Blackmoor Vituperative

Microsoft on Dec. 5 warned that an unpatched vulnerability in its Word software program is being used in targeted, zero-day attacks.

A security advisory from the Redmond, Wash., company said the flaw can be exploited if a user simply opens a rigged Word document.

[…]

There are no pre-patch workarounds available. Microsoft suggests that users “not open or save Word files,” even from trusted sources.

(from eWeek, Microsoft Issues Word Zero-Day Attack Alert)

Why are you still using MS Office? Does a house have to fall on you? Uninstall it and switch to OpenOffice, you knuckleheads.

I have updated the site statistics, featuring the IP addresses of idiot hackers from around the world and the search terms that lead people here. Here’s news: Prussian Blue is beating the Fantanas 6 to 1! I would never have predicted that.

If you are a hard-core player of virtual worlds like World of Warcraft, Second Life, EverQuest or There, IRS form 1099 may someday soon take on a new meaning for you.

That’s because game publishers may well in the not-too-distant future have to send the forms — which individuals receive when earning nonemployee income from companies or institutions — to virtual world players engaging in transactions for valuable items like Ultima Online castles, EverQuest weapons or Second Life currency, even when those players don’t convert the assets into cash.

Most governments are only beginning to become aware of the substantial economic activity in online games, but the games’ rapid growth and the substantial value of the many virtual assets changing hands in them is almost certain to bring them into the popular consciousness.

“Given growth rates of 10 to 15 percent a month, the question is when, not if, Congress and IRS start paying attention to these issues,” said Dan Miller, a senior economist with the Congress’ Joint Economic Committee, who is also a fan of virtual worlds. “So it is incumbent on us to set the terms and the debate so we have a shaped tax policy toward virtual worlds and virtual economies in a favorable way.”

(from IRS taxation of online game virtual assets inevitable | Tech News on ZDNet)

People, it’s time to call, write, AND email your legislators and get them onboard with the FairTax. This whole IRS nonsense just gets worse and worse and it’s long past time we replaced it. The income tax as it currently exists was a quick-fix when the US needed money for war — it’s gotten far more complicated than anyone who initially created it could have ever foreseen. It’s the 21st century, for pete’s sake. Let’s fix this problem now. We can, we should, and it’s only going to cost us more time, money, and energy the longer we put it off.

But in all seriousness, I do not see the IRS taxing your fictional character’s income any time soon. The idea is just too silly. Then again, I thought the same thing about the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, and that became law, so maybe there is no underestimating the intelligence of our well-meaning government employees.

A landmark court decision found that the federal Stored Communications Act (SCA) violated Fourth Amendment protections from unreasonable search and seizure by allowing the government to search and seize email from email service providers.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation sent out notice of the decision and of their own filing of a brief supporting the decision. The decision was regarding Warshak vs. United States, filed by Steven Warshak who sought to stop the government from secretly searching and seizing his stored email based on the SCA. The court ruled that government must obtain a search warrant.

The government will appeal the decision…

(from webpronews.com, Court Tells Gov t 4th Amdt Goes For Email Too)

Well, duh. The sad thing is that this even had to go to court. Personally, I think there should be a significant financial penalty for government officials (whether elected, appointed, civil service, or contractor) who violate or attempt to violate the US Constitution. Fines, and possible imprisonment. If people were held personally responsible for their misconduct, they might not feel quite so casual about stomping on their fellow citizens’ rights.