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With crop insurance destined to be a key component of the next farm bill, what are insurance agents keeping a close eye on as the legislation takes shape?
On May 17, Ruth Gerdes, President of Nebraska-based Auburn Agency Crop Insurance Inc., testified before the House Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management on industry concerns and kudos for the developing farm bill. Shortly after, Gerdes, who also farms, spoke with Farm Press. Among her comments:
On how her testimony was received…
"I think the testimony as well-received. Probably the most interesting part of it – as an agent who's been in this work for a long time – was the fact that Congress had no idea the (latest) SRA (Standard Reinsurance Agreement) negotiated had such a strong overreach into the agents' world."
For more, see here.
"That was pretty shocking to the members. You certainly don't often see (California Rep. Jim) Costa – who isn't a member of the subcommittee – come to the hearing to specifically talk about that. Having testified many times over 27 years, I thought that was unusual. You don't see that happen very often."
More on the Standard Reinsurance Agreement…
"The SRA is the agreement between the USDA that is negotiated by the Risk Management Agency (RMA) and the AIPs (Approved Insurance Providers).
"It's a five-year agreement and was last renegotiated in 2010 to begin in 2011. As part of that negotiation they put a cap on agents' commissions. That devastated, particularly, the specialty crops and was a tremendous overreach.
"I found that the congressmen were most incensed about the fact that they made this rule part of the SRA without any agent participation, any agent input. We don't have a seat at the table because we don't sign (the SRA). So, as agents that deliver this product, we had a real whammy handed to us in that SRA."
Can that be rectified through the next farm bill? Will you have to wait for the next SRA negotiation for that to occur?
"Congress could certainly rectify it. The question is, this far in, how do you rectify something and not create unintended consequences? There is a lot of discussion about that.
"A simple thing to do that would be budget neutral would be for Congress to simply say 'take the cap off agents and go back to the way it used to be.' That was where companies and agents would negotiate based on what I perceive as the way insurance should work: the ability of the agent to work hard.
"As it stands now, we're really quasi-employees of the companies even though we must pay our own health insurance, our own pensions, all our office staffs, all of that. It doesn't matter whether you do a good job or bad job for your farmers -- you'll get paid the same.
"That's why it's so offensive to agents like me who have worked for 27 years to build a book of business based on service."
On crop insurance becoming the cornerstone of the next farm bill…
"It doesn't surprise me. My farmers have been telling me for years that is their preference.
"The 2000 Agriculture Risk Protection Act (ARPA) bill incentivized farmers to do the right thing and purchase up (with crop insurance) and they've responded in droves. I believe the participation is something like 83 percent nationwide. That's phenomenal."
On the issues involving crop insurance and rice and peanuts…
"I've been around the rice issue on the periphery. I don't sell rice (insurance).
"When you deal with a program as large as crop insurance, there's a tendency to make a policy for corn, wheat, soybeans and grain sorghum and try to make the same thing work for rice and peanuts.
"The reason I've been around the periphery of rice is for four years we've been trying to get RMA to (produce) a rice policy. The policy has been held up for four years in their 508(h) process.
"I thought it be approved in April. Last week, I was told it had been sent out for another expert review. After four years I would have thought they could have come up with a policy that meets the needs of rice producers. And I'm very supportive of that – we have to have something actuarially sound that meets (rice producers') needs."
What in the Senate farm bill might be a problem from your perspective?
"Certainly what (Illinois Sen. Dick) Durbin and (Oklahoma Sen. Tom) Coburn did to limit the subsidy to $40,000 per producer would decimate the crop insurance industry. The question they asked the GAO (General Accounting Office) was 'can you save money if you limit the subsidy.' The obvious answer is 'yes, you can save money.' But what harm do you do in the meantime?
"There have been many people who have looked at that on the average. However, they didn't consider high-dollar value, specialty crops.
"They also didn't take into account high-risk ground. Where I live (in Nebraska) – and certainly in the South – there is plenty of high-risk ground. If they limit the subsidy to $40,000, then crop insurance will no longer be the cornerstone of farm policy."
Workloads, banking, awareness
I was struck by the photograph included in your testimony showing the amount of paperwork required to sign someone up for crop insurance compared to the past. To deal with that paperwork, how much time do you spend with a client now compared to a decade ago?
"Now, I spend four or five times what I used to.
"Part of that is good because the policies have improved. I helped push the revenue policy through back in the 1990s. The ARPA bill helped improve (the industry) as well.
"But we're still asking the farmers to pay an awful lot of money for crop insurance. So, much of the time I spend with them is evaluating (individual situations) – what if I do this? What if I do that?
"And how does that marry up to any farm program out there? With the last farm programs, we spent hours and hours on education regarding ACRE and how that interacted with crop insurance.
"I think time will (increase) as we go into the next farm bill. You're talking about STAX, SCO (Supplemental Coverage Option) and ARC. And I think those are all good options.
"I'm a particular fan of (Texas Rep. Randy) Neugebauer's SCO combined with the traditional crop insurance. I think that'll give the farmer the most bang for his buck. But I think it'll also give the taxpayer the most bang for the buck.
"Farmers must pay in order to participate in these plans. So, when they're spending their own dollar, it isn't about going to the highest level to get the most 'free' money possible. It's about getting the coverage that's the most optimum for their farm.
"So, we do spend an awful lot of time with farmers. And that's what I love to do so I'm not unhappy with that.
"I am unhappy with the enormous amount of regulation. (For example) if you transpose a number, you can't correct it after the fact. … That's crazy."
On trend adjusted yields…
"These are fabulous, extremely helpful. You can hang your hat on the science behind them. It makes sense – for the farmer and the taxpayer.
"The more records you have in a farmer's database, the more accurate you'll be actuarially. That means you'll spend taxpayer money well.
"One of the frustrating things on our own farm is that, due to conservation, we maintain a fairly strict rotation. That means it takes us 20 years to get a 10-year database.
"With the trend adjusted yields, you're being rewarded for doing conservation correctly.
"We're just in a corn/soybean rotation on our farm. Some farms have four and five crops that they rotate. Trend adjusted yields would be very appropriate for them."
On personal transitional yields…
"I'm a huge fan of this because it incentivizes farmer to keep accurate records. If someone is trying to bring fraud into the system by skipping around with different crops in different counties to pick up insurance money, going to personal T yields will stop it cold.
"As long as I've been in the business, I have great APHs (Actual Production History) but I've also had years that would have been devastating. Think about the 2011 floods – (many producers) have hard hits in their database. Well, if they've kept good records, their personal T yields will still be significantly higher than the county average.
"It cuts both ways: You incentivize farmers to do the right thing and stop the potential for abuse on county averages."
On agriculture bankers and crop insurance being a main focus of the next farm bill…
"I think they'll be thrilled. I spend a significant part of winters working with bankers, making sure they know what to do, what to watch out for, any potential traps in rule changes.
"When a rewrite goes on, I get called many, many times to provide information on clients. It's a team effort between the farmer, myself and the banker. We can say 'if they price is this at harvest and the yield is this, what will that mean to the bottom line?'
"One thing all the bankers I work with tell me is 'if we lose the subsidy to crop insurance it will crash the U.S. ag economy.' And it will crash the U.S. ag economy, without a doubt."
Anything else?
"Farmers need to be tuned in to the potential run on the subsidy. That's the first thing to be aware of.
"Second, they should be aware that (crop insurance) agents won't change the way we do business. We'll still provide the same service. But over time if this cap on agents persists, it will hurt the farmers more than anyone else.
"Already a lot of agencies are selling out to others, to banks. The cap has made it too prohibitive. So, farmers (could lose) the one-on-one resource they enjoy if the cap stays."


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Pico Grow and Kwa Sizabantu greenhouses are located in Midrand, South Africa. In these videos we'll take a tour and explore both farms and learn why they chose to install a Munters climate control solution.
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Letter in the Attic is a collection of letters, diaries, memoirs and other personal papers related to Brighton and Hove. The collection was created by an appeal to the general public by QueenSpark Books in a project that ran from 2007-2008. Have a look at some of the fascinating material we've received in our online exhibition and browse the complete catalogue.
My Brighton and Hove > http://www.mybrightonandhove.org.uk/
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Netflix Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) has become the best performing U.S. stock in the Standard & Poor's 500 Index in 2013 and the second most expensive, and therein lies a tale of disagreement.
Investors who dig into company filings can find negative free cash flow, a surge in liabilities for new movie and TV-show content and a long-term increase in unpaid subscribers. Moreover, perceived limits on customer numbers and the high price of shares have led 26 of the 37 Bloomberg-listed analysts covering the stock to advise investors to sell or hold stakes.
Most shareholders aren't listening to talk about a bubble or other bad news. They love Netflix.
Michael Pachter, a managing director at Wedbush Securities Inc. in Los Angeles, says a lot of investors are dazzled by the growth potential of online businesses, such as Amazon.com Inc., a startup-turned-industry-giant that sold $16 billion of merchandise in the first quarter. As long as there is growth, these investors, "in a weird bubble of Internet stocks," show little concern about the finances of online companies, he said.
"Netflix looks like Amazon to most investors," said Pachter, who rates the No. 1 Internet video subscription service "underperform."
Earnings Call
Chief Executive Officer Reed Hastings may get questions about the Los Gatos-California-based company's performance when he hosts a videoconference today to discuss second-quarter earnings. Hastings, 52, who owns about $690 million in Netflix stock, will also be in position to trumpet the success of the drama series, "House of Cards," which received nine Emmy Award nominations last week, including best drama. It's the first time an Internet streaming service has vied for these top entertainment honors. Netflix got 14 Emmy nominations in all.
Fielding questions from fellow analysts on the call will be Richard Greenfield of BTIG LLC, which specializes in trading and services for hedge funds. He saw Netflix stock shoot past his April target of $250 and plans to reassess his projection after he hears the results today. One probable positive that's already clear, he said: The Emmy nominations may encourage talented people to participate in Netflix's "next big show."
Investors who want to check if the naysayers have a point can start with a review of cautionary disclosures Netflix has made in regulatory filings and in correspondence with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. As with most CEOs, such items aren't the principal focus of Hastings's popular accentuate-the-positive message in telling his company's story.
Copyright 2014 Bloomberg. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


