srspg3_05

"American Pie" KCNET NEWSLETTER
05/22/05 & 05/29/05
TECHNICAL PAGE

~ This is tongue in cheek folks ~

TECHNICALLY SPEAKING
VIRUS AND OTHER STINKY STUFF
INTERESTING SITES

TECHNICALLY SPEAKING:
Netscape update takes aim at phishing   By Joris Evers Staff Writer, CNET News Published: May 19, 2005
Netscape on Thursday released the final version of Netscape 8, a browser that includes features to protect Web surfers against online scams.
Early test versions of the new browser--so-called alpha and beta releases--have been available since February. Netscape has made mostly cosmetic changes in the final version, said Jeremy Liew, general manager of Netscape, a division of Time Warner's America Online subsidiary.
Almost a million people participated in the public beta, which started in March, Liew said, and most of the criticism received was about the look and feel of the browser. During the beta process, Netscape improved the stability and speed of the browser by fixing bugs and optimizing the software, he added.
Security features in the Netscape software have not changed. "Security is the sizzle that will get people to use this new browser," Liew said. "I think the Web has become a more dangerous place. The threats of phishing and spyware have become more and more real."
The Netscape browser was once ubiquitous, but it was marginalized after Microsoft introduced Internet Explorer in the mid-1990s. However, several high-profile security vulnerabilities in IE have led others, including Netscape and Firefox distributor the Mozilla Foundation, to make security the No. 1 selling point for their browsers.
The new Netscape takes aim at two types of security risks now causing concern among consumers: spyware and phishing. Spyware is malicious software that gets surreptitiously installed on a PC and spies on the user's actions. Phishing scams are a prevalent type of online fraud that attempts to steal sensitive user information such as user names, passwords and credit card information. The attacks typically combine spam e-mail that lures victims to fraudulent Web pages that look like legitimate sites.
Have you been phished?
Check here to see whether an e-mail that appears to be from your bank or an online merchant is actually an attempt to defraud you.
Netscape 8 adds a layer of protection when it comes to spyware, Liew said. Whereas many anti-spyware tools can help users after the malicious software has already hit their PCs, the new browser can prevent users from getting it in the first place, he said.
To help people avoid phishing frauds, the updated browser automatically adjusts security settings while they surf, based on lists of sites that are known to be malicious and of trusted sites. The lists will be updated three times a day and automatically downloaded when a PC connects to the Internet, Liew said.
Netscape uses information from parent AOL as well as from nonprofit privacy group Truste, VeriSign and security software company Paretologic to compile the lists, which will be stored on the user's PC. The initial whitelist that ships with the browser contains 150,000 sites, and the blacklist has thousands, according to Netscape.
However, systems will still be vulnerable to problems such as an exploitable flaw in the browser itself, said Thor Larholm, a senior security researcher at PivX Solutions.
"The new security features in Netscape 8 will help guide users in their choices, but will do little to prevent the recurring code execution vulnerabilities in Web browsers that we have seen over the years," he said.
Engineering
Netscape 8 is based on Firefox 1.0.3 and uses that browser's Gecko rendering engine by default. But the new software also supports Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser engine, which is part of Windows. Many Web sites have been built to work with IE, so supporting the engine maximizes compatibility.
Netscape 8 users will be alerted to malicious sites with a red shield in the browser tab. If the user chooses to display the site, it will be rendered using the Firefox engine and with browser features such as cookies and JavaScript turned off. Trusted Web sites are displayed with fewer restrictions and using the IE engine.
Other features in the browser, unrelated to security, include the ability to set multiple Web sites as the home page. These pages will open in multiple tabs when starting the browser. Also, the browser offers improved support for RSS, or Really Simple Syndication, feeds.
Microsoft's browser still dominates in terms of usage, but Firefox and other browsers have been pecking at its market share. At the end of April, Microsoft held 88.86 percent of the U.S. browser market and Firefox stood at 6.75 percent, according to data from Web analytics firm WebSideStory.
Netscape hopes the new browser will be downloaded more than 15 million times this year, about the number of Netscape browser downloads the company hit last year, Liew said. Initially, Netscape 8 will only be available in U.S. English. Canadian English and French are set to follow in June. Other international versions may follow, he said.
The primary distribution mechanism for Netscape 8 will be through the Netscape.com Web site, which gets about 18 million unique visitors per month, Liew said. Netscape is also advertising the update on Web sites and in search engines, he said. A Windows version was available for free download on Thursday.
NOTE: Friday May 20 Netscape updated the 8.0 version to 8.0.1 and is available at http://browser.netscape.com/ns8
Although the download is identified as 8.0 it will install as 8.0.1   There is no email with this browser. It will not overwrite or alter any prior Netscape browser or email already installed. Do not uninstall any prior versions until you have a chance to use the new version. (Mike) ********************************************************************************************************************** When "Off" Means "On" This one from a recent Langalist I was lightly shocked at some of this info and most shocked with the last paragraph. (Mike)
