Friday, November 28, 2008

The story of PT 658

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Cool Video - Catastrophic Wind Turbine Failure

Friday, November 21, 2008

WPA Cracked? Maybe not as bad as reported!

Just in the past few weeks, the headlines have been going by. Each of them stating in big bold black letters that WPA has been cracked, and that everyone is at risk. So naturally, from that headline it would seem that WPA has gone the way of WEP. This couldn't be any further from the truth. There are probably a couple of reasons for this.

1.) Encryption is a complicated subject, of which maybe 10% of all people actually understand the inner workings.
2.) WPA Cracked, is a much more attention grabbing headline than, hackers can inject very small packets onto your QOS enabled TKIP network.

So my point is, that yes TKIP, the protocol used in the WPA standard has some weaknesses, that have been breached. How big is the breach, well you can decide. Here's a rundown on the attack as I understand it.

1.) The attacker uses the Chop/Chop method of attack to the CRC or ICV portion of the packet. This is very similar to the previous WEP hacks. TKIP was actually born out of WEP, with several improvements bolted on.
2.) This is where it gets complicated. Once you have learned the ICV, your next target in the packet is the MIC portion. Through some MIC spoofing protections built into TKIP, an attacker has to wait 12 whole minutes before they can get a workable MIC.
3.) Through the use of the RC4 cipher, which is the cipher used in TKIP, as opposed to AES128 with CCMP in the WPA2 standard, an attacker can take the good MIC and ICV to inject packets onto the network. There is another TKIP protection that also defends against replay protection. Most routers won't be susceptible to these attacks. The gotcha occurs in routers with QoS enabled. Replay protection is still in affect, however its on a channel by channel basis.

So the bottom line of this hack, is that a hacker could inject very small packets onto your wireless lan. They can not decrypt your payload, yet. Does this mean that TKIP is totally unsafe for corporate or home use, probably not. But what it does mean, is that its days are officially numbered.

Monday, November 17, 2008

MotoGP 08

I just picked up the following game for my playstation. It is excellent.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Catholic Bishops cut off all funding to ACORN

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=14309

Great story from CNA. Looks like the USCCB is sick of being duped.

Monday, November 10, 2008

Social Networking Foray

I joined Twitter to see what all the hype was about.

http://twitter.com/indylinux

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Buell Blast Experiment

So far its been a success. Yes, I probably have spent a few more dollars on getting the bike the way I like it than I have saved on gas, however I think that the overall mission was a success. I've had it a little over three months, and have placed close to 1500 miles on it. I would say that 90% of those miles are work travel related, and 10% pleasure riding. Its begun to get very cold here in Indiana, however we are currently at the tail end of what appears to be the final Indian summer of the season.

Completed Projects:

SuperBike Bars
Buell Traction Grips
New Pirelli MT75 Tires
3rd Eye Bar End Mirrors

Upcoming Projects

Ceramic Coating of Exhaust (Black)
New Headlights
Possible New Front Fairing
Rejetting Carb to Run a bit Richer

So it could be a busy summer next year. Lets hope we aren't taxed to death!

Elections over!

Finally, after about two years of campaigning its finally over. Yes, many of my candidates didn't make the mark this time around, however there's always the next one. That's what's great about America. Its never the end of the road. We are a nation of so many, yet once the ballots are counted we are able to unite behind the victor and push for a positive direction. I'm not saying that I agree with President Elect Barrack Obama on many issues, but I do stand side by side with him as an American, and support him as our next President.

With that said, it looks as if his first challenge has already arrived. According to an AP story in the New York Times, it looks as if Russia has made the first move.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/06/world/europe/06russia.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

The world's watching. Lets hope that we can get this worked out in a peaceful, and long lasting manner.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

An Open Letter to Mr. Obama

I received the following email today:

To Barack Hussein Obama,

The New York Times carried a story on Saturday, October 4, 2008 that proved
you had a significantly closer relationship with Bill Ayers than what you
previously admitted. While the issue of your relationship is of concern, the
greater concern is that you lied to America about it.

The Chicago Sun reported on May 8, 2008 that FBI records showed that you had
a significantly closer relationship with Tony Rezko than what you previously
admitted. In the interview, you said that you only saw Mr. Rezko a couple of
times a year. The FBI files showed that you saw him weekly. While the issue
of your relationship is of concern, the greater concern is that you lied to
America about it.

Your speech in Philadelphia on March 18, 2008 about 'race' contradicted your
statement to Anderson Cooper on March 14 when you said that you never heard
Reverend Wright make his negative statements about white America. While your
attendance at Trinity Church for 20 years is of concern, the greater concern
is that you lied to America on March 14.

