Outsourced: Employee Sends Own Job To China; Surfs Web

What began as a company's suspicion that its infrastructure was being hacked turned into a case of a worker outsourcing his own job to a Chinese consulting firm, according to reports that cite an investigation by Verizon's security team. The man was earning a six-figure salary.

The anonymous company, identified only as a critical infrastructure firm, asked Verizon's web security personnel to look into data that showed its Virtual Private Network was being accessed from China ? even as the employee whose credentials were used to log in from overseas was sitting in the company's offices, using his computer.

As Emil Protalinski writes at The Next Web, the company's security measures included a coded fob, , which, the investigating team learned, a code developer had shipped to Shenyang, China, so that a company there could perform his assigned work.

And it turns out that the job done in China was above par ? the employee's "code was clean, well written, and submitted in a timely fashion. Quarter after quarter, his performance review noted him as the best developer in the building," according to the Verizon Security Blog.

It seems that Verizon has removed the page publishing this "case study" ? either that, or it has merely become unavailable for some other reason. But a cached version of the story offers more details. The report, which assigns the inventive employee the fictitious name of "Bob," described him as a family guy in his 40s, with extensive software knowledge.

After they were called in to look for rogue software that allowed hackers to perfectly mimic an employee's log-in, and maintain an active and secure connection, the investigators instead found "hundreds of .pdf notices from a third party contractor/developer in (you guessed it) Shenyang, China."

The Verizon team even found that "Bob" kept a regular schedule at his office:

  • 9:00 a.m. ? Arrive and surf Reddit for a couple of hours. Watch cat videos
  • 11:30 a.m. ? Take lunch
  • 1:00 p.m. ? Ebay time.
  • 2:00 ? ish p.m Facebook updates ? LinkedIn
  • 4:30 p.m. ? End of day update e-mail to management.
  • 5:00 p.m. ? Go home

And as they learned, his schedule also included sending less than one-fifth of his salary to the Chinese firm. Verizon's investigators say the evidence they uncovered suggests "Bob" might have had similar arrangements at several companies.

"All told, it looked like he earned several hundred thousand dollars a year, and only had to pay the Chinese consulting firm about fifty grand annually," according to the Security Blog.

It is not yet clear whether "Bob" has read former kickboxer Tim Ferriss's book The 4-Hour Workweek, which explores ideas that include "Outsourcing Life" and "Disappearing Act: How to Escape the Office."

Source: http://keranews.org/post/outsourced-employee-sends-own-job-china-surfs-web

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NFL playoffs: Resiliency fuels Ravens' rise

Who knows if the Baltimore Ravens are the best team left in the NFL playoff field? Based on the point spread in Sunday's AFC Championship Game ? New England is a nine-point favorite ? they might be the worst.

But perception is not reality in this case. The Ravens have something going for them that can't be quantified.

Jacoby Jones, right, celebrates his miraculous 70-yard TD reception in the AFC divisional playoffs with Baltimore teammate Torrey Smith, who has overcome obstacles bigger than a seven-point deficit.

LLOYD FOX, BALTIMORE SUN

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Baltimore is the league's most resilient team.

None of the remaining survivors has fought through more injuries, adversity and even tragedy. None has overcome more to win games that seemed hopelessly lost.

"There are challenges that get you to the point that you are at as a football team and make you who you are," Ravens coach John Harbaugh told reporters this week. "Our guys have handled all those things extremely well. Individually, a lot of our guys ... have come out of it stronger and better men, and we're a stronger and better team."

The strength of the Ravens' character was evident throughout Saturday's divisional-round upset at Denver, where they trailed by scores of 7-0, 21-14, 28-21 and 35-28. That's where things stood with 1 minute, 9 seconds remaining, the ball at the Baltimore 23-yard line and the Ravens out of timeouts.

You know what happened next: On third-and-3, with the clocking ticking down, Joe Flacco connected with Jacoby Jones for a 70-yard miracle. The Ravens went on to win, 38-35, in double overtime, knocking off the AFC's No. 1 seed, a team that hadn't lost in more than three months.

The really crazy thing is it might not have been their most unfathomable victory.

Seven weeks earlier, Baltimore faced a 13-10 deficit with 1:59 to play at San Diego. The Ravens needed to gain 29 yards on fourth down from their 37 to have a chance. Ray Rice gained 30. Two Justin Tucker field goals later, Baltimore had a 16-13 triumph.

