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Abstract: The state of security on the internet is bad and getting worse. With the emerge and adoption of technologies such as cloud computing, virtualization, or IT outsourcing, enterprises now face a lot of security threats and their security processes, policies, and architectures should be adjusted accordingly. Out of all the options available to help customers to achieve this goal, organizations must understand the importance of ethical hacking services. Ethical Hacking increases security protection by identifying and patching known security vulnerabilities on systems owned by other parties. So, Ethical hacking is an assessment to test and check an information technology environment for possible weak links and vulnerabilities.
Ethical hacking describes the process of hacking a network in an ethical way, therefore with good intentions. This paper throws light on what is ethical hacking, some of its tools which can be used for ethical hacking and comparative study between them.
Keywords: Vulnerabilities, Hacker and Port.
1. Introduction :
Hacking is the practice of modifying the features of a system, in order to accomplish a goal outside of the creator's original purpose. The person who is consistently engaging in hacking activities, and has accepted hacking as a lifestyle and philosophy of their choice, is called a hacker.
Computer Hacking is the most popular form of hacking nowadays, especially in the field of computer security.
Ethical hacking is an identical activity which aims to find and rectify the weakness in a system. Ethical Hacker is the person who punches back the illegal attacks on the computer systems. He is a computer and network expert who attacks a security system on behalf of its owners, seeking vulnerabilities that a malicious hacker could exploit.
An ethical hack's results is a detailed report of the findings as well as a testimony that a hacker with a certain amount of time and skills is or isn't able to successfully attack a system or get access to certain information. Ethical hacking can be categorized as a security assessment, a kind of training, a test for the security of an information technology environment. An ethical hack shows the risks an information technology environment is facing and actions can be taken to reduce certain risks or to accept them.
2. Tools used for Ethical Hacking:
Automatic tools has changed the world of penetration testing/ethical hacking, IT security researcher has been developed and currently developing different tools to make the test fast, reliable and easy. Just consider the world without automatic tools; you can easily say that the hacking process is slow and time consuming.
2.1. Scanning Tools:
[1] The Scanning tools are quite helpful in the ethical hacking process. In technical detail, a scanner sends a message requesting to open a connection with a computer on a particular port. (A port is an interface where different layers of software exchanges information). The computer has an option of ignoring the message, responding negatively to the message, or opening a session. Ignoring the message is the safest since if there are no open services it may be hard for a cracker to determine if a computer exists. Once a port scan reveals the existence of an open service, a cracker can attack known vulnerabilities. Once a cracker scans all computers on a network and creates a network map showing what computers are running, what operating systems and what services are available, almost any kind of attack is possible including automated scripting program attacks and social engineered attacks.
Nessus is the world most famous vulnerability scanner, Nessus has been developed by Tenable network security, and it is available for free of cost for non-enterprise environment. It is a vulnerability scanner, a program that looks for security bugs in software. There is a freely available open source version which runs on UNIX. Tenable Security has also recently released a commercial version for Windows called Newt.
It can detect vulnerabilities like:
' Misconfiguration or unpatched services.
' Default passwords and common passwords, in general weak passwords.
' Available vulnerabilities on the system.
lynx-source http://install.nessus.org | sh
One of the very powerful features of Nessus is its client server technology. Servers can be placed at various strategic points on a network allowing tests to be conducted from various points of view. A central client or multiple distributed clients can control all the servers. The server portion will run on most any flavor of UNIX. It even runs on MAC OS X and IBM/AIX, but Linux tends to make the installation simpler. Clients are available for both Windows and UNIX. The Nessus server performs the actual testing while the client provides configuration and reporting functionality.
Nessus server installation is fairly simple. First an installed version of UNIX is required. Secondly, prior installation of several external programs is recommended: NMAP is the industry standard for port scanners, Hydra is a weak password tester and Nikto is a cgi/.script checker. While not required, these external programs greatly enhance Nessus' scanning ability. They are included because they are the best applications in their class. If installed in the PATH$ before Nessus installation, they will automatically be available.
The simplest installation method is using the Lynx automatic install. Lynx is included on many of the Linux versions. The Lynx command is (logged in as a user and not root):
Once the server is installed, some basic setup steps are required. The first task to complete in the new install is to add a user. A new user can be added by the "nessus-adduser" command. The script will question you for the authentication method. Authentication can be performed by several means; however a password is the simplest and is recommended.
More than 100 websites have been scanned using Nessus. The figure below depicts the results obtained for Hebron website.
Figure: Vulnerability details for Hebron website using Nessus
It shows total 29 vulnerabilities for this particular website- 0 Critical, 1 High, 3 Medium, 2 Low and 23 Informal. The range of either being high, medium, low or informal type is also given. For instance, FTP privileged port bounce scan is belongs to high category ranging to 7.5 with its plugin ID given as 10081. The report generated provides the description for all the vulnerabilities that occurred in the scanning process with its appropriate solution.
Ettercap is an open-source tool written by Alberto Ornaghi and Marco Valleri. Ettercap is described by its authors as 'a multipurpose sniffer/interceptor/logger for switched LANs.' Since it incorporates a variety of features necessary for working in switched environments, ettercap has evolved into a powerful tool that allows the user to launch several different types of manin-the-middle attacks. In addition, ettercap makes available many separate classic attacks and reconnaissance techniques within its interface. Ettercap is a versatile network manipulation tool. It uses its ability to easily perform man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks in a switched LAN environment as the launch pad for many of its other functions. Once ettercap has inserted itself in the middle of a switched connection, it can capture and examine all communication between the two victim hosts, and subsequently take advantage of these other features:
' Character injection: Insert arbitrary characters into a live connection in either direction, emulating commands sent from the client or replies sent by the server
' Packet filtering: Automatically filter the TCP or UDP payload of packets in a live connection by searching for an arbitrary ASCII or hexadecimal string, and replacing it with your own string, or simply dropping the filtered packet.
' Automatic password collection for many common network protocols: The Active Dissector component automatically recognizes and extracts pertinent information from many protocols including TELNET, FTP, POP3, RLOGIN, SSH1, ICQ, SMB, MySQL, HTTP, NNTP, X11, NAPSTER, IRC, RIP, BGP, SOCKS 5, IMAP 4, VNC, LDAP, NFS, and SNMP
' SSH1 support: Capture username, password, and the data of an SSH1 connection
' HTTPS support: Insertion into an HTTP SSL session, as long as a false certificate is accepted by the user
' PPTP suite: Perform man-in-the-middle attacks against PPTP tunnels
' Kill any connection: View and kill arbitrary active connections.
2.1.3 OpenVAS
OpenVAS is a versatile and powerful vulnerability scanner. The tool was originally designed as an open-source vulnerability assessment tool called Nessus. OpenVAS has highly customizable scans, but comes with a set of preconfigured scans, which are adequate for most purposes.
According to OpenVAS website [2]' The Open Vulnerability Assessment System (OpenVAS) is a framework of several services and tools offering a comprehensive and powerful vulnerability scanning and vulnerability management solution.'
[3] Its components are :
' Scanner: Executes the actual Network Vulnerability Tests (NVTs) via Open-VAS NVT Feed
' Administrator: Command line tool or as a full service daemon offering the OpenVAS Administration Protocol(OAP)
' Greenbone Security Assistant(GSA): Web service offering a user interface for web browsers
' Greenbone Security Desktop (GSD): Qt-based desktop client for OpenVAS Management Protocol (OMP)
' Command Line Interface (CLI): Command line tool which allows batch process creation to drive OpenVAS Manager
' Libraries: Aggregated shared functionality
' The most significant new features:
' Report Format Plug-in Framework
' Master-Slave mode
' Improved Scanner.
' The extended OMP of OpenVAS Manager makes several new features consistently available to all of its clients
2.2. Password cracking tools:
Password cracking does not have to involve fancy tools, but it is a tedious process. If the target doesn't lock you out after a specific number of tries, you can spend an infinite amount of time trying every combination of alphanumeric characters. It's just a question of time and bandwidth before you break into a system.
Brutus is one of the most popular remote online password cracking tools. It claims to be the fastest and most flexible password cracking tool.
[4] Brutus version AET2 is the current release and includes the following authentication types:
' HTTP (Basic Authentication)
' HTTP (HTML Form/CGI)
' Telnet
BRUTUS utilizes a management module, or Adaptive Critic, providing the user with a comprehensive analyzing tool for pseudo real-time detection of behavior changes. We provide details of the systems architecture of the individual components and the common framework within which they operate.
Most of the options in the user interface are pretty self explanatory. At the top, there are fields for you to input the IP address of the system that you are trying to crack, and the port number. There are also a couple of slide bars that allow you to choose how many simultaneous connections you want to make to the remote host and what the timeout period is for a non responding connection. Both of these options are already set to optimum values and should not be changed under most circumstances.
This tool has not been updated for many years. Still, it can be useful.
Obi Wan stands for Operation burning insecure Web server against Netscape. Obi Wan is written to carry out brute force security testing on Web servers. The idea behind this is web servers with simple challenge-response authentication mechanism mostly have no switches to set up intruder lockout or delay timings for wrong passwords. In fact this is the point to start from. Every user with a HTTP connection to a host with basic authentication can try username-password combinations as long as he/she likes.
Like other programs for UNIX systems passwords (crack) or NT passwords (l0phtcrack) Obi Wan uses wordlists and alternations of numeric or alpha-numeric characters as possible passwords. Since Web servers allow unlimited requests it is a question of time and bandwidth to break in a server system .The most interesting targets are web based administration front ends like Netscapes Server Administration. If you can break in, you are able to create accounts, stop the server and modify its content.
It is a Web password cracking tool that can work through a proxy. Obi Wan uses wordlists and alternations of numeric or alpha-numeric characters as possible passwords.
