Wise Bread (Extra Commentary posts)

We just need to vote

Will Chen — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 05:25:10 +0000

Barack Obama is sounding more presidential with every speech. When his supporters booed John McCain, he responded not with glee or bitterness, but with class.

"No, we don't need that," said Obama. The boos die down a bit. "We just need to vote, that's what we need to do."

Many people say Obama isn't tough enough. That he hasn't been vetted against vicious partisan attacks. That he cannot throw a decent counterpunch after a shot below the belt.

Well, maybe he doesn't have to. When we finally elect a president who can rise above that kind of divisive bickering, it doesn't mean our candidates have reached a higher moral ground. It means we have.

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The AIG retreat pictures: Why it's worse than you think

Will Chen — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 08:35:56 +0000

By Will Chen

Days after AIG received a $85 billion taxpayer bailout, it spent $440,000 hosting a posh corporate retreat at the St. Regis Monarch Beach resort. (click here to jump down to pictures)

AIG defended the expense, explaining that the retreat was for independent insurance brokers, not AIG employees. According to AIG:

This is very standard in the industry to reward the top 5 to 10 percent of top sellers. In the insurance business, it’s as basic as salary as a means to reward performance.

I'm not sure why this explanation is any better. AIG has a very sleazy record in their dealings with independent brokers. In 2004, AIG got busted for bribing brokers with illegal kickbacks to betray their fiduciary duty to their clients:

Marsh, an insurance broker, is supposed to find the best insurance policies for its clients from a wide range of companies. Instead it steered the policies to companies such as AIG that agreed to pay kickbacks.

It solicited phony competitive bids for insurance contracts to deceive customers into thinking there was real competition for their business. Marsh made $800 million on kickbacks in 2003 alone – over half its $1.5 billion profit. With a 40 percent share of the global insurance brokerage market, its fraud drove up prices for everyone.

After a series of investigations into these dirty deals, AIG agreed to pay a $1.64 billion settlement with the government. AIG apologized for these unethical business practices in 2006, stating that it will "provide transparency and fairness in the insurance markets."

I guess they didn't mean it in 2006, but I'm sure we can trust them this time!

About 100 brokers attended the AIG corporate retreat--that comes out to $4,400 per person. While not technically a bribe, it certainly comes pretty close in my book. Here breakdown of how AIG wasted taxpayer money and some pictures from the actual hotel:

$147,302 for banquets
$139,375 on rooms
$23,380 for spa services
$6,939 for golf
$5,016 at the Stonehill Tavern
$3,065 for in-room dining and the lobby lounge
$2,949 for gratuities
$1,901 at the Monarch Bayclub
$1,488 at the Vogue Salon

They golfed while Main Street burned.

Photos courtesy of Starwood Press Club press kits.

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Did Russia launch Denial of Service Attacks against Georgia?

Will Chen — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 14:01:51 +0000

By Will Chen

At 3:00 am Saturday morning I tried accessing Georgia's main government and presidential websites and received a "network timed out" message. I confirmed with Siteuptime that the sites were indeed down.

I suspected it might be a Denial of Service Attack (DDoS). After some research I found that Russia had already attacked the Georgian president's website on July 22 earlier this year:

For over 24 hours the website of President Mikhail Saakashvili of Georgia (www.president.gov.ge) has been rendered unavailable due to a multi-pronged distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack. The site began coming under attack very early Saturday morning (Georgian time). Shadowserver has observed at least one web-based command and control (C&C) server taking aim at the website hitting it with a variety of simultaneous attacks. The C&C server has instructed its bots to attack the website with TCP, ICMP, and HTTP floods. Commands seen so far are:

flood http www.president.gov.ge/
flood tcp www.president.gov.ge
flood icmp www.president.gov.ge

The server [62.168.168.9] which houses the website has been largely offline since the attack started. Passive DNS records show the system houses several other websites which are mostly unrelated to the Georgian government. However, the server does also host the Social Assistance and Employment State Agency website (www.saesa.gov.ge). This website along with the others on the host have been rendered inaccessible.

We do not have any solid proof that the people behind this C&C server are Russian. However, the HTTP-based botnet C&C server is a MachBot controller, which is a tool that is frequently used by Russian bot herders. On top of that the domain involved with this C&C server has seemingly bogus registration information but does tie back to Russia. “

Richard Stiennon from Network World's community blog speculated that Russia will renew this attack:

Over the past year+ Russia has engaged in all out Denial of Service Attacks (DDoS) against two of its neighbors, Estonia and Ukraine. Cyber attacks against Georgia would be militarily appropriate considering that they are reportedly sending 150 tanks and associated troops( I mean peace keepers) across the border. And, for that matter, Georgia has probably studied Russia’s cyber techniques and prepared its own strategic cyber attack capability.