In your 1st debate with John McCain, you said that you never said that you
would meet with the leaders of Cuba, Venezuela, Iran, and North Korea
without 'preparations' at lower levels ... Joe Biden repeated your words in
his debate with Sarah Palin ... while the video tape from your debate last
February clearly shows that you answered 'I would' to the question of
meeting with those leaders within 12 months without 'any' preconditions.
While your judgement about meeting with enemies of the USA without
pre-conditions is of concern, the greater concern is that you lied to
America in the debate with McCain.

On July 14, 2008, you said that you always knew that the surge would work
while the video tapes of you from more than a year ago show that you stated
that the surge would not work. While your judgement about military strategy
as a potential commander in chief is of concern, the greater concern is that
you lied to America on July 14.

You now claim that your reason for voting against funding for the troops was
because the bill did not include a time line for withdrawal while the video
tapes of you from more than a year ago show that you voted against
additional funding because you wanted our troops to be removed immediately
... not in 16 months after the 2008 election as you now claim. While your
judgement about removing our troops unilaterally in 2007 is of concern, the
greater concern is that you lied to America about your previous position.

You claim to have a record of working with Republicans while the record
shows that the only bill that you sponsored with a Republican was with Chuck
Lugar ... and it failed. The record shows that you vote 97% in concert with
the Democrat party and that you have the most liberal voting record in the
Senate. You joined Republicans only 13% of the time in your votes and those
13% were only after agreement from the Democrat party. While it is of
concern that you fail to include conservatives in your actions and that you
are such a liberal, the greater concern is that you distorted the truth.

In the primary debates of last February, 2008, you claimed to have talked
with a 'Captain' of a platoon in Afghanistan 'the other day' when in fact
you had a discussion in 2003 with a Lieutenant who had just been deployed to
Afghanistan. You lied in that debate.

In your debates last spring, you claimed to have been a 'professor of
Constitutional law' when in fact you have never been a professor of
Constitutional law. In this last debate, you were careful to say that you
'taught a law class' and never mentioned being a 'professor of
Constitutional law.' You lied last spring.

You and Joe Biden both claimed that John McCain voted against additional
funding for our troops when the actual records show the opposite. You
distorted the truth.

You and Joe Biden claim that John McCain voted against funding for alternate
energy sources 20 times when the record shows that John McCain specifically
voted against funding for bio fuels, especially corn ... and he was right
.... corn is too expensive at producing ethanol, and using corn to make
ethanol increased the price of corn from $2 a bushel to $6 a bushel for
food. You distorted the truth.

You and Joe Biden claim that John McCain voted like both of you for a tax
increase on those making as little as $42,000 per year while the voting
record clearly shows that John McCain did not vote as you and Joe Biden. You
lied to America.

You and Joe Biden claim that John McCain voted with George W. Bush 90% of
the time when you know that Democrats also vote 90% of the time with the
President (including Joe Biden) because the vast majority of the votes are
procedural. You are one of the few who has not voted 90% of the time with
the president because you have been missing from the Senate since the day
you got elected. While your absence from your job in the Senate is of
concern, the greater concern is that you spin the facts.

You did not take an active roll in the rescue plan. You claimed that the
Senate did not need you while the real reason that you abstained was because
of your close relationships with the executives of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac,
Countrywide, and Acorn ... who all helped cause the financial problems of
today ... and they all made major contributions to your campaign. While your
relationship with these executives and your protection of them for your
brief 3 years in the Senate (along with Barney Frank, Chuch Schumer, Maxine
Waters, and Chris Dodd) is of concern, the greater concern is that you are
being deceitful.

You forgot to mention that you personally represented Tony Rezko and Acorn.
Tony Rezko, an Arab and close friend to you, was convicted of fraud in
Chicago real estate transactions that bilked millions of tax dollars from
the Illinois government for renovation projects that you sponsored as a
state senator ... and Acorn has been convicted of voter fraud, real estate
sub prime loan intimidation, and illegal campaign contributions. Tony Rezko
has contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to your political
campaigns. You personally used your political positions to steer money to
both Tony Rezko and Acorn and you used Acorn to register thousands of phony
voters for Democrats and you. While your relationships with Rezko and Acorn
are of concern, the greater concern is that you omitted important facts
about your relationships with them to America.

During your campaign, you said: 'typical white person.' 'they cling to their
guns and religion.' 'they will say that I am black.' You played the race
card. You tried to label any criticism about you as racist. You divide
America.

You claim that you will reduce taxes for 95% of America, but you forgot to
tell America that those reductions are after you remove the Bush tax
reductions. You have requested close to $1 Billion in earmarks and several
million for Acorn. Your social programs will cost America $1 Trillion per
year and you claim that a reduction in military spending ($100 billion for
Iraq) can pay for it. While your economic plan of adding 30% to the size of
our federal government is of concern, the greater concern is that you are
deceiving America.

The drain to America's economy by foreign supplied oil is $700 Billion per
year (5% of GDP) while the war in Iraq is $100 Billion (less than 1% of
GDP). You voted against any increases to oil exploration for the last 3
years and any expansion of nuclear facilities. Yet today, you say that you
have always been for more oil and more nuclear. You are lying to America.