2.3 Port Scanning tools
Port scanning is one of the most common reconnaissance techniques used by testers to discover the vulnerabilities in the services listening at well-known ports. Once you've identified the IP address of a target system through foot printing, you can begin the process of port scanning: looking for holes in the system through which you -- or a malicious intruder -- can gain access. A typical system has 2^16 -1 port numbers, each with its own TCP and UDP port that can be used to gain access if unprotected. The most popular port scanner for Linux, Nmap, is also available for Windows. Nmap can scan a system in variety of stealth modes, depending upon how undetectable you want to be. Nmap can determine a lot of information about a target, like what hosts are available, what services are offered and what OS is running.
2.3.1 Nmap
NMAP (" Network Mapper ") is a free and open source (license) utility for network discovery and security auditing. Many systems and network administrators also find it useful for tasks such as network inventory, managing service upgrade schedules, and monitoring host or service uptime. Nmap uses raw IP packets in novel ways to determine what hosts are available on the network, what services (application name and version) those hosts are offering, what operating systems (and OS versions) they are running, what type of packet filters/firewalls are in use, and dozens of other characteristics. It was designed to rapidly scan large networks, but works fine against single hosts. Nmap runs on all major computer operating systems, and official binary packages are available for Linux, Windows, and Mac OS X. In addition to the classic command-line Nmap executable, the Nmap suite includes an advanced GUI and results viewer (Zenmap), a flexible data transfer, redirection, and debugging tool (Ncat), a utility for comparing scan results (Ndiff), and a packet generation and response analysis tool (Nping).; Nmap is free software, available with full source code under the terms of the GNU GPL.
Nmap features include:
' Host discovery ' Identifying hosts on a network. For example, listing the hosts that respond to pings or have a particular port open.
' Port scanning' Enumerating the open ports on target hosts.
' Version detection ' Interrogating network services on remote devices to determine application name and version number.
' OS detection ' Determining the operating system and hardware characteristics of network devices.
' Scriptable interaction with the target ' using Nmap Scripting Engine (NSE) and Lua programming language.
Nmap can provide further information on targets, including reverse DNS names, device types, and MAC addresses.
Typical uses of Nmap:
' Auditing the security of a device by identifying the network connections which can be made to it.
' Identifying open ports on a target host in preparation for auditing.
' Network inventory, network mapping, and maintenance and asset management.
' Auditing the security of a network by identifying new servers.
Nmap is a tool that can be used to discover services running on Internet connected systems. Like any tool it could potentially be used for black hat hacking, as a precursor to attempts to gain unauthorized access to computer systems. Nmap is more often used by security and systems administration to assess networks for vulnerabilities.
System administrators can use Nmap to search for unauthorized servers, or for computers that do not conform to security standards.
Nmap is related to vulnerability assessment tools such as Nessus, which test for common vulnerabilities in open ports. The included NSE scripts that are packaged with modern versions of Nmap are able to perform vulnerability checks against discovered services.
A number of various sites have been scanned using NMAP. The figure below depicts the results obtained after scanning RTU website.
Figure 1 shows the basic details of RTU website including the IP address, number of total ports available, number of open ports discovered, performing RPCGrind scan and much more other relevant details. It outlays the host details of RTU website which includes the host status that depicts the number of total ports scanned, number of open ports available, number of filtered ports. It shows IPv4 address of the website ;IPv6 and MAC address are not available for this website. Further, the type of operating system used and its accuracy of being correct is also illustrated. In this case, types of operating system detected may be Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SPI, Windows 7or Server2008. The accuracy with which this result has been obtained is 92% approximately.
It also shows the list of open ports on RTU website. It depicts the port number, protocol used on that port, its state of being open or closed or filtered, type of service provided on that port and the version details. For instance, port 21 is in open state where TCP protocol is used and the service provided is FTP.
2.4 Vulnerability scanning tools
Vulnerability is a flaw in a system, device, or application that, if leveraged by an attacker, could impact the security of the system. Exploits take advantage of vulnerability by compromising or destructing the vulnerable system, device, or application. Remediation is the process of repairing or providing a remedy for vulnerability, thereby eliminating the risk of being exploited. Vulnerability scanning is used to identify and evaluate the security posture of a network. Historically, scanners were developed for specific purposes such as scanning only Windows desktops, applications, or network devices.
A Vulnerability scanner allows you to connect to a target system and check for such vulnerabilities as configuration errors. A popular vulnerability scanner is the freely available open source tool Nessus. Nessus is an extremely powerful scanner that can be configured to run a variety of scans. While a windows graphical front end is available, the core Nessus product requires Linux to run. Microsoft's Baseline Security Analyser is a free Windows vulnerability scanner. MBSA can be used to detect security configuration errors on local computers or remotely across a network. Popular commercial vulnerability scanners include Retina Network Security Scanner, which runs on Windows, and SAINT, which runs on various Unix/Linux versions.
In general, a vulnerability scanner is made up of four main modules, namely, a Scan Engine, a Scan Database, a Report Module and a User Interface.
The Scan Engine executes security checks according to its installed plug-ins, identifying system information and vulnerabilities. It can scan more than one host at a time and compares the results against known vulnerabilities.
2. The Scan Database stores vulnerability information, scan results, and other data used by scanner. The number of available plug-ins, and the updating frequency of plug-ins will vary depending on the corresponding vendor. Each plug-in might contain not only the test case itself, but also a vulnerability description, a Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) identifier; and even fixing instructions for a detected vulnerability. Scanners with an "auto-update" feature can download and install the latest set of plug-ins to the database automatically.
3. The Report Module provides different levels of reports on the scan results, such as detailed technical reports with suggested remedies for system administrators, summary reports for security managers, and high-level graph and trend reports for executives.
4. The User Interface allows the administrator to operate the scanner. It may be either a Graphical User Interface (GUI), or just a command line interface.
2.4.1 Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer
The Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer, or MBSA, is a simple, easy-to-use application that helps determine the security state of Windows-based computers against Microsoft's recommendations. MBSA can detect common security mis-configurations and missing security updates for Windows and other related Microsoft software.
The MBSA provides built-in checks to determine if Windows administrative vulnerabilities are present, if weak passwords are being used on Windows accounts, the presence of known IIS and SQL administrative vulnerabilities, and which security updates are required on each individual system. The MBSA provides dynamic assessment of missing security updates. The MBSA can scan one or more computers by domain, IP address range or other grouping. Once complete, the MBSA provides a detailed report and instructions on how to help turn your system into a more secure working environment. The MBSA will create and store individual XML security reports for each computer scanned and will display the reports in the graphical user interface in HTML.
The three main options for utilizing MBSA are Scan A Computer, Scan Multiple Computers, and View Existing Security Scan Reports.
When you want to scan a single host (whether a remote node or your own computer), choose Scan A Computer and you will be shown the interface below.
When you initiate a scan, MBSA attempts to connect to the Internet to download the latest signatures and definitions from Microsoft.com.
After the download completes, the scan runs. When it's finished the results are displayed and you are given the option to print a report or save it to the clipboard.
Later on you can view this scan report again by choosing View Existing Security Scan Reports from the main MBSA interface.
A completed scan report groups its findings into categories matching the options in the scan menu, such as administrative vulnerabilities, SQL Server status and security updates. This is helpful in quickly resolving any issues discovered. The top of the report indicates which of three data sources were used, including Microsoft Update (the live service), Windows Server Update Services (a managing WSUS server) or Microsoft Update offline (when no other data source was available). It will also display the actual WSUS server used (if appropriate) and the date of the offline catalog. If an MBSA scan report is older than 7 days, the report will also indicate that a new scan should be performed to ensure an up-to-date security assessment.
2.4.2 SAINT scanner
SAINT (System Administrator's Integrated Network Tool) is computer software used for scanning computer networks for security vulnerabilities, and exploiting found vulnerabilities. The SAINT scanner screens every live system on a network for TCP and UDP services. For each service it finds running, it launches a set of probes designed to detect anything that could allow an attacker to gain unauthorized access, create a denial-of-service, or gain sensitive information about the network.
SAINT provides support to The Security Content Automation Protocol (SCAP) specification as an Unauthenticated Vulnerability Scanner and Authenticated Vulnerability and Patch Scanner. SAINT is also an approved scanning vendor with the Payment Card Industry (PCI).
The Four Steps of a SAINT Scan:
' Step 1 ' SAINT screens every live system on a network for TCP and UDP services.
' Step 2 ' For each service it finds running, it launches a set of probes designed to detect anything that could allow an attacker to gain unauthorized access, create a denial-of-service, or gain sensitive information about the network.
' Step 3 ' The scanner checks for vulnerabilities.
' Step 4 ' When vulnerabilities are detected, the results are categorized in several ways, allowing customers to target the data they find most useful.
SAINT can group vulnerabilities according to severity, type, or count. It can also provide information about a particular host or group of hosts. SAINT describes each of the vulnerabilities it locates; references Common Vulnerabilities & Exposures (CVE), CERT advisories, and IAVA (Information Assurance Vulnerability Alerts); and describes ways to correct the vulnerabilities. In many cases, the SAINT scanner provides links to patches or new software versions that will eliminate the detected vulnerabilities. SAINT offers heterogeneous scanning that identifies vulnerabilities across operating systems, desktop applications, network devices, Web applications, databases, and more.
2.4.3 RETINA scanner
Retina's function is to scan all the hosts on a network and report on any vulnerability found. Retina Network Security Scanner is the most sophisticated vulnerability assessment solution on the market. Available as a standalone application or as part of the Retina CS unified vulnerability management platform, Retina Security Scanner enables you to efficiently identify IT exposures and prioritize remediation enterprise-wide. Retina Network Security Scanner, the industry's most mature and effective vulnerability scanning technology, identifies the vulnerabilities ' missing patches, configuration weaknesses, and industry best practices - to protect an organization's IT assets. Retina provides cost-effective security risk assessment, as well as enables security best practices, policy enforcement, and regulatory audits.
