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#102258 From: Alberto Vieira Ferreira Monteiro <albmont@...>
Date: Sun Mar 1, 2009 11:11 am
Subject: Re: Aliens 'may be living among us' undetected by science
albmont@...
Send Email Send Email
 
Deborah Harrell wrote:
>
> And as I'm rereading _Glory Season_ by Himself (thought I'd give it another
> go, as it was back in '95 that I read it first, and didn't like it much
> compared to the Uplift series), it too deals with aliens - um,
> non-genetically modified humans - 'invading' a world.  Upon second go, it
> is much more interesting to me; of course, it could be that I've matured a
> bit in the past 1 1/2 decades, and am less easily unnervevd by certain
> concepts...
>
In _Glory Season_, the humans _are_ genetically modified.

Alberto Monteiro

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#102259 From: "Alberto Monteiro" <albmont@...>
Date: Mon Mar 2, 2009 2:06 pm
Subject: Nostradamus predictions
albmont@...
Send Email Send Email
 
If this is not a humour site, it's even more funny:

http://hospedagem.infolink.com.br/nostradamus/eindex.htm

BTW, why they are called "The Prophecies of Nostradamus"? "Prophecy",
in its current use, is the revelation of the future to gifted people
by a supernatural entity. Nostradamus was a Scientist, and made accurate
predictions using the One and Only True Science, Astrology. He is
as "prophet" as someone who predicts a solar eclipse or that oil
prices will get back to 140 $/bbl.

Alberto Monteiro


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#102260 From: Ronn! Blankenship <ronn_blankenship@...>
Date: Tue Mar 3, 2009 1:06 am
Subject: Re: Nostradamus predictions
ronn_blankenship@...
Send Email Send Email
 
At 08:06 AM Monday 3/2/2009, Alberto Monteiro wrote:
>If this is not a humour site, it's even more funny:
>
>http://hospedagem.infolink.com.br/nostradamus/eindex.htm
>
>BTW, why they are called "The Prophecies of Nostradamus"? "Prophecy",
>in its current use, is the revelation of the future to gifted people
>by a supernatural entity. Nostradamus was a Scientist, and made accurate
>predictions using the One and Only True Science, Astrology. He is
>as "prophet" as someone who predicts a solar eclipse or that oil
>prices will get back to 140 $/bbl.
>
>Alberto Monteiro



'Cuz to at least a certain segment of the population
"prophet/prophecy" sounds more credible than "astrology/horoscope"?


. . . ronn!  :)




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#102261 From: Greg Chalik <mrg3105@...>
Date: Wed Mar 4, 2009 2:11 am
Subject: Re: Brin-l Digest, Vol 2, Issue 3
mrg3105@...
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Prophecies were never intended as predictions of the future. At least not in the Jewish texts from which we have the vast majority of prophets considered as such today.

There, a prophecy always follows a formula which is in the logical format - IF you (individual/group/ or society) do not do this (X), THEN this (Y) will happen. It was predicated on the simple understanding that disobedience of the laws instituted by God are bound to have consequences on the same level as the notion that traffic lights are there for a reason, and crossing the road on a red light will eventually cause a pedestrian to be hit by a moving vehicle. It is therefore not a prediction of future, but an attempt at change in behaviour, such as the "If you shall lie on your loan applications, and this practice will spread among the people, the society shall suffer because lying is against the law, and eventually the cumulative effect of lying will have repercussions on the society as a whole".  Or, it could have said, "If your leaders tell big lies, then the individuals will see nothing wrong with little lies, and eventually the society will be corrupted, and this will have appropriate consequences". This is not forecasting the future, but extrapolating statistical probabilities. The only requirement is to listen.

The word for a prophet in Hebrew is novi, and this was taken in to Latin as nova, while in Slavic languages it is unchanged as the word for new. The meaning is that of a news, i.e the immediate past recently revealed, not the far future.
In the Hebrew Bible the form is often 'novi et' which can also be said as 'novi es', and by someone repeating it with no knowledge of Hebrew, such as Old French speakers (Nostrodamus time), as 'neuf', a word that eventually became 'news'.