A few months ago, my computer was on but I was upstairs. When I walked by the computer I smelled burnt electric and the computer was off. After checking the cpu and other items, I figured it was the power supply. Bought a new, and bigger, one and computer worked, for about two months. I upgraded to an even bigger one and computer has worked fine since.
Now for my minor problem. When the computer shuts down, my mouse still stays lit. I have to reach behind the computer to turn off the power supply for it to turn off. Any help from you or the mass of readers would be greatly appreciated. ---Daniel You've encountered a wasteful "convenience" built into many newer appliances, including PCs: Most newer computers don't really turn all the way off. In fact, the "power" switch on the front panel isn't really a power switch at all; it's a switch that sends a shutdown signal to the BIOS, which then puts the PC into a kind of deep standby mode. Depending on how things are set up, some peripherals (mice, network cards, modem...) may stay partially awake so they can be used to bring the PC out of its slumber.
Even in PCs without powered peripherals, the motherboard itself may still be powered on, despite the system being nominally "off." You can sometimes see this when you open the case: a small LED may be glowing brightly on the motherboard, to remind you that it's still powered, despite seeming to be off.
To turn these PCs all the way off, you do indeed need to use the real power switch, which is usually located on the back of the power supply; or physically depower the PC by turning off the wall outlet, pulling the plug, or using a power strip or UPS to control the flow of power.
I'm not sure why your mouse behavior has changed; perhaps the new power supply is delivering residual power to the Motherboard where the original did not. Or, it may simply be a BIOS setting that got changed when you disassembled/reassembled the PC. Try entering the BIOS setup program now, check the power-saving settings, and also set the PC to ignore all "wake on..." events (wake on LAN, wake on modem, wake on mouse...."). With no "wake on" settings, these peripherals may no longer draw residual power when the PC is nominally off.
BTW: PCs in a hardware-controlled deep standby still draw 5-15 watts or so, which may not seem like much until you realize there are hundreds of millions of PCs in the world. If everyone turned their PCs all the way off, we'd save the equivalent of the output of several entire power plants. ********************************************************************************************************************** Is this a win for internet commerce? There are a lot of implications here. (Mike)
Published: May 16, 2005 By Declan McCullagh Staff Writer, CNET News
Online shopping received a substantial boost on Monday when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that state governments may not prohibit residents from ordering directly from out-of-state wineries.
In a 5-4 ruling, the court said that Michigan and New York had enacted protectionist laws that unconstitutionally discriminated against wineries from other states.
Justice Anthony Kennedy said that the states' claims of possible lost taxes or shipments to minors could not justify taking such strong measures against direct shipping. "The states have not shown that tax evasion from out-of-state wineries poses such a unique threat that it justifies their discriminatory regimes," Kennedy wrote for the majority.
In a closely divided decision, the Supreme Court said that states may not prohibit direct sales of wine across state lines.
Bottom line:
The ruling opens the way for a more people to buy wine online from out-of-state vineyards and could set a precedent for easing regulations on Internet commerce more widely. But states may yet find ways to work around the ruling.
More stories on e-commerce Monday's ruling effectively means that oenophiles in states with protectionist laws--about half--will enjoy lower prices and more choices because they will be able to bypass distributors and order directly from a winery's Web site. It could also open the doors to direct beer and hard liquor shipments.
Juanita Swedenburg, the Middleburg, Va., vintner who was a plaintiff in the lawsuit brought by the Institute for Justice, applauded the ruling. "This opens up interstate markets just like our Founding Fathers envisioned," Swedenburg said. "They wanted us to be one nation when it comes to trade, not 50 states. This is a boon for America's wine-loving consumers who like to have various wines from throughout the nation."
The long-term effects of the court's decision promise to be even more significant. States have been claiming the authority to impose hefty regulations on out-of-state shipments of everything from cars to funeral caskets and contact lenses. The Supreme Court's logic indicates the justices likely will take a dim view of other protectionist measures.
Still, the high court's ruling may not usher in a complete free-for-all in the protectionist states. Because the justices were concerned only about discriminatory state laws favoring in-state wineries, a state could simply require that all alcohol sales take place face to face--and levy the same strict rule on its own wineries as well.
Wine.com CEO predicts ruling won't have much impact on broader industry.
Nida Samona, chairwoman of the Michigan Liquor Control Commission, said she would recommend adopting such a rule even if it hurts Michigan's in-state wineries. "Obviously they're not going to be happy with this decision that I'm going to recommend to the legislature," Samona said. But "minors need to be protected."
"We anticipated this," said Steve DelBianco, director of a coalition that includes the American Vintners Association, eBay, AOL and the Wine Institute. "States might take this opportunity to close down Internet shipments of wine rather than opening it up to out-of-state. It's almost as if they're cutting off their nose to spite their face."