Retina Network Security Scanner is used to proactively guard the network against intrusion by regularly testing the integrity of the network to uncover and fix potential security weaknesses. This award winning Security Scanner is designed to work in conjunction with the existing systems, networks, security packages, databases, and user interfaces.
3. Comparison of Tools
3.1 Nessus Vs OpenVAS
' [5] Nessus is one of the most popular and capable vulnerability scanners, particularly for UNIX systems. It was initially free and open source, but they closed the source code in 2005 and removed the free "Registered Feed" version in 2008. It now costs $1,200 per year, which still beats many of its competitors whereas OpenVAS is a vulnerability scanner that was forked from the last free version of Nessus after that tool went proprietary in 2005.
' Nessus is constantly updated, with more than 46,000 plug-in but for OpenVAS the project seemed dead for a while, but development has restarted.
' [6]Nessus plug in count is 42,493 whereas OpenVAS plug in count is 20,961 (49% of Nessus)
A comparison test was conducted to compare results of scanning various servers (Windows and Linux/Unix) in production environment by both mentioned vulnerability scanners and to determine which vulnerabilities are missed by any of those tools in order to improve them.
In this different servers are scanned in production environment, several switches, Wi-Fi access point and print servers. This testing environment included both Windows and Linux servers in various functions such as DNS servers, mail servers, web servers etc. These servers are all used on daily basis for academic and research purposes, hosting projects and other purposes. Both, OpenVAS and Nessus, scans were executed in two similar configurations:
1. Default configuration with all plugins and safe checks option enabled
2. Default configuration with all plugins enabled and safe checks option disabled
By default configuration initial Global Settings in OpenVAS Client, and initial Default Scan Policy in Nessus Client. Ness* => scan with safe checks option enabled
Ness =>scan without safe checks option enabled
OVAS* => OpenVAS scan with safe checks option enabled
OVAS => OpenVAS scan without safe checks option enable
Scanning results show that Nessus scanner still reports much more vulnerabilities than OpenVAS.
Scan Percentage (all vuln.)
Ness* 79%
Ness 84%
Table: Testing efficiency
3.2 Nmap Vs Nessus
As the Open Source movement became popular, in network security field .Nmap was released in 1997 and Nessus released in 1998 both was open source. Nessus became proprietary in 2005 although for personal use this product is still free.
As per as use Nmap use is concern, it is very helpful in
' Find the status of host (up or down)
' Find the open ports on a particular hosts
' OS and its version on hosts (windows xp or Linux?)
' Presence of firewall
' List of network services running on host
Nessus can do almost all which Nmap do, other than that Nessus can find CVE(Common Vulnerability Exposures) using its plug in. Nessus should be used in you have following security needs
' Security audit
' Vulnerability Scanning and analysis
' Sensitive data discovery
' Open port scanner (like Nmap)
' Asset & Process profiling
Comparative view of the vulnerabilities detected by the scanners
Vulnerabilities Nmap Nessus
SQL injection ' '
Improper error management ' '
Cross site Scripting ' '
Rogue Servers ' '
Denial of Service ' '
Remote Code Execution '
Format String Identifier '
IIS.printer '
3.3 NESSUS v/s RETINA v/s SAINT
The comparison between the three is done on the basis of four criteria:-
1. Mapping- Network mapping is a critical first step in any network security project.
2. Vulnerability analysis- The vulnerabilities these scanners can detect
3. Data management- Large networks generate hundreds, if not thousands, of records of network map and vulnerability information. We evaluated how these tools let network managers sort, sift and report on all that data--and how hard they have to work to do it.
4. Performance- tools on large networks
The first task of a vulnerability analyzer is to discover what's on the network, and what it's running. In addition to discovering systems and services, we tested each product's ability to spot services running on nonstandard ports, and what OSes were running on each system.
' Nessus offers the best control, with six port-scanning techniques, from simple ping to SNMP discovery to actually trying a TCP connection. Nessus did a good job of identifying services on nonstandard ports, but as with many open-source products, it was inconsistent on quality control.
' Retina allows you to scan a host even if it doesn't respond to ping packets. Retina and SAINT did well in most cases, but both had major functional flaws. Retina reported hundreds of nonexistent TCP and UDP services. Retina identified all of the services we had stashed on nonstandard ports, but didn't follow through as it sometimes cannot detect the server running on the same ports in a relay.
' SAINT generally did an excellent job, even finding some services that the others missed. However, its internal database was confused by a DNS trap we laid for it, and one system couldn't be scanned or reported on by IP number or DNS name. It also performed poorly on a Windows system with many simultaneous Web servers, missing not only the nonstandard ones, but one running on port 80 as well. SAINT failed to flag any TCP/IP network services on nonstandard ports.
The core of VA products is their engine. Each of the engines had problems both with false positives (a vulnerability reported which was not actually there) and false negatives (failing to report a known problem).
' Nessus (see screen, below) performed best overall.
' Retina, SAINT missed a lot of problems on all the servers and systems tested, but had a fairly low false positive rate.
Data Management Data management is vital, especially if you plan to scan your network more than once.
None of tools stood out for their data management capabilities.
' SAINT does a poor job integrating the results of scans, their configuration and some repeatable way to run the same scan.
' Nessus itself doesn't have a data management tool.
' The Windows-based GUI on Retina doesn't have a lot of data management features, but it's one of the best to give an overview on a system-by-system basis of the problems found in vulnerability analysis. Unfortunately, Retina only allows you to look at your results on a system-by-system basis.
Product name SAINT NESSUS RETINA
Pricing Expensive Open-source Cost effective
Platform Linux/solaris Unix/windows Windows
Network mapping Name-to-address problems kept it from working well Could be more accurate Generally excellent when worked, but create problems sometimes
Vulnerability testing Missed some critical problems Good balance
Excellent unix coverage Didn't do well on non-standard ports
Data management Few tools to help network admin Nice data management Excellent overview of the problems found
Reporting Weak reporting overall Good selection of reports Good report selection
performance Had to break up scans into pieces Scanned in appropriate length of time Fast, but did not always run to completion
4. Conclusion
This paper addressed ethical hacking from several perspectives. Ethical hacking seems to be a new buzz word although the techniques and ideas of testing security by attacking an installation aren't new at all. But, with the present poor security on the internet, ethical hacking may be the most effective way to plug security holes and prevent intrusions. On the other hand ethical hacking tools have also been notorious tools for crackers. So, at present the tactical objective is to stay one step ahead of the crackers. Ethical Hacking is a tool, which if properly utilized, can prove useful for understanding the weaknesses of a network and how they might be exploited. After all, ethical hacking will play a certain role in the security assessment offerings and certainly has earned its place among other security assessments. In conclusion, it must be said that the ethical hacker is an educator who seeks to enlighten not only the customer, but also the security industry as a whole. In an effort to accomplish this, let us welcome the Ethical Hacker into our ranks as a partner in this quest.
5. References
[1] Vol. 2, Issue 12, December 2013
Gurpreet K. Juneja.
[2] OpenVAS. 'open vulnerability assessment system'. http://www.openvas.org/about.html and http://www.openvas.org/aboutsoftware.
html. [Accessed on March 2014].
[3] Security Assessment via Penetration Testing: A
Network and System Administrator's Approach
Nishant Shrestha
Network and System Administration
Oslo University College
June 4, 2012
[4] http://www.darknet.org.uk/2006/09/brutus-password-cracker-download-brutus-aet2zip-aet2/ [Accessed on March 2104]
[5] http://sectools.org/tag/vuln-scanners/ [Accessed on April 2014]
[6] http://rageweb.info/2011/04/13/openvas-vs-tenable-nessus/ [Accessed on April 2014]
[7] BRUTUS - A Hybrid Detection Tool.
P.Burge, J.Shawe-Taylor, Y.Moreau, H.Verrelst, C.Stoermann, P.Gosset.
[10] http://sectools.org/tag/vuln-scanners/
[11] www.frost.com
[12] www.symantec.com
[13] www.techrepublic.com
[14] www.darknet.uk
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The Baths (or the Bathings as it was sometimes called) was the name given to the farmhouse located at the end of Bath Road in Thornbury. The name of the place is derived from the fact that it had a public swimming pool in its grounds.
Unfortunately we have been unable to identify the person who had the initiative to dam up the little stream in the field running down from Vilner towards Gillingstool in order to create a bathing pool and public wash-house. The Baths are mentioned in Robsons trade directory of 1839 and they were there in 1840 when the Tithe Survey was carried out. The map accompanying the survey clearly shows the rectangular pool alongside the side the far house. It is interesting to note that the map shows another large area of water to the east of the house which was of irregular shape. The buildings shown on this map are similar to those shown on later maps published in 1880 and the 1950s (see below).
Although Parliament passed the Baths and Washhouses Act in 1846 to encourage local authorities to build public baths and wash-houses, Thornbury was, in this case, ahead of its time. The Baths in Thornbury were probably constructed, as a private initiative, in response to the national cholera outbreak of 1832 when records show that at least two people died of the disease in Thornbury. At a time when there was no bathroom, or even running water, in the majority of houses, it is likely that The Baths were built to help keep clean as recommended by doctors and social reformers who had begun to realise that cleanliness might prevent the spread of infections.
A speech given by Handel Cossham in 1888 refers to his maternal grandfather, 'John Shepherd of The Baths, Thornbury'. As John died in 1839 this might indicate that The Baths had been built earlier than 1839. We have written about John, and the other families who lived at The Baths on a separate webpage. Click here to read that page
The two images below show extracts of maps showing The Baths in 1880 and the 1950s.