The idea that prophecy was a forecasting of the future was in fact an early Christian understanding in strictly religious application based on the Greco-Roman oracular tradition of fortune telling methods such as bone casting, interpreting the innards of slaughtered animals, observed signs and other 'portents'. The proverbial 'lost in translation' effect.

Nostradamus was not of course a scientist. He may have been at best an alchemist since that was the other occupation many apothecaries dabbled in. Among the 'disciplines' of study was also the kabbalah.

The site posted here is one of many that seek to interpret Nostradamus. However, they all seem to forget that he used a variety of languages, all well known at the time, to write his quatrains. This would have made interpretation difficult, but not impossible, and accusations of heresy could easily have been concocted from them as much as those of prophecy. However, the vagary of the text was also a protection from claims of heresy that would have been the greatest of considerations for Michael.

What most tend to forget is that Nostradamus was from a Jewish family that converted to Christianity; Guy Gassonet, his grandfather, had converted to Catholicism around 1455 as Pierre Nostredame, before they were forced to do so during the time of Inquisition against the Jews from Spain and Portugal (expulsion in 1492) . Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, his birthplace, was closer to Spain than to Paris. His family according to one source came from Carcassona, even closer to Spain. It is very likely that his family became the French version of Spanish Morranos, practising Judaism in secret, and thus Nostradamus would have known both the Hebrew language and the Hebrew Bible. Nostre Dame means Our Lady, and could as easily refer to the Shekhinah from the kabbalistic teachings so prevalent in Spain at the time. Pierre is the French version of Peter, derived from the Aramaic 'stone', a reference to the Tablets of Law. This he chose a new name that both reaffirmed the Jewish identity as well as provide it with a very convincing 'cover' in the eyes of the Church where the locals were unlikely to understand the finer points of the choice.
 
There is further evidence for the above in that the family's patriarch was Arnoton De Velorgne, that name being a rather bad Provencal corruption of their original de L'Orne, clearly showing a northern origin, and a desire to suppress previous identity, probably due to the persecution of Jews there after it increased following the burning of the Talmuds in Paris in 1242, forcing Jews to migrate towards the politically powerful Iberian communities. Arnoton is also a corruption by adding the Latin ar- (to) to the Hebrew Noton (Nathan, a gift) to make it sound more French.

Hebrew however was virtually unknown outside of the Vatican, and it was only at about this time that Pico dela Mirandola (1463 - 1494) was beginning his early work on its understanding by the Christians. What better way to hide the meaning of his writings then through a double translation, first writing in Hebrew/Aramaic, and then translating it into a jumble of French, Latin and other common European languages, destroying the Hebrew version as he wrote. The missing key text was, and remains, a common simple technique in cryptography (Polyalphabetic cipher) that for some reason evaded attention of the many who have tried to make sense of Nostradamus' texts.

It is probably for this reason that the Portuguese site makes no more sense than the rest.

Cheers
Greg

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Today's Topics:

  1. Re: Nostradamus predictions (Ronn! Blankenship)


----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Mon, 02 Mar 2009 19:06:42 -0600
From: Ronn! Blankenship <ronn_blankenship@...>
Subject: Re: Nostradamus predictions
To: "Killer Bs \(David Brin et al\) Discussion" <brin-l@...>
Message-ID:
       <mailman.4.1236106806.15220.brin-l_mccmedia.com@mccmedia.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

At 08:06 AM Monday 3/2/2009, Alberto Monteiro wrote:
>If this is not a humour site, it's even more funny:
>
>http://hospedagem.infolink.com.br/nostradamus/eindex.htm
>
>BTW, why they are called "The Prophecies of Nostradamus"? "Prophecy",
>in its current use, is the revelation of the future to gifted people
>by a supernatural entity. Nostradamus was a Scientist, and made accurate
>predictions using the One and Only True Science, Astrology. He is
>as "prophet" as someone who predicts a solar eclipse or that oil
>prices will get back to 140 $/bbl.
>
>Alberto Monteiro



'Cuz to at least a certain segment of the population
"prophet/prophecy" sounds more credible than "astrology/horoscope"?