Richard argues that the world should prepare for spill over effects, as Russia might engage in DDoS attacks against news outlets (like CNN) covering the current conflict. If you rely on web based resources you should prepare for alternatives, says Richard.

Richard didn't actual see the Georgian sites go down but his prediction seems to be coming true.

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The Make You Wanna Holla Presentation

Jabulani Leffall — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 22:36:49 +0000

By Jabulani Leffall

I can't speak coherently and I can't write at all -- let alone stay on topic.

Subsequently, I’m already prepared for the electronic picket signs and the “haterific” rants about selling out, wasting time or "dummy-it’s-called-an-I-pod" responses.

Or maybe I’m just feeling myself and the readers of this post may indeed have imbibed their “acc-rite jooce,” before reading this, in which case I have nothing to worry about.

Today’s subject, kiddies, is how to throw a boss summer patio party or eclectic dinner party in the technological age - I mean really do it up – without digging in the crates.

It occurred to me, shortly after myself and a then prospective female No. 1 companion were exchanging YouTube links and trading songs via e-mail. It was a veritable, “well, what do you know about this," contest where she hit me with everything from the soul stylings of Tyrone Davis to old recordings of Chicago and Muddy Waters. I put her up on Average White Band and hard-to-find Isley Brothers recordings as well as grooves from Marvin Gaye she never heard. Gotta love technology and what Roger Troutman would call "Computer love."

The metaphoric Sylvania danced above my head. Party Time.

The ingredients: a PC or MAC – laptop or desktop will do -- with a plug-in port for a large LCD screen or an up-to-date TV set and Internet access.

I’m not inventing the wheel or even thinking up an original idea here but why get a Bose wave radio and thumb through your I-pod. Like the man James Brown says, “get involved, get into it.”

You can go from Beethoven to Coltrane to Snoop Dogg to Eric Clapton with a quick search without digging in the crates, calling XM Radio tech support or getting carpal tunnel syndrome setting up random music joints on a CD changer because the disc holder decided it doesn’t want to slide out for you.

Three keys to a YouTube party.

1) One-Upmanship is the key. Find a unifying theme (i.e. Jazz Night, Vanilla Ice, Retrospective, Tantra, uh John Tesh anyone? ) Have fun wowing and surprising each other.

2) B.Y.O.D (Bring your own document with the links to your jams already in it -- Excel and Word files will do).

3) Rotate, Rinse Repeat: (The host should have a list, where they designate a typist for 20 minute intervals to jot down their own jams. This is wilding out interactive style to elicit groans or “oh snap” reactions).

For you dweebie html-jocky hipsters who wear Converse All-Stars with tweed thrift shop pants (don't trip, I love the pants), here’s how you can save your links and embed them for repeated use in a prepared file.

In a realm where the DJ is dead and many spend more time texting and e-mailing than talking, defeat the Borg with a little bit of imagination. Plus if you've got your joint on a reliably-fast free wireless network, it costs no money me hearties.

Have fun, but just don’t let me see anymore headlines like this: Family beaten after YouTube party invitation. That situation -- where a “teenager was airlifted to hospital and his father left with a broken nose after 100 teenagers gate-crashed a party where an invitation appeared on YouTube – was unfortunate.War is not the answer, only love can conquer hate. That’s Marvin from the 1971 title track to the seminal soul album “What’s going on?” You might want to get your game right before you try this at home.

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Are You Stealing From Your Photographer?

Carrie Kirby — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 00:17:40 +0000

By Carrie Kirby

Dear readers,

We've removed this article from our archives. We have great respect for photographers and their work. We believe people should not reprint copyrighted photographs, even if it is only for personal use. If you would like the freedom to make unlimited reprints of your wedding photos taken by a professional photographer, negotiate with your photographer and ask for unlimited reproduction rights upfront.

Wise Bread is a community blog created by many talented writers. The views of each writer does not necessarily represent that of the entire blog.

Yours truly,

Will Chen

Editor

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Know a homeless veteran who needs a job? Call Bill O'Reilly.

Paul Michael — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 22:20:44 +0000

By Paul Michael

Last night, quite by accident, I found myself listening to Bill O'Reilly's "The Radio Factor." This is not a habit of mine, I left work late and don't usually catch talk shows after 6pm. Anyway, I became quite engrossed as I heard Bill O'Reilly make a rather generous offer to homeless veterans. And I'd like everyone to help spread the word.