We have written in detail about the swimming pool on a separate page relating to Swimming in Thornbury. Click here to read that page. On this page we provide a brief history of the owners of the property.
William Rolph – the 1840 Tithe Survey shows the property consisting of the farm house, garden and baths owned by William Rolph. William was a solicitor and a member of a wealthy Thornbury family. He owned several properties in Thornbury including his home, the mansion house in the High Street which is now the Town Hall. Click here to read about William
A later abstract of title for the property refers to a Manor Court Roll dated 1st December 1854 at which the property was conveyed from William Rolph to Francis William Yates.
Francis William Yates – became the owner of several properties in Thornbury although he appears not to have lived in the town. The Yates family appears to have lived at The Wood, Codsall Wood, Albrighton near Wolverhampton throughout the time he owned the properties in Thornbury.
His interests in Thornbury stem from his family's connections with Joseph Yates who went into partnership with William Rolph (see above) and others to run a bank at 11 High Street. When Joseph died in 1819 he made his nephew, Francis (that is the father of Francis William) one of his executors. He also appointed another nephew, Joseph Yates the Younger (the brother of Francis) to succeed him in the banking partnership.
Francis William Yates was baptised on 30th September 1829 in Blymhill, Staffordshire and he was the son of farmer Francis Yates and his wife Hannah (nee Icke) who both came from Staffordshire.
The 1862, 1867 and 1876 rate books show Francis owned The Villa in Thornbury and by 1876 he also owned four houses in Upper Bath Road.
The 1901 Census shows that Francis William Yates then aged 71 and a land owner lived at The Wood in Donnington, Shropshire. He was living with his wife Annie aged 50 and his son also called Francis William Yates aged 21 who was also a farmer. Francis William Yates junior appears to have been born in Shifnal in 1880. A second son William Yates was articled to a solicitor.
In 1911 he sold the site for the new market in Rock Street to Thornbury Rural District Council.
Francis William Yates junior married Mildred Alice Hatton in 1909 in Stourbridge. On the birth certificate of their son Francis John Yates on 1st December 1911 Francis was said to be living at Albrighton in Shifnal. Captain Francis William Yates of the Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry died of his wounds on 25th April 1915 at Number 7 Stationary Hospital Boulogne. His probate record shows that his home address was Hollis House Albrighton Shropshire. His executors were Ernest Edward Bird and Walter William Yates.
Francis William Yates senior died on 30th September 1916 aged 80. His probate record shows that his address was The Wood, Codsall Wood, Wolverhampton and that William Walter Yates solicitor and James Henry Wyley were appointed as trustees of his estate which amounted to £88516 7s 4d.
Francis's executors carried on owning The Baths until 1949. Then they sold the farmhouse to Herbert Henry Pearce for £1250 whose family had been tenants of the property since 1918 or earlier. The swimming pool was sold to Thornbury Parish Council for £350.
Click here to read about the Pearce family
On 3rd February 1971 Herbert Henry Pearce sold the farmhouse and land to Thornbury Rural District Council for £14,500. The council were developing this area of the town and building the housing estate known as Streamleaze. They demolished all the buildings and used the land to build a children's home called Bathurst House and sheltered housing units called ' The Bathings ', 'Spring House' and 'Brook House'. The children's home has since closed.

subset: commoncrawl


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Dear Parent/Carer
DSTC to become a NUT FREE and AEROSOL FREE ZONE with immediate effect
At DSTC we have a number of students who have severe, and in some cases, life-threatening allergies to nuts and/or aerosols. In particular for one of our students, if she comes into any contact with any type of nuts or aerosol (e.g. deodorant or hairspray), either directly or indirectly (even by touching someone who themselves has been eating/using them), then this student's breathing will rapidly deteriorate and immediate medical attention will be needed. Staff have been trained in administering an 'Epi-Pen' should such an incident occur but we would obviously like to avoid the risk of this ever happening and putting one of our students at serious risk of harm.
To this end, I ask for your co-operation in making the school a 'Nut and Aerosol Free Zone'. Any food sent into school must not contain nuts of any kind. Any packaging that says "may contain traces of nuts" or other similar comments, would be OK to bring into school as they are of much less risk to students with allergies. If students wish to bring deodorant into school this must be of a non-aerosol type (e.g. roll on.)
I am aware of the inconvenience that checking labels and ingredients may cause, however, I am sure that you can appreciate the importance of this request. I trust that everyone will join the staff, catering service and cleaning team in making DSTC as safe as possible for all.
If you do have any further queries please do not hesitate to contact Ms Cane, Vice Principal.
Once again, thank you for your support.
Yours sincerely
Ms Ann Cane
Vice Principal


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There is something really special about Island Time philosophy.
Things don't always happen when you want them to.
They tend to happen when they are meant to and as the song goes
"… You can't always get what you want, but you get what you need".
We live in a make do and mend ideology, relying heavily upon transport infrastructure for commodities that keep the wheels turning both privately and professionally.
Brave pilots can't fly when clouds close in and boats stranded on sand bars won't be going anywhere in a hurry.
If it's pouring with rain, expect delay! If the ocean is churning expect delay!
Australia post, newspapers and magazines, freight of all shapes and sizes will arrive, when Mother Nature is ready.
Time stops.
Yet the sound of commercial airplanes remind us that life off island is busy and looking to the sky I can see the jet stream of the flight to Sydney…right on time.
Time is spent doing rather that consuming.
We collect firewood in winter, fish to put food on the table, beach comb for treasure, camp in peace or take children on outings and then you can always exercise.
Perhaps the isolation is alleviated by endorphins.
Check on chickens, fences, livestock and friends.
The list of things to do just never ends.
Even with advancement in technology, living on Flinders Island is reminiscent of the 1960's and unless you have access to the Telstra 3G network, you'll be without a mobile phone.
With no traffic lights, roundabouts or freeways to negotiate, cars with bells and whistles are considered fancy indeed.
Where to park or for how long? There are no parking meters, inspectors and no worries.
We haven't even the need to remember a two-dollar coin for the shopping trolley!
By midday Saturday the supermarket and general store in Whitemark is closed.
And the bakery and café that alternately trade on Saturday's wind down around one.
Permission to chill-ax!
Tinker with the car, machinery and even piano keys.
Sing for your soul in the choir or join a band, you can perfect your performance for the Music In The Vines Festival.
The sky is the limit to leisure time probabilities.
Why not take in the view from the Furneaux Tavern with a glass of local Unavale wine or bet on a horse at the Interstate Hotel.
Remember the six o'clock swill?
Watering holes close early Sunday – my place for roast dinner anyone?
Be consumed by gardening.
Plant flowers and shrubs, fruit and trees and never before have our vegetable plots been so massive.
Time is spent deciding what to do with abundance!
When food ripens it's time to make chutney, relish, jam, slices, soups and cakes.
Share with your neighbours or show to the community what you have achieved.
Flinders Island Annual Show is the perfect place to air your wares and it's obligatory to have a somewhat competitive streak.
Play golf, hike in the mountains and yoga in peace.
Participate in a craft, alone or with friends.
Ride a horse or motorbike, watch wildlife, watch a DVD, read the paper, write a letter, study, make a list!
Whatever you choose to do, slow down, time is of the essence.
X Sammi & Megan
image taken at Bowmans History Room :: Flinders island


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It's true that I want everyone on the planet to "come to Jesus." I want them to leave Islam in droves. But in the meantime, maybe we can lift the oppression from average Muslims, especially women, by encouraging a reform of Islam's harshest laws. Let's see if we can open a dialogue. This is Part 18 in the sharia series, the final installment.
Reform can't come from Westerners. All we can do is goad someone in the Islamic world to take some steps towards change.
My only platform or right to speak is that I spent endless hours from 2004-2007 studying and writing about Islam. I felt it was my duty to write critically about its unpleasant aspects because back then hardly anyone knew about them. Then I updated my sharia articles in 2012, culminating in a long summary.
I'm not going back to writing about this religion, but with the terrorist attacks on 11/13 in Paris and the one in San Bernardino, I would like to offer a possible path.
Are there any Muslims who have the courage? Are they teachable?
El-Sisi of Egypt called for reform led by religious leaders. Assuming they heed his call, which parts of sharia need it most?
First, let's lay out the basics.
Islam is steeped in sharia or religious law – it permeates daily life inside and outside the mosque, the business world, politics, and even warfare, to name only them.
Sociologically and historically speaking, why is that?
Throughout his life, Muhammad barely made contact with Christians (and certainly not anyone who knew what he was talking about), but when he moved up to Medina, a large community of Jews thrived there.
Judaism deeply influenced him. And there is no clearer religious law than the Torah and Talmudic interpretations.
Some examples: the Medinan Jews scurried around the marketplace on Friday to get ready for the Sabbath, so Muhammad ordained that his sacred time would be Friday. If they had a religious tithe-tax, then he imposed a religious tax, though not ten percent. If they had various fasts and feasts, then so would he have a season of fasting and feasting. If their law stoned adulterers to death, then his law would, too. He incorporated many stories from the Old Testament (and the New). The list is just about endless.
Of course, there are other sources of Islam, usually Arab culture. One is the pilgrimage to Mecca. Another one is raiding. As Muhammad's raiding succeeded, it was transformed into jihad and qital (only warfare).
In many instances, Muhammad simply absorbed his culture. He may have tweaked or adjusted his religion differently, but Judaism and Arab life were strong influences.