. . . ronn!  :)






------------------------------

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End of Brin-l Digest, Vol 2, Issue 3
************************************

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#102262 From: William T Goodall <wtg@...>
Date: Wed Mar 4, 2009 7:00 pm
Subject: Weekly Chat Reminder
wtg@...
Send Email Send Email
 
The Brin-L weekly chat has been a list tradition for over ten
years. Way back on 27 May, 1998, Marco Maisenhelder first set
up a chatroom for the list, and on the next day, he established
a weekly chat time. We've been through several servers, chat
technologies, and even casts of regulars over the years, but
the chat goes on... and we want more recruits!

Whether you're an active poster or a lurker, whether you've
been a member of the list from the beginning or just joined
today, we would really like for you to join us. We have less
politics, more Uplift talk, and more light-hearted discussion.
We're non-fattening and 100% environmentally friendly...
-----(_() Though sometimes marshmallows do get thrown.

The Weekly Brin-L chat is scheduled for Wednesday 3 PM
Eastern/2 PM Central time in the US, or 7 PM Greenwich time.
There's usually somebody there to talk to for at least eight
hours after the start time. If no-one is there when you arrive
just wait around a while for the next person to show up!

If you want to attend, it's really easy now. All you have to
do is send your web browser to:

   http://wtgab.demon.co.uk/~brinl/mud/

..And you can connect directly from the NEW new web
interface!

--
William T Goodall
Mail : wtg@...
Web  : http://www.wtgab.demon.co.uk
Blog : http://radio.weblogs.com/0111221/

"This message was sent automatically using launchd. But even if WTG
  is away on holiday, at least it shows the server is still up."

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#102263 From: "Rceeberger" <rceeberger@...>
Date: Wed Mar 4, 2009 10:32 pm
Subject: Lets do it
rceeberger@...
Send Email Send Email
 
10 Surprising Health Benefits of Sex

http://www.webmd.com/sex-relationships/features/10-surprising-health-benefits-of\
-sex

When you're in the mood, it's a sure bet that the last thing on your mind is
boosting your immune system or maintaining a healthy weight. Yet good sex
offers those health benefits and more.

That's a surprise to many people, says Joy Davidson, PhD, a New York
psychologist and sex therapist. "Of course, sex is everywhere in the media,"
she says. "But the idea that we are vital, sexual creatures is still looked
at in some cases with disgust or in other cases a bit of embarrassment. So
to really take a look at how our sexuality adds to our life and enhances our
life and our health, both physical and psychological, is eye-opening for
many people."

Sex does a body good in a number of ways, according to Davidson and other
experts. The benefits aren't just anecdotal or hearsay -- each of these 10
health benefits of sex is backed by scientific scrutiny.



xponent

With The Lights On Maru

rob


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#102264 From: "Rceeberger" <rceeberger@...>
Date: Thu Mar 5, 2009 12:20 am
Subject: Hitler gets Watchmen spoilers
rceeberger@...
Send Email Send Email
 
Yup.....SPOILERS:

http://www.boingboing.net/2009/03/04/hitler-finds-out-abo.html

But it is sooooooo damn funny!



xponent
Delicious Subtitles Maru
rob

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#102265 From: David Hobby <hobbyd@...>
Date: Thu Mar 5, 2009 2:12 am
Subject: Re: Hitler gets Watchmen spoilers
hobbyd@...
Send Email Send Email
 
Rceeberger wrote:
> Yup.....SPOILERS:
>
> http://www.boingboing.net/2009/03/04/hitler-finds-out-abo.html
>
> But it is sooooooo damn funny!

Yeah, I was listening to the German, which
didn't match the subtitles that well.

Maybe next time I'll just read the subtitles...

			 ---David

Wie sagt mann "Watchmen" auf Deutsch?

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#102266 From: Ronn! Blankenship <ronn_blankenship@...>
Date: Thu Mar 5, 2009 3:40 am
Subject: The latest poop . . .
ronn_blankenship@...
Send Email Send Email
 
#102267 From: Matt Grimaldi <matzebrei@...>
Date: Thu Mar 5, 2009 9:11 pm
Subject: Re: Hitler gets Watchmen spoilers
matzebrei@...
Send Email Send Email
 
This scene has been edited several times over with different subtitles, I think
it might be the latest viral internet meme.