Mr. Obama, you claimed that you 'changed' your mind about public financing
for your campaign because of the money spent by Republican PACs in 2004. The
truth is that the Democrat PACs in 2004, 2006, and 2008 spent twice as much
as the Republican PACs (especially George Soros and MoveOn.org). You are
lying to America.

Mr. Obama, you have done nothing to stop the actions of the teachers union
and college professors in the USA. They eliminated religion from our
history. They teach pro gay agendas and discuss sex with students as young
as first grade. They bring their personal politics into the classrooms. They
disparage conservatives. They brainwash our children. They are in it for
themselves ..... not America. Are you reluctant to condemn their actions
because teachers/professors and the NEA contribute 25% of all money donated
to Democrats and none to Republicans? You are deceiving America.

Oh Mr. Obama, Teddy Roosevelt said about a hundred years ago that we
Americans should first look at the character of our leaders before anything
else.

Your character looks horrible. While you make good speeches, motivating
speeches, your character does not match your rhetoric. You talk the talk but
do not walk the walk.

1. You lied to America. You lied many times. You distorted facts. You parsed
your answers like a lawyer.
2. You distorted the record of John McCain in your words and in your
advertisements.
3. You had associations with some very bad people for your personal
political gains and then lied about those associations.
4. You divide America about race and about class.

Now let me compare your record of lies, distortions, race bating, and
associations to John McCain: War hero. Annapolis graduate with 'Country
first.' Operational leadership experience like all 43 previously elected
presidents of the USA as a Navy Officer for 22 years. 26 years in the
Senate. Straight talk. Maverick. 54% of the time participated on bills with
Democrats. Never asked for an earmark. The only blemish on his record is his
part in the Keating 5 debacle about 25 years ago.

Mr. Obama, at Harvard Law School, you learned that the end does not justify
the means. You learned that perjury, false witness, dishonesty, distortion
of truth are never tolerated. Yet, your dishonesty is overwhelming. Your
dishonesty is tremendously greater than the dishonesty that caused the
impeachment and disbarment of Bill Clinton. Your dishonesty is tremendously
greater than the dishonesty of Scooter Libby. You should be ashamed.

Mr. Obama, it is time for us Americans to put aside our differences on
political issues and vote against you because of your dishonest character.
It is time for all of us Americans to put aside our political issues and
vote for America first. It is time for America to vote for honesty.

Any people who vote for you after understanding that you are dishonest
should be ashamed of themselves for making their personal political issues
more important than character. Would these same people vote for the
anti-Christ if the anti-Christ promised them riches? Would they make a
golden calf while Moses was up the mountain? Would they hire someone for a
job if that someone lied in an interview? .... of course not. So why do some
of these people justify their votes for you even though they know you are
dishonest? Why do they excuse your dishonesty? because some of these people
are frightened about the future, the economy, and their financial security
... and you are preying on their fears with empty promises ... and because
some (especially our young people) are consumed by your wonderful style and
promises for 'change' like the Germans who voted for Adolf Hitler in 1932.
The greed/envy by Ger! mans in 1932 kept them from recognizing Hitler for
who he was. They loved his style. Greed and envy are keeping many Americans
from recognizing you .. your style has camouflaged your dishonesty .... but
many of us see you for who you really are ... and we will not stop exposing
who you are every day, forever if it is necessary.

Mr. Obama, you are dishonest. Anyone who votes for you is enabling
dishonesty.
Mr. Obama, America cannot trust that you will put America first in your
decisions about the future.
Mr. Obama, you are not the 'change' that America deserves. We cannot trust
you.
Mr. Obama, You are not ready and not fit to be commander in chief.

Mr. Obama, John McCain does not have as much money as your campaign to
refute all of your false statements. And for whatever reasons, the
mainstream media will not give adequate coverage or research about your
lies, distortions, word parsing, bad associations, race bating, lack of
operational leadership experience, and general dishonest character. The
media is diverting our attention to your relationships and ignoring the fact
that you lied about those relationships. The fact that you lied is much more
important than the relationships themselves .... just like with Bill Clinton
and Richard Nixon .. Monica Lewinski and Watergate were not nearly as bad as
the fact that those gentlemen lied about the events ... false witness ...
perjury .. your relationships and bad judgements are bad on their own ...
but your lies are even worse.

Therefore, by copy of this memo, all who read this memo are asked to send it
to everyone else in America before it is too late. We need to do the job
that the media will not do. We need to expose your dishonesty so that every
person in America understands who you really are before election day.

Mr. Obama, in a democracy, we get what we deserve. And God help America if
we deserve you.

Michael Master
McLean, Virginia

P.S. One thing not mentioned is that Mr. Obama will disarm all our defense
mechanisms in America, our missile systems, all defense research
programs,and more, making us a sitting duck for...who?