Now let's look at the two main sections of sharia with their subsets (slightly edited):
- The acts of worship, or al-ibadat. These include:
- Ritual purification
- Prayers
- Fasts
- Charities
- Pilgrimage to Mecca
- Human interaction, or al-mu'amalat, which includes:
- Financial transactions
- Endowments
- Laws of inheritance
- Marriage, divorce, and child care
- Foods and drinks (including ritual slaughtering and hunting)
- Penal punishments
- Warfare and peace
- Judicial matters (including witnesses and forms of evidence)
I suggest we skip over the first section, because it doesn't "pick my pocket or break my leg," to quote Jefferson. And it is the first section that is least likely to be reformed, since it shows a Muslim's devotion to God. Though I disagree with each one theologically, I have been careful in all my articles to avoid that section.
So it is parts of the second section that must be reformed, because they might indeed pick our pockets or break our legs.
To read which ones of the second section that urgently need to be reformed, please click on Thirty Sharia Laws. Though it is difficult for liberal Western intellectuals to believe, a careful reading of them explains why ISIS acts the way they do.
Though there are many laws of those thirty that need immediate reforming, let's boil them down to the penal code (F), warfare (G), and marriage and divorce (D).
We don't have to answer each one with detail; rather, my purpose here is to offer some general principles. Christians use three of them to interpret the Bible.
Here are four of them that might lead to the beginnings of reform.
1. Muslims have to admit that Islam has problems.
"That can't be! Islam is a world religion! You're just an Islamophobe!"
Islam may be a world religion, but there's no use denying it has problems that other religions, properly interpreted, don't have. Everyone else (except Western university professors and journalists) can see it has unique problems. Name-calling won't solve anything.
I can easily imagine the Reformers of Christianity in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries having personal difficulties in deciding to change. But they stepped forward and decided to act, notably Martin Luther (1483-1546). Even Catholics at the Council of Trent, held at various times from 1545-63, in response to the Reformation, admitted that their practices (but not their main doctrines) had to change.
Will Muslim leaders call an international conference and reform or remove parts of Islamic law?
2. The doctrine of inspiration must be modified.
You can believe that Allah dictated it, but as noted, it is clear that the Qur'an has historical aspects that inform it. That means Allah spoke some verses in the language of the seventh-century Arabs.
Christians might be able to help here. We believe that God inspired the Bible, but we recognize that there are cultural and historical aspects to it, for God spoke to people back then in their own language. We don't bring all of the cultural aspects forward today.
This leads us to the next point.
3. An interpretive method has to be devised to separate the cultural aspects of the Qur'an and the timeless and universal aspects.
Christians have come up with the historical-critical method. We examine each verse in its historical context. If any one of them is timeless and universal, then we take it forward and apply it to our lives. For example, Psalm 23 – the most beloved psalm of all – talks about God as a shepherd, which was a common agricultural trade back then. The timeless and universal part is that God will take care of his people. But we don't believe that God calls each of us to imitate the poetry and become literal shepherds.
Another example: the Old Testament assumes total annihilation warfare in a strictly controlled geographical region. Why is that? Ancient people back then assumed it also. The Hebrew Bible was simply reflecting its culture.
But we don't bring those texts forward today. We have modern ways to wage war, if we must.
4. The verses about jihad and qital, punishments, and marriage and divorce laws have expiration dates back in the seventh century.
It is clear they are adaptations of Arab culture. They are not timeless and universal.
America has changed. In the seventeenth century, Christians imposed some of the Old Testament punishments, but later, more intellectual Founders in the late eighteenth century realized that the old religious law was outdated. Islam doesn't need to whip alcoholics or chop off the hands of thieves. Those are harsh (whipping) or were part of brutal Arab culture (chopping off a hand). No, our Founders didn't chop off hands, but they did change some harsh laws.
Another example between Judaism and Christianity: one interpretation of an old Deuteronomy divorce law said a man could divorce his wife for any "displeasing" or "indecent" cause. All a man had to do was present a certificate of divorce. Islam says a man (not a woman) can pronounce "I divorce you" three times, and it is perfectly legal and final. No paperwork is needed. Either law is oppressive for the wife and makes her vulnerable in society, where women's rights are limited.
For his kingdom community, Jesus reformed the old divorce law and severely restricted the circumstances under which one can divorce. Though no one today can measure up to Jesus, can Islam update or reform this old sharia rule in a well-attended council of scholars?
Let's wrap this up.
Muslims must show more courage than Western university professors of religion and journalists who deny that Islam has unique problems that are not faced by other religions. If someone does point this out, then he's called an "Islamophobe."
Even el-Sisi modified or softened his call. Now Saudi Arabia threatens to sue Twitter users if they compare Saudi Arabia's sharia with ISIS. Maybe they can explain how their crucifixion differs from ISIS's crucifixion. Yes, this punishment is found in the Qur'an (see the verse in four orthodox Sunni translations).
Saudi Arabia's defensiveness is not a very hopeful sign for reform.
So it's my sad prediction that this absence of the will to change means that we will have to wait several generations before we see a reformation of any sort – if at all.
In the meantime, we will just have to laugh behind our hands when they wrongly call us "Islamophobes."
This article appeared at American Thinker on Dec. 3, 2015, but has been updated and expanded here.
Articles in the Series
Political Islam
Marital, Domestic and Women's Issues
- Women's Status and Roles
- Domestic Violence
- Divorce and Remarriage
- Marriage to Prepubescent Girls
- Polygamy
- Veils
Sexual "Crimes" and Punishments
- Thirty Sharia Laws
- How to Judge Sharia
- Time to Reform Islam
More Punishments:


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On Saturday, Oct. 24, the Covered Street Barn at Artscape Wychwood Barns was transformed into a Halloween festival welcoming over 1000 ghouls and goblins, princesses and superheroes all ages. BOO! at the Barns, presented by WBCA and Artscape, is an annual, multi-vendor event and a neighbourhood favourite.
Thank you to the Event Sponsors, Arlington Dental & Vaughan Road Dental and The Josie Stern Team as well as In-Kind Sponsors Above Ground Art Supplies, Barefoot Wine, Steam Whistle Brewing and Pizza Del Arte for helping to make the magic happen.
Check out the rest of the BOO! At the Barns photo gallery on our Facebook Page!


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Orthodox Prayers
See: Please Pray For Us @ Korennaya Hermitage
See: Kursk Root Icon Prayers
Brothers & Sisters, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. 2 Thessalonians, 3
The Lords Prayer
The Creed
Church Fathers Quotes on Prayer
The Jesus Prayer
Prayer to Your Patron Saint
Prayer to Your Guardian Angel
A Prayer to the All-Holy Trinity
Prayer on Enterin a Church
Prayer upon Leaving a Church
Prayer at the Icon of Christ
Prayer at the Icon of the Theotokos
Prayer Before Any Task
Prayer After Any Task
Prayer Toward the Unknown
Prayer for Repentance
Prayer Before Travel
Prayer for Love
Prayer for Acceptance of God's Will
Prayer Before Studying the Bible
Prayers Before Receiving Communion
Prayer After Receiving Communion
Links to Orthodox Prayer
The Jesus Prayer Orthodox Library
The Lords Prayer ***
Our Father, Who art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors;
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one. Amen
The Creed:
I believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages. Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten, not created, of one essence with the Father, through whom all things were made. For us and for our salvation, He came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became man. He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and He suffered and was buried. On the third day He rose according to the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead. His Kingdom will have no end. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life, who proceeds from the Father, who together with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who spoke through the prophets. In one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. I expect the resurrection of the dead. And the life of the age to come. Amen.
Church Fathers Quotes on Prayer:
When mind and heart are united in prayer and the soul is wholly concentrated in a single desire for God, then the heart grows warm and the light of Christ begins to shine and fills the inward man with peace and joy. We should thank the Lord for everything and give ourselves up to His will; we should also offer Him all our thoughts and words, and strive to make everything serve only His good pleasure. - St. Seraphim of Sarov
Prayer is a great weapon, a rich treasure, a wealth that is never exhausted, an undisturbed refuge, a cause of tranquility, the root of a multitude of blessings and their source. - St. John Chrysostom
Prayer is a conversation directly with God, being always with God, having one's soul united with Him and one's mind inseparable. A person becomes one with the angels and unites with them in perpetual praise and longing for God. - St. Symeon of Thessalonik
The Jesus Prayer:
Orthodox Prayers - Articles & Orthodox Christian Resources - Antiochian Orthodox Church
Prayer - An Orthodox Prayer book, a handy compilation of Orthodox prayers - Orthodox Information
Orthodox Prayers - Prayer is an indispensable element of every Orthodox Christian's life.
Eastern Orthodox Christian Trebnic - Prayers/Services - St Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church
Orthodox Prayers and Articles About Prayer - "Prayer is a great weapon, a rich treasure, a wealth that is never exhausted, an undisturbed refuge, a cause of tranquility, the root of a multitude of blessings, and their source." —St. John Chrysostom
Orthodox Prayer Book: MYRIOBIBLOS - Myriobiblos: The E-text Library of the Church of Greece.
Eastern Orthodox Prayers - Individual prayers for all needs
Orthodox Prayers - In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
THE PRIEST'S SERVICE BOOK: The following is a reproduction of the Priest's Service Book as translated by Archbishop Dimitry


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If you buy a new computer every couple of years you may never need to replace a battery. However, after 5 years or so, you may need to purchase a new battery for your PC. Prior to the battery dying, your PC will give you signs that you need a replacement.
1. Check your clock's time. If the battery's dying, your clock time won't stay accurate. The clock will display a lag time of either minutes or hours.
2. Look for dead battery warnings. When you start up your PC, your computer checks the battery's status. If your battery is going dead, an error message will appear at the bottom of the screen.