As some of you may be aware, O'Reilly is currently involved in a feud with Presidential hopeful (very hopeful to be honest) John Edwards, over the plight of homeless veterans in America. I'm not about to get into the grizzly details of the whole fight, I have neither the time nor the research to back either side. But the basic argument is this. Edwards claims that the 200,000 homeless veterans sleeping on America's streets every night are there because of our ever-declining economy.

Bill O'Reilly calls BS. He says that most of the 200,000 homeless vets (if indeed there are 200,000...that figure is also disputed by O'Reilly) are there not because of the economy but due to drug and/or alcohol problems, mental illness and possibly a desire to stay on the streets and avoid the 9-5 daily routine. I'm paraphrasing here, but you get the picture.

Who's right? That's not actually the point of the article, although the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans has a website with some very alarming figures. No, this article is about an offer that O'Reilly made on the air last night, 1/23/08, that I think needs to get out to the people it was intended for.

In a moment of supreme selflessness, Mr. O'Reilly offered to get a job for any homeless veteran who wants one. Now, that's quite an offer, especially in this current economic climate. But I got to thinking..."hmm, how on Earth are any homeless veterans going to hear about the offer?" After all, it's not like they make up any real portion of Bill's regular audience. Would they even have a radio?

I wasn't the only one who thought that way. Someone called in with that question but Bill, sticking by his offer, said that the homeless vets could get this information through the various organizations set up to help them out.

Full-size printable flyer available here to download

Wisebread.com is obviously not one of those organizations, but I have a platform to get information out to people and I think this is an extremely important piece of news that homeless vets need to hear. So, I've done something about it. Print out as many copies as you want of the flyer above and do what you can with it. Post it in store windows, on bulletin boards, lamp posts, and give it to any homeless veteran you see collecting change. The numbers on it are toll-free, so they won't need to use any of their money (if they have any) to make the call.

Am I doing this to spite Mr. O'Reilly? Absolutely not. I'm doing it because he made the offer and I think it's an offer worth promoting and supporting. It could give hope and a new life to many of these fallen heroes. Let's help O'Reilly stick by his word and give a whole bunch of worthy people a genuine break.

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Aahhh . . . Averna!

Myscha Theriault — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 14:55:03 +0000

By Myscha Theriault

With the weight of winter upon me, I’ve been missing Italy of late. So when I received a request from Averna’s PR person to review a sample of their new sambuca, she didn’t exactly have to twist my arm. An authentic Sicilian sambuca made by a family in the spirits business since 1868? Bring it on.

While there is a trend to use sambuca in various mixed drinks as well, I’ve always been more of a straight up kind of girl when it comes to this liqueur. So I test drove the product in two very basic ways: in my coffee and from a shot glass. Having consumed my fair share of the cheap stuff, I can safely sum up Averna in one word. Smoo-ooth.

While I like sambuca well enough, it usually takes me a while to sip through a serving. This stuff went down easily with a fuller body than I’m used to. Bonus? It had none of the usual after bite. My only regret? I was out of fresh biscotti to go with my coffee concoction.

With an MSRP of $28.99, I consider Averna worth the splurge for times when you want a higher end sipping experience. It's currently available at wine and spirits stores nation wide here in the States. On a side note, the company is currently sponsoring a drink recipe contest for bartenders with the grand prize involving a cash gift card and a trip to Sicily. The deadline is March 31, 2008. Details are available on the company’s web site.

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Blogs are Not Second Class

Linsey Knerl — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 21:06:29 +0000

By Linsey Knerl

Those of you who have come to know Wise Bread and Parenting Squad are probably aware that they are blogs – Killer Aces Media FairBlogs ™ to be exact. So what’s the big deal? Apparently, in some web circles, blogs are nothing to be impressed by.

I was cruising the web, checking weather forecasts and local news, when I stumbled upon a website that had all the makings of a bookmarked favorite. There were daily updates with conversational style and links to many resources that I would find useful in my daily life. It was professional and had flair. It was, in fact, one of the best blogs I’ve ever taken the time to read.

I did a quick check at the FAQ’s in hopes of learning more about the content creators, when I was startled by an answer that rang my bell. In answer to the question, “I like your blog, can I link to you?” the editor’s response was curt. The website, was “not a blog.” Then the reader was directed to the official “blog” of the editor, an online journal of trips to the grocery store and updates on well-baby checks.

Odd, isn’t it? In a time when blogs are becoming the most efficient method for keeping websites up-to-date, many self-made gurus of the old school web-template format feel the need to bristle at the mention of “blog.” Somewhere along the line, blogs have only become attributed to mommies, poets, and corporate marketing strategy. How is this possible?