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Killer is Dead is definitely one of the slickest-looking games we've seen in a long while. And here are the screenshots to prove it.
When we got more news about Suda 51's latest project for the Xbox 360 and PS3, we couldn't wait to get our hands on any tidbits about the game. The cel-shaded assassin-killing adventure comes to us from the mind that gave us the visually-stunning Killer7 and No More Heroes, so we were sure that we'd see something stylish and totally over-the-top.
And now, thanks to screenshots from Famitsu, we can take an enticing sneak peek at the incredible graphics and intense action of Killer is Dead. The screens below show a lot of cybernetic assassins getting their butts kicked, torsos getting slashed, and undergoing all kinds of unpleasantness.
The main character, a man named Mondo Zappa who wears a sharp suit and carries an even sharper blade, seems to be a whirl of hyperviolence. We can only imagine the chaos that ensues once he pops out that clawed gun/arm/thing of his.
Check out a sampling below and go to Famitsu's site to look at all of the other screenshots. We know we don't need to ask, but how do you feel about Suda 51's newest offering? Let us know in the comments!


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Another interesting antioxidant study…
PHILADELPHIA, March 18 (UPI) — Feeding antioxidants to rats on a high-fat diet before and during pregnancy prevented obesity in offspring, U.S. researchers say.
Researchers at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia suggest a high-fat, high-carbohydrate diet causes oxidative stress — an excess of free radicals — during pregnancy, predisposing the offspring to obesity and diabetes.
However, feeding the rats antioxidants before and during pregnancy prevented obesity and glucose intolerance in their children, the researchers say.
Senior author Dr. Rebecca A. Simmons, a neonatologist at the hospital, says if the results are repeated in humans, the research may have implications for reducing obesity rates in children.
"We already know that there are critical periods during human development that influence the later development of obesity," Simmons says in a statement. "This research suggests that if we can prevent inflammation and oxidative stress during pregnancy, we may lower the risk that a child will develop obesity."
Until further research is completed, whether pregnant or not, women should not conclude from this study that they should consume large doses of antioxidant vitamins, Simmons cautions.


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The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) has launched a crowdfunding platform designed to help raise money for faculty and student organization projects.
Dubbed UCLA Spark, the platform "utilizes social media to connect donors with faculty and students campus-wide, introducing them to the broad scope of research and programmatic activities," at the university, according to a UCLA news release.
"We recognized the need to address some of the more unique funding opportunities that provide vital resources to a myriad of projects and promote them in a fresh, new way," said Nancy Katano, executive director of corporate, foundation and research relations at UCLA, in a prepared statement.
Projects currently seeking funding on UCLA Spark include:
"UCLA faculty and official student organizations now have at their disposal an important tool to inspire and connect with our alumni, donors and the public at large in a meaningful way — contributing directly to their projects and fueling their success," said Jarrett Oakley, assistant director of UCLA Spark, in a prepared statement.
More information is available at spark.ucla.edu.
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Application Instructions
Description of Program
In 2004, the SJSU Charles W. Davidson College of Engineering established a $1 million Global Technology Initiative, with the mission of giving SJSU students a global perspective with a focus on technology and business developments in the Asia Pacific region. Its goal is to expand students' horizons about the opportunities and challenges of a global economy, to expose them to global environmental and energy problems in which technology plays a central role, and to motivate their learning of global issues and different cultures.
The exciting part of the program is that it's continually evolving. GTI participants in previous years have completed study-tours in China, India and Taiwan. For the past few years, GTI participants will be participating in an intensive three-week workshop at Chung Yuan Christian University (CYCU) in Jungli, Taiwan. GTI students can either work on a research project at CYCU with a faculty or participate in the International Innovation and Entrepreneur Leadership workshop that offers the opportunity for engineering students to create an innovative product and then develop a business model to market it. In the entrepreneurship program, you will be working with students from other countries on teams during this workshop. Participants will compile an end project presentation and a report, which will be presented and evaluated by a team consisting of professors and business owners.
Application Procedure for All Students
Approximately 15-25 participants will be selected through the following application process.
To apply, the following items must have be completed and submitted by Friday, October 19, 2018 at 5 PM:
- Filled out and submitted to the webform!
Submission of hardcopy transcript(s) for all college courses attempted (including at SJSU) to the College of Engineering dean's office in ENG 493.
Note: transcript(s) must include the grades earned in Spring 2018 and Summer 2018 as appropriate. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. Highlight your SJSU GPA, overall college GPA and grades for courses in your major on your transcripts.
- Attend an interview, if invited: After the review of applications, a pool of Semifinalists will be notified and invited to an interview for the final selection. The interviews will be conducted the week of November 12th-16th.
- Final selection decisions will be made on or before Friday, November 30, 2018.
Participant Selection CriteriaApplicants will be selected based on how they and the College of Engineering can benefit from their participation in this program, and how they can help achieve the mission of the GTI. Participant selection will be a complex process; the selection criteria include, but are not limited to:
- Grade-point average (GPA)
- Service to SJSU student organizations or non-SJSU community organizations; past, current and future leadership positions
- Communication and interpersonal skills, including those demonstrated during the semifinalist interview
- Work experience in engineering
- Potential for significant learning about globalization and entrepreneurship
Minimum Eligibility Requirements to Apply
- Applicants must be a U.S. Citizen or permanent U.S. resident. Note: Permanent residents must hold a passport from their country of citizenship. (Students holding passports from Taiwan are not eligible.)
- The applicant must be a matriculated undergraduate student at SJSU. Students must have junior or senior standing (at least 60 earned semester credits at time of application)
- Graduate students, transitory students, open-university students and alumni are not eligible.
- Graduation date must not be earlier than December 2018.
- Students must have a minimum 2.5 GPA, both at SJSU and overall.
Requirements for Travel
Tentatively, the three-week program is scheduled between July 1, 2019 and July 20, 2018. The actual traveling dates may shift depending on airfare, availability of plane tickets, and other factors. Also, the timing of the program might shift by 1 week depending on CYCU.
Spring Term Course Requirement
Selected participants will be required to register for a one-unit course – Engr 180 in Spring Semester 2018. The class will meet from 8:00 am to 8:50 am on Fridays during the Spring 2019 term.
Travel expense
The College of Engineering will pay for the majority of the cost of the GTI program in Taiwan (tuition, room and board, food, etc). Also, the College of Engineering will pay $650 toward the cost of airfare for all participating students. The GTI students are responsible for the balance of the airfare (estimated cost=$750-900). All GTI participants will submit the payment to the GTI travel agent. GTI students who do not submit payment for the trip by 03/15/2019 will be dropped from the program. More details will be provided after the GTI students are chosen.
Attendance Requirements for Tech 198, Information Session, Pre-trip Lectures, Orientation and Post-trip Debriefing Meetings
Selected participants are required to attend all the Engr 180 classes as well as the activities scheduled for pre-trip and post-trip to Taiwan. Other mandatory debriefing activities and the companion tasks will be specified and scheduled in due course.Anyone missing any two scheduled meetings or being late twice to scheduled meetings will be dropped from the Taiwan portion of the GTI program. GTI has many important requirements; if you do not feel you will be able to satisfy them all, please do not apply.
Required Travel DocumentsSelected participants will be required to secure their own passports immediately after notification of their selection.
Failure to obtain the necessary passport by February 1, 2019 will result in disqualification for the trip.
Vaccination Requirements
- Applicants are required to visit The Center for Disease Control vaccination recommendations for details about travel to Taiwan.
Health Requirements
The applicant must be in good health and not suffering from any serious medical condition at the time of application and immediately before the study tour that would put them in risk during travel. If the applicant develops such conditions after being selected as a participant, he/ she must inform the College of Engineering upon diagnosis.
More information about foreign travel.
Insurance Requirements
Participants will be required to purchase insurance. As a student at CYCU, you will be provided health insurance as part of the program.
University Liability Waiver
The applicant must agree to sign a waiver form releasing San Jose State University from all possible liability claims.
Required Student Code of Conduct
- Participants will be expected to behave as representatives of the SJSU and the U.S.
- Participants are required to meet all deadlines set by the GTI Director. Failure to submit paperwork in a timely manner might result in your disqualification from the GTI study tour.
- Proper student conduct applicable to on-campus activities are applicable and are observed throughout the GTI program. Violators will be disciplined upon return to campus.
- All participants will be required to observe local laws and customs. Violators will be disciplined upon return to campus.
- No relatives or friends may accompany the participants during any portion of the trip.
- All participants will begin the trip at the designated location in the U.S. as a group. They will stay with the group throughout the trip, except that they may leave the group at the conclusion of all site visits of the study tour.
- No alcohol consumption is allowed at CYCU at any time. Students selected for this program will be given the CYCU Student pamphlet which outlines student responsibilities.
- See "S16-15, University Policy, Student Rights and Responsibilities" for details about acceptable SJSU student conduct.
Food and lodging during travel
- Lodging will be in CYCU dormitories. For each dorm room, there are four available living spaces, one shower room, and one toilet.
- Since you will be eating in the CYCU cafeteria, there will be limited vegetarian options. Special diets need to be notified prior to the trip.
Important Dates
|Application Deadline:
|Friday, October 19, 2018, 5:00 pm
|Semi-Finalist Notified:
|Friday, November 2, 2018
|The week of November 12-16, 2018
|Finalists Notified:
|Friday, November 30, 2018
|First day of course:
|Friday, January 25, 2019
|Tentative Tour Dates:
|July 1-20, 2019
For any questions contact: Dr. Patricia Backer, Director, GTI Program, Email: firstname.lastname@example.com, Phone: 408-924-3214