3. Notice any lost CMOS settings. A PC battery provides the power to store important data, referred to as CMOS settings. If your battery goes bad, you'll start to lose the settings stored on your computer.
4. Attempt to boot up the PC. Eventually, your PC may no longer boot due to the dead battery. At this point, you should buy a replacement or take the machine to a computer repair shop and have a professional replace the battery.Tags: battery dying, battery dying your, clock time, CMOS settings, dead battery, dying your, replace battery


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Register Now for the 2013 National Summit on Your City's Families
Municipal leaders and their community partners are invited to register for NLC's 2013 National Summit on Your City's Families, which will be held November 12-14 in Seattle, in conjunction with and immediately preceding NLC's Congress of Cities and Exposition. Local leaders have the opportunity to participate in both events, and can register now on the NLC website.
Network with Peers. Find Solutions. Reenergize Your Efforts.
The biennial Summit is the nation's largest gathering of municipal leaders who are working to improve the lives of children, youth and families in their communities. Hundreds of mayors, city councilmembers, senior municipal staff, and school and community partners will gather at the Summit for two days of learning, training and networking.
As part of this year's Summit, NLC will launch a new strategic partnership with the Urban Libraries Council (ULC) by hosting joint sessions that bring together Summit attendees with participants in ULC's Partners for Success conference, which takes place in Seattle on November 12-13. Together, participants in these conferences will explore the power of collaboration among libraries, municipal leaders, and civic organizations in improving educational outcomes for residents of all ages.
Building Partnerships, Getting Results
More than ever, municipal leaders are at the forefront of community-wide efforts to boost educational achievement, promote health and wellness, prevent youth violence, and increase family financial stability. Are these initiatives leading to better outcomes? Are cities generating a measurable return on their investments?
A strong emphasis on community solutions and "results-based" partnerships will permeate the 2013 Summit, giving attendees new tools for addressing local challenges while tracking and sustaining progress over time. Participants will learn how cities and their partners increasingly are using a Results-Based Accountability framework to measure success, working backward from the results they are trying to achieve collectively to the strategies they will use to get there.
Summit participants will also play a key role in shaping future directions for NLC's work by joining a process for defining key benchmarks for effective municipal leadership on behalf of children and families.
How to Register
Registration for the 2013 Summit is now open on the Congress of Cities online registration website. Early registration rates are in effect between now and July 30, and include an option to register for both the Summit and the Congress of Cities at a sharply discounted rate.
Summit information - including workshop descriptions, keynote speakers, and information on structured networking opportunities - will be posted regularly at www.nlc.org/2013Summit. For questions about the Summit, please contact Sharie Wood at (202) 626-3087 or email@example.com.


text: I'm going to be at The Philadelphia Flower Show for a talk on my work-in-process 31 Days of Urban Agriculture on Saturday, March 7, 2015 at 5pm in a space called The Gardener's Studio (located on the Show floor adjacent to the PHS Hamilton Horticourt). The deets The 45-minute interactive talk will focus on the growing urban agriculture movement. We'll look at how art and other communications can … [Read more...] about Philadelphia Flower Show urban farming art talk


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Scott Aaronson seems to believe that because he's a quantum physicist that he's also knowledgeable enough to make intelligent comments – in his blog – on the JFK assassination. He isn't. He comes across as yet another overconfident, under-informed proxy "expert" (using his quantum physics bona fides) but who probably couldn't tell Oswald's OS-351- 164 file from his 201- 289 248 CI/SIG file or his 74-500 file. All as reported in the Appendices of Military Science professor John Newman's book, 'Oswald and the CIA' – from freedom of information act documents.
But this is the typical BS that serious assassination researchers have to put up with – because these semi-educated (on the assassination) critics only serve to clutter the blogosphere with yet more disinformation and ignorance when some of us are attempting to educate our countrymen as to what really went down – based on actual documents released on the basis of the JFK Records Act – not half-assed speculations or conjectures.
Look, I will try to go easy on this guy – given he's a quantum physicist – but I will not back away from calling out balderdash when I see it, the same as I would with SPLC writer Marilyn Elias, Miami Herald columnist, Glen Garvin, and Dr. Steve Mason.
For those who want to see all of his dreck you can dredge it up here:
I will stick only to the distilled claims extracted from his bilge. My points in the order in which he elicits them in his forlorn preface to his "20 reasons for believing Oswald was the lone assassin".
1- The use of the term "buffs" is a derogative term as has been pointed out by Dr. Michael Parenti in his paper, The JFK Assassination - Defending the
Parenti notes: Gangster State
"These investigators have been described as "assassination buffs." The term "buff" is a diminishing characterization, describing someone who pursues odd hobbies. For the same reason that we would not refer to "Holocaust buffs," so should we not refer to these serious investigators as "assassination buffs." Their efforts reveal a conspiracy to assassinate the president and an even more extensive conspiracy to hide the crime. "
By invoking the term "buffs" in the JFK case, one can suspect that – logically – Aaronson would also label Simon Wiesenthal as a "Holocaust buff" because he's pursued further research into the Nazi butchers who ran the camps – especially those that pulled the levers to release Zyklon B.
2- Aaronson claims when the "scales were peeled from my eyes" he found the Warren Commission claim that Oswald fired exactly 3 shots with his Mannlicher –Carcano from the Texas School Book Depository "compelling". REALLY? Then either Scott didn't examine the WC evidence diligently enough, or he was incapable of applying the most basic geometry and physics – not to mention being unable to peruse files more recently released via the JFK Records Act – including Gerald R. Ford's abominable revision of the (upper back) wound placement, see e.g.
Let's make it clear Aaronson - as a physicist - could have done the same analysis as I did above, if he'd have gotten off his ass and actually obtained the requisite files (FOIA requests from the National Archives), examined them and proceeded. Did he? Clearly not! In fact, he's not even remotely aware of how the Warren Commission itself was compromised ab initio. See e.g.
3- Aaronson claims "And as for Oswald's motives, I think I understand them as well and as poorly as I understand the motives of the people who send me ramblings every week about P vs. NP and the secrets of the universe."
I don't think so, pally. If you didn't access his CIA files, how the hell could you possibly know anything about his motives? As Michael Parenti notes (ibid.):
"Lee Harvey Oswald spent most of his adult life not as a lone drifter but directly linked to the
In regard to the last, examination of his CI/SIG file showed that Oswald had clearance – access for all the following:
"The locations of all bases on the west coast, all radio frequencies for all squadrons, all tactical call signs, strength of all squadrons, the number and type of aircraft in each, names of commanding officers, and authentic codes of entering and exiting all ADIZ radar ranges."
If indeed Oswald was as lame as Aaronson claims, he'd never have been entrusted with any of these, period! Hell, he'd not have been entrusted with the CIA Director's pet poodle. Moreover, he'd never ever have been let out of the States, and with the ease of dispatch the document trails disclose.
Once again, this glaring failure of perception – because Aaronson hasn't done his homework- shows he's not qualified to comment on any aspect of the assassination.
4-Aaronson claims he began his thinking by allowing something like a "10 % probability" for conspiracy in the JFK assassination and then – after presumably investigating (which he clearly didn't – as shown from the previous critiques), he then goes on to aver:
"Now, though, I'd place the JFK conspiracy hypothesis firmly in Moon-landings-were-faked, Twin-Towers-collapsed-from-the-inside territory."
Really? And you call yourself a physicist? You ought to turn in your diplomas, degrees! This bloviation discloses he can't discern an actual conspiracy from a loony bin conspiracy "theory" or paranoid speculation. The clearest example of the latter, apart from the ones he conflates with the JFK assassination conspiracy, is one cited by Joe Klein in the latest TIME (Oct. 20, 'A Troubled American Moment', p. 28). That is, the "federal government buying tons of ammunition for the post office in order to raise the price of ammo for gun owners."
Now THAT is a "conspiracy theory" at least by the standard of common mocking and ridicule as present in the mainstream media and too many blogs! In fact, it's little more than a wild speculation because there's NO evidence offered at all. It is based on a feeling or more accurately a paranoid suspicion. This type of subjective foolishness is impossible to prove or disprove because it's in some psychological la-la land where no evidence would even be accepted by the paranoid, anti-government speculators.
Compare that to the fake Moon landing bilge which can easily be disproven (assuming the proposers are open to science) by referencing the lunar laser ranging experiments (to determine the precise distance from Earth to the Moon). These use lasers fired from Earth to reflectors left on the Moon's surface by the Apollo Moon landing teams. (If they contend that "robot craft" could have left them there the logical retort is, "Well if we could send robot craft to the Moon why not manned craft? Once you can compute the necessary trajectory 99% of the problem is solved!)
In the case of the JFK assassination, physics works the reverse way to show why a conspiracy – had to exist.
Let's first bear in mind when we write or speak of conspiracy we mean a three-layered configuration, as noted by Peter Dale Scott in his 'Oswald, Mexico and Deep Politics: Revelations from CIA Records on the Assassination of JFK'. The layers include: 1) The framing of Oswald, 2) the actual assassination and the 3) the cover up of (1) and (2). The error of the corporate media and too many dilettantes is they do not separate the parts, which renders any analyses incomplete and misguided from the start.
The framing itself was accomplished using: 1) fake cables, dispatched from the Mexico City station, 2) an Oswald impostor who was photographed going into the Cuban consulate in Mexico City, and 3) raising false speculations about Cuban-Soviet involvement. For a lengthy accounting of the details go to these links:
Again, this isn't speculation – but based on actual CIA files that disclosed what went on – especially in the Staff D purview as well as David Atlee Phillips shenanigans!
