Naahhh,

There are people out there who still believe security is an overrated issue not worthy of their time. “There are more important issues” (disclaimer: I work for an IT security firm?)

Zero in a bit’s article: MBTA Hack shows security hasn’t improved in 10 years reminds us that IT security in the broader context of society, can be a life or death situation. I may not care about your losing money, but I sure as hell care if your security failings can cause me loss of life, limb, and/or liberty.

Zero in a bit references hacks that can literally ‘stop your heart.’ Which draws us to other examples of security failings that can be disastrous. I sure don’t want the Rail System I’m running on hacked, they’ve got computers all over the network (i.e. in every suburb they have a train station) and you can just imagine the day when someone plugs in a wireless modem onto one of those desktops and gives some hacker direct access into the Rail Information System.

I’ve got enough problems with the current timetabling then to have some hacker running the system as if it’s their private train-set and trying to crash the trains together.

Continuing the medical security scenario, we are reminded that software security isn’t just about protecting the “system” from outside interference, in its holistic sense, software security is about protecting the software from itself. We don’t want to be sitting under an X-Ray, Laser cutter when the machine has a buffer overflow and decides to give you 10x or 1000x dosage. Wait, that already happened.

Took off my jacket @ Newtown station because the night air, though chilly, was warm enough for only a single ‘jumper/cardigan.’

Train gets in, I get on, and immediately have to put the jacket back on. Geez the train is freezing.

But let’s just blame the State Government Owned, and Operated Railroad operators for the continuing incompetence. Or, better yet, let’s blame the lackey worker who has to put in double-shifts and isn’t allowed to question the efficiency of the network. After all, the current government (State) has only had 10+ years running the show, they haven’t yet completely put their buddies into all posts in the organisation.

The previous government really screwed things up when they sacked all those incompetent managers and replaced everyone. 10 years is about minimum to get our buddies back into the system and totally screw the populace.

Democracy, the NSW freedom to ‘game’ the system so you can legally screw people!

With the right amount of money, what is the ‘real’ difference between democracy and dictatorship?

My sister-in-law suffered sadly for beauty on Saturday, then spent Sunday coiled up in front of the television keeping warm (supposedly) or was that not going to church so she could watch movies.

It seems a sad maxim of the ‘civilised society’ that so many link their self-worth to their exterior outlook, or just as sadly the number of brand things dangling.

Too sady, too true.

As I continue my mundane, but necessary, rituals of getting up in the morning slogging the way to the train station to get to work and back it’s good to be reminded of the mortality that is life. Lu’isa Tae Kami passed away over the week-end and having lived her life to the max, in such a short time, she’s given those around her a great opportunity to reflect on their own mortality, and purpose in life.

16 August 11:40pm... Gone Home...

Tae passed on in her sleep at 11:40pm this evening. She mentioned this morning she might be gone by midnight and kept her word. Heaven must be buzzing as she flies through its gates new body, new heart and spirit intact.

She has asked that the theme for her service be taken from the Bible -  Romans chapter 8 - "the whole chapter". Tonight I can only think of the verse: All things work for good for those who love the Lord, who are called according to His purpose...

You can follow the celebration of life, funeral proceedings on the above page. You can also find out a heck of a lot about her journey from the site, and on her Bebo page.  Included in the links on her Bebo page should be heaps of videos from all over the place (including Tonga and NZ Television) documenting her life and her influence on the Tonga and Pasifika communities.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Taholo and Sina, siblings and the rest of the clan and very very extended family from Tae’s ‘family.’

Tae’s journey with cancer has been draining and fullfilling for her immediate family and a new extended extended family that have grown out of her needs but especially because of the composure and faith she has shown “forged in fire.”

Walk on Walk Strong Tae, and may we meet with you again.

Some people have their act together, and the abstracts have come out for the up-coming Talanoa Conference. Some of them sound really interesting, and some of them a just ‘interesting.’