So far I've seen versions where his X-Box was account deactivated (he had been
using a modd'ed X-box) and one where his resume was rejected because of a typo.

-- Matt



----- Original Message ----
From: David Hobby <hobbyd@...>
To: Killer Bs (David Brin et al) Discussion <brin-l@...>
Sent: Wednesday, March 4, 2009 6:12:00 PM
Subject: Re: Hitler gets Watchmen spoilers

Rceeberger wrote:
> Yup.....SPOILERS:
>
> http://www.boingboing.net/2009/03/04/hitler-finds-out-abo.html
>
> But it is sooooooo damn funny!

Yeah, I was listening to the German, which
didn't match the subtitles that well.

Maybe next time I'll just read the subtitles...

            ---David

Wie sagt mann "Watchmen" auf Deutsch?

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#102268 From: "Koke" <akingeor@...>
Date: Fri Mar 6, 2009 11:48 am
Subject: Kindle
akingeor@...
Send Email Send Email
 

I just received my Kindle 2 from Amazon.  I notice there are only two Brin book available for the Kindle, “Foundation’s Triumph” and “Kiln People.” Any change of getting more made available for the Kindle? I’d love to the have the Uplift books on my Kindle.

 

George A

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#102269 From: "Jim Sharkey" <templar569@...>
Date: Fri Mar 6, 2009 4:06 pm
Subject: The Ombudsmen
templar569@...
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For those of you who don't regularly follow Scott Kurtz's PVP webcomic, this is a pro click:

http://www.pvponline.com/2009/03/02/ombudsmen/

There are four more after it. If you are a _Watchmen_ fan you'll be tickled by this little storyline. It does contain spoilers, so if you've never read the GN but intend to I'd avoid it.

Jim
No Compromise. Not even in the face of Maru
   Water Treatment
Purify your water with professional water treatment. Click now!
Click Here For More Information
 
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#102270 From: "Horn, John" <JHORN@...>
Date: Fri Mar 6, 2009 6:07 pm
Subject: Wildfires Down Under?
JHORN@...
Send Email Send Email
 
How are things on the wildfire front down under?
 
 - jmh

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information or otherwise protected by law. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message.
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#102271 From: Charlie Bell <charlie@...>
Date: Sat Mar 7, 2009 12:26 am
Subject: Re: Wildfires Down Under?
charlie@...
Send Email Send Email
 
On 07/03/2009, at 5:07 AM, Horn, John wrote:

> How are things on the wildfire front down under?

A lot better - We've had a cool change (it's down to mid-teens rather
than high 30s!) and we've finally had some proper rain.

To explain, fires are classified as "Going", "Contained", or
"Controlled". All bar one fire in Victoria is at least contained now.
That's the one on Wilson's Promontory (the southernmost point of the
mainland)  which is all national park. The main visitor centre is safe
now, and they're hoping they'll get it contained in a few more days.

The scale of these fires is almost incomprehensible - the combined
length of the major fire-fronts is over 1100 km (685 miles or so).

Charlie.

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#102272 From: Doug Pensinger <brighto@...>
Date: Sat Mar 7, 2009 12:45 am
Subject: Re: Kindle ATTN Nick
brighto@...
Send Email Send Email
 


George wrote:

I just received my Kindle 2 from Amazon.  I notice there are only two Brin book available for the Kindle, “Foundation’s Triumph” and “Kiln People.” Any change of getting more made available for the Kindle? I’d love to the have the Uplift books on my Kindle.

Hi George.  I don't know the answer to your question but you might be able to ask Dr. Brin himself.  The problem right now is that there was some difficulty in the way that we contact him and I'm not sure that its working right now.  Perhaps the administrator, Nick Arnett, can help us out with this one? 

How do you like the Kindle?

Welcome to the list btw,

Doug
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#102273 From: Ronn! Blankenship <ronn_blankenship@...>
Date: Sat Mar 7, 2009 4:58 am
Subject: It's off . . .
ronn_blankenship@...
Send Email Send Email
 
#102274 From: Ray Ludenia <lud@...>
Date: Sat Mar 7, 2009 8:27 am
Subject: Re: Wildfires Down Under?
lud@...
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On Mar 7, 2009, at 11:26 AM, Charlie Bell wrote:

> On 07/03/2009, at 5:07 AM, Horn, John wrote:
>
>> How are things on the wildfire front down under?
>
> A lot better - We've had a cool change (it's down to mid-teens
> rather than high 30s!) and we've finally had some proper rain.