Arguments about protecting children are a "red herring," said DelBianco, who points to a July 2003 report prepared by the Federal Trade Commission. It surveyed states that permit out-of-state shipments and found that they've had no serious problems with minors buying through mail order. California reported that "for at least 20 years there was never a problem that was brought to our attention," the report said.
The 21st Amendment At the heart of the current dispute before the justices is the 21st Amendment, which ended Prohibition and awarded states broad authority to regulate sales of "intoxicating liquors." States with legal barriers to out-of-state wine and beer shipments insist that the laws are needed to guard against unscrupulous vendors and against minors ordering booze online.
New York and Michigan were attempting to defend their laws in two separate cases that were combined before the high court. One appeals court found New York's rules to be acceptable; another struck down Michigan's by ruling against the Michigan Beer and Wine Wholesalers Association. New York's law says that "no alcoholic beverages shall be shipped into the state unless the same shall be consigned to a person duly licensed hereunder to traffic in alcoholic beverages."
That amounts to a protectionist law designed to favor in-state businesses over out-of-state ones, Kennedy said. "Without demonstrating the need for discrimination, New York and Michigan have enacted regulations that disadvantage out-of-state wine producers. Under our Commerce Clause jurisprudence, these regulations cannot stand," he wrote.
But a dissent by Justice Clarence Thomas argued that a federal law called the Webb-Kenyon Act explicitly permitted states to slap protectionist rules on alcohol shipments. "In sum, the Webb-Kenyon Act authorizes the discriminatory state laws before the Court today," Thomas wrote.
Even if the Webb-Kenyon Act did not exist, a proper reading of the 21st Amendment shows that it was meant to permit states to enact these sorts of restrictions, Thomas wrote.
While alcohol sales currently occupy only a small e-commerce niche, they're a sizable portion of the U.S. economy. The Beer Institute estimates the brewing industry employs about 1.7 million Americans and pays $47 billion a year in wages and benefits. Approximately 595 million gallons of wine were sold in the United States in 2002, according to the Wine Institute, up from 337 million gallons in 1972. ********************************************************************************************************************** Buying Camera Equipment Online?   Watch out! Good advice from Worldstart.
Much as I hate to admit it, I very seldom buy any of my camera equipment from the local camera stores here in town. I'd really like to, but the deals I get online save me hundreds of dollars. In fact, on a recent purchase of a camcorder, we saved over $140 by purchasing the equipment online! And it really wasn't anything fancy, just a middle of the road camcorder!
So, if you're tempted to buy camera equipment online, I don't blame ya. In the course of your searching, you may discover that you have a choice between slightly higher priced "USA" items and cheaper "Imported" or "Gray Market" goods.
While these "Gray market" items aren't illegal, they aren't exactly all they appear to be either.
Here's how it works. These "imported" or "gray market" items are basically imported into the US via unofficial routes—in other words, not directly from the manufacturer. Maybe the store buys them via from another store in Japan, China, Australia, the UK—who knows? They can buy this equipment cheaper for various reasons (lower pricing to some regions, plus tariff or currency differences come to mind), so they can charge you less for it.
Although it's the same equipment, you'll find that it does not have a US warranty, is likely missing little extras (batteries, straps, caps, etc), and quite possibly that the instruction manual is written in Japanese, Spanish, etc.
Even if you could live with the rest, the warranty issue is a big one. If you have a problem with the equipment, you'll find that sending it back to the manufacturer will do you no good—they won't fix it (at least not for free).
Sometimes, the company selling you the gray market equipment will provide the warranty, but we've heard mixed reviews about this. The company may go out of business, you may find that you just can't get the equipment fixed properly, it may take months to get your stuff back—need I go on?
So, when you order any kind of camera equipment online, be sure to insist on a US warranty. Don't let them try to trick you into anything else or assure you that their warranty is better. If you’re not 100% sure of you’re getting a USA warranty, go somewhere else.
Also, be sure to order from a reputable company. I've been ordering from B&H since about 1989 and have NEVER had a problem. They will indicate clearly if you are buying a US or imported item. They are usually very competitive and I highly recommend them (no, they aren't paying me to say this either, I've just had great luck in dealing with them over the years):
http://www.bhphoto.com ********************************************************************************************************************** You know what I hate? E-mails that come in all caps. THEY DRIVE ME NUTS! How can I fix them? We reviewed this one in the Advanced Users this past week and really liked it. It would be nice if eCleaner could do this but....(Mike)
Unfortunately, I haven't come across an E-mail Caps Lock Zapper program, but there is a fix if you have WordPerfect or MS Word. First, you must copy the portion of e-mail text you want to de-capitalize and paste it into Word or WordPerfect. NOTE: With Word 2000 and newer you must have the program open before you cut & paste.
For more on Copy and Pasting, check out...
http://www.worldstart.com/tips/tips.php/427
Now, here's how to de-capitalize in each program:
MS Word:
1. Highlight the text you want to have de-capitalized.
2. Click the Format menu and select Change Case.
3. A little screen will pop-up that allows you to select what case you want. Sentence Case is probably the most appropriate.
Here's an MS Word Example:
Before:

After:

WordPerfect:
1. Highlight the text you want to have de-capitalized.
2. Click the Edit menu and select Convert Case.
3. A sub menu will give you some case changing options. You'll probably want "lowercase."
That's it. Easy reading from now on. Now, if we could just remove that CAPS LOCK key off the keyboard... ********************************************************************************************************************** Search Isn't Just for the Internet Anymore Posted by kdownie
2004 may have been the year of Internet search, but this year it's all about the desktop. Users have their choice of desktop search utilities from just about any logical player you can think of, so as of yet no company has cornered the market. But it's a safe bet that Microsoft will, when the next version of Windows (currently dubbed "Longhorn") arrives. What's more, Apple's "Spotlight" search feature in its new operating system, Tiger, is already being lauded as the wave of the future. Longhorn comes out in exactly one year - or so we're told -- and from then on it's a new playing field on the desktop. So why are so many smaller players scrambling to compete in this arena?
Read more: http://www.iw.com/node/328

VIRUS AND OTHER STINKY STUFF:
Sober variant becomes propaganda tool By Bob Sullivan Technology correspondent MSNBC May 16, 2005
Some e-mail inboxes filled up with German-language spam over the weekend, as the well-traveled Sober virus was apparently turned into a propaganda machine by its author.
Sober has infected millions of computers around the globe since it first launched in 2003, and it's gone through nearly 20 variations. But this weekend's version was different — it wasn't designed to spread itself, or to infect other computers with toxic e-mail messages.
It was designed to simply get a point across.
Some time during the weekend, thousands of Sober-infected machines under the control of the virus writer were instructed to download a new version of the program, called Sober-Q, according to antivirus firm MessageLabs.
The new version turned infected computers into spam machines. The infected computers were then told to send out hundreds of messages, mostly in German, linking to Web pages containing information on conservative German political issues. Many of the e-mails actually linked to legitimate news stories, at Web sites like Der Spiegel Online.
But the worm isn't spreading, and only previously infected computers were at risk of infection, experts said.
"It is a one-time political message," said McAfee's Vincent Gullotto, vice president of the firm's virus research lab.
There are 72 variations of the spam. Some are in English, with crass messages, containing subject lines such as "The Whore Lived Like a German." But others are obviously laced with politics. Some of the messages bemoan the bombing of Dresden by Allied armies in 1945. The e-mail may be timed to the 60th anniversary of the Allied victory over Nazi Germany, celebrated last week.
Other messages contain arguments against allowing Turkey into the European Union. One message in English links to a story about the politically sensitive topic of alleged Armenian genocide at the hands of the Ottoman Empire, "Armenian Genocide Plagues Ankara 90 Years On." A public apology has been proposed as a condition of Turkey's EU membership.
This technique for sending spam was very effective, spam experts say, because the messages were sent by innocent-looking computers. Most the the messages breezed through spam filters.
"Almost all of the spam e-mails have been sent from otherwise clean IP addresses and will have gone largely undetected by spam filters," said Stephen White, head of anti-spam technical operations at MessageLabs. "It would seem that the virus author has stored up networks of infected machines around the world, holding them on standby to deploy at specific times."
The virus is not considered dangerous, said McAfee's Gullotto. Very few infections have been reported. But it is generating a lot of spam, he said, with some customers receiving hundreds of messages.
Symantec Corp's Alfred Huger estimated that Sober-Q had generated "tens of millions" of spam messages. Each infected machines is probably capable of sending out 10,000 spams per hour, he said.
"To spread a signifcant amount of spam you don't need too many (infected computers)," he said.