Wiki defines “blog as “a portmanteau of web log”. So all I have to do to qualify as a blog is keep regular updates on my website? I don’t necessarily have to use Blogger or Typepad? I can omit mentions of my son’s soggy diaper or pictures of my latest family gathering? Blogs can be useful sources of information on all kinds of subjects?

Apparently so.

I understand that as bloggers, we have evolved from the earliest forms of online journaling. There was much excitement over a way to communicate both the mundane and odd bits of life with millions of potential readers. Since 2001, however, blogs have been used to enlighten the world with the intellect, emotion, and sincerity of thousands of experts and non-experts with more than just a tale to tell. They have been used to educate on topics ranging from politics, health, news, education, celebrity, and the details of nuclear physics.

Blogs have finally made it.

So what do I say to those who wish to “poo-poo” away the merits of bloggers and the virtual homes where they live? You might want to consider joining us.

With information changing quicker than the monthly newsletter or corporate website can keep up with, maybe blogging is the solution for you. With every quality post, you are helping to bring credibility to this new voice of the masses. Who knows? Your customers and readers may even like it.

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What If Everyone Suddenly Became Frugal?

Xin Lu — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 06:35:17 +0000

By Xin Lu

What if a well-meaning alien race from the planet Cheapos came to earth and hypnotized everyone so that every single American stopped buying useless junk and started to live way below their means? Here are some things that I think could happen if the denizens of the United States became tightwads over night. The effects will be global, and they are not all good.

1. Mass job cuts here in the States and globally -- It's a fact that a lot of countries depend on the consumption of Americans to keep their own economies humming along nicely. If a massive amount of Americans suddenly stopped spending, businesses will close because the demand for many goods and services will be greatly reduced.

2. The Amount of Garbage Will be Greatly Reduced -- This is a no brainer, less consumption means less garbage. Almost everything we buy comes with a bundle of packaging that becomes garbage and the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that Americans produced more than 250 million tons of garbage in 2006. If Americas cut down consumption by 40 to 50% perhaps the amount of garbage would be reduced accordingly.

3. People May Eat Less -- This is debatable, but generally cooking at home is cheaper than eating out. Restaurants tend to give portions that way too big for one meal, but we still wolf it down because we paid for it. If people cook at home they're able to control the portions and ingredients much better and possibly become more healthy in the process.

4. Everything May Become More Affordable -- Since frugal people only like bargains, stores and companies may find that they would need to cut down prices further to attract any buyers. Maybe cheapskates like me would be able to haggle in a Walmart and get shirts for 25 cents!

5. The Stock Market Will Take a Dive -- In the news today there was a report about how the consumer confidence index is down considerably for the month of December and the market took a dive. I cannot fathom where the market will go if 300 million Americans suddenly consumed considerably less. Profits will fall and investment values will drop accordingly.

We are encouraged to spend because the American economy depends heavily on consumer spending. This is why sometimes people like me who advocate frugality are marked as anti-America and flat out unpatriotic. It is highly unlikely that America will voluntarily become a frugal nation after years of indulging in purchasing anything and everything, but there comes a day when many people are forced to be frugal because they would be all spent out. If people are suddenly cheap because they are absolutely broke, then they are in no better situation than being brainwashed than a bunch of extraterrestrials! Don't panic! If everyone becomes frugal gradually, I believe we can build real wealth both personally and as a nation.

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Fox News: Let Slip the Dogs of War

Will Chen — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 16:55:49 +0000

By Will Chen

According to Fox News, Mike Huckabee's statements about showing Iran the "gates of hell" was the most popular statement of last night's debate, even among moderates. On the other hand, Fox called Ron Paul's sensible warnings "the most negative thing we've tested in all of these debates."

(link)

There are two ways to interpret Fox's stance, and both of them leads to war.

Moderates truly support Huckabee's statement over Ron Paul's

This is the most straightforward and the most disturbing interpretation of that clip. One would expect moderates to be more wary of calls to arms after:

The WMD embarrassment in Iraq, and
The recent NIE finding that Iran was not developing nuclear weapons (a finding Huckcabee didn't know about for more than 30 hours after its release, by the way).

Talk about not learning from your past mistakes.

Fox is misrepresenting the data

The second explanation is that Fox is misrepresenting the data. Keep in mind the focus group was of 28 Republican-leaning moderates. Exactly how far do they lean to the right? How "moderate" are they? Are they Neo Con Republicans?

Of course, Fox glossed over that part. Despite the fact that it was only a focus group of 28 people, most of the clip used fancy graphs to convince viewers that this was an important measure of our country's mood. The not-so-subtle message: We're ready to kick some ass.

Pay attention people. This is how wars are sold.

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