Hopefully the fire season is over for this year, and it's good to get
the first real rain for the year to refill our water tank. Just for
something different, we had an earthquake here last night, magnitude
4.7 which is not that "impressive" for areas used to them, but large
by local standards. It was felt over a large area, including much of
Melbourne. Epicentre was 600 metres from our house! We certainly felt
it.

http://snipurl.com/dbjdk  [earthquake_usgs_gov]

http://snipurl.com/dbjft  [maps_google_com]
Zoom in and you'll see our place just to the NW.

Regards,

Ray Ludenia.

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#102275 From: Jo Anne <evenstar@...>
Date: Sat Mar 7, 2009 7:13 pm
Subject: Re: Wildfires Down Under?
evenstar@...
Send Email Send Email
 
Geez Ray (and Charlie)

Which deity did you piss off?

=+))

Jo Anne
evenstar@...

> On Mar 7, 2009, at 11:26 AM, Charlie Bell wrote:
>
>> On 07/03/2009, at 5:07 AM, Horn, John wrote:
>>
>>> How are things on the wildfire front down under?
>>
>> A lot better - We've had a cool change (it's down to mid-teens
>> rather than high 30s!) and we've finally had some proper rain.
>
> Hopefully the fire season is over for this year, and it's good to get
> the first real rain for the year to refill our water tank. Just for
> something different, we had an earthquake here last night, magnitude
> 4.7 which is not that "impressive" for areas used to them, but large
> by local standards. It was felt over a large area, including much of
> Melbourne. Epicentre was 600 metres from our house! We certainly felt
> it.
>
> http://snipurl.com/dbjdk  [earthquake_usgs_gov]
>
> http://snipurl.com/dbjft  [maps_google_com]
> Zoom in and you'll see our place just to the NW.
>
> Regards,
>
> Ray Ludenia.



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#102276 From: Doug Pensinger <brighto@...>
Date: Sat Mar 7, 2009 7:25 pm
Subject: Re: Wildfires Down Under?
brighto@...
Send Email Send Email
 


Ray  wrote:

Hopefully the fire season is over for this year, and it's good to get the first real rain for the year to refill our water tank. Just for something different, we had an earthquake here last night, magnitude 4.7 which is not that "impressive" for areas used to them, but large by local standards. It was felt over a large area, including much of Melbourne. Epicentre was 600 metres from our house! We certainly felt it.

Yikes, I'll bet you did, that's practically on top of it.  The last significant quake here in the SF bay area was a 5.4 in October of 2007 about 6 miles NNE of my house.  I was on the second story of our house and got rocked pretty good.  We even had slight damage to the house.

I'm glad to hear its cooling off down under.  I hope you guys get lots of rain (but not too much) this year.

Doug
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#102277 From: "Wayne Eddy" <weddy@...>
Date: Sun Mar 8, 2009 12:08 am
Subject: Re: Wildfires Down Under?
weddy@...
Send Email Send Email
 
Infi, obviously.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jo Anne" <evenstar@...>
To: <brin-l@...>
Sent: Sunday, March 08, 2009 5:13 AM
Subject: Re: Wildfires Down Under?


> Geez Ray (and Charlie)
>
> Which deity did you piss off?
>
> =+))
>
> Jo Anne
> evenstar@...


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#102278 From: "Koke" <akingeor@...>
Date: Sun Mar 8, 2009 1:30 am
Subject: RE: Kindle
akingeor@...
Send Email Send Email
 
Doug responded to George:

George wrote:

>  I just received my Kindle 2 from Amazon.  I notice there are only two
> Brin book available for the Kindle, ?Foundation?s Triumph? and ?Kiln
> People.? Any change of getting more made available for the Kindle? I?d
> love to the have the Uplift books on my Kindle.
>
Hi George.  I don't know the answer to your question but you might be able
to ask Dr. Brin himself.  The problem right now is that there was some
difficulty in the way that we contact him and I'm not sure that its working
right now.  Perhaps the administrator, Nick Arnett, can help us out with
this one?