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1 1/2 cup cranberries
4 large tart apples, sliced
1/3 cup flour
1/3 cup oats
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
Preheat oven to 375. Grease an 8x8 inch baking dish. In a large bowl toss the apples and cranberries with sugar. Arrange evenly in baking dish. In a small bowl, stir together nutmeg, cinnamon, flour oats and melted butter. Sprinkle over apple/cranberry mixture. Bake 35 minutes or until the apples soften. Allow to cool slightly and serve.


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Carolines on Broadway: A House Built on Comedy
A New York fixture since 1981, Carolines is one of the premiere spots to watch stand-up comedy in the city. Owner and founder Caroline Hirsch recently sat down with WSJ's Marshall Crook to discuss how comedy is adapting to the digital age, and the lineup of the upcoming New York Comedy Festival, which she oversees.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
I ... a city in radio she was really cool ... she's made me laugh Sees Malcolm X to incidents that ... any appears to ... the the the the the the Olsen home the audience is mostly Caucasian ... the the the ... Carolyn has been around since nineteen eighty one ... it's pretty much the premier comedy club in New York ... owner and founder Carol and her she also operates in York Comedy Festival ... which is celebrating its tenth anniversary in November ... comedy clubs are so popular ... to strike a deal last minute it took place at the comedy cellar on Saturday night ... but these days comedians have more opportunities than ever to find an audience ... through podcasts online video on Twitter ... Canadians have disrupted the old models of when where and whom to perform ... last week I sat down with Caroline herself ... we discussed this year's comedy Festival ... and how the digital age has affected the business of club comedy ... us in really big in interesting names he had built bird of Larry David Eun the comings you have won the sites that we also have someone younger guys again he just let ... porcelain that it caught my eye and John Wayne a kind of thing that I know that can help you with your ... unless you like to say I got a flat tire does anyone here know alot about the cause the settlement ... to be of assistance ... how do you decide that someone like Tom only knew that bring him up you know I've known Tom for winning percentage and stand out ... so what happens is that ... the way it works is that you play Carol and so we see how you perform ... let's be honest it's really about the drop ... me really is all the time of the plane theater ... so John has proven that he's you know really has established a great following at this point ... so we decided to also you know promoting the festival ... which works to write advantage because ... Johnny anything just for this is so nice grounding out ... aam for the younger male ... audience that we now ... in this era where ... there's so many ... opportunities for entertainments to Internet enabled TV I'm games you're finding that that this new digital era hasn't affected the fact that people still like to come up to see a comedy act ... I think that's the human ... touch that you really see this still have ... I think that let's ... let's look at the analogy we're ... about music ... okay let's compare it to somebody buying that record ... or CD when buying the effects of the night since ... they still like Aladdin see them ... in a still weak in the band ... it's the same thing the one thing that probably has changed the business a little bit is the way comedians are using social media to develop an audience and to interact with their audience ... as a club owner does ... comedian social media following sesame pay attention to an are you talking like we want to treat this who wanted to help promote this ... the chili in on their own but they they understand that that Sam ... those tweets ... and that following isn't really worth ... a lot of money to them in their livelihood to the case example ... Kevin Hart ... now we produce Kevin Hart ... at the Madison Square Garden last year we did two shows ... that's a little and ... thirty thousand tickets ... which she also made into a movie which is one of the most successful scared of movies today ... it came out this year ... aam and and you know Kevin has made ... millions of followers ... and having or having to do was to tweet that out ... and send a message to people ... on the masses record of any sunlight ... what about yourself t think ... it is drawn to this world and can exit these people ... I think it's gotten easier there's no reason to mine opened club ... you know it was kind of like you know I was love comedy and was once questioned Mr. I stayed up way too much and ... and always remember comics promoting themselves on the cow ... and when I first open to getting to know like Jay J ... Carey Seinfeld ... and allowed no means that started with me ... it was a learning process but after while ... you still watching these people in you know ... that they are great ... and it's given me the ... it's made me capable of watching young person today and say ... oh that person has that something at this point ... I ... I


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After a month of riding hard and a week of racing in Portland, spun the legs out with Steve Gluckman around Mercer Island.
Unicorns and Chainrings
John Baxter joined us and with that head tube badge fit right it. Then we saw a Tri peloton and promptly avoided it.
Tri Peloton
Back towards Seattle rode with Big Bic.
Big Bic aka Matt Moore wears vintage jerseys, also is a software developer
And saw this bike that's heading to LA. The owner was inside the Starbucks at Starbucks World HQ.
Seattle to LA
Emerald City has lots of Trees
Finished the ride on this tree-lined street.
Photomapped the Mercer Island loop using data from the Cycleops Joule we've got in on test. Highly recommend this ride if you're visiting Seattle. Live here and you've already ridden the loop. It's about 40 miles and we spin it in 2:45. Watch out for those Triathlete pelotons though.
Don't ride too close.


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Skip to Main Content
Chief's Office
Inside the Department
Community Services
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The Porsche 911 is undoubtedly the most recognizable sports car in the world, and one that can traces its roots back to the 1940s designs of the original Volkswagen, making it one of the longest running designs in automotive history.
So when it came time to celebrate its 50th anniversary, we were perhaps hoping for something a little more memorable than widebody Carrera S with a Powerkit.
That said, it's going to be an instant collector's car, particularly with only 1963 being built - the number representing the year the 911 model was first introduced.
The new car will be introduced at the International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt, Germany - the same venue where the Type 901 was first introduced in 1963.
Cars sold in the US will cost from $124100, plus $950 destination charge. Each will get the 430hp Powerkit as standard that includes the Sport Chrono Package. This will allow the 911 50th Anniversary Edition to sprint from 0-60mph in 4.2 seconds (3.8 with PDK) and reach a top speed of 186mph (185 with PDK).
Other features include Porsche Dynamic Light System (PDLS) with bi-xenon headlights and dynamic cornering lights, plus Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) with special tuning to exploit the increased track width. It will also sit on 20" "Fuchs" wheels as a visual tribute to the past, and they are finished in matte black with machine-polished centers.
Another visual identifier will be chrome strips on the front ducts, engine grille as well as the panel between the rear lights. The cars also have high-gloss window frames and sport design mirrors.
Each car has a two-tone 3D-effect badge on the rear lid, with "911 50" badging. This is repeated in three-color embroidery on the headrest and in two colors on the tacho and the door sills. It can also be found on the cup holder panel, together with the limited edition number of the individual vehicle.
There are tributes to the original 911 in the interior: green labeling on the instruments with white pointer needles and silver caps on the instrument pivot pins, just like 50 years ago.
Another special feature is on the leather seats, where the center panels use a fabric pattern similar of the "Pepita" tartan from the 1960s. The leather interior is designed in agate grey or black with decorative stitching.