Regarding Staff D, as Peter Dale Scott observes (op. cit., p. 18), after referring to the letter D on the cover sheet of Oswald's 201 file:
"Staff D was a SIGINT or Signals Intelligence operation, run in conjunction with the National Security Agency or NSA. Because of the ultra-secrecy of the NSA and SIGINT, Staff D became a hiding place for other CIA ultra-secrets as well. In 1961, when William Harvey headed Staff D he was assigned the task of developing the CIA's assassination program, ZR-Rifle, because 'D' was the perfect cranny in which to tuck a particularly nasty bit of business."
Which was to assassinate any head of state. Even a
Now let's get back to what the physics discloses in term of the conspiracy element (2).
The image of interest from the Zapruder film is shown below:
Carefully note the direction of her motion! It is toward the direction of the limo rear or toward the Book Depository.
According to her secret Warren testimony (excised from original published Report, see e.g Appendix E):
"I was trying to hold his hair on. But from the front there was nothing. I suppose there must have been. But from the back you could see, you know, you were trying to hold his hair on, and his skull on."
In other words, parts of JFK (hair, at least one occipital bone – later recovered) were being hurled back across the trunk. Such motion is impossible for a rear shot such as from the Book Depository, because the direction of linear momentum is always in the direction the bullet travels. Hence, the shot had to have come from the opposite side of the limo – or where the stockade fence of the grassy knoll stood.
That this never even occurred to Aaronson, as a physicist, is even more startling and suggests again he didn't do squat in terms of even looking at the films available (Nix and Zapruder) before jumping to his absurd conclusions.
As for the cover up, that part of the conspiracy is also solid, as I already showed (check the earlier links) for my FAQ parts 4a, 4b and 5 on the bullet wounds. Only a dilettante or slacker would fail to see the obvious hands of cover up if the details are read and understood.
Does Aaronson want to do this?
5- Nope. Aaronson, in the clearest evidence yet that he's unfit to take on something as big as the JFK assassination, blabs:
"I'll give twenty reasons for believing that Oswald acted alone. Notably, my reasons will have less to do with the minutiae of bullet angles and autopsy reports, than with general principles for deciding what's true and what isn't. Of course, part of the reason for this focus is that the minutiae are debated in unbelievable detail elsewhere, and I have nothing further to contribute to those debates"
Oh, okay, so basically Aaronson confesses from the outset he can't be bothered by any "details" which have been argued "elsewhere". He will instead provide us with "general principles" for deciding what's true and what isn't.
Hmmm…."general principles" minus the actual physiological, physical and documented facts (e.g. from CIA files) before him. Sounds like a guy conducting a séance or voodoo to me. Abracadabra! Here is reality …..based on my general principles of truth, honor and the American (media) way!
I guess that based on his aversion to details, Mr. "General Principles" can tell us the tunneling probability for a particle through a rather steep Coulomb barrier, without even knowing the wave functions for the different regions or the height of the barrier. Makes sense, no? I mean if he can offer general principles of truth for the JFK assassination without even dirtying his hands with "details" or glancing at a single CIA file for Oswald - certainly he can do that quantum tunneling trick too. Right?
As I will show, this historical event is far above his head and no macroscopic tunneling is available to help him penetrate the ignorance barrier. . Maybe he needs to stick with quantum tunneling!
As I will show, this historical event is far above his head and no macroscopic tunneling is available to help him penetrate the ignorance barrier. . Maybe he needs to stick with quantum tunneling!
Next: Response to Aaronson's twenty reasons for believing that Oswald acted alone.


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Girl Dances On A Pole While Man Spits Facts About Natural Women! "Real Women Jiggle"
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text:
Dear Bhai,
Aren't you controversy's favourite child? Frankly, I do not think that you deserve being addressed as dear, or called a bhai at all, but I'll try to be formal here.
To be very honest, I used to love your movies once. Andaz Apna Apna, Hum Aapke Hain Koun, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, what wasn't there to love? You knew how to be funny, witty, romantic, and with just a couple of movies, you won the hearts of the millennial.
But that was the end of it. After that you took the route to monstrosity – beating up your girlfriends, killing an endangered animal, running your car over people and killing them. But, you still remained the hero of thousands of people.
This does not regard any of those, though. You have never outrightly respected women, so it surely did not come off as a shock to a lot of people like me when you compared your exhaustion because of a shoot, to a victim of rape.
You said, and I quote, "While shooting, during those six hours, there'd be so much of lifting and thrusting on the ground involved. That was tough for me because if I was lifting, I'd have to lift the same 120-kilo guy 10 times for 10 different angles. And likewise, get thrown that many times on the ground. This act is not repeated that many times in the real fights in the ring. When I used to walk out of the ring, after the shoot, I used to feel like a raped woman. I couldn't walk straight."
Even though you realised that your comment was barbaric immediately after saying it, that does not nullify the statement, which you knew would be carried forward. You, Mr. Khan, have been put on such a high pedestal by your fans that whatever you say influences them in a huge manner. You are responsible for these people who stand by you no matter what. By making such comparisons, you are trivialising a very inhumane act (which you have no right to) and embedding in people's mind that it is okay to create rape analogies.
Well, according to your manager, you were misquoted. Of course, you were. If not misquoted, then you must have been possessed by a demon or something, because who in their right mind would say something like that?
But, you will get away with it, just like you got away with murder and harassment.
Your comparison of your training to a rape victim is as futile as the movies you do. Can you even imagine the horror and mental trauma a woman goes through when she is raped and her soul is ripped into pieces?
For starters, a rape victim does not call for the rape and the pain that follows, but YOU wanted to do the movie and the rigorous training because of the money that will flow after that.
A woman who is raped gets nothing but degradation, which is in direct contrast with the glorification and love you will receive after this movie.
While the society is gruesome and unforgiving in the case of a raped woman, who has to carry the burden and stigma of rape all her life, you are treated like God, where people jump up to defend you even after every miserable thing you do.
A woman, who is forced upon, does not expect the pain, but you knew exactly what you were getting into.
So no, you COULDN'T HAVE felt like a "raped woman". You need to understand that you cannot just drop such a strong word like "rape" without even understanding the state that rape puts a person in, and then apologise for using it. A spark ignites a fire, we all know that.
But, you are THE BHAI and you can do anything you want to and people will continue to worship you.
Bollywood stars don't speak up against you, as they are afraid of having the same fate as Vivek Oberoi. (remember him?) Even though Kangana Ranaut accepted that your comment was "extremely insensitive", she had to add that the whole society has to take responsibility for it. Why? Because if she doesn't stand with you, she might not find a place for herself to put her foot on in Bollywood.
When Sona Mohapatra tweeted calling out how you still remain the hero of people even after doing everything you've done, she was slammed by your beautiful fans, who went on to follow your path of respecting women and called her a slut, a randi, and a 40 year old aunty.
Subhash Ghai called you a baby, who's too innocent to be held accountable for his acts (of course), and your father had to apologise on your behalf.
When asked if YOU would say sorry, you smirked and avoided the camera. (Maybe that's what happens when a baby is not under adult vigilance.)
Your loyal fans continue to defend their idol and abusing and name calling everyone in their way. This is what you have created, Bhai.
If people are turning a blind eye to whatever you do because "Bhai toh Being Human chalaata hai, he has a good heart, galti ho jaati hai", that does not mean that you continue to speak whatever your heart desires.
While your movies are such gems (which you should really consider keeping with yourself because of how precious they are), if you could please try to control your tongue from spitting out such wonderful words, that would be delightful!
Yours truly,
A dejected HUMAN BEING
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Citing other commitments, Swansboro�s fire chief resigned Friday.
Citing other commitments, Swansboro�s fire chief resigned Friday.
Bob Penrod has served as chief for six years in a part-time capacity. He is also a full-time firefighter aboard Camp Lejeune. He said in his resignation letter that the chief position requires more time and effort than he could continue to offer.
He could not be reached for comment.
The fire department � in service since 1783 � is made up of two full-time paid firefighters, seven part-time paid firefighters, and 20 volunteer firefighters.
Under Penrod�s leadership the department became more customer service orientated and equipped to better battle fires, hazardous material spills, traffic wrecks, water rescue situations, and natural disasters within the Swansboro and White Oak River fire districts, according to information from the town.
The town has not named a replacement, said Town Manager David Harvell.
�It�s my understanding that he is retiring from the fire service altogether,� Harvell said.
Mayor Scott Chadwick said Penrod had been a boon for the town and he hated to see him go.
�It has been my honor and privilege to serve the Town of Swansboro for the past six years and I want to thank the citizens of Swansboro and members of the Swansboro Fire Department for allowing me to serve them in a part-time capacity,� Penrod said in his resignation letter.
Contact Daily News Senior Reporter Lindell Kay at 910-219-8455 or email@example.com. Follow him on Twitter and friend him on Facebook @ 1lindell.


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DEFENCE OF MARRIAGE: Marriage, religious liberty and the 'grand bargain'
TASMANIA: Labor/Greens push for same-sex marriage
EDITORIAL: Olympic Games: end the hype and chauvinism
CANBERRA OBSERVED: Prime Minister Gillard seeks to make her mark on history
GLOBAL WARMING: Climate alarmism is alive and well
BANKING: Playing with someone else's money
EDUCATION: School learning dumped in favour of Google-and-tell
OPINION: Syria: Why are we encouraging chaos?
SECURITY AND INTELLIGENCE: Media shrugs while Russian espionage flourishes
FOREIGN AID: When aid money means killing money
OBITUARY: A humble man with a large vision: Mark Posa (1927-2012)
CINEMA: 3D super-hero takes to the big screen
BOOK REVIEW An admirable spur to further thought
BOOK REVIEW The divorce that shook Europe
Simply giving money to various "good" causes is not itself always necessarily virtuous. In fact, it may be downright harmful and evil. A lot depends on where your money is going and what it is being used for.