How do you like the Kindle?

Welcome to the list btw,

Doug

-------------------------

Actually, I've been a member of the list for quite some time, but due to a
change in jobs resulting in an increase in hours and moving to Seoul (where
there is so much to do) I've become a lurker.

I've had my Kindle 2 for a couple of days now. I've purchase two books so
far: Allen Steele's "Coyote Horizon" and Greg Bear's "City at the End of
Time." I started with Steele's book first because I'm in love with his
"Coyote" series. I also had quite a few pieces of short fiction (free from
Fictionwise) and a couple of novels such as Andre Norton's "The Time
Traders" and "John Scalzi's "Old Man's War" in pdf versions. I sent them to
Amazon for conversion to kindle format; about 10 minutes later I had them
back. An initial scan looks like they will be okay to read.

In Seoul, I don't have the wireless capability, but the download and USB
transfer works just fine.

So far, I like the kindle a lot. I have several books on it (going to be
great while traveling). One thing that will take a little getting used to is
have to bookmark maps, Dramatis Personae lists, etc. With regular books, I'm
constantly flipping back and forth between maps and lists and the text. I
like maps and I'm particularly fascinated with the map of Coyote. It takes a
second or two to "Menu," toggle to bookmarks, toggle to map, and go "Back."
It'll just take time to get used to.  As of this moment, thumbs up to the
Kindle 2.

George A









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#102279 From: "Gary Nunn" <garynunn@...>
Date: Mon Mar 9, 2009 3:33 pm
Subject: Impossible account security questions.
garynunn@...
Send Email Send Email
 
A few months ago, I called Chase Bank about a question with my account, the
phone teller asked me several security challenge questions that I thought
were unusual. One of the questions was a certain uncle's home address.  The
impossible part of this was that I haven't had contact with this uncle in 25
years, and he lives in England (I'm in the US). I asked for the manager, and
the manager explained that the security questions are all part of a new
government mandate to verify identity and security information.

I eventually got the account information I was looking for and didn't think
about it again.

This morning, I was trying to access a credit card webpage to check my
account, it didn't like my password. I was given two security challenge
questions:

1. What is the last name of your fifth grade teacher?
2. What was the license plate of your first car?

I'm reasonably  sure that I had the correct name for the 5th grade teacher,
but I must be an incredible slacker because I didn't remember the license
plate number of my first vehicle - 25 years ago.

Capital One promptly locked my account, for my security.

It's scary that any database contains this much information about me.  If
it's in a database, it can be compromised. It's no wonder identity theft is
running rampant in the US.

Gary




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#102280 From: Dave Land <dmland@...>
Date: Mon Mar 9, 2009 4:45 pm
Subject: Re: Impossible account security questions.
dmland@...
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On Mar 9, 2009, at 8:33 AM, Gary Nunn wrote:

> This morning, I was trying to access a credit card webpage to check my
> account, it didn't like my password. I was given two security
> challenge
> questions:
>
> 1. What is the last name of your fifth grade teacher?
> 2. What was the license plate of your first car?
>
> I'm reasonably  sure that I had the correct name for the 5th grade
> teacher,
> but I must be an incredible slacker because I didn't remember the
> license
> plate number of my first vehicle - 25 years ago.
>
> Capital One promptly locked my account, for my security.

Give up, let Capital One have the money as your personal contribution to
the bail-out. If you have a negative balance, consider it a well-earned
punishment for their stupid security system.

Dave


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#102281 From: John Williams <jwilliams4200@...>
Date: Mon Mar 9, 2009 5:30 pm
Subject: Re: Impossible account security questions.
jwilliams4200@...
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On Mon, Mar 9, 2009 at 8:33 AM, Gary Nunn <garynunn@...> wrote:

> This morning, I was trying to access a credit card webpage to check my
> account, it didn't like my password. I was given two security challenge
> questions:
>
> 1. What is the last name of your fifth grade teacher?
> 2. What was the license plate of your first car?