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Photos: Greg Furey
Video: Justin Gunson
Words: Adam Kisel
Going first in anything can be a little high anxiety. When you don't know what to expect, and having no idea of what the conditions of the situation you are in, and making sure you survive all add to the fear. This is a feeling that Luke Mathison and the Waterville Valley Park Crew are all conditioned to move past at times giving the impression of ease. The TransWorld SNOWboarding TransAm presented by Skullcandy has kicked off at Waterville for the past 11 years and Mathison has admitted to losing sleep during the park build because he is the first to go on the tour and sets the standard for the rest of the stops. Other stops must build to or surpass the level that is set by Mathison.
Most amateur events have easy features to build. They usually feature your standard three jump line and a few rails and boxes mixed in, and boom, you're set. The TransAm is not your normal event. For the past 11 years it has been pushing builders to get as creative as possible to build features that competitors wouldn't normally see in the park. Lucky for young rippers across the nation, they will have nine different parks to tear apart this year, as TransWorld SNOWboarding expanded the tour by three stops. Everyone stepped up this year with sponsors designing their own features such as Zumiez producing a rideable orange couch, that pint sized Wyatt Kern front flipped over. Seriously, this very small human shredded harder than most of the competitors that probably weighed three times his weight. Ride Snowboards threw an extra challenge into their "Get Buck Wild" feature with old western style saloon doors to ride through into the down tube. Riders had to charge through the double doors, guns blazing like they were robbing the place just to have enough speed to survive the gap onto the tube.
Those riding with the biggest guns could flex their way up to the Muscle Milk 'Tower of Triumph' that was flanked by two fence pieces. Mathison himself doubted anyone would be able to get up and over the tower without losing his or her precious life. Zach Normandin proved Mathison wrong with a frontside three sixty bonk on top of the barrels earning himself the Zumiez best trick award. Anon Optics had spectators wide eyed with excitement as they built a feature that could be hit from a number of different angles. The Anon tube had an angled up entry into it and ride-able angled skirting so the kids could get rock out any which way they wanted. Speaking of rocking out, Skullcandy kept the head banging to the maximum level with a jib-able cassette tape that had every old school rocking parent in New Hampshire throwing the devil horns. Tim Major knocked the tape completely off of the spool with his heavy riding all day long, taking home top honors for the guys.
Sanuk showed riders how to get crazy with a capital C rail, and Giro Helmets put a kink in the box feature they represented at the bottom of the park giving riders like Nora Healy a chance to step to the main stage. Healy, who rode with a cast on her arm, was not afraid to keep shredding with reckless abandon, which had the many onlookers screaming for more. Coal gave the crowd what they wanted with the refusal of just one feature for the kids to ride, but a minimum of two features in the Coal combination set up. There was a wall ride and a lift tower laying horizontal for riders to live and let die. Nate Carroll almost died launching several feet above the wall ride and landing completely flat on the other side. He was revived with the best crash award and the show continued.
The encore of this heavy metal mayhem was the pizza party and awards show that gave top honors a reason to turn up the volume to 11. This year's trophies from TransWorld SNOWboarding were not something you would put on your shelf and forget about. The first place trophies were Epiphone heavy metal guitars that were black as hell and engraved with the winning place and stop location. Coal kept up the black metal theme with custom black beanies with the TransAm logo on them melting down the front. Winners also were able to blow their metal loving ears out with custom Skullcandy Aviator & Cassette headphones and protect their eyes from the bloody carnage with goggles from Anon Optics. The top winners received Ride Snowboards, High Cascade Snowboard Camp custom backpacks, and Zumiez gift cards were the currency of the day. Zumiez also gave out a 500-dollar gift card to Zach Normandin for best trick and flight vouchers to 1st place winners to fly to TransAm finals in Park City, Utah. Muscle Milk gave out 200 dollars to the Riders Choice Award winner, Al Grogan, who rode so hard his peers voted him best around. Wend Wax was on the scene to keep riders sliding faster with free wax and proved their waxed worked with riders flying high all day long.
The heaviest of metal will be shipped to Mountain Creek, New Jersey for the next stop this coming weekend, and if it's anything like this past weekend you should bring some ear plugs to keep your brains from blowing clean out of your ears. Till next time, rock hard, rock long, but whatever you do, rock and roll.
1st Tim Major
2nd Dennis Filteau
3rd Al Grogan
1st Nora Healy
2nd Lily Callabrese
3rd Bekah Ashley
Pint Sized Ripper- Wyatt Kern
Muscle Milk Rider's Choice- Al Grogan
Zumiez Best Trick- Zach Normandin


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Description:SUN X6751A ( 595-6213 ) SUN FIRE V880 BACKProliantANE 6 X 36GB DISKS SUN FIRE V880 EXPANSION DISK BACKProliantANE WITH 6 - 36.4 GB 10K RPM FCAL DISKS AND REQUIRED CABLESSun Part# X6751A
Overview:Sun Microsystems' hard disk drives provide the performance reliability and overall high quality required in today's computing environment at competitive prices. Sun invests significant resources into qualifying and integrating these devices into Sun workstations servers and disk arrays. This means that Sun customers get the very best mass storage value and an opportunity to add larger capacity drives or incorporate the latest technology.


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9:00 pm
The Artist Toolbox "Daniel Boulud" Meet one of the best chefs in the world, the articulate and always charming Daniel Boulud. From his seven Michelin-starred Manhattan restaurants, his slew of other refined kitchens across the world, six published cookbooks, a catering company, the bi-monthly column he writes for Elle Decor, and his lines of caviar and wine, award-winning Chef Daniel Boulud could be accused of wearing more than just a chef's hat! Chef Boulud has been wowing critics from Zagat, The New York Times, Michelin, and the International Herald Tribune since the 1980's with his graceful style of simple, fresh and seasonal cuisine. Watch Boulud work his magic in the kitchen and dining room of his famed restaurant, Daniel, and discover his masterful and inspirational balance between the art of French cooking and a flair for running a major business empire with The Artist Toolbox. D
9:30 pm
Sun Studio Sessions "The Dunwells" The Dunwells hail from Leeds, England but American roots music heavily influences their sound. In this episode, the band performs several songs including tracks from their debut album "Blind Sighted Faith.". D
10:00 pm
Austin City Limits "Bon Iver" The Grammy-winning group performs material from its self-titled second album.G
11:00 pm
Michael Feinstein's American Songbook "Show Tunes" The singer, pianist and music archivist presents three new AMERICAN SONGBOOK productions. Stephen Sondheim, Angela Lansbury and Christine Ebersole appear in this episode. Sondheim reveals composers he admires and shows some home movie footage of the original Broadway Follies production. Lansbury reflects on her Broadway career, and Ebersole performs show tunes.G


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2006-07-12 / Columnists
Pets, Pets, Pets...
When Ben Franklin said: "Honesty is the best policy", he wasn't referring to rehoming dogs and cats, yet the adage does apply. Knowing the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth is extremely important when trying to place secondhand pets in loving, forever homes. Omissions or little white lies from former owners, or shelters and rescue workers are damaging to the welfare of the public, as well as the surrendered animal.
First "honesty is the best policy" for owners: I've always been reluctant to plant ideas in print that devious folks might use. However, after a quarter century of finding abandoned pets and eavesdropping as people drop off animals, I see that no one needs my help to scheme; so instead, I'd like to install a jumbo polygraph machine at each town shelter that determines who is telling the truth when they say they "found" a dog or cat. Owners, who try to slip a pet in as a stray, aren't any better than those who tie a dog to the door. They are not fooling anyone, plus they are hurting their pets' chances of finding a suitable new home. Out of sight, out of mind. No one can interview the bewildered pet left behind to get a background. By the way, now most municipal shelters make people show their drivers licenses for every transaction.
A medical history on a previously owned dog or cat, including records from the family's vet, takes the guess work out of the equation. Sure saves a ton of money on diagnostic veterinary tests too. It is so helpful to know a pet's true age (and name). They can't all be "Rumpelstiltskin". We, including yours truly, Mrs. Milkbone, pet detective, are often wrong about the adults. There is no definitive way to estimate age. While dreaming about huge lie detectors, I'll also wish for a universal microchip or birth date tattoo (like racing greyhounds have). Then we would have every real birthday.
A behavioral survey from the former owner is crucial too. Although most shelters do their own temperament testing, it is better to have the full story. Many town shelters provide questionnaires for relinquishing owners, but a Jan. '06 study from the Univ. of Pennsylvania and Univ. of California vet schools finds that people tend to be less than truthful; probably for fear that their pets will be put to sleep. Concealing problems such as aggression or fear of strangers may pose a danger to shelter personnel or potential adopters, while neglecting to mention other issues like separation anxiety or house soiling may cause the pet to be returned. The vicious cycle of homelessness continues.
Part of this research was a survey at 2 Sacramento shelters. One group was given a questionnaire that they were told would be kept confidential; the other knew it would be shared with the shelter staff. Significantly more dogs in the confidential group were reported as aggressive or fearful. Of course, shelter workers can't lie to people and say their answers will be kept confidential. Yet, these owners may have thought they were improving their pets' chances by hiding negative information, when actually they were making matters worse for the pet and the shelter. Therefore, savvy shelters assess the pet, in whatever ways are possible, and don't take responses on their own questionnaires as gospel.
Nextasking for "nothing but the truth" at the municipal shelters: Some owners are nave; others ask no questions and are out of the office at the speed of light. However, the shelter staff must be honest about the pet's possibilities of adoption and how long the animal may be held. Stays at town facilities have become much more generous, when there is space, but our pounds can never be lifelong sanctuaries, because they do not have the luxury of being selective as the private shelters do. The public needs to know the whole story. For instance, it isn't "bring your pet into the pound on a Monday or Wednesday". The callers must know it's only those 2 days, because those are the days they do euthanasia. If nothing else, the truth may behoove the callers out of guilt to find a new home on their own.
Finally seeking the "whole truth" from animal advocates, either staff or volunteer: Experience turns you into a realist. It takes time to realize you cannot save every animal, and equally important, that it is not true that "any" home is better than no home. Gone are the days when I used to chase the unsavory guy who just adopted a Doberman (that would probably spend his short, tortured life on a chain) into the parking lot to tell him that he forgot his "free neuter" certificate. He'd look at me like I had 2 heads.
Full disclosure can cause friction when working alongside "humaniacs" or those new to pet rescue. I've interjected detailssuch as the fact that a dog can scale a 6 foot fenceto the scorn of a zealot who said I ruined her possible home. Isn't it better that the people are prepared, or decide not to take a particular dog, than it is to have the shelter called to retrieve its lifeless body when the dog is hit by a car?
We are all like sales people when promoting a homeless dog or cat, so there must be truth in advertising. If dogs were real estate, we'd have to tell customers if the basement floods. The people are going to find out anyway, and then it will be to everyone's detriment. We can't shave a decade off an ancient animal's age, or neglect to tell prospective owners the facts we know... like the Border collie has been returned twice before for nipping, or the cat misses the litter box, or the Lab mix was on Prozac for the last 5 years.
Time has turned me into a dog snob, especially when placing purebreds. We can't push certain breeds with unique traits and needs, such as Huskies, on the inexperienced owner just because they are beautiful. If we really care about the wellbeing of an animal, we strive for the right fit. A new pet is supposed to become a permanent addition to a family. "Any" home can become a parade of "many" homes, and then none at all. "Any" home may not be better than no home. This might sound callous coming from a rescue person, but after 25 years, this one still has 2 heads.
So here is what we know about the 2 poster dogs at Babylon Town Shelter (643-9270) Lamar St. W. Babylon"Donna"this purebred, middle aged stray German shepherd dog in Cage 59 makes a better impression outside playing than she does barking in the kennel. That happens often. She appears to come
from German lines, and knows some commands. This adorable male Golden/Collie mix puppy in Cage 41 is under a year. Little Shelter was supposed to come get him but hasn't shown up yet, so hurry, if he appeals to you There are many more photos of Babylon dogs and cats on Petfinder.
Females: an old, abandoned German shepherd in Cage 79; a small black Lab mix hit by a car on the parkway in Cage 75; "Jessie"a sweet 2 yr. Rottie/Lab mix in Cage 61who comes with her own box of heartworm preventative; "Ivy"a nice declawed tortie cat.
Males: a young purebred St. Bernard in Cage 43; "Noz"the cute Westie escape artist in Cage 15; "Peanut"a young Beagle with a cherry eye in Cage 35; "Billy"a quiet Collie mix puphis former owner is homeless too.
Team Vivi Update: The Westminster Whippet has been spotted several times in the Glendale Queens area. I have gorgeous LOST posters made by the Texas owner of Vivi's son if anyone works in that area and would like some.
Readers can write to Joanne Anderson, the Pet Lady, in c/o Babylon Beacon Newspaper, Box L., Babylon Ny 11702. Or, send your questions or concerns to her at email@example.com


