Category Archives: Uncategorized

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Bug Lets Hackers Into Nearly Any Android Phone Using Nothing But an MMS Text Message

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A major flaw in Android software allows an attacker to take complete control of a device by simply sending a specifically crafted media text  message.  The flaw was first reported by Zimperium zLabs VP of Platform Research and Exploitation, Joshua J. Drake – See more at: http://blog.zimperium.com/experts-found-a-unicorn-in-the-heart-of-android/#sthash.92fOeK4Q.dpuf

To kitigate the threat until an Android device receives a patch, go to Hangouts, select the menu in the upper left and select Settings.  SElect the SMS settings, scroll down until you see "Auto retrieve SMS and UNCHECK that box.  

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‘The Babies and Doggies Book,’ a labor of love

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By Anne Brice, | May 6, 2015

BERKELEY —

By day, John Schindel is a graduate student affairs officer for UC Berkeley’s psychology department, but by night, he’s a popular children’s book author who has written 22 books for kids and toddlers. His newest title,The Babies and Doggies Book, features photos of the two groups of cuties in similar situations and expressing similar emotions. He created the book in collaboration with Molly Woodward, who lives in Berkeley.

Read more ……

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Pharmaceutical Companies Buy Rivals’ Drugs, Then Jack Up the Prices

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By JONATHAN D. ROCKOFF and  ED SILVERMAN  WSJ
April 26, 2015 9:00 p.m. ET
 
On Feb. 10, Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc. bought the rights to a pair of life-saving heart drugs. The same day, their list prices rose by 525% and 212%.
 
Neither of the drugs, Nitropress or Isuprel, was improved as a result of costly investment in lab work and human testing, Valeant said. Nor was manufacture of the medicines shifted to an expensive new plant. The big change: the drugs’ ownership.
 
“Our duty is to our shareholders and to maximize the value” of the products that Valeant sells, said Laurie Little, a company spokeswoman. “Sometimes pricing comes into it, sometimes volume comes into it.”
More pharmaceutical companies are buying drugs that they see as undervalued, then raising the prices. It is one of a number of industry tactics, along with companies regularly upping the prices of their own older medicines and launching new treatments at once unheard of sums, driving up the cost of drugs.  
 
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Hospital Discharges Rise at Lucrative Times

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Long-term-hospital executives sometimes pursued that goal for financial reasons rather than medical ones, say doctors, nurses and former long-term-hospital employees interviewed by the Journal.
 
The Journal analysis of claims Medicare paid from 2008 through 2013 found long-term hospitals discharged 25% of patients during the three days after crossing thresholds for higher, lump-sum payments. That is five times as many patients as were released the three days before the thresholds.
 
 
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GPG Suite for Mac – Privacy for People

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The GPG Suite for Mac provides everything you need to get started with secure communication and encrypting files in one simple package.  While no longer free unless you compile the code yourself, it is still worth the cost  ($24 per major relase) untill Apple builds encryption into Mac Mail.  
 

Use GPG Suite to encrypt, decrypt, sign and verify files or messages. Manage your GPG Keychain with a few simple clicks and experience the full power of GPG without too much hassle.

One shouldn't need to set up sophisticated encryption tools to protect their private mail, documents and records.  Amendment IV to the U. S,. Constitution reads:

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
 
 

 

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The Sun Sets on Radio Shack

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Founded in 1921, Radio Shack and their catalogs were part of my formative years.    Allied Electronics / Radio Shack was one of the great catalogs of the 60s.  Page through the 1967 catalogue.  The company filed for bankruptcy protection on Thursday and stores are liquidating inventory this weekend.  If you need some toggle switches, panel lamps in various colors or some 2N107 transistors they are 80% off today – but most people don't need those things.  At 50% off normal prices, most other items can still be found online for about the same price and from companies that will take returns.  In many ways Radio Shack was ahead of it's time and never managed to change with the times.    Photo – Radio Shack Store Duarte CA

 

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L.A. Drama Critics Circle Award nominations announced

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Seven nominees are vying for the best production award: "Firemen" at the Echo Theater "Floyd Collins" at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts One in the Chamber" at the Lounge Theatre Deaf West Theatre's "Spring Awakening" at Inner City Arts "Stupid … Bird" at the Theatre @ Boston Court "Taste" at Sacred Fools Theaterand  "The Behavior of Broadus" at Sacred Fools.  read more …

 
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A Fix for Mac OSX Archiver Hanging Up -Update

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A few years ago I experienced problems with Mac Archiver under Mountain Lion and posted a fix related to permissions.  Today Archiver again would not function and just hung when called.  The following fixed the problem and is much faster.  Start Activity Monitor from the Utilities folder in the Applications folder.  Sort the list alphabetically by process by clicking on the process name column heading.  Find the process “appleeventsd” and click the "force process to quit" button in the upper left of the Activity Monitor window.  The process will return the next time you uncomress a file.