Ha! They should flag it as suspicious if people DO know the answers to
those questions, since it is obviously not you but someone who has
stolen your identity database file and has all the information in
front of them!

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#102282 From: Matt Grimaldi <matzebrei@...>
Date: Mon Mar 9, 2009 5:56 pm
Subject: Re: Impossible account security questions.
matzebrei@...
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]From: John Williams <jwilliams4200@...>
]> Gary Nunn <garynunn@...> wrote:
]
]> This morning, I was trying to access a credit card webpage to check my
]> account, it didn't like my password. I was given two security challenge
]> questions:
]>
]> 1. What is the last name of your fifth grade teacher?
]> 2. What was the license plate of your first car?
]
] Ha! They should flag it as suspicious if people DO know the answers to
] those questions, since it is obviously not you but someone who has
] stolen your identity database file and has all the information in
] front of them!

Wow!  If the bank had those kinds of things on record, what else might they ask?

   What embarrassing thing did you do on your first date?
   Who else knows about that thing that happened?


Joking aside, don't you have to provide the answers up-front for your favorite
challenge questions when setting up the account?  I always understood this
system to work this way:

During setup, select your 3-5 favorite questions and fill in answers for them. 
The security application doesn't care what you type as long as it's text-like. 
I've even seen an option to provide your own question which you then answer.

Later on, when you get to a place where they have to challenge your identity,
choose a question that you know you already answered during setup, and fill in
the same answer, whatever that was.

-- Matt




----- Original Message ----
From: John Williams <jwilliams4200@...>
To: Killer Bs (David Brin et al) Discussion <brin-l@...>
Sent: Monday, March 9, 2009 10:30:49 AM
Subject: Re: Impossible account security questions.

On Mon, Mar 9, 2009 at 8:33 AM, Gary Nunn <garynunn@...> wrote:


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#102283 From: "Dan M" <dsummersminet@...>
Date: Mon Mar 9, 2009 6:56 pm
Subject: RE: Impossible account security questions.
dsummersminet@...
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> -----Original Message-----
> From: brin-l-bounces@... [mailto:brin-l-bounces@...] On
> Behalf Of Matt Grimaldi
> Sent: Monday, March 09, 2009 12:57 PM
> To: Killer Bs (David Brin et al) Discussion
> Subject: Re: Impossible account security questions.
>
>
> ]From: John Williams <jwilliams4200@...>
> ]> Gary Nunn <garynunn@...> wrote:
> ]
> ]> This morning, I was trying to access a credit card webpage to check my
> ]> account, it didn't like my password. I was given two security challenge
> ]> questions:
> ]>
> ]> 1. What is the last name of your fifth grade teacher?
> ]> 2. What was the license plate of your first car?
> ]
> ] Ha! They should flag it as suspicious if people DO know the answers to
> ] those questions, since it is obviously not you but someone who has
> ] stolen your identity database file and has all the information in
> ] front of them!
>
> Wow!  If the bank had those kinds of things on record, what else might
> they ask?

I have a credit card account with Capital One.  They are quite vexed with me
because I used that account's offer of low interest as a cheap loan while I
was spending money to fix up/upgrade my house (about 40k) so I could fit the
market and sell it.

Now that I've paid it off, they keep on asking me to go back into debt.  I
take that as a general positive sign, since I have a good sized credit limit
that I'm not using.

But, I've not had your problem.  I wonder if a weird form of practical
joking/hacking is involved.  Someone puts in security questions and expects
you to answer them.  Those are not the questions the average bloke knows the
answer to (I don't for either), so it makes no sense.

I'm lucky in that I have a personal banker I can talk to face to face who
fixes minor problems before they become a real pain (with Chase, who seems
to have escaped the worse of the banking crisis so far).

Dan M.


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#102284 From: Jo Anne <evenstar@...>
Date: Mon Mar 9, 2009 11:29 pm
Subject: Re: Impossible account security questions.
evenstar@...
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Gary wrote:

> 1. What is the last name of your fifth grade teacher?
> 2. What was the license plate of your first car?
>
> I'm reasonably  sure that I had the correct name for the 5th grade teacher,
> but I must be an incredible slacker because I didn't remember the license
> plate number of my first vehicle - 25 years ago.
>
> Capital One promptly locked my account, for my security.
>
> It's scary that any database contains this much information about me.  If
> it's in a database, it can be compromised. It's no wonder identity theft is
> running rampant in the US.