2008 Conference
Mana, Vanua, Talanoa
Abstracts  Out

Pauline Luafutu-Simpson (Pauline.Luafutu-Simpson@nzca.ac.nz) and Sam Utai,
“Standing outside the tick boxes”
This presentation will examine the changing face of Pasifika communities – 'Christchurch'  perspective. It will be based on a framework/model we developed to help us articulate  what we saw evolving within our Pasifika communities and the young Pasifika people we were working with that either stood on the periphery of both mainstream and traditional Pasifika communities - in fact in double jeopardy

‘Epeli Taungāpeau (epeli.taungapeau@paradise.net.nz), “How can I be Tongan in a
strange/promised land? Cultural and Theological Diversity in the MCNZ”
      This paper outlines the social and religious issues of a “TALANOA” that most Pacific Islanders especially Tongans who have migrated overseas and made their home in  a foreign land face in life.  Although the talanoa are not new, it is important to revisit  these experiences to identify key reference points that impact on the lives of the individual in the context of their family and how these factors will ultimately shape and
inform how Pacific Island migrants fit in their new society.

      There are several factors that influence an individuals talanoa including social location, identity, dreams and aspirations and the integral place of faith, tradition and custom, life experience and the bible. This Talanoa outlines the journey to Aotearoa, of a young nineteen year old Tongan male accompanied only by the talents, gifts and identity and the discovery of the means to fulfill a dream by pursuing the enhancement of
educational success in NZ.

      This talanoa explores the “call” to ministry in the Methodist Church of New Zealand  and the importance of faith and tradition in the process of migration to the land of the  Long White Cloud – Aotearoa New Zealand. It discusses several issues that Tongan  people who are members of the MCNZ encounter within the Church and the solutions.
      The commonalities within the talanoa provide useful tools for the church’s people to explore the development of durable options/solutions and illustrate a possible way forward when working with Tongan families in the Methodist Church of New Zealand. 

I had hoped that that Sonny Bill William’s saga would have died away by now, but I guess it just wanted to have as many people push across their own agenda items. Sonny Bill Williams (SBW) is an incredible high profile athlete who played Rugby League in Sydney for the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs. My son’s team.

In short, SBW left in July for France, breaking an existing player contract (with lot’s of money) to go to France for even more money. The bigger story is more complicated, otherwise the ditched club and industry (CB Bulldogs, Australia’s National Rugby League) wouldn’t be spending heaps of money on lawyers to try and prevent SBW from playing in France.

Apart from the legal jurisdictional, sovereignty land mines with this law suite, you have to wonder how real this effort is in suing someone to come back and play for you.  How is that to work? Supposedly SBW will be forced to come back and play with the CBB, and he is supposedly going to run on the park every week-end putting in his best because he has been shown the LOVE by his club.

Breaking Contract.

I’ve heard some flawed commentators (former players) going on and on about how vile this whole thing of breaking his contract. All while forgetting their own high profile, press covered, contractual fights where he and his employer reneged on a number of contractual details.

Contracts are for the benefit of the guy/gal with the biggest stick. Unfortunately for the NRL, SBW spewed in their face and put himself a distance away where he hopes the NRL’s big stick can’t touch him.

You really have to watch “The Legend of Johnny Lingo” to get a Pacific view of what contract negotiations should be, as opposed to the bastardised system it is now. It shouldn’t just be a Pacific view.

Differences

If you are running a Million/Billion dollar organisation, such as the the NRL or Australian Rugby Union (ARU) and are dependent on Pacific Islanders as part of your product, then I think it behoves you as a business to get a better understanding of your product.

If in Australia and you manage such a corporation and you’ve never been to a Kava Party, or a Hangi, a Pacific Wedding, or a Funeral, never seen at least “The Laughing Samoans,” or “Sione’s Wedding,” or God forbid you’ve never seen “The Legend of Johnny Lingo,” please don’t even assert that you have any idea about your Pacific bread.

If you’ve not gone to church with a Pacific Islander, you’re never going to understand the social binding integration of Pasifika.

Recent high-profile (huge money spinner) moves by ‘Isileli Folau at the Melbourne Storm moving to Brisbane, as well as Digby Ioane moving from the Western Australia Force back to Brisbane should have rung bells in the hallowed halls.