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Apple iMac 27"
Intel Core i5 3.2Ghz Quad-Core
Starting September 5, 2017, this location will be open 24/7 excluding statutory holidays and university closures. Access to each lab will be governed by building hours.
Service Announcement
Computer lab bookings have transitioned to the Office of the Registrar, Examination and Timetabling, check Computer Lab Bookings page for procedure to request.


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The Clark County ScareGround's is the Northwest's premier all-ages Halloween event located on the 170-acre Clark County Event Center campus in Ridgefield, WA. Featuring four Haunted Houses, the Scream Parlor, Midway & Exhibits, photo ops, and ghouls galore! The ScareGround's is the #1 destination for a scary-good time this October. It will be held from Oct. 5 - Nov. 4 at the Clark County Event Center at the Fairgrounds: 17402 NE. Delfel Rd. in Ridgefield. Times are from 6 10 p.m. Go online to scaregroundspdx.com.
The annual event features a kaleidoscopic selection of genres, movements, labels, bands, and solo artists. You can see the latest in music film - from intimate portraits to career-spanning celebrations - alongside archival films ripe for re-discovery. Whether your passion is jazz, blues, folk, rock, electronic, world, classical—or anything between—we hope you find something to discover and inspire in this eclectic mix of films that celebrate great artists, sound, and image, and connect music and culture. It will be held from Jan. 18- Feb. 16 at the Portland Art Museum's Whitsell Auditorium: 1219 Sw. Park Ave. in Portland. For a schedule of film showings, go to nwfilm.org.
"Hazardous Beauty" tells the story of two women-one black, one white both Baby Boomers-attending a memoir writing class at a Portland college. As writers, they have a license to critique each other's work, but because this is a class on memoir, what results is often a laser-like critique of each other's lives - sometimes painful, sometimes sad, sometimes joyful, and often very funny. And because they are here to write about their lives, not just talk about them, they are charged with "coherence," with making sense of love, work, art and aging. Performances by PassinArt are from Jan. 25 - Feb. 17 on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center (IFCC): 5340 N. Interstate Ave. in Portland. For tickets, go to www.passinart.org.
February through April is Beach Treasure Hunt season in Gold Beach. Find a tagged glass float on our beach. Bring it to the Visitor Center to see if you've won a prize. There are weekly and monthly prizes. First, make sure you search for the glass floats in the right location. They're above the high surf line in the driftwood and beach grass. Also, you will only find them from the Rogue River jetty to south of Kissing Rock. That's almost 3 miles of treasure hunting on our awesome beaches!...More
Learn more about Chinese New Year, the most colorful and joyous of all Chinese festivals during Lan Su's two-week celebration featuring lion dances, cultural performances, martial arts, calligraphy, family-friendly craft activities and much more! The celebration is from Feb. 5 - 19 at 239 NW. Everett St. in Portland. Go to lansugarden.org.
What's the buzz? The first musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice to be produced for the professional stage, Jesus Christ Superstar has wowed audiences for over 40 years. A timeless work, the rock opera is set against the backdrop of an extraordinary and universally-known series of events but seen, unusually, through the eyes of Judas Iscariot. Loosely based on the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, Superstar follows the last week of Jesus Christ's life. The story, told entirely through song, explores the personal relationships and struggles between Jesus, Judas, Mary Magdalene, his disciples, his followers and the Roman Empire. Performances are until March 3 at Brunish Theatre within Antoinette Hatfield Hall: 1111 SW. Broadway in Portland. Visit www.portland5.com.
Enjoy special Antique & Collectibles Week sales from 100 dealers found at over 15 antique store locations throughout Lincoln City. From art, books and furniture, to pop culture, there are a variety of items to add to your collection. The event will also celebrate the 160th anniversary of Oregon becoming a state, telling the story through railroad history and memorabilia. Plus, they will have lots of events to go with the week of world-class antiquing. Their Appraise-a-thon and the new pop-up Antique Faire are just a hint of what's in store this year...More
It's three days of live music, delicious food and drink from around the region and activities for the whole family. Thousands of spirited locals and visitors gather in Central Oregon on President's Day weekend for this festive winter staple. The OnPoint Community Credit Union Oregon WinterFest has live entertainment, like the ever-popular 10 Barrel Rail Jam and Oregrown Music Stage, a taste of regional food and drink and amazing collection of local creators and businesses...More
Confluence Story Gatherings elevate Indigenous voices that help us connect more deeply to place. Join along for the first Story Gathering of 2019, with special guest speakers Tanna Engdahl, Cowlitz Spiritual Leader, Carol Craig, Yakama Reporter and David Lewis, Grand Ronde Historian. First-person story telling has a unique power to deepen our understanding of the histories, cultures and environment. Confluence Story Gatherings are welcoming forums that feature the stories, experiences and teachings of native elders and leaders as a way to explore the interconnectedness of people and places of the Columbia River system. It will be held from 4 - 6 p.m. at 1109 East 5th St. in Vancouver. Visit www.confluenceproject.org.
All are invited to partake in living history at the Oregon State Capitol as we celebrate the 160th anniversary of Statehood Day. Costumed interpreters, exhibits, music, activities for the entire family and birthday cake are FREE for all to enjoy. Don't miss one of our biggest events of the year! The celebration is on Saturday, Feb. 16, from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the Oregon State Capitol: 900 Court St. NE in Salem. For more, visit www.oregonlegislature.gov.
Hosted by the Salem Repeater Association, the Salem Hamfair is Oregon's biggest and best computer and electronics swapmeet, including raffle prizes?. It will be held on Saturday, Feb. 16 at the Polk County Fairgrounds & Event Center: 520 S. Pacific Hwy. W in Rickreall. Go to w7sra.com.


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Says the guy who knew what it was.
Kristus er oppstanden!Han er sannelig oppstanden!
Is that German?One of the priests at my parish shouted the German translation of "Christ is risen!" to us Sunday morning and got no response, which prompted him to throw his hands in the air and shout in mock frustration, "No one here speaks German!" The scene was quite funny.
My response to our priest shouting in German and getting no response was, "That's not fair!"
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A short YouTube of the fledging of the final peregrine chick at Bath this year; JY left the nest at 12:24 on 17 June. Took to the air very confidently.
After seeing this on line our Bath Project Coordinator went into Bath to check out where all the fledglings were and found that all three were on the church with both adults in attendance and being fed by mum. This year and last have shown the benefit gained from iCode's iCatcher system allowing us to monitor the nest and respond to 'occurrences', whatever they may be.
Another successful year's fledging.


