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http://www.ciac.org/ciac/bulletins/k-008.shtml

Several of the computer security newsletters WebSkulker subscribes to all carried a warning in the last few days about a new computer virus that is supposedly spreading rapidly and is quite nasty in its effect if it gets onto your machine.  WebSkulker is skeptical because he gets a lot of email, including a lot from overseas, and has never seen this virus ever.  But this one is so easy to watch out for that it is worth warning you jr. skulkers about it.

This is the type of virus that gets onto your machine only if you are foolish enough to run a program that is attached to an email message.  Avoiding this type of virus is simple: never run any programs that are attached to email messages unless you are expecting someone to send you a program and you understand exactly what it is.  Don't make your decision based on who sent the email, because some viruses take over the email system of a PC and automatically send email to everyone in the owner's address book.  Read the bulletin in the link above and learn that this is exactly what this virus does.  If you get it as an attachment, it will be from someone you know and the subject and text of the email will be generic enough that you will think your friend wrote it to you.  Read the bulletin and watch out for this particular one, but also remember the concept and be careful about attachments.

http://www.sorabji.com/livewire/payphones

This is another site about pay phones, submitted by Jr. Skulker RBCP who runs the http://www.phonelosers.org site that we mentioned in our 11/1/99 issue.  RBCP compares this site to the one we mentioned yesterday:  "While the Payphone Directory has the most numbers in it, the Payphone Project has to be the most creative pay phone site. He's got tons of pictures, pay phone art, weird stories and all kinds of fun stuff."