Islanders aren’t whites, they’re not blacks, they’re not like your other products. They’re loyalties and frames of reference are different.

In New Zealand the whole Islander thing was forced on the white culture by the gangs, and has evolved into a deeper cohesion between the different cultures. Of course, people being forcibly moved from their land may some day display anti-social behaviour and in retrospect you’ve got to consider the Maori and Samoan response have been quite civilised. In Australia, minor cultures are easily subverted and/or ignored.

Move On

The SBW saga highlights a number of shortcomings in the existing entertainment industry using athletes.

Either the industries learn from it and deal with it in a constructive manner or things are going to get from worse to worse.

The Pacific Islander issue needs to be reviewed and dealt with, that’s one way forward. This has always been a problem brushed under the table in Rugby League and increasing in Rugby Union.

The day didn’t start off to well when I made that mad dash for the train, to realise I’m on a different schedule today, don’t go straight to the city, get to the coffee house first.

In some forgotten point during the age of cavemen clubbing each other on the head to make a point, some social nazi decided that it was critical for the organisation of the community that new members be introduced through stages of ‘conditioning’ into the norms of the society. In the 20th century, the induction process is variously called by the Greek Fraternities as “hazing.”

It may even be illegal in some quarters, but who is going to get in the way of social unity, and progress ?

Mr. Dave put me through Nullcube’s rigorous induction process, with the simple line.

How do you feel about walking into town?

Scum bag!!

We had our pow-wow session early Monday morning before heading into town for some real work (i.e. non-administration stuff.) “How do you feel about walking into town?” I shoulda clobbered him on the spot then.

Mr. Dave cut a quick march ‘clip’ for us from our Newtown HQ (ha ha ha, HQ is the fanciful term for where our base toilets are located 8-) and off we went. Ho K, he’s decided that we don’t need to grab a cab and then comes up with a fanciful reason for why getting a cab into town wasn’t a good idea today (the 2nd opportunity where I shoulda just clobbered him.)

He’s doing good, ‘cause he’s into this walking thing and makes the farcical attempt to get to the gymn every now and then. Mind you, I haven’t done a long walk like this for a long long time, like 1999!

The distance we’re walking here is probably akin to walking from Tofoa into town, which isn’t a bad walk, unless you have some hee bee jebee fitness fanatic pushing the pace, and you hit Broadway (less than half way to our destination) and everything’s on an incline (the wrong way.) Google Maps estimates the distance at 3 miles.

There is a great mythology amongst the Apple fanboys that Microsoft doesn’t understand, Linux isn’t up to standards and Apple products

Just work.

It must be the work of the delusional to always come across problems to the contrary and yet still tout your religion. So, a whole heap of people are having problems with all sorts of aspects with the Apple iPhone launch, but fanboys will propose that it’ll get fixed quickly, whereas if anyone else had that problem there would have been all sorts of noise about how crappy that platform is.

Fanboys unite in your delusions.

I still love that Air Con quote. Insanity is working for fifty years to find yourself in a nursing home where you can’t do a piss without having someone pull your daks down, or something to that tune.

Joel Spolsky reminds us of a business idea that comes other of the former Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC.) The discussion could be summarised as:

Administration is about keeping the lights on, not telling other people what they should do.

If you want to propose something, you own it, your tender it and get it out. Have the courage of your convictions, and take responsibility for your mouth.

Wouldn’t that be an ideal world?

Obviously, either the advice was not completely understood by DEC management, or it is not in itself sufficient for success (otherwise DEC the pioneer computer systems integrator, would not have been swallowed up by a PC box mover Compaq Computer Systems to be later swallowed again by HP.)

I’ve been playing around with a server at home, and of course the two simplest things to install, configure for testing are:

• a mail server
• a web server.

I didn’t know that these were blocked from the outside, and since I was only playing around it didn’t bother me much at the time that:

• my email messages to the server weren’t getting through, and
• I couldn’t connect to my fancy web pages from work

But, thanks to whirlpool, and a few hints from workmates, I am a much better informed consumer.