This is not the first time a virus has contained a political message, but it is one of the most effective in recent memory, Gullotto said.
"It is generating a lot of spam," he said. "With the success of it, you would expect it to be used again."

**********************************************************************************************************************

THE TALLY:
Friday, May 19 -- Thursday, May 26
According to Sophos, a leader in Anti Virus Software development, 27 new/improved viruses, which required Anti Virus upgrades were released into cyberspace via email.
&
KCnet's anti virus program caught and "defanged" 4.375 email viruses in addition to
refusing 217,532 spam messages. There were 164,318 non spam and
non virus messages delivered to KCnet subscribers.

Have you updated your anti virus program lately?
If not, may I recommend that you do it now?

**********************************************************************************************************************

Free Virus Scans
Best done with The Internet Explorer Browser.
Computer Associates, a reputable and reliable anti virus developer introduced a new free program which allows anyone to do a virus scan without downloading any software or registering for an anti virus program. You must use Internet Explorer for access to Computer Associates and to perform the scan. This is a good one and very simple to operate The address is http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/virusinfo/scan.aspx

Trend Micro, more commonly referred to as Housecall, offers free virus scans and in most cases can fix damage down by a virus or worm that your computer may have contacted. The program works well. The first time one uses the free program it is necessary to download a small program. Trend Micro walks you through the process. Then the virus scans are quite simple for each return. Go to http://housecall.antivirus.com/ then choose the link "Scan without registering". Follow the directions.

You should disable any anti virus program that you have running. If you do not have a virus program I recommend that you use one of the programs offered above first and then download and install one of the free programs listed below or install any anti virus program you have purchased.

********************************************************************************************************************* Free Anti Virus programs for download. Quite a few KCnet members use these programs and like them.
Be careful if you download a virus program and you already have one installed on your computer. You need to at least disable the program already installed.

TRY ETRUST BY COMPUTER ASSOCIATES (Ken Condo found this link-thanks Ken)
1 year free trial of eTrust or 2 years for $19.95.
http://home.ca.com/dr/v2/ec_main.entry25?page=PYPCTrialPage&client=ComputerAssociates&sid=35715&CID=185351

AVG Free
AVG Free Edition is the well-known anti-virus protection tool. AVG Free is available free-of-charge to home users for the life of the product! Rapid virus database updates are available for the lifetime of the product, thereby providing the high-level of detection capability that millions of users around the world trust to protect their computers. AVG Free is easy-to-use and will not slow your system down (low system resource requirements).
http://free.grisoft.com/freeweb.php/doc/2/lng/us/tpl/v5

Avast
Avast has been "anti virusing" for quite awhile. The following info comes from their download page: Avast! Home is now free of charge for HOME users for NON-COMMERCIAL use. You can find more info here.
http://www.avast.com/eng/down_home.html
Note: This product is free for home non-commercial use after registration!
HINTS: Click on the English Version Link and download the installation file. Then click on the installation file and follow the directions. You will need to return to the download page and click on the link to get the registration key. It will be sent to you in an email after you provide some registration information. This will give you 14 months of coverage including any updates which can be set to auto download. You can reregister for additional free coverage at the end of the 14 months.
You will want to browse around and choose from the many options available for operation. This process will take some time and digging.