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There are no Upcoming Shows listed for this comedian.
Lauren Ashley Bishop
follow her on twitter. it's worth it: twitter.com/sbellelauren
Lauren Ashley Bishop has been making people laugh since the day she could pratt fall. She may look like a nice southern belle, as she is a proud native of Arkansas, but don't be confused. There is a razor sharp wit behind her debutante smile that can carve you up quicker than her mom can shoot whiskey.
Lauren has performed at top clubs coast to coast, including The Improv, Zanies, The Ice House, Comix, & Gotham Comedy Club. She is currently touring colleges across the nation, recently being named a 2009 Hot Up and Coming Comic by Campus Activities Magazine. This year her tour also includes her second trip overseas to entertain the troops.
You might recognize Lauren from one of the numerous national commercials she made you laugh in this year: Mini Baby Bel Cheese, Arby's "Birthday Surprise", or performing standup comedy for Midol's newest campaign. She has voiced countless radio and TV ads, including her favorite, Popeye's Mama Slap Chicken.
Lauren is also an accomplished stage actress. She's played to rave reviews in Second City's Romeo & Juliet Musical @ Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Eve Ensler's The Vagina Monologues @ The Apollo Theatre, & the National Broadway Tour of Scrooge, The Musical. Lauren is a graduate of Northwestern University, a proud member of SAG, AFTRA, and AEA.
Lauren Ashley Bishop's Upcoming Shows
Lauren Ashley Bishop is Known For