Blocked Ports

The following ports are blocked on OptusNet:
Inbound
• TCP 25 (SMTP)
• TCP 80 (HTTP)
• TCP/UDP 135 (RPC)
• TCP/UDP 137–139 (NetBIOS)
• TCP/UDP 161–162 (SNMP)
• TCP/UDP 445 (RPC)
• TCP 593 (DCOM)
• TCP 1080 (Socks)
Outbound
• TCP 25 (SMTP — can be disabled at https://memberservices.o...om.au/mailfilter)
Static IPs
This list of blocked ports only applies to Internet connections with a dynamic IP. This includes all cable connections, and all residential dial and DSL connections. If you are on a Small Business DSL or dial plan you can ring Small Business customer service to request a static IP. The ports will be unblocked once your connection has switched over to the new IP.
IPv6 Traffic
Since (currently) most IPv6 traffic travels over a standard IPv4 connection to a tunnel broker, ALL IPv6 ports are unfiltered and unblocked. This should be consistent with all ISPs, not just Optusnet specific.

The test servers turned off, but it would be extremely useful for me to have some services available from home.

All going together to making a decision about whether we need to continue this relationship (with Optusnet as the internet provider for the house.)

Every once in a while, being in the computer industry (and now more specifically in the “Security” business) you finally come across something that your family and friends can relate to.

I mean, how many people outside of IT really care much about IT, so long as their TV and toaster works (because the Internet might work, but for some reason there’s always problems with the home connection.) And, from here we know that even fewer people have any clue what IT Security people are about, or even care?

You really want to read the full story by Jennifer Jabbusch, a teaser is below but you want to read it from the beginning. Security is a real-life issue.

Grande Theft Auto …

He now has no car and no phone. So, ironically enough, he then had to approach a stranger and politely ask for the use of their cell to phone home and let the group know he was bamboozled. A few tears were shed, but his wife assured him it would be fine and he shouldn’t be scared. (No, I’m not making that up).

If you read the full article,

The moral of the story…  There are two. 1) Involve someone with a ‘security mindset’ and 2) Your security is only as strong as your people. A sweet damsel in distress… social engineering at it’s finest…

A wonderful (though said) example of real life ‘scams’ that can impact any of us (and how often do your parents, or kids open the door without a worry these days?)

But more importantly, be careful out there that something like this story doesn’t happen to you or your friends (not the hairdresser part of the story, the parking part, hoiiiii)

My train ride was on schedule this morning, but the ‘features’ offered by City Rail is beginning to scare me (since I may just not get to work at all one of these days.)

The ride I usually take when working in the city was delayed by 20 ~ 30 minutes, which basically means that the next ride would mean a big adrenaline rush through the system to get from the downtown train station to the workplace in time. Let alone having to go through the “tunnels” and the crush to get on the escalator (note single escalator service.)

Poor work warriors from further North of the city seem to be struggling with this scheduling ‘feature’ for quite some time. At least, they’re always on the news for not making it to work or being stuck somewhere in the Public Transport System for up to 4 hours.

Wow!!! I get to see my first MacBook Pro on the train today (or maybe it’s my 2nd but didn’t really notice the other one?)

Seems to be the latest thing to equip your staff with a notebook, and stick them with a “dongle” USB modem for keeping connected with work.

This we know, this MacBook gal doesn’t do too much of this stuff on this train ride. She’s sitting with the sun glaring at her and has to put her hand up to shade her eyes while she’s trying to do something on her laptop. True warriors already have the seating on the train that doesn’t have glaring sunlight.

Oh, and you have to move around. There’s no perfect spot as this ride winds around and thus the sun comes in differently depending on the part of the track your on.

POSH – Port Out Stubborn Home.

Reminds me of having learned sometime in the past the beginnings of the phrase / word POSH. Posh is often (at least where I was) used to refer to someone or a group of people with some real money.

When I get online, I’ll look it up again. (I’m not crazy enough to pay the rates to get 24/7 access from my laptop, but I know the Bro’ does.)