"Even in the games that we lost, we never laid down for anyone," receiver Torrey Smith said. "We continued to fight, and that's just how we are and who we are as Ravens."

Smith caught a 31-yard pass that set up the field goal that beat the Chargers. He torched 12-time Pro Bowl cornerback Champ Bailey for 59- and 32-yard touchdowns last week. Smith came up clutch under challenging circumstances. But were they compared to what he previously endured?

The first time the Ravens faced the Patriots this season, in Week 3, Smith played less than 24 hours after his younger brother died in a motorcycle accident. He caught six passes for 127 yards and two touchdowns in Baltimore's 31-30, come-from-behind victory. Being with his teammates provided the salve Smith needed to get through a trying time.

"We all just understand that we're a family here," defensive tackle Haloti Ngata said, "and we can lean on each other and depend on each other."

Harbaugh and Rice literally leaned on each other as Tucker lined up for the would-be winning field goal against Denver. Crouching side by side, they watched the kick split the uprights. Harbaugh then kissed Rice on the right temple.

After the game, Harbaugh read to the team a text message sent by owner Steve Bisciotti, who was unable to be there because of the flu. He sent the text to Harbaugh when the score was 35-28. It read, in part: "Win or lose I am so proud of the team and so proud of you."

"He is a great leader," Harbaugh said later. "Our players love him. He is an inspiration to all of our guys. To me, this organization, he sets the tone here."

Well, Bisciotti and a certain Hall of Fame-bound linebacker.

The face, voice, heart and soul of the Ravens is Ray Lewis, who has inspired his teammates in so many ways. On the eve of the playoffs, the 17th-year veteran and last remaining original Raven announced he would retire upon their conclusion. That ending hasn't arrived yet. It might not be a coincidence.

"I think every individual has worked a little bit harder," Ngata said, "just (knowing) that we probably will never be in this situation again."

Lewis is playing with a bulky black brace on his right arm to protect a partially torn triceps. He missed more than half the season because of the injury. He didn't miss a snap the past two weeks ? 188 in all ? the brace serving as armor for a gladiator. ("Gladiator," by the way, is one of Lewis' favorite movies.)

Lewis isn't the only Raven playing with a damaged wing. Fellow linebacker Terrell Suggs ? the 2011 NFL Defensive Player of the Year ? has had a torn right biceps since early December. He already was on the mend from a torn Achilles' tendon suffered in May that was supposed to keep him out for the season. Suggs returned Oct. 21 from that injury ? the week after Lewis got hurt. The two didn't play in a game together until the playoffs. They probably shouldn't be playing at all.

But Lewis and Suggs are Ravens. That's just how they are and who they are.

"We are definitely battle-tested, and I think it starts at the top with our leaders," Smith said. "Everyone's a fighter, everyone has heart. When you have leaders like we have on our team, it is hard to not want to follow them and be a fighter and never throw the towel in.

"We have been through it all ? whether on the field or off the field ? and we became stronger for it. Our coaches always say, 'Iron sharpens iron,' and I think we are definitely a testament to that."

Contact the writer: mlev@ocregister.com


Source: http://www.ocregister.com/sports/ravens-383692-team-lewis.html

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Union loan Valdes to Independiente Santa Fe

January 15, 2013, 6:05 pm

With Sebastien Le Toux, Conor Casey and Jeff Parke leading an offseason of positive additions for the Union, one subtraction has set them back.

The Union announced Tuesday they have loaned captain Carlos Valdes to Colombian club team Independiente Santa Fe. The loan is for the length of the Liga Postobon Primera A season.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Although the Union have made questionable decisions featuring their high-profile players in the past, the move to loan Valdes came per the central defender?s request. With Colombia working to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, Colombian national team coach Jose Pekerman was rumored to want his players closer to home, where they could be analyzed more efficiently.

"We will certainly miss Carlos for this season, but this is a unique situation,? Union coach John Hackworth said. ?We have done everything possible to make sure this move works for both the player and our club. Our hope is that this allows Carlos the best chance of reaching his dream of playing in the 2014 World Cup."

Valdes, 27, received his first MLS All-Star nod in 2012, starting 33 games and scoring two goals. He started 65 games over two seasons with the Union.