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|Introduction to Phrack 34
|Dispater & Crimson Death
|Phrack Loopback
|Phrack Staff
|Phrack Profile of Chris Goggans
|S. Leonard Spitz
|Telenet/Sprintnet's PC Pursuit Outdial Directory
|Sting Operations
|Sovereign Immunity
|Social Security Numbers & Privacy
|Chris Hibbert
|Users Guide to VAX/VMS Part 1 of 3
|Black Kat
|A Beginners Guide to Novell Netware 386
|The Butler
|Auto-Answer It
|Twisted Pair
|PWN/Part 1
|PWN/Part 2
|PWN/Part 3
|PWN/Part 4
==Phrack Inc.== Volume Three, Issue Thirty-five, File 11 of 13 PWN PWN PWN PWN PWN PWN PWN PWN PWN PWN PWN PWN PWN PWN PWN PWN Phrack World News PWN PWN PWN PWN Issue XXXV / Part Two PWN PWN PWN PWN Compiled by Dispater PWN PWN PWN PWN PWN PWN PWN PWN PWN PWN PWN PWN PWN PWN PWN PWN Justice Revs Up Battle On Computer Crime October 7, 1991 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ by Michael Alexander (ComputerWorld)(Page 4) Washington D.C. -- The nation's top federal computer crime law enforcers announced plans to escalate the war on computer crime. At the federal government's 14th National Computer Security Conference held in Washington D.C., officials at the U.S. Department of Justice said the department is launching a computer crime unit that will be charged with prosecuting crimes and pushing for stiffer penalties for convicted computer outlaws. "Computer crime is on the rise, and the Justice Department is taking this area very seriously -- as well as the FBI, U.S. Secret Service, and the military," said Mary Spearing, chief of general litigation and legal advice in the criminal division at the Justice Department. The new crime unit will also advocate closing loopholes in the government's computer crime statute. The Computer Fraud & Abuse Act of 1986 "is outmoded and outdated," said Scott Charney, a computer crime prosecutor and chief of the new computer crime unit. The Justice Department wants to amend the law with a provision that would make inserting a virus or worm into a computer system a crime, Charney said. Those convicted of computer crimes will more often be sentenced according to federal guidelines rather than on recommendation of prosecutors, who may ask for lighter penalties, said Mark Rasch, the government's attorney who prosecuted Robert Morris in the infamous Internet worm case. A new Justice Department policy now mandates that all defendants will be treated equally, without regard for personal history or other factors that might mitigate stiffer sentences, Rasch said. "The penalties for computer crime will become increasingly more severe," predicted Kent Alexander, assistant U.S. attorney in Atlanta <prosecutor of the Atlanta members of the Legion of Doom>. "In five years, they are going to look back and think a year in jail was a light sentence." The FBI is "staffing up to address concerns about computer crimes" and increasing its training efforts, said Mike Gibbons, FBI supervisory special agent <who worked on both the Morris and the Clifford Stoll KGB hackers cases>. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Supreme Court Refuses Morris Appeal October 14, 1991 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ by Michael Alexander (ComputerWorld)(Page 14) Washington, D.C. -- The U.S. Supreme Court refused without comment to hear Robert T. Morris' appeal last week, ending a legal journey that began nearly three years ago when he injected a worm into the Internet network. While the trek is over for Morris, there remain serious questions about the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986, the statute under which he was prosecuted. The refusal to review the Morris case leave intact a "bone breaker" law that could transform otherwise law-abiding computer users in felons and inhibit the creative uses of computer technology according to Thomas Viles, an attorney at the Silverglate & Good law firm in Boston. Viles authored a friend of the court brief in the Morris appeal on behalf of the Electronic Frontier Foundation. Some legal experts worry that computer users who enter a computer system without authorization, either unwittingly or with the intention of merely looking around, could be given penalties that are overly severe. "A single computer entry is of an entirely different order than the destruction of data or the intentional alteration of data, just as simple trespass is pretty minor stuff compared to vandalism or burglary," Viles said. "Now if people whose livelihoods depend on computers get into somebody else's computer without authorization, they could be in Leavenworth for five years." The Morris appeal boiled down to the critical question of whether he intended to cause the harm that ensued after he set loose his ill-conceived computer program on November 2, 1988. In 1990, a federal judge in Syracuse, New York ruled that it was not necessary for the government to prove that Morris intended to cause harm, only that Morris intended to access computers with authorization or to exceed authorization that he may have had. Earlier this year a federal appeals court upheld Morris' May 1990 conviction under which he received three years probation, a $10,000 fine, and 400 hours of community service. That affirmation goes against the widely accepted tenet that an injury can amount to a crime only when deliberately intended, Viles said. "The law distinguishes, say, between murder and manslaughter. You can't be guilty of murder if the killing was utterly accidental and unintended." A General Accounting Office (GAO) report released in 1989 noted other flaws in the federal computer statute. While the law makes it a felony to access a computer without authorization, the law does not define what is meant by "access" or "authorization," the GAO reported. UPDATING THE LAW U.S. Department of Justice Officials recently acknowledged that the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act is outdated and noted that it should be refined <see Justice Revs Up Battle On Computer Crime (the previous article)>. Scott Charney, chief of the Justice Department's newly created computer crime unit, said the department will lobby to fortify the law with provisions that would outlaw releasing viruses and worms and make it a felony to access a computer without authorization and cause damage through reckless behavior. Trespassing into a computer is more serious than it may appear at first glance, Charney said. "It is not easy to determine what happened, whether there was damage, how safe the system now is or what the intruder's motives were." Some legal experts said they believe the law is already overly broad and do not advocate expanding it with new provisions. "It is a far-reaching law, whose boundaries are still not known," said Marc Rotenberg, an attorney and director of the Washington, D.C. office of Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility. "The way I read the law is, the Justice Department has everything it needs and more," he said. "After the Morris decisions, if you sneeze, you could be indicted." The Morris case pointed out deficiencies in the law that have resulted from technology's rapid advance, said Thomas Guidoboni, the Washington, D.C.-based attorney who defended Morris. Neither Guidoboni nor Morris were surprised by the Supreme Court's refusal to hear his appeal, according to Guidoboni. "Robert's case had a particular problem in that it was the first one involving the 1986 act. They like to take cases after the circuit courts had had some chance to play with them and see if there is a disagreement." Morris is working as a computer programmer in Cambridge, Massachusetts for a company that "knows who he is and what he's done," Guidoboni said. He declined to identify the company. <Editor's Note: Morris was actually the SECOND person to be tried under the 1986 Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. The first person was Herbert Zinn, Jr. a/k/a Shadow Hawk of Chicago, Illinois, who was convicted in 1989 in a prosecution led by William Cook, a now former assistant U.S. attorney whose name most of you should recognize from the Craig Neidorf (Knight Lightning) and Lynn Doucette (Kyrie) cases. Zinn was tried as a minor and therefore in a bench trial before a sole judge. Morris is the first person to be tried under the Act in front of a jury. Zinn's conviction earned him 10 months in a juveniles prison facility in South Dakota, a fine of $10,000, and an additional 2 1/2 years of probation that began after his prison term ended. For additional information about the Shadow Hawk case, please read "Shadow Hawk Gets Prison Term," which appeared in Phrack World News, Issue 24, Part 2. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Justice Unit Spurred On By Cross-Border Hackers October 21, 1991 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ by Michael Alexander (ComputerWorld)(Page 6) Washington D.C. -- The U.S. Department of Justice's formal launch of a computer crime unit was prompted largely by an alarming rise in computer invasions that traverse geographic and jurisdictional boundaries, according to a top Justice Department official. Robert Mueller III, assistant U.S. attorney general, said the Justice Department needs to be better prepared to prosecute computer criminals. he is one of the architects of a five-person unit recently established by the justice department expressly to combat computer crime. "One of the principal functions of the unit is to anticipate areas where federal, state, and local law enforcement will have to expend resources in the future," Mueller said. "One that comes immediately to our attention is crime related to computers used as a target as in The Cuckoo's Egg." He was referring to author Clifford Stoll's account of how he tracked West German hackers who penetrated U.S. computers for the KGB in exchange for cash and cocaine. Increasingly, computer crimes cut across state and international boundaries, making them difficult to investigate because of jurisdictional limits and differing laws, Mueller said. The computer crime unit will be charged with coordinating the efforts of U.S. attorneys general nationwide during investigations of crimes that may have been committed by individuals in several states. One of the unit's first assignments will be to take a pivotal role in OPERATION SUN-DEVIL, last year's much-publicized roundup of computer hackers in several states. That investigation is still under way, although no arrests have resulted, Justice Department officials said. The unit will coordinate efforts with foreign law enforcers to prosecute hackers who enter U.S. computer systems from abroad while also working to promote greater cooperation in prosecuting computer criminals according to Mueller. The unit will also assist in investigations when computers are used as a tool of a crime -- for example, when a computer is used to divert electronically transferred funds -- and when computers are incidental to a crime, such as when a money launderer uses a computer to store records of illegal activities, Mueller said. "There have been many publicized cases involving people illegally accessing computers, from phone phreaks to hackers trying to take military information," said Scott Charney, chief of the new computer unit. "Those cases have high importance to us because any time that computers are the target of an offense, the social cost is very high. If you bring down the Internet and cripple 6,000 machines and inconvenience thousands of users, there is a high social cost to that type of activity." The computer crime unit will also work to promote closer cooperation between the Justice Department and businesses that have been the victims of computer crime, Charney said. Law enforcers are better trained and more knowledgeable in investigating and prosecuting computer crimes, Charney said. "Businesses need not be concerned that we are going to come in, remove all of their computers, and shut their businesses down. FBI and Secret Service agents can go in and talk to the victim in a language they understand and get the information they need with a minimum amount of intrusion." <Editor's Note: "Businesses need not be concerned that we are going to come in, remove all of their computers, and shut their businesses down." Excuse me, but I think STEVE JACKSON GAMES in Austin, Texas might disagree with that statement. Mr. Charney -- Perhaps you should issue an apology!> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - V I E W P O I N T Let's Look Before We Legislate October 21, 1991 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ by Marc Rotenberg (ComputerWorld)(Page 25) "Laws Are Adequate To Handle Computer Crime -- 'Net Police' Not Needed" The U.S. Department of Justice is now circulating a proposal to expand the reach of federal computer crime law. On first pass, this might seem a sensible response to concerns about computer crime. The reality, however, it that the current federal law is more than adequate and the Justice Department proposal is poorly conceived. The Justice Department proposal will give federal agencies broad authority to investigate computer crime, allowing them to intercede in any situations involving a computer hooked to a network. Creating a worm or virus could become a felony act, no questions asked. Espionage laws would be broadened and intent requirements would be lowered. Certain procedural safeguards would be removed from existing law. CURRENT LAW ADEQUATE Taken as a whole, the proposal will make it possible for the federal government to prosecute many more computer crimes, but the question is whether this additional authority will improve computer security. Between the current federal statute, the Morris decision, and the sentencing guidelines, federal prosecutors already have more than enough tools to prosecute computer crime. Under the Computer Fraud & Abuse Act, passed in 1984 and amended in 1986, the unauthorized use of a computer system is a felony. Though the act does not define what "authorization" is or how it is obtained, a person found guilty faces up to five years in jail and fines of $250,000. It is a far-reaching law whose boundaries are still not known. THE MORRIS FACTOR The Morris case strengthened the hand of federal prosecutors still further. The judge ruled that it was not necessary for the government to prove that Morris intended the harm that resulted when the worm was released, only that he intended unauthorized use when he did what he did. >From a common law viewpoint, that's a surprising result. Traditional criminal law distinguishes between trespass, burglary, and arson. In trespass, which is a misdemeanor, the offense is entering onto someone else's property. Burglary is simple theft and arson is destruction. To punish a trespasser as an arsonist is to presume an intent that may not exist. A federal appeals court affirmed the Morris decision, and the Supreme Court has refused to hear his appeal, so now the computer crime statute is essentially a trip-wire law. The government only has to show that the entry was unauthorized -- not that any resulting harm was intentional. There is another aspect of the Morris case that should be clearly understood. Some people were surprised that Morris served no time and jumped to the conclusion that sentencing provisions for this type of offense were insufficient. In fact, under the existing federal sentencing guidelines, Morris could easily have received two years in jail. The judge in Syracuse, New York, considered that Morris was a first-time offender, had no criminal record, was unlikely to commit a crime in the future, and, not unreasonably, decided that community service and a stiff fine were appropriate. To "depart" as the judge did from the recommended sentence was unusual. Most judges follow the guidelines and many depart upwards. That said, if the Department of Justice persists in its efforts, there are at least three other issues that should be explored. UNANSWERED QUESTIONS First there is the question of whether it is sensible to expand the authority of federal agents at the expense of local police and state government. If theft from a cash register is routinely prosecuted by local police, why should the FBI be called in if the cash register is a computer? What will happen to the ability of state government to tailor their laws to their particular needs? Do we really want "Net Police"? There is also the need to explore the government's performance in recent computer crime investigations before granting new powers. For example, the botch Operation Sun-Devil raid, which involved almost one quarter of all Secret Service agents, resulted in hardly a conviction. (A good cop could have done better in a night's work.) In a related investigation, Steve Jackson, the operator of a game business in Texas was nearly forced out of business by a poorly conceived raid. In fact, documents just released to Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility by the Secret Service under the Freedom of Information Act raise substantial questions about the conduct, scope, and purpose of Operation Sun-Devil investigations. They reveal, for example, that the Secret Service monitored and downloaded information from a variety of on-line newsletters and conferences. A congressional hearing to assess Operation Sun-Devil would certainly be in order before granting federal officials new powers. PROTECTION OF RIGHTS Finally we should not rush to create new criminal sanctions without fully recognizing the important civil liberties interests in information technologies, such as the rights of privacy and free expression. There are, for example, laws that recognize a special First Amendment interest in newsroom searches. But no case has yet made clear the important principle that similar protections should be extended to computer bulletin boards. New criminal sanctions without necessary procedural safeguards throws off an important balance in the criminal justice system. Expanding the reach of federal law might sound good to many people who are concerned about computer crime, but broadening criminal law is always double-edged. Could you prove to a court that you have never used a computer in an "unauthorized" manner? <Editor's Note: Marc Rotenberg is the Director of the Washington office of Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility and he has testified in both the House of Representatives and the Senate on computer crime legislation.> _______________________________________________________________________________ PWN Quicknotes ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1. Operation Sun-Devil Scope Emerges (ComputerWorld, 10/14/91, page 119) -- The Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility (CPSR), an advocacy group, received more than 2,400 documents from the U.S. Secret Service under the Freedom of Information Act. The documents relate to Operation Sun-Devil, last year's nationwide dragnet through the hacker underground. An early look at the documents reveals that the scope of the operation was considerably broader than the U.S. Secret Service has admitted, said Marc Rotenberg, director of CPSR's Washington, D.C. office. CPSR will soon hold a press conference to discuss the findings, he added. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2. 6 Police Employees Probed for Wiretaps (Washington Post/AP, 10/24/91, page A4) -- Jefferson City, Missouri -- Missouri's Highway Patrol is investigating six employees implicated in three illegal wiretaps, officials said. The wiretaps were "stupid" and were intended to "gain personal information in an effort to supervise subordinates," said Colonel C.E. 'Mel' Fisher, the patrol's chief. Fisher said that six employees are on administrative leave without pay after a two-month internal investigation confirmed conversations were recorded at patrol headquarters and at a troop office in Kirkwood, Missouri. Fisher did not identify the employees, who face hearings that could lead to possible penalties ranging from a written reprimand to dismissal. It is a federal felony to conduct an illegal wiretap. He said the FBI investigated the wiretaps. Major Bobby G. Gibson, chief of the patrol's Criminal Investigation Bureau, in which two of the wiretaps occurred, committed suicide on October 9, 1991. He was among five defendants in a $7 million federal lawsuit filed recently by a black patrolman, Corporal Oliver Dixon, who alleged he had been wiretapped and denied promotions because of his race. All of the defendants, including Fisher, are white. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3. Patrick Townson, the moderator of the Internet's Telecom Digest (comp.dcom.telecom) was less than pleased when an unknown person placed Phrack 34 into alt.dcom.telecom. Townson consistently preaches about the evils of hacking, but we know that he did not learn everything he knows about telecommunications in the classroom. See you after World War Three Pat! We know who you are, we know who you WERE and we know what crimes you have committed in the realm of telecommunications. We're anxious to talk some more with you about this in the near future. See below: "I assume you saw the stuff which was left in alt.dcom.telecom today: A whole series of messages telling how to break into several voicemail systems; how to break into the MILNET; a program designed to discover passwords; and other obnoxious files. All of them were left by the same anonymous user at the same non-existent site. Siemens Medical Systems (one of the victims in the theft-of-voicemail-services tutorial in alt.dcom.telecom today) has been notified that their 800 number link to voicemail is now under attack, and given the box number involved. Like cockroaches, you can stomp on those people all you like; they seem to survive. One person has said in the event of WW-3, the only species to survive will be the cockroaches and the hackerphreaks. Good socially responsible computing, that's what it is! PAT" _______________________________________________________________________________ 4. The existence of back issues of Phrack Inc. found in a user's home directory was enough for a system administrator at Tufts University in Massachusetts to revoke a users account. Michael Godwin, an attorney for the Electronic Frontier Foundation went to bat for this individual and succeeded in restoring the user's account. The incident prompted the following response by a reader of Telecom Digest (comp.dcom.telecom): On Oct 19 at 11:51, TELECOM Moderator writes: > Is it easier and more pragmatic for a > system administrator to answer to his/her superiors regarding files at > the site which harassed or defrauded some third party (ie. telco) or > to simply remove the files and/or discontinue the feed" PAT] But this requires a judgment call on the part of the system administrator, does it not? Most of the system administrators that I know are too busy administering the system to worry about this file or that feed, except perhaps as it relates to traffic volume or disk space consumed. Will we ever get to the point where those in charge will stop dreaming of practicing mind control? I am so sick of those who are paranoid that someone somewhere may actually express an uncontrolled thought or idea to someone else. Ah, the advantages of owning one's own UUCP site ... _______________________________________________________________________________ 5. The National Public Network Begins Now. You Can Help Build it. Telecommunications in the United States is at a crossroads. With the Regional Bell Operating Companies now free to provide content, the shape of the information networking is about to be irrevocably altered. But will that network be the open, accessible, affordable network that the American public needs? You can help decide this question. The Electronic Frontier Foundation recently presented a plan to Congress calling for the immediate deployment of a national network based on existing ISDN technology, accessible to anyone with a telephone connection, and priced like local voice service. We believe deployment of such a platform will spur the development of innovative new information services, and maximize freedom, competitiveness, and civil liberties throughout the nation. The EFF is testifying before Congress and the FCC; making presentations to public utility commissions from Massachusetts to California; and meeting with representatives from telephone companies, publishers, consumer advocates, and other stakeholders in the telecommunications policy debate. The EFF believes that participants on the Internet, as pioneers on the electronic frontier, need to have their voices heard at this critical moment. To automatically receive a description of the platform and details, send mail to firstname.lastname@example.com, with the following line: send documents open-platform-overview or send mail to email@example.com. _______________________________________________________________________________ 6. The September/October 1991 issue of The Humanist has a cover story regarding Cyberspace, rights and freedoms on nets such as Usenet, and makes reference to Craig Neidorf, Jolnet, Prodigy and other matters. _______________________________________________________________________________ 7. A Virginia Beach restaurateur plead guilty to illegally taping a telephone call by Governor L. Douglas Wilder and said he arranged for the tape to be delivered to the staff of Senator Charles Robb, D-Va., hoping it would be damaging to Wilder and politically helpful to Robb. Robert Dunnington, a onetime social companion of Robb's, admitted in federal court that he intercepted a 1988 car phone call by then-Lt. Governor Wilder as part of his hobby of monitoring and recording cellular calls. From February 1988 to October 1990, Dunnington overheard and taped hundreds of calls and, his attorney said, it was "just happenstance" that Wilder's call was picked up. (Washington Post) _______________________________________________________________________________ 8. A Federal District Judge in New York ruled that a computer-network company is not legally liable for the contents of information it disseminates. While the decision could be influential because it tackles free speech on an electronic network, it is not clear how the ruling would affect bulletin boards ^S^Qon which users add comments. The decision concerned an electronic gossip column carried by CompuServe. In the decision, the judge stated "CompuServe has no more editorial control over such a publication than does a public library, bookstore or newsstand, and it would be no more feasible for CompuServe to examine every publication it carries for potentially defamatory statements than it would be for any other distributor to do so." (Wall Street Journal, October 31, 1991) _______________________________________________________________________________