I have written about this previously. For example, just recently I wrote about the baby-killing connections with many aid organisations — even Christian ones (see my website CultureWatch, June 16, 2012). Damian Wyld wrote about this too in News Weekly (February 4, 2012).
I have also written before about how foreign aid between nations is also often ineffective and/or used for morally dubious if not morally unjustified causes (CultureWatch, October 17, 2009).
We have more cases of both activities again in the news. On the home front we have the recent announcement by our government that Australian aid money (that is, Australian taxpayers' money) will be going into more baby-killing overseas.
Here is how one news report covers the story: "Australia will double aid funding targeted at reducing the number of unwanted pregnancies in the Asia-Pacific region. Australia's contribution will increase from $26 million a year to $50 million by 2016 for developing countries in the region.
"The funds will provide contraception, reproductive health services and family planning information. 'All women have a right to basic reproductive health care and family planning advice,' Foreign Minister Bob Carr said in a statement on Thursday.
"'Good family planning reduces maternal and child deaths, and is fundamental to improving economic outcomes for women and girls. That's why Australia is making this new commitment to funding family planning in our region, and why we'll be pushing others in the global community to follow suit.' Australia also will commit to a global effort to raise up to $2 billion for family planning services." (Brisbane Courier-Mail, August 2, 2012).
Radical social engineering programs always depend upon radical engineering of language to make them more palatable. Euphemisms, half-truths and deception are used extensively to try to sell rather ugly agendas. And we have that here big time.
This is all about baby-killing pure and simple. Whenever you hear the weasel words "unwanted pregnancies", "contraception", "reproductive health services" and "family planning", you know what we really have is the coercive utopians from the West working overtime to decimate the populations of poor overseas nations.
Then Carr has the gall to say something incredible like this: "Good family planning reduces maternal and child deaths, and is fundamental to improving economic outcomes for women and girls." How does killing unborn babies reduce child deaths, Bob? How are people's outcomes improved when they are killed?
We have not only governments involved in this sordid business, but individuals and organisations as well. Consider all the mischief one very wealthy individual is getting up to lately. Melinda Gates and her Gates Foundation, along with groups like Save the Children, are all up to their ears in using aid money as killing money.
One report begins this way: "Recently, Save the Children announced that family planning 'saves lives' of both women and babies. It has called for aid money to be spent on contraception, claiming that it is a good investment, cheaper than saving children from death by disease or starvation after they are born….
"In promoting contraception, Save the Children is echoing agencies that promote abortion and population control for poorer countries. The popular face of this campaign is a call to address the alleged 'unmet need for contraception' among the world's poorest women. Although Save the Children says this would cost only one pound per woman per year, the UK government, the EU, the US, the Gates Foundation and others are proposing to give many billions of pounds more to stop around 0.2 billion poor women bearing children." (LifeNews.com, July 9, 2012).
Austin Ruse, the president of C-FAM, a pro-life group that works to press the pro-life cause at the United Nations, spoke about a Family Planning Summit in London hosted by Gates with two of the biggest pro-abortion groups in the world, the UN Population Fund and International Planned Parenthood Federation:
"They say they want to raise $4 billion to promote contraception among poor women. This is population control plain and simple, population control aimed at poor dark-skinned women. We have tried to get pro-lifers registered for this summit so there can be a counter voice, but we are getting shut out by Planned Parenthood." (LifeNews.com, June 22, 2012).
Lisa Correnti of C-FAM made these comments: "The UK Family Planning summit has concluded and the total financial commitment by attending countries and foundations amounts to $4.6 billion, which exceeds the $4 billion goal.
"The Gates Foundation was clear from the onset that it expected solid commitments from countries that attended. Now, as one of the presenters said from a prominent foundation, 'we need to create the need through education'.
"Apparently, much of the unmet need is from women who don't know they have an unmet need. Leave it to affluent Western nations, billionaires foundations and pharmaceutical companies to do this.
"In the afternoon session of the UK Family Planning Summit, Melinda Gates pledged to increase support for family planning by $560 million through 2020. This addition to current funding will bring the total to $1 billion over the next seven years.
"Imagine if this funding was directed to providing clinics in the poorest regions of the world rather than for implants, injectibles, and sterilisations. What a shame." (LifeNews.com, July 11, 2012).
Denise J. Hunnell, MD, offers more details about just what is going on here. She writes: "Empowering women, reducing poverty and improving the overall health and well-being of women and children are noble goals. As with all great visions, however, the devil is in the details. Melinda Gates claims that the key to reducing poverty is to flood the developing world with contraceptives and abortifacients.
"A cornerstone of this effort is the development of a new injectable contraceptive that would be analogous to the currently available medroxyprogesterone acetate also known as DMPA, or by its brand name Depo-Provera.
"Unlike Depo Provera, which requires an intramuscular injection and must be administered by a medical professional, this new form is a self-administered subcutaneous injection.
"Ms Gates hopes that her efforts will bring contraception to at least an additional 120 million women worldwide, with the primary focus being in sub-Saharan African and South Asia.
"But what exactly is Ms Gates offering these women? Her 'solution' will result in the death of countless newly conceived children, it may double the transmission rates of HIV and it will certainly increase the risks for breast cancer. In addition, progestin-only contraceptives are associated with a significant risk for blood clots and strokes.
"There are two mechanisms of action for injectable contraceptives like Depo Provera to prevent pregnancy. The first is to prevent ovulation so that conception does not occur. However, if this mechanism is unsuccessful and conception does occur, Depo Provera keeps the lining of the uterus so thin that implantation will not occur. The result is that the newly conceived life is aborted."
Her concluding words are especially worth noting: "This effort is just another iteration of the Malthusian principles that have been around since the 19th century. Concerns about overpopulation lead to efforts to limit the fertility of those deemed 'undesirable'.
"Planned Parenthood founder Margaret Sanger pushed contraception on African-American communities to limit their growth. Likewise, the Gates Foundation sees contraception as way to limit the population of the impoverished people of Africa and Asia.
"Improving the health and well-being of women does not depend on increased availability and use of contraception. No professional medical association recommends the routine use of hormonal contraceptives in healthy women as a means of preventing disease or maintaining good health because of the significant risks associated with their use.
"On the other hand, women are empowered when they are educated. A longitudinal review of women in Chile over a 50-year period found that the most critical factor in improving maternal health and in reducing both maternal and infant mortality was better education, not contraceptives.
"The answer to poverty must be grounded in respecting the dignity of impoverished peoples — not in eliminating them. Both men and women need to be educated in order to contribute to the public discussion and formulation of social policy, and this should include education in the harmful effects of the drugs Ms Gates is proposing be used to lower fertility in the developing world.
"Motherhood should be considered a valuable vocation and not a drain on society. Only then can the real roots of poverty be addressed." (LifeSiteNews.com, July 12, 2012).
Yes, quite so. The new population controllers are really just the old eugenicists. Their coercive utopian agendas, their secular humanist ideology and their contempt for poor people in poor countries — all these are resulting in an ongoing "Final Solution". Sure, the message has been repackaged and spruced up, but the diabolical agenda remains the same.
As Columbia University historian Matthew Connelly wrote in his important study, Fatal Misconception: The Struggle to Control World Population (Harvard University Press, 2008): "The great tragedy of population control, the fatal misconception, was to think that one could know other people's interests better than they knew it themselves….
"The essence of population control, whether it targeted migrants, the 'unfit', or families that seemed either too big or too small, was to make rules for other people without having to answer to them. It appealed to the rich and the powerful."
Bill Muehlenberg is a commentator on contemporary issues, and lectures on ethics and philosophy. His website CultureWatch is at: www.billmuehlenberg.com
Matthew Connelly, Fatal Misconception: The Struggle to Control World Population (Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, 2008).
Bill Muehlenberg, "Rethinking foreign aid", CultureWatch, October 17, 2009. URL: www.billmuehlenberg.com/2009/10/17/rethinking-foreign-aid/
Damian Wyld, News Weekly (Australia), February 4, 2012. URL: www.newsweekly.com.au/article.php?id=5051&s=ENIJGQ
Bill Muehlenberg, "Do you know where your money is going?", CultureWatch, June 16, 2012. URL: www.billmuehlenberg.com/2012/06/16/do-you-know-where-your-money-is-going/
"More Aust aid to stop unwanted pregnancies", Courier-Mail (Brisbane), August 2, 2012. URL: www.couriermail.com.au/news/breaking-news/more-aust-aid-to-stop-unwanted-pregnancies/story-e6freono-1226424170533
Steven Ertelt, "Melinda Gates to host event with top pro-abortion groups", LifeNews.com (Washington DC), June 22, 2012. URL: www.lifenews.com/2012/06/22/melinda-gates-to-host-event-with-top-pro-abortion-groups/
John Smeaton, "Hey, Melinda Gates, poor need food not contraception", LifeNews.com (Washington DC), July 9, 2012. URL: www.lifenews.com/2012/07/09/hey-melinda-gates-poor-need-food-not-contraception/
Steven Ertelt, "Melinda Gates Family Planning Summit raises $4.6B for population control", LifeNews.com (Washington DC), July 11, 2012. URL: www.lifenews.com/2012/07/11/melinda-gates-family-planning-summit-raises-4-6b-for-population-control/
Denise J. Hunnell, MD, "Melinda Gates' false and dangerous solution to poverty", LifeSiteNews.com (United States), July 12, 2012. URL: www.lifesitenews.com/news/melinda-gates-false-and-dangerous-solution-to-poverty?utm_source=LifeSiteNews.com+Daily+Newsletter&utm_campaign=2ca774d20a-LifeSiteNews_com_Intl_Headlines_07_12_2012&utm_medium=email
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