Acquired via loan from Sante Fe in early 2011, the Union bought out Valdes? full rights on Aug. 5, 2011. Because of his success with the Union and budding role with the Colombian National Team, many speculated the defender would garner interest abroad, thus making his loan less than surprising.

For the Union, replacing the team minutes leader at central defense will fall into the hands of either Bakary Soumare or newly acquired Parke, who joined the team this offseason in a trade with the Seattle Sounders. Midfielder Amobi Okugo will work in the rotation as depth.

E-mail Ryan Bright at RyanBright13@gmail.com

Tags: union, mls, Carlos Valdes, John Hackworth, independiente sante fe

Source: http://www.csnphilly.com/soccer-philadelphia-union/news/Union-loan-Valdes-to-Independiente-Santa?blockID=823685&feedID=704

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Evernote for Windows Phone updated

Evernote for Windows Phone just got an update, adding a few nice features. Windows Phone users can now feel more secure with PIN lock support.

Users also get access to business features of Evernote.

Add Notes to Business Notebooks
In Evernote for Windows Phone, you can now create notes in Business Notebooks. Do this by either creating a new note when viewing a Business Notebook or by tapping on the notebook name along the top of a note that youre editing. You can also move your existing notes into Business Notebooks using this method.

Search Business Notebooks
You can search through your own Business Notebooks and those that others have shared with you from the Search screen by choosing Business Notebooks from the drop down menu.

Be sure to update your copy of Evernote to get the new features.

Source: http://www.blastwp.com/articles/2013/1/2013114-Evernote-for-Windows-Phone.html?itemID=5591&site=pocketpc

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Know Your Roots: The Arts & Crafts Movement as told by FIDM ...

FIDM Graphic Design Student Athena Saridakis appreciates the relevance of historical art movements in modern day graphic design.

?Designers today use various words, symbols, and images to create a visual representation of ideas or concepts, just like many earlier civilizations did to communicate their beliefs and express ideas,? she says.

Like other students earning their Graphic Design degree at FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, Saridakis studies various art movements through courses like Survey of Western Art and History of Design, exploring the history of the arts, architecture, interiors, textiles, graphic design and more.

Charged with the task to compile a report on the Arts and Crafts movement in her History of Design course taught by Graphic Design Instructor Alex Gardos, Saridakis says she was drawn to the movement because it ?stood for traditional craftsmanship and simple forms.?

?The Arts and Crafts movement advocated social reform and allowed for the factory workers to work with their hands again and be involved with the entire process of the design,? she says.

With all of the digital options available in a modern world, the topic of organic design processes is certainly relevant for the modern graphic design industry.?Brush up on your design history! Read Saridakis? full report below. (For best viewing experience, click the ?expand? button below to view in fullscreen).

Arts & Crafts Design History Report

Saridakis is earning a second degree from FIDM after earning her degree in Visual Communications in 2010. After working in public relations and the fashion industry for two years, she discovered her passion for graphic design and returned to FIDM to study Graphic Design/Branding. Read her story below:

FIDM Graphic Design Student Spotlight

FIDM Graphic Design Student and Visual Communications Alumna, Athena Saridakis.

FIDM Graphic Design Student and Visual Communications Alumna, Athena Saridakis.

As told by Graphic Design/Branding Student, Athena Saridakis:

?I graduated from?Redondo Union High School?in Redondo Beach, CA. While I was there, I was in an advanced art class for four years and developed my drawing and design skills there.

Prior to studying Graphic Design at FIDM, I studied Visual Communications at FIDM and graduated in September of 2010.

While at FIDM, I interned at The Anderson Group, a public relations firm in Los Angeles, where I used my computer and styling skills to my full advantage. I soon became head of the interns and was offered a job as an assistant to a publicist, but I graciously declined because of another job opportunity that was offered to me.

Immediately after graduating, I got a job at TheLookStore.com, an online network and store developed by the creator of E!?(Entertainment Television), Alan Mruvka. While I was there, he had me create advertisements, logos, work the entire back-end of the store, and manage all the celebrity clients and suppliers. Soon, I was running the entire website. I immediately realized my passion for graphic design and decided to go back to FIDM for a degree in that!

??I immediately realized my passion for graphic design and decided to go back to FIDM for a degree in that!?