Another good free program is:
http://www.free-av.com/
This one installs a bit easier than Avast.

**********************************************************************************************************************

Top 5 Viruses for May 06 to May 12 from Trend Micro.

   1. HTML_NETSKY.P
   2. JAVA_BYTEVER.A
   3. HKTL_BRUTFORCE.A
   4. WORM_NETSKY.P
   5. WORM_SOBER.S

True Viruses and Warning Letters of Impending Doom.
Believe it or not, the amount of harm done by sending false computer virus alarms and letters of impending doom to your thousand closest friends can be just as damaging as the alleged virus (if it even exists!); if you remember the story of the boy who cried wolf, you understand why.
If you think you've got the scoop on the latest new devastating virus or latest doom warning, check it out at the Web sites below before taking it on yourself to alert the world. If the virus is as terrible as you think it is, odds are the virus fighters already know about it and -- good news here! -- your anti virus software provider probably knows about it too and already has an update for it.
Sophos supplies this current information about actual hoaxes. Look at them. Read about them. If you are sent one of them, delete it.

Here are a few sites of many that can help you determine if an email is a hoax or real.

http://www.quatloos.com/
http://www.snopes.com/
http://vil.nai.com/VIL/hoaxes.asp
http://kumite.com/myths/
http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/hoax.html
http://www.scambusters.org/VirusHoaxes.html
http://www.sophos.com/virusinfo/hoaxes/
http://www.truthorfiction.com/

INTERESTING SITES:
WILLIAMSPORTS MARKET STREET BRIDGE some great history in photos and text. Bill Hamm sent these to Bud Casselberry.
This web site is about the construction of the Market St. bridge we are using to-day (1951)and the demolition of the old 1894 bridge, plus new color photos of the new 2005 bridge under construction. All photos were taken by Carl F. McDaniel who lives in Loyalsock Twp. All pictures (black & white) have a copyright © and are registered ® by The Library of Congress in 1999.
http://macswitch.tripod.com/williamsportsmarketstreetbridge/
The same photographer is responsible for the following site and photos.
BERLIN,GERMANY 1945-46
HITLER ONCE SAID: JUST GIVE ME TEN YEARS AND YOU WILL NOT RECOGNIZE YOUR CITIES............HE WAS RIGHT..............
Great Photography of Berlin after bombings.
http://macswitch.tripod.com/berlin/index.html

Old Woodies Amanda hit a home run with this find.
Old Woodies is a site for enthusiasts of wood-bodied cars and trucks. Here you can learn all about them, and of course you can check out images of them.
The site is divided into the following sections: Search, Features, Gallery, Shop Talk, Calendar, and Resources.
Search — Obviously this is a search engine. It has two search options. Easy Search, where you can just type in what you are looking for, and the Advanced Search, where you can fill in the search fields with specific details. Great search engine!
Features — Here you will find the Featured Stories. Learn the history of Old Woodies, explore different models, and read about Old Woodies that went wrong. Great information in this section! I loved the Early Woodie History section because there are a couple of great pencil drawings. Could you imagine driving a car that looked like a boat on wheels?
Gallery — The gallery on this site is not only huge but extraordinarily well organized. Choose what gallery you'd like to view (I loved the Wicker Woodies, Weird Woodies, and the Old Ad's.) and then you'll notice that you can view the cars by year, or it will just be a great bunch of pictures. These pictures also come with incredible details.
Shop Talk — Get expert advice on the topics here, or if you are an Old Woodie expert maybe you could share your knowledge. A lot of the articles seem to be about repairing, or re-fabricating the Old Woodies of the past.
Calendar — Here you will find scheduled Old Woodie events around the country.
Resources — this section is devoted to “how to fix, repair, and enjoy your woodie,” and is mainly a knowledge base for the application of those things. So if you have an Old Woodie that needs some fixing up check this section out.
I love sites that are dedicated to keeping the past alive—these cars, vans, trucks, and even motor homes, were a huge part of automotive history. Check them out!
http://www.oldwoodies.com/index.htm