Good Grief!  *I* don't know the license plate on our *current* cars!!  And I
might remember the name of my 5th grade teacher, but geez!  How the heck
does a bank know that???

Time to convert any money left to gold and bury it in a sock in the back
yard =+)).

Jo Anne
Getting too old for this stuff Maru



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#102285 From: Max Battcher <me@...>
Date: Mon Mar 9, 2009 11:00 pm
Subject: Re: Impossible account security questions.
me@...
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Gary Nunn wrote:
> This morning, I was trying to access a credit card webpage to check my
> account, it didn't like my password. I was given two security challenge
> questions:
>
> 1. What is the last name of your fifth grade teacher?
> 2. What was the license plate of your first car?
>
> I'm reasonably  sure that I had the correct name for the 5th grade teacher,
> but I must be an incredible slacker because I didn't remember the license
> plate number of my first vehicle - 25 years ago.

The real sad thing is that these Security Challenge questions that our
banks have gotten attached to are ultimately pretty useless.  The banks
are faking security (and confusing consumers) because they are too cheap
to pay for the sorts of things that real security are made of.[*]  As
someone else in this thread pointed out, more often than not these sort
of questions are becoming the sorts of things that it would be _more_
secure to lock out those that can answer the questions correctly on the
first try...

In trying to stop identity theft the banks seem adamant to make real
customers frustrated and all the while are merely encouraging smarter
and more dangerous identity thieves.

[*] http://thedailywtf.com/Articles/WishItWas-TwoFactor-.aspx

The funny thing is that the price of hardware tokens for real two-factor
authentication is getting cheaper everyday. (I bought a consumer
hardware token for $40 that I can just pop into any USB port. Let's not
even talk about the dwindling bulk costs of these things.) Not to
mention that more and more people are *already* carrying hardware tokens
for work (many virtual networks now require RSA cryptographic hash fobs
or similar) or government needs (many European IDs now are smart cards
with a hardware token).

Just imagine if banks actually cared to invest in real security...

--
--Max Battcher--
http://worldmaker.net

Security through annoyance Maru

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#102286 From: hkhenson <hkhenson@...>
Date: Wed Mar 11, 2009 12:48 am
Subject: Talk about a comprehensive energy and climate solution (and David Brin too)
hkhenson@...
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This is draft

www.operatingthetan.com/SpaceBasedSolarPower/March18Talk.ppt

So if anyone spots something wrong, please let me know.

Keith Henson


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#102287 From: William T Goodall <wtg@...>
Date: Wed Mar 11, 2009 7:00 pm
Subject: Weekly Chat Reminder
wtg@...
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The Brin-L weekly chat has been a list tradition for over ten
years. Way back on 27 May, 1998, Marco Maisenhelder first set
up a chatroom for the list, and on the next day, he established
a weekly chat time. We've been through several servers, chat
technologies, and even casts of regulars over the years, but
the chat goes on... and we want more recruits!

Whether you're an active poster or a lurker, whether you've
been a member of the list from the beginning or just joined
today, we would really like for you to join us. We have less
politics, more Uplift talk, and more light-hearted discussion.
We're non-fattening and 100% environmentally friendly...
-----(_() Though sometimes marshmallows do get thrown.

The Weekly Brin-L chat is scheduled for Wednesday 3 PM
Eastern/2 PM Central time in the US, or 7 PM Greenwich time.
There's usually somebody there to talk to for at least eight
hours after the start time. If no-one is there when you arrive
just wait around a while for the next person to show up!

If you want to attend, it's really easy now. All you have to
do is send your web browser to:

   http://wtgab.demon.co.uk/~brinl/mud/

..And you can connect directly from the NEW new web
interface!

--
William T Goodall
Mail : wtg@...
Web  : http://www.wtgab.demon.co.uk
Blog : http://radio.weblogs.com/0111221/

"This message was sent automatically using launchd. But even if WTG
  is away on holiday, at least it shows the server is still up."

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