My previous degree in Visual Communications helps me in every project that I do! I really mastered the use of the Adobe? Suite while doing visual communications and when I do designs for graphics, I am very happy that I learned all the tricks, tools, and shortcuts in my first degree, because I get to really focus on the design itself and making sure everything is sequential.

What I enjoy most about the Graphic Design program so far is that each and every one of my teachers is a professional working in the industry and they all know the tricks of the trade! Working with talented professionals like them is very exciting! You learn something new every day!

Upon graduating, I would like to pursue a career as a creative director for a design firm or for a magazine. I would like to use my design skills however I can and I am looking forward to working my way up the ladder!?

Questions/comments? Email the editor, Mani O?Brien at mo?brien@fidm.edu

Learn More?

Would you like to learn more about earning a Graphic Design degree or Digital Media degree from FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising? Click the link below?

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Source: http://blog.fidmdigitalarts.com/arts-crafts-design-histroy-report-by-fidm-graphic-design-student-and-former-stylist-athena-saridakis/

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Facebook announcement rumours send shares in social network soaring

Facebook announcementFacebook?s announcement has sent the rumour mill into overdrive (Picture: AFP)

Speculation surrounding a mystery Facebook announcement has sent shares in the social network soaring.

The buzz has seen the firm?s stock rise above $32 (?20) for the first time since July after a loss of market confidence following its troubled initial public offering in May.

Commentators remain divided about what will be announced at the invite-only event, due to kick off at 6pm GMT,?at Facebook?s Californian headquarters .

Invitations were sent out to bloggers and journalists last week, teasingly inviting them to ?come see what we?re building?.

A much-rumoured Facebook phone or tablet has been suggested by some, while an internet search engine to rival Google has also been speculated by analysts.

MORE: What to expect from Facebook?s big?announcement??

Facebook founder mark ZuckerbergFacebook founder mark Zuckerberg to get a new phone? (Picture: AP)

?There?s a lot of speculation. Nothing to me seems to be that certain,? explained Jefferies & Co analyst Brian Pitz.

?If I were to bet, I?d think it was something that was ad-platform related. I?m not convinced on the phone.?

Other rumours include an overhaul of Facebook?s news feed or a new advertising network as it looks to cash in the large chunk of its one billion users who access the site via mobile.

Founder Mark Zuckerberg has previously denied Facebook is planning to release a smartphone, claiming it would be the ?wrong strategy? for the company to take.

Meanwhile, rival Apple?s shares have dropped to their lowest in more than 12 months amid fears of a dip in iPhone5 sales.

BLOG:?Is Facebook?s invite a new search engine?

Source: http://metro.co.uk/2013/01/15/facebook-announcement-rumours-send-shares-in-social-network-soaring-3352946/

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Marc Benioff Has Swagger But What About That Salesforce.com Income Statement?

barbossaSalesforce.com CEO Marc Benioff is a charismatic guy for someone who leads a company that serves the stodgy world of the enterprise. He's so well-recognized that he was put on stage this past week in Las Vegas to give a keynote at CES, the world's largest consumer electronics show.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/Gm6mQK-yQdo/

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MEMO TO HOUSE REPUBLICANS: Start drafting Articles of Impeachment in case of lawless debt ceiling hike

The primary tenet at the heart of the United States Constitution is a concept known as Separation of Powers. It allocates the various responsibilities of government between branches: legislative, executive and judicial. The Framers of the Constitution, James Madison primary among them, studied the writings of many great legal philosophers in dividing responsibilities such that each branch of government could check the corrupting ambitions of the others.

According to Madison, no philosopher was more critical to the design of Constitutional separations than the French nobleman and legal expert Charles-Louis de Secondat, the Baron de Montesquieu.

Montesquieu had studied the rise and fall of the Roman Republic. He believed that a properly designed government, in order to prevent tyranny, would require three branches of government. He wrote, "If it is to provide its citizens with the greatest possible liberty, a government must have certain features. First, since 'constant experience shows us that every man invested with power is apt to abuse it ? it is necessary from the very nature of things that power should be a check to power' . This is achieved through the separation of the executive, legislative, and judicial powers of government... [to prevent any one] from acting tyrannically."