Welcome to the Pennsylvania Online Rails-to-Trails Guide
The conversion of former railroad corridors into public use trails is a Pennsylvania success story. Each year, millions of outdoor enthusiasts now enjoy a growing network of Rail-Trails.
Through a dynamic partnership with DCNR, local Rail-Trail organizations, counties, townships, and municipalities have acquired, designed, constructed, and are managing and maintaining Rail-Trails in every region of the Commonwealth. From small villages in rural areas to larger cities in highly urbanized centers, volunteers have come together to make the Pennsylvania Rail-Trail Program a national leader.
Contained in this web site is information on Rails-Trails open to the public, under construction, and proposed. DCNR will periodically update this site as information comes into us from our many trail partners.
http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/railtrails/default.asp

Waterfalls Good history and great pictures.
Waterfalls are dear to most people, like rainbows. The sights and sounds of them have a universal appeal, restful and calming. There are some exceptions, like that tiny horror in the sheer north face of the Eiger that some climbers had to negotiate to reach the summit, or the dangerous falls an out-of-control boat is approaching. Pretty to look at, waterfalls can have a darker side.
They also have a history. Waterfalls actually have two kinds of history - a beginning and an end for themselves, and an impact on other kinds of history, such as human history.
http://www.pausingtoremember.net/Waterfalls.html

Controling Cholesterol intake   Sree the Tech Guru for WABC TV New York went way out on these suggestions. I guess whatever floats your boat should be ok. (Mike)
Like me, Gary Katz was given an ultimatum by his doctor: Change your diet or go on cholesterol medication. Unlike me, he's done something really smart about it. He's enrolled in a brand-new program that uses high-technology to address an age-old problem: dealing with your food.
He has signed up for MyFoodPhone.com, which makes use of his cellphone to communicate with his dietician. No, not through calls, but through the built-in camera.
Every time he sits down for a meal, he takes a photo and sends it via his cellphone to the site. Later, his dietician, Lisa Cohn of Park Ave. Nutrition (who pioneered the MyFoodPhone concept), can check all he's eaten and provide feedback about how he's doing.
It's a terrific concept and it's working for Gary, who says it's working very well for him.
For $99 a month, you get daily text feedback and a weekly video message from your nutrition coach. Best of all, you can log onto the site yourself and see pictures of everything you have eaten and keep track of your diet goals.
MyFoodPhone.com     https://www.myfoodphone.com/home.aspx
ParkAveNutrition.com    http://www.parkavenutrition.com/

Aerostat, stat!
Aerostat balloons are all along the southern borders of the US. The one shown here is at Fort Huachuca located near Sierra Vista, Arizona. The “Tethered Aerostat Radar System” is a balloon-borne radar primarily used to provide radar data to US federal agencies involved in the “war on drugs”. Before these balloons came in the military’s radar systems were aimed at detecting high altitude fast moving objects (bombers). Small, slow moving aircraft flying low could easily slip into the US, running drugs and the like.
http://www.googlesightseeing.com/

This might make you want to vote or at least voice your opinion.
Reforms in recent years have made many of the lush perks once enjoyed by Congress disappear. But not all, certainly not travel. That's the conclusion of an investigation by Marketplace, American RadioWorks, and a team of graduate students from Northwestern's Medill School of Journalism, who cataloged every privately sponsored trip taken by members of the House or Senate since 2000. The result: Over $14 million spent by corporations, universities, and other outside interests, sending representatives around the world, for sometimes questionable reasons.
Learn:
How much do your representatives travel?
Who accepts the most money in trips?
How do the parties compare?
http://americanradioworks.publicradio.org/features/congtravel/
This site lists our PA reps, their take and their rank with peers. I was pleased, our guys aren't too greedy. Or maybe they don't really count to the spenders.
http://americanradioworks.publicradio.org/features/congtravel/state_report.php?state=PA

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