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The Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty is arguably the most popular treaty in history: except for five states, every nation in the world is part of it. For more than three decades, it has helped curb the spread of nuclear weapons.
Since 9/11, however, and especially in the last several months, the viability of the treaty has been called into question. Some say it is obsolete. Others say it is merely ineffective. In support of its argument each side cites the situation in Iran, which has been able to advance a nuclear weapons program despite being a member of the treaty.
The Iranian nuclear program -- and, to a lesser extent, the activities of Libya, which has also signed the treaty but announced last week it would give up all illegal weapons programs -- highlight both the utility and the limitations of the treaty. It is not obsolete; if the treaty did not exist, we almost certainly would want to invent it. At the same time, it would be a mistake to rely on it exclusively to address the problem of nuclear proliferation.
Those who say the treaty is useless argue that the bad guys either don't sign the treaty, or they do and then cheat. The good guys sign and obey, but the treaty is irrelevant for these countries because they have no intention of becoming nuclear proliferators in the first place.
This all-or-nothing argument is wrong. First, it fails to acknowledge that there is an important category in between good guys and bad guys. For these in-betweens -- countries like Ukraine, Kazakhstan, South Africa, Argentina or South Korea -- the weight of international opinion against proliferation expressed in the treaty has contributed to tipping the balance of decision-making against having nuclear weapons.Continue reading the main story
Second, the treaty does have an impact even on ''bad guys'' like Iraq, Iran and North Korea. When the United States moves against such regimes, it does so with the support of the global opprobrium for nuclear weapons that the treaty enshrines.
This consensus undergirds the multilateral approach that is under way to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue, and was at the heart of the international pressure that persuaded Tehran to increase the transparency of its nuclear program. Even in the divisive case of Iraq, no one argued that Saddam Hussein should be left alone with weapons of mass destruction.
Yet the treaty is not perfect. It allows, for example, nations that forswear nuclear weapons to develop nuclear power for peaceful purposes. Signatories may build and operate nuclear power reactors, and they are permitted to produce enriched uranium that fuels the reactors, to store the radioactive spent fuel from those reactors, and to reprocess that spent fuel. The only specific obligations are that signatories declare these plants to the International Atomic Energy Agency and permit the agency to inspect them.
The problem is that this ''closed fuel cycle'' gives these countries the inherent capacity to produce the fissile material required for a nuclear weapon. Facilities used to produce enriched uranium for power reactors can also be used to produce enriched uranium for weapons. Reprocessing spent fuel yields plutonium that can be fashioned into nuclear weapons.
As North Korea and Iran demonstrate, regimes that intend to violate the treaty's ban on nuclear weapons can exploit this right to operate a nuclear power plant. While seeming to remain within the terms of the treaty, they can gather all the resources necessary to make nuclear weapons. Then they can abrogate the treaty and proceed to build a nuclear arsenal.
The world should renew its determination to curb the spread of nuclear weapons by supplementing the current treaty with additional inducements and penalties. The key is to draw a distinction between the right to a peaceful civilian nuclear power program and the right to operate a closed fuel cycle. The first should be preserved -- and perhaps enhanced -- but the second should be seriously discouraged, if not prohibited.
How might such a system work? In addition to their treaty obligations, those countries seeking to develop nuclear power to generate electricity would agree not to manufacture, store or reprocess nuclear fuel. They also would agree to submit to inspections (probably under the atomic energy agency) to verify their compliance.
Those countries that now sell peaceful nuclear technology in accordance with the treaty, meanwhile, would agree not to provide technology, equipment or fuel for nuclear reactors and related facilities to any country that will not renounce its right to enrich and reprocess nuclear fuel, and agree not to sell or transfer any equipment or technology designed for the enrichment or reprocessing of nuclear fuel. At the same time, these countries would agree to guarantee the reliable supply of nuclear fuel, and retrieval of spent fuel at competitive prices, to those countries that do agree to this new arrangement.
We might also consider sanctions on those countries that nevertheless choose to pursue a closed fuel cycle. Whatever the precise content and form of these undertakings, it would probably be better to treat them as a companion to that treaty, rather than embark on the complicated and controversial process of amending it.
Why would any countries that want to develop a peaceful nuclear power program agree to such a bargain? One blunt answer is that if these restrictions were put in place, these countries would have virtually no choice, because developing the necessary technology from scratch is a daunting task. Refusing the arrangement would open them up to international scrutiny and pressure. On the other hand, any country that was truly interested in developing nuclear power for peaceful purposes would undoubtedly welcome a guaranteed supply of nuclear fuel.
And why would countries that now supply nuclear technology be interested? First, no nation in this category has any interest in adding any country to the roster of the world's nuclear states. Second, over time, there probably is more money to be made in nuclear fuel services than in nuclear reactors.
Iran provides an excellent opportunity to test this approach. Building on the progress recently announced in Tehran, the United States should propose that Russian plans to help Iran build a network of civilian nuclear power reactors be permitted to proceed -- provided that Iran enters into a verifiable ban on its enrichment and reprocessing abilities, and into an agreement to depend instead on a Russian-led suppliers' consortium for nuclear fuel services.
The Russians would be likely to embrace such a proposal for commercial and political reasons, and the Iranians would be confronted with a clear test of whether they harbor nuclear weapons ambitions. Britain, France and Germany, whose foreign ministers recently proposed a similar scheme to Iran, would need only to avoid the temptation to undercut the Russians on behalf of their own nuclear industry. And the United States could reap the benefits of offering a constructive initiative to address the Iranian nuclear problem.
Of course, this new arrangement would hardly be a cure-all. And making it work would be difficult. But at a time when its effectiveness and relevance are being questioned, such an approach would strengthen the treaty by furthering its goals: preventing the spread of nuclear weapons while promoting the development of peaceful nuclear energy.Continue reading the main story


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Cessna Solves Skycatcher Problem
Cessna recently had put a hold on Skycatcher sales in Europe, citing issues over certification, but on Monday at EAA AirVenture, the company said it has decided on a solution. The airplane will be transitioned out of the LSA category and into the Primary category. This will make it easier to export the Skycatcher to Europe, company officials said, and U.S. pilots will still have the option to operate the airplane with a sport pilot certificate.
"It's a unique, innovative product and we're happy to have found a solution that keeps it available to our European customers, and will make the aircraft more available to customers in many more parts of the world," said Tracy Leopold, business leader for the Cessna 162. Cessna is working with the FAA on a Skycatcher primary category designation, which includes the issuance of a Type Certificate and Production Certificate. The joint Cessna/FAA team worked with EASA rules to allow the Skycatcher to be accepted into Europe through a simpler validation effort following FAA approval, Cessna said.