THE POWER OF THE PURSE

The Constitution bestows upon Congress "the Power of the Purse". Indiana University's Center on Congress describes congressional power as:
...its ability to set the spending and taxing policies of the nation. Not one dime can be spent from the federal Treasury without the approval of Congress. The determination of the budget by Congress is usually the most important political process of any year, partly because of its size (approaching $2 trillion) and partly because it is the principal means by which government establishes its priorities.

No serious constitutional scholar would ever claim that Congress did not possess complete control over the country's taxing and spending policies.

Of course, this paragraph was written before the Harry Reid- and Nancy Pelosi-led Democrats took control of Congress and have steadfastly refused to pass budgets since the election of Barack Obama.

DEMOCRATS LOBBY FOR A CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS

The unofficial public relations agency for the Democrat Party is a website called Politico. A few days ago, it printed a letter from Democrat Congressional leaders that called for the president to unilaterally and unlawfully raise the debt ceiling, thereby precipitating a full-blown constitutional crisis.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and other top Democrats are putting new pressure on the White House to circumvent Congress to boost the nation?s debt ceiling if no bipartisan agreement can be reached.

In a strongly worded letter to President Barack Obama obtained by POLITICO, Reid and his leadership team argue that failing to raise the $16.4 trillion debt ceiling would threaten the full faith and credit of the United States. Reid and Sens. Dick Durbin, Chuck Schumer and Patty Murray asserted that Obama ?must make clear that you will never allow our nation?s economy and reputation to be held hostage.?


Of course, as anyone with an iota of common sense knows, the full faith and credit of the United States is not at risk should the debt ceiling remain at its current level.

THE MYTH OF GOVERNMENT DEFAULT

Writing at Friday's Wall Street Journal, David B. Rivkin and Lee A. Casey explain "The Myth of Government Default".
Contrary to White House claims, Congress's refusal to permit new borrowing by raising the debt ceiling limit will not trigger a default on America's outstanding public debt, with calamitous consequences for our credit rating and the world's financial system...

[...Section 4 of the 14th Amendment] means that a failure to raise the debt ceiling?to prevent new borrowing?does not and cannot put America's current creditors at risk. So long as this government exists, and barring a further constitutional amendment, those creditors must be paid.

Nor are they at risk in practice, since the federal government's roughly $200 billion in tax revenue per month is more than sufficient to service existing debts. If the executive chose to act irresponsibly and unconstitutionally and failed to make any debt payments when they come due, debt-holders would be able to go to the Court of Federal Claims and promptly obtain a money judgment.

These basic facts should inform any credible decisions by credit-rating agencies in establishing the government's creditworthiness. Significantly, these agencies have traditionally acted favorably when heavily indebted countries have not defaulted on their debt but cut deeply their public spending.


In short, the Constitution does not authorize the president to borrow or spend a single dime without congressional approval and it requires the executive to service its debt first. And each month many times the amount needed for that purpose arrives in the federal government's coffers.

WHY PREPARE ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT?

On many occasions over the past four years, the President Obama has demonstrated a callous disregard for the Constitution.

The publication of a Democrat press release by Politico indicates that a full court public relations campaign is underway to market the idea that the president's unilateral action to raise the debt ceiling would be lawful.

It is not.

In fact, such an act would -- in one instant -- strip Congress of its primary power while simultaneously gutting a huge swath of the Constitution. It would eradicate the separation of powers and precipitate the most significant constitutional crisis in American history.

In 2006, the very same Democrat leaders who now advocate unlawful borrowing and spending by the President all voted against raising the debt ceiling just seven years ago.

On March 16, 2006, the Senate held a vote on a measure to raise the debt ceiling by $781 billion ? the fourth such vote of George W. Bush?s presidency. Republicans controlled the Senate, and Democrats spent much of the debate railing against Bush?s spending. ?When it comes to deficits, this president owns all the records,? said Reid. ?The three largest deficits in our nation?s history have all occurred under this administration?s watch.?

Declaring themselves outraged by such spending, Reid, Durbin, Schumer, and Murray all voted against raising the debt limit. So did every other Democrat ? including Sen. Barack Obama.


One can only imagine what would have happened had George W. Bush attempted to raise the debt ceiling without Congressional approval.

Should Barack Obama attempt such an unlawful act, the House of Representatives must act. It must protect its power of the purse, it must protect the Constitution, and it must put an end to this president's long train of abuses and usurpations.

Source: http://directorblue.blogspot.com/2013/01/memo-to-house-republicans-start.html

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