will typically cost between $6,000 and $10,000. The final cost will depend on the size and efficiency of the system, as well as the installation costs. Solar systems can save homeowners hundreds of dollars on their energy bills, making them a great investment.
A 3kW solar system typically costs between $9,000 and $12,000 after federal solar tax credits. The cost of a solar system varies depending on the size of the system, the type of equipment used, and the installer you choose. In some cases, solar panels may cost as little as $6,000 after solar tax credits.
Is A 3Kw Solar System Big Enough To Power A Home?
A 3kw solar system is a big solar system, but it is not the biggest. The average home uses about 10,000 kwh of electricity per year. A 3kw solar system will produce about 3,500 kwh of electricity per year.
A 3kw solar system is a big enough to power a home. It is not the size of the solar system that matters, but the power output. A 3kw solar system can provide enough power to run all of the appliances in a home and provide some electricity to charge a car or run a air conditioner.
A 3kw solar system is big enough to power a home. You would need to have an average of 4 hours of sun per day to power a home with a 3kw solar system.
What Are The Benefits Of A 3Kw Solar System?
A 3kW solar system is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint and save money on your electricity bill. With the average price of electricity in the United States being $0.12 per kWh, a 3kW solar system could save you over $100 per year!Solar panels are a great way to reduce your carbon footprint, and they can also save you money on your electricity bill. With the average price of electricity in the United States being $0.12 per kWh, a 3kW solar system could save you over $100 per year!
A 3kw solar system can provide many benefits for a homeowner. It can help them save money on their electric bill, and it can also help the environment by reducing the amount of pollution that is produced from traditional power sources.
A 3kw solar system can help you save on your energy bill, become more energy independent, and help the environment. Solar power is a great way to save money and reduce your carbon footprint.
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text:
require 'spec_helper'

describe CatalogController, type: :controller do
  before(:each) do
    @app_config = FactoryGirl.create(:app_config)
    @user = FactoryGirl.create(:user)
    @cart = FactoryGirl.build(:cart, reserver_id: @user.id)
    sign_in @user
    # @controller.stub(:cart).and_return(session[@cart])
    # @controller.stub(:fix_cart_date)
  end
  describe 'GET index' do
    before(:each) do
      # the first hash passed here is params[] and the second is session[]
      get :index, {} # , { cart: @cart }
    end
    it 'sets @reserver_id to the current cart.reserver_id' do
      expect(assigns(:reserver_id)).to eq(@user.id)
    end
    it { is_expected.to respond_with(:success) }
    it { is_expected.to render_template(:index) }
    it { is_expected.not_to set_flash }
  end
  describe 'PUT add_to_cart' do
    context 'valid equipment_model selected' do
      before(:each) do
        @equipment_model = FactoryGirl.create(:equipment_model)
        put :add_to_cart, id: @equipment_model.id
      end
      it 'should call cart.add_item to add item to cart' do
        expect do
          put :add_to_cart, id: @equipment_model.id
        end.to change { session[:cart].items[@equipment_model.id] }.by(1)
      end
      it 'should set flash[:error] if errors exist' do
        allow(@cart).to receive(:validate_items).and_return('test')
        allow(@cart).to receive(:validate_dates_and_items).and_return('test2')
        expect(flash[:error]).not_to be_nil
      end
      it { is_expected.to redirect_to(root_path) }
    end
    context 'invalid equipment_model selected' do
      before(:each) do
        # there are no equipment models in the db so this is invalid
        put :add_to_cart, id: 1
      end
      it { is_expected.to redirect_to(root_path) }
      it { is_expected.to set_flash }
      it 'should add logger error' do
        expect(Rails.logger).to\
          receive(:error).with('Attempt to add invalid equipment model 1')
        # this call has to come after the previous line
        put :add_to_cart, id: 1
      end
    end
  end
  describe 'PUT update_user_per_cat_page' do
    before(:each) do
      put :update_user_per_cat_page
    end
    it 'should set session[:items_per_page] to params[items_per_page] '\
      'if exists' do
      put :update_user_per_cat_page, items_per_page: 20
      expect(session[:items_per_page]).to eq('20')
    end
    it 'should not alter session[:items_per_page] if '\
      'params[:items_per_page] is nil' do
      session[:items_per_page] = '15'
      put :update_user_per_cat_page, items_per_page: nil
      expect(session[:items_per_page]).not_to eq(nil)
      expect(session[:items_per_page]).to eq('15')
    end
    it { is_expected.to redirect_to(root_path) }
  end

  # I don't like that this test is actually searching the database, but
  # unfortunately I couldn't get the model methods to stub correctly
  describe 'PUT search' do
    context 'query is blank' do
      before(:each) do
        put :search,  query: ''
      end
      it { is_expected.to redirect_to(root_path) }
    end
    context 'query is not blank' do
      it 'should call catalog_search on EquipmentModel and return active '\
        'equipment models' do
        @equipment_model = FactoryGirl.create(:equipment_model,
                                              active: true,
                                              description: 'query')
        # EquipmentModel.stub(:catelog_search).with('query')
        #   .and_return(@equipment_model)
        put :search,  query: 'query'
        expect(assigns(:equipment_model_results)).to eq([@equipment_model])
      end
      it 'should call catalog_search on EquipmentItem' do
        @equipment_item =
          FactoryGirl.create(:equipment_item, serial: 'query')
        # EquipmentItem.stub(:catelog_search).with('query')
        #   .and_return(@equipment_item)
        put :search,  query: 'query'
        expect(assigns(:equipment_item_results)).to eq([@equipment_item])
      end
      it 'should call catalog_search on Category' do
        @category = FactoryGirl.create(:category, name: 'query')
        # Category.stub(:catelog_search).with('query').and_return(@category)
        put :search,  query: 'query'
        expect(assigns(:category_results)).to eq([@category])
      end
    end
  end
end

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Georgia's profile as a place for biotech industry was raised overseas by an international convention in Atlanta and ongoing collaborations with foreign universities. Now, it is time to take advantage, the president of Georgia BIO and Medical College of Georgia leaders said.
Biotech leaders met with MCG and the Augusta community and business leaders Wednesday and Thursday to talk about further collaborations. It was a chance for MCG to show off some of its prowess and its opportunities for investment, MCG leaders said.
"I think it's a great opportunity to take advantage of the extraordinary amount of good science that is going on here at MCG," said MCG Interim President James N. Thompson. "I've only been here six weeks and I have been wonderfully impressed with the quality of the science and the quality of the medical care."
With recent surges in funding from the National Institutes of Health, MCG is probably first among its 13 peer institutes in research funding, said D. Douglas Miller, dean of MCG School of Medicine. Of the $75 million, about a quarter of it is from nonfederal sources, something the school would like to increase, Dr. Miller said.
"What you have to do is be proactive to access private sector funding," he said. "You've got to say to them, we've got the better idea, we have the value-added proposition for you."
When companies are considering moving to Georgia, Augusta has to make its case, he said. "I think people tend to think of Atlanta in this context," Dr. Miller said. "In terms of bang for the buck, I think that Augusta is a far more compelling place to be. Plus, you can get around in Augusta."
There's no doubt Georgia and Georgia universities are on the minds of biotech companies after the 2009 BIO International Convention in May, said Charles Craig, president of Georgia BIO. "The message was that life sciences companies can be successful in Georgia because all of the ingredients are here for success," he said. About 85 percent of the existing life sciences industry in the state is in the Atlanta-Athens area. And that's where Augusta, and MCG, could come in.
"The biotech companies cluster around strong research universities because that is where the basic science is done," Mr. Craig said.