McClatchy reports the latest from the trial of Osama’s chauffeur: Guantanamo testimony: U.S. let bin Laden’s top bodyguard go

GUANTANAMO BAY NAVY BASE, Cuba — Soon after Osama bin Laden’s driver got here in 2002, he told interrogators the identity of the al Qaeda chief’s most senior bodyguard — then a fellow prison camp detainee.

But, inexplicably, the U.S. let the bodyguard go.
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[Read more →]

For some reason MSNBC classified this as “Weird News”: Cranky man shoots lawn mower for not starting

MILWAUKEE – A Milwaukee man was accused of shooting his lawn mower because it wouldn’t start. Keith Walendowski, 56, was charged with felony possession of a short-barreled shotgun or rifle and misdemeanor disorderly conduct while armed.

According to the criminal complaint, Walendowski said he was angry because his Lawn Boy wouldn’t start Wednesday morning. He told police quote, “I can do that, it’s my lawn mower and my yard so I can shoot it if I want.”

There is the possibility that Mr. Walendowski imbibed spirits prior to the confrontation with the lawn mower.

The BBC reports that Attacks begin on net address flaw

Attack code that exploits flaws in the net’s addressing system are starting to circulate online, say security experts.

The code could be a boon to phishing gangs who redirect web users to fake bank sites and steal login details.

In light of the news net firms are being urged to apply a fix for the loop-hole before attacks by hi-tech criminals become widespread.

Net security groups say there is anecdotal evidence that small scale attacks are already happening.

The important point is that you have to check to be sure that your ISP has upgraded. There is nothing the bank, PayPal, etc. can do because this occurs between you and them. When you click on a link you go to your ISP’s Domain Name Server to get the numeric IP address that identifies the web location you want to visit. This flaw allows the “bad guys” to substitute their address for the real one and you end up on an identical looking site asking for you to sign in.

EBW at Wampum provides an industrial strength checker for the problem. If it doesn’t say “Great”, start complaining to your ISP and avoid visiting on-line banks, PayPal, and other money sites until it does say “Great”.

From the land down under: Brisbane bank blown up in robbery attempt

Heavy-handed thieves have blown up a bank on Brisbane’s northside during an attempted robbery.

Very little remains of the Aspley branch of the Bank of Queensland on Gympie Road after a massive explosion at about 3:00am today.

No-one was injured, but the explosion caused a fire, and the bank’s automatic teller machine was thrown onto the footpath.

Police and bomb squad officers are on the scene.

Let this be a lesson: don’t drink and detonate.

Young Lions?

Put ’em up! Put ’em up!

[Editor: The two are trying out their stalking and fighting skills prior to dinner. The gray kitten has been stalking the tuxedo kitten and attacking for 10 minutes. They sleep all day, and then go into action as the sun goes down.]

Friday Ark