Another day, another Monday, another work-week.

Hope your’s is a good one.

Ma’ata Ngalo’afe wasn’t the first to get up this morning, I think she was the last, but she made sure everyone knew when she was up, and made sure to remind everyone

Dad, do you know what day it is?

I’m six years old today

We didn’t have anything too flash for her today, but O4 did get her a little cake so she can blow it out at home. We got her something just a little bit bigger and she blew it out at school (the teacher’s got the cake while the kids got little cup-cakes that was easier to manage for everyone.)

Happy Birthday dear, and may you continue to be your wonderful, effervescent, fakahela, self.

When I was at South Strathfield High School, there was one school I hated playing in the Rugby League pool we were in for one of those high school tournaments, Enmore High School.

Back in the day, the boys that they bred at Enmore (I think they were predominantly of Greek or Italian heritage) were just seriously rough. It wasn’t so much a fear of what they were doing to me, but my little bro’s on the team (including me) were just getting a hammering. 

If I recall correctly, we played against Enmore in one League game and another Union game. The boys were rough, and they could do the ‘dirty’ without flinching.

Saturday night and O4 made some salad for an eat that ended up being at the Enmore Catholic Parish(?) off Princess Highway. You don’t mess with the Tongans at Enmore Parish either.

Eating at Tonga events generally works in at least 3 sets. With Sunday’s context, the meal was a buffet so the 1st set was for the invited guests to get up and get some stuffing, the 2nd set is when those who were involved with preparing the food (including the boys outside) come to the table and get their feed. The 3rd set is supposed to be at the very end of the program when everyone has had their fill and the cleaning up process involves people taking food for their own consumption, on their own time, at their own homes.

Well, with Enmore there’s not the standard pause between Set 2 and Set 3, so if you’re new to the gathering, watch out or you might get trampled by the horde as they scramble for the table.

A great feast was had by all, who knows how many dishes were on the table but you can be assured there wasn’t anything left on the table after the 3rd Set was in motion.

Remember, beware the Enmore mob (and I thought Petersham was bad to the bone 8-)

Bankstown to Newtown via Strathfield Week-Days (PM)

Newtown to Bankstown via Townhall Week-Days (PM)

Newtown to Bankstown via Strathfield Week-Days (PM)

We made it to the game again, now we've really got to call 'Ofa a rabid NSW Waratah fan.

We were the noisy duo in row BB, right behind and in front of some rabid South African fans who were competing sadly against us, but losing it badly even before half time.

We got of to a loser of a start with the game, by standing at the wrong bus-stop ? What's with that ? After half-an-hour of seeing no bus around, 'Ofa had the smarts to get us to walk to another bus-stop to see the rest of the rabid fans queuing for the busses

Tonga-now, reborn TongaReview.com has an article on 'Eua's new water system.

m 'Eua Water System produces muddy water

25/03/2008 12:16:18 p.m.

It has only been a week since the launch of the ‘Eua water system by His Highness, Crown Prince Tupouto’a Lavaka, and already the public are complaining about the muddy and unclean water produced by the new water system.

I thought it looked like someone had a glass of Orange Juice in the sink.

We can sometimes get ahead of ourselves, as techno-geebs. The solutions people generally want rarely needs new flashing lights with special coolant, our priorities should be solving problems, not installing new technologies.

Re: [OT] Pursuing Management to adopt OpenBSD

Chris wrote:

> I been trying (rather unsuccessfully) to convince various clients and
> employers to adopt OpenBSD. Most people, I find, are resistant to
> change and would not use anything they are not familiar with. Others
> would say that if I leave the job, it would be hard to find people who
> can use (or even heard of) OpenBSD and in some places Management never
> heard of OpenBSD and have very little clue as to how good or bad it is
> compared to Linux/ Solaris and Windows thus they will just knock off
> the proposal in 2 seconds.
>
> Is there any way I could convince these people to make the move to
> OpenBSD? Suggestions, tips and tricks along with real life examples
> would be much appreciated. Thanks.