MicheleMoore-Happy1

Hacking Cars Causes Crashes

UPDATE - Chrysler issued a 1.4 million vehicle recall as a result of Andy Greenberg's July 2015 articles in Forbes and Wired about the dangers of car hacking!

Cars can be hacked so you suddenly loose control of your brakes, steering, acceleration, turning and gauges :  http://www.forbes.com/sites/andygreenberg/2013/07/24/hackers-reveal-nasty-new-car-attacks-with-me-behind-the-wheel-video/

Inexpensive, inconspicuous hacking devices can be quickly wired into a car's network to seize control of the auto's computer control systems:  http://www.forbes.com/sites/andygreenberg/2014/02/05/this-iphone-sized-device-can-hack-a-car-researchers-plan-to-demonstrate/

Security reseachers have also shown that it's NOT even necessary to physically connect directly into the vehicle's wiring. A car’s OnStar-type cellular connection, Bluetooth system, Android apps that synch with the car’s network from passengers' smartphones and even malicious audio files on a CD in the car’s stereo system, ALL can give evildoers remote control of your car.

Fortunately, security researchers who studied and documented these vulnerabilities have also found inexpensive ways to prevent or protect against them:  http://www.wired.com/2014/07/car-hacker/ 

2014 Defcon Car Hacking Updates:
iPhone Size Device Can Hack A Car
Is Your Car The Next Target for Hackers?

The flaming auto photo at the top of this post is Michael Hasting's Mercedes ablaze on June 18, 2013 in Los Angeles with him in it. Many believe his car was hacked to assassinate him.

Michael Hastings was the famed investigative reporter whose Rolling Stone article, Runaway General, prompted President Obama to ask General Stanley McChrystal to resign as commander of all US and NATO forces in Afghanistan.  General David Petraeus replaced McChrystal.

The night before he died, Hastings begged his neighbor to lend him her car because he felt his Mercedes had been tampered with.  The neighbor declined.  Shortly thereafter, Hastings drove his Mercedes and died in a bizarre, fiery crash.

Hastings was working on another blockbuster article at the time he died. He was very fearful and wanted to leave Los Angeles.

Richard Clarke, Former U.S. National Coordinator for Security, Infrastructure Protection, and Counter-terrorism under Presidents Clinton and Bush, commented on Michael Hastings' death in the Huffington Post:

"There is reason to believe that intelligence agencies for major powers -- including the United States -- know how to remotely seize control of a car."

"What has been revealed as a result of some research at universities is that it's relatively easy to hack your way into the control system of a car, and to do such things as cause acceleration when the driver doesn't want acceleration, to throw on the brakes when the driver doesn't want the brakes on, to launch an air bag," Clarke told The Huffington Post. "You can do some really highly destructive things now, through hacking a car, and it's not that hard."

Will we ever be sure of the truth about Hastings' death?

The New York TImes reported car hacking as early as March, 2011.  News reports say Hastings' car's engine was thrown 50-60 yards from the crash site. Eyewitnesses claim explosions occurred before impact.

RIP Michael Hastings.

Religion's Role in Political Repression

Why do blue collar workers fight unions that would clearly benefit them?  Why would soccer moms oppose clear air and water regulations that keep their families safe?

Why would intelligent, well educated people take political stands that are not in their best interests and clearly do not benefit them?

How Religion's Demand for Obedience Keeps Us in the Dark Ages explains these paradoxes by tracing the role of religious teaching through history.

The most fervent advocates of religion in the modern world are also the most deeply inculcated with the mindset of command and obedience, which has dangerous consequences.

The religious right plays an unusual role in American politics, especially recently. Their emphasis on obedience and rigorous respect for church law is revealing. Obedience is revered far more than reason.

We thought birth control controversies were settled 40 years ago, but they have become a contentious issue once again.  Most American Catholics do NOT adhere to their church's teachings on the subject. Reason is triumphing over repression, but this is not universally the case.  

This is a follow up to an earlier post How the Top 1% Exploits the Other 99% which featured another AlterNet article How Christian Fundamentalism Helped Empower the Top 1% to Exploit the 99%

If your religious and spiritual practices expand, enhance and empower your participation in democratic activities and your enjoyment of life, it is serving you well.  If it restricts and restrains your reason and abilities to respond to life challenges intelligently, reject it. 

THIS ARTICLE WAS HACKED - AGAIN!

Copyright 1999- , Michele Moore. Free Use Granted when source and author are cited. Explore and enjoy HappinessHabit.com

Discrediting & Disrupting Occupy Wall Street

It's no surprise that powerful people who are threatened by Occupy activities would use covert means to discredit and disrupt the movement.

Kevin Zeese, a leader of Occupy Washington, DC, describes how it works in this well researched two part article. 

The first part documents known cases of instigator infiltration within OWS, the second provides a historical overview of these practices in America.

As a regular participant in Occupy Wall Street NYC efforts, I have watched the movement evolve from its beginning September 17, 2011.  I have often been puzzled by what I have seen and experienced, these articles help explain what was really happening.

Occupy activities are distinguished by their diversity.  People of all sizes, shapes and ages attend and respectful, nonviolent resistance is the rule.

I watched a hostile scuffle between purported Occupy protesters and NYPD at the corner of Beaver and Broad last fall.  I had never seen any of the supposed Occupiers before and was amazed how they were all so similarly dressed and seemed to be of the same age and body size.

They had decided to set out on a march despite NYC-GA pleas to avoid clashes with NYPD.  Were they all really occupiers?

Now I understand why the Alternative Banking subgroup I was invited to attend was so adamant about refusing to announce their meetings publicly in accordance with OWS-NYC GA policies. They want to stay beneath the radar.

It explains the vicious criticism I received for trying to add transparency and visibility to The Occupy Bank Working Group's meetings and activities. 

I was one of two career bankers they effectively ran off by their ugliness.  They continue in a deliberately self defeating way to take space and oxygen away from any real efforts that might have a chance of being successful.

Is it any surprise that big banks would want to stop compelling competition from arising through Occupy?

If you are concerned about the future of our country, before you criticize or even cooperate with Occupy, read these two articles so you know who you may really be dealing with.

Occupy The Federal Reserve

Does it anger you that our country's biggest banks, acting in secret for their own benefit through the Federal Reserve, determine our nation's key interest rates, money supply and monetary policy without any oversight or transparency?

You literally have to sue the Federal Reserve or pass an act in Congress to have their activities audited or revealed.

These bankers freely admit their reckless lending practices were responsible for our nation's mortgage crises and ensuing economic devastation.  Many Americans have seen their pension and retirement funds destoyed by investments in fraudulent mortgage backed securities these bankers created.

The Federal Reserve secretly provided an astounding $7.8 TRILLION to keep their member banks afloat, that's more than $25,000 for ever American citizen.  

How much did the Fed provide to assist distressed American homeowners? Zero.

This secret borrowing allowed banks to inaccurately state they were still solvent and strong and to take additional TARP money. At one point Morgan Stanley's secret borrowing from the Fed was 750% of their total market capitalization (total shares outstanding x market price per share.)  

Had Congress known the truth, they would have taken far more stringent action. Some political figures like Ron Paul advocate eliminating the Federal Reserve entirely. 

Like it or not, the Federal Reserve provides many very important services - selling Treasury securities, interbank lending, check clearing, currency distribution, some supervision, etc.
  
While ostensibly a public-private hybrid, the Federal Reserve is essentially a private organization that acts for the benefit of its commercial bank members, and not necessarily for the good of the country or of the American people.

The Federal Reserve acts in secret when determining interest rates and monetary policy which affect the entire nation, without Congressional oversight.

It's these two aspects - the PRIVATE nature of the Federal Reserve and the SECRECY with which it is allowed to operate that need to be changed.  

Every country needs a central bank. Most central banks appear to be controlled by their federal governments which are obviously heavily influenced by the political power of their large banking institutions.  

Research and learn more about the actual practices of Federal Reserve, paying special attention to its actions during our financial crises. We need to dramatically reform the Federal Reserve, not abolish it completely. 

Copyright 1999- , Michele Moore. Free Use Granted when source and author are cited. Explore and  enjoy HappinessHabit.com

How the Top 1% Exploits the Other 99%

It's amazing how many seemingly intelligent, well informed people repeatedly vote against their own best interests.

Clean air, safe food and water are essential to our well-being. How and why could large groups of people become convinced regulating these qualities is evil?

How Christian Fundamentalism Helped Empower the Top 1% to Exploit the 99% explains this phenomena.

Volatile issues like abortion are used to energize and control large segments of the population to oppose other worthwhile causes like regulating air, water and food safety that clearly benefit them.

Awakening these misguided supporters to the dangers of self sabotaging political causes is a primary goal of Occupy movements worldwide.

Wake Up America!

Occupy Wall Street - DEMANDS

DEMANDS - Occupy Wall Street

Does It Anger You The Wealthiest 1% of America Pays A Much Lower Tax Rate Than The Rest Of Us? Hedge fund managers making $100 million a year, as many do, pay a 15% income tax on their yearly earnings while the rest of us pay much higher tax rates. We Have Gross Tax Inequality in America.

Over the past 30 years, the income of the top 1% of our nation has exploded while salaries and income for the rest of us, the other 99%, have remained stagnant or declined. We Have Gross Income Inequality in America.

There Has Been A Huge Transfer Of Wealth Away From The Middle Class To The Super Wealthy. This allows people like the Koch brothers to buy legislators and pass more laws that are favorable to them.

We Have Gross Economic Inequality in America. Where There Is Gross Economic Inequality There Is No Justice.

In 2004 Assistant FBI Director Chris Swecker warned of EPIDEMIC mortgage fraud in our country but he was denied funds to investigate and prosecute it. To date, NONE of the people who are responsible for the destruction of our economy, and who profited from its destruction, have been prosecuted. The FBI prefers to focus on marijuana cases rather than mortgage fraud.

The United States is the ONLY major industrialized country in the world without universal healthcare. Our Healthcare System Is Almost Twice As Expensive As Other Major Countries And Ranks Worse Than 40th In The World In Terms of Quality.

Why? Our healthcare system is run by for-profit corporations for the benefit of their shareholders and not for the good of our citizens.

Our Country Is Run By Corporations For Their Benefit. The media, which is supported by large corporate advertisers, does not tell us the truth for fear of losing advertising revenue.

Did you know our country is borrowing over 40% of our budget? This is largely to pay for foreign wars. People Who Profit From Wars, Promote Wars.

The same people want to cut Social Security and Medicare benefits to pay for our bloated defense budget. Social Security and Medicare did NOT cause our huge budget deficits or our big increases in debt. Expensive foreign wars caused our financial problems.

Protect Social Security Solvency. Eliminate The $106,000 Cap On Social Security Taxes So High Earners Pay Their Fair Share.

Tax law changes dating back to the 1980's encouraged American companies to move jobs overseas. We need to change those laws immediately and Bring High Quality Jobs Back To America.

Occupy Wall Street has been criticized for not stating their demands. The truth is, the list is so long that it boggles the mind! We must focus on energizing and educating America about what is happening. We need to get the movement going because there is so much that must be done.

Our DEMANDS can be summarized very simply:

Government By The People And For The People...

Not just for corporations and the super wealthy. We hear, But they have all the money and the power.

We Have The Votes And The 99% Is Too Big To Fail! Get interested and informed about what is really happening to America and join us.

Your Demands - Occupy Wall Street

Occupy Wall Street  protests are growing nationwide in opposition to tax and wealth inequality, corruption, fraud and greed.

Do you believe that the wealthiest 1% of America should pay much lower income tax rates than the rest of us?  What are your demands? Here are mine...

• Repeal the Bush Tax Cuts for the wealthiest Americans including the loophole that allows wealthy hedge fund managers to pay a meager 15% tax rate on their hundred million dollar annual earnings. Tax yearly dividends above $100,000 as regular income.
• Investigate and Prosecute Fraud in the mortgage, banking and securities industries that destroyed our economy.  Assistant FBI Director Chris Swecker warned of "epidemic" mortgage fraud in 2004 but the crimes were not pursued.
• Establish Immediate Job Creating Programs that will bring high quality manufacturing and service jobs back to America.  End the tax breaks that encourage American corporations to move high quality jobs overseas - see Ending the Offshoring Act.
• Change Laws Defining Corporations so corporations can no longer be considered as people who can donate unlimited funds to political campaigns.
• Protect Social Security by eliminating the $106,000 ceiling on Social Security Taxes so high income people pay their fair share. Do NOT lower recipient benefits!
• End Unnecessary Foreign Wars that have added $4 Trillion to our deficit over the past 10 years. People who profit from wars (including the war on terror) promote wars.
• Protect ALL Whistle Blowers - Reporting Wrongdoing Should NOT Ruin Your Life! Prosecute ALL whistle blower retaliation cases aggressively. Current laws ONLY protect federal employees and provide lucrative payments for fraud against the government.

This list will grow, this is just the beginning!

 

Steve Jobs RIP

Steve Jobs showed us The Real Path to Excellence is Excellence.

Great things are achieved by being innovative, having high expectations, great taste and never, ever settling for second best.

His Stanford Commencement Address provides remarkable insights into how greatness is achieved.

Many video versions can also be found online.

Remember how this man's remarkable life has changed the world and how his wisdom can help you change yours.

 

Safe Passwords Made Easy

  Using the same password on lots of different Internet sites is very dangerous - If your password is cracked by criminals, they can use it to access all your other accounts: banking, email, PayPal, Facebook, Twitter, your website, blog, gaming accounts, whatever is important to you online.

Years of work and lots of money often suddenly disappear.  This happens all the time. Criminals  break into one site and use the email addresses and passwords they find to break into other accounts that use the same passwords and email combinations. 

Here are several easy ways to make your passwords safer and more secure – Warning: If a key logger is on your PC, all your passwords are easily read anytime by whoever controls the key logger.

“One way to make your web identities more secure” Technology Review say, “is simply to acknowledge that there are entire classes of websites for which you should simply pretend that your password is already public.”  They recommend establishing several different layers of importance and dealing with each layer independently. It’s an excellent article.

Experts also suggest you use Complex Passwords – unidentifiable sequences of letters and numbers that do not use common names or nouns like:  Oscus$btdel

This is much harder to guess or crack than common names or nouns which are all too often used as part of passwords.  The problem is remembering these complex passwords without writing them down.

Here’s a tip to make remembering complex passwords easy:  Use the first letter of a well known song or poem and add a special character at the end of each phrase.  Select a song or poem that has a special significance to you and with limited knowledge or recognition.

Then write a clue that makes it easy for you to remember the song or poem you selected, like:   flag$   

And be sure to keep your password clue sheets with your user names absolutely secure.

Can you easily guess what the phrase was?   Take a moment and see if you can figure it out:  Oscus$btdel   from the clue:  flag$

“Oh say can you see,  by the dawn’s early light”

Or use the chorus of your favorite Rolling Stones song and write down the clue:   Stone%   and don’t tell anyone what your favorite Rollings Stones song is.

Another EASY way to create UNIQUE passwords for each site you regularly visit is to use a sentence that includes the name of the site in the password:

TspitwsoGM2  -  The smartest person in the world signs onto GMail2

Keep your phrase VERY SECRET!  Be careful to select a phrase that is not easily guessed and change your special phrase regularly.

Remember that most passwords are easily recoverable and can be quickly reset if you cannot remember the phrase you selected.

Define your own written Password Security Plan that identifies and protects your most important online access and acknowledges which passwords are most likely to be compromised by sloppy data security.

Keep your list of clues safe and change your most important passwords (banking, PayPal) regularly.

For more on this see: Seven Ways to Avoid Getting Hacked by Anonymous

Let us know how this works for you.

Copyright 1999- , Michele Moore. Free Use Granted when source and author are cited. Explore and enjoy HappinessHabit.com

Does Fox News Have A Black Ops Unit?

This sounds bizarre until you see the list of highly respected, reputable news sources that reported it - Rolling Stone  lead off followed by The Nation, Firedog Lake and the Telegraph (U.K.)

Here's a list of recent articles, decide for yourself if they're credible:

How Roger Ailes Built The Fox News Fear Factory Rolling Stone 5/25/2011

Has Roger Ailes Hacked American Phones For Fox News The Nation 7/13/2011

Did Roger Ailes Wiretap In The US? Firedog Lake 7/17/2011

Ruper Murdoch's Fox News ran a 'black ops' department, former executive claims The Telegraph 7/20/2011

Most chilling for me, as a whistle blower who has faced similar situations, is the Telegraph's description of Roger Ailes threatening David Brock (who now runs Media Matters) by telling him he would never work again if he published a unflattering article about Ailes.

Expect this story to evolve as more information surfaces.

Copyright 1999- , Michele Moore. Free Use Granted when source is cited. Explore and enjoy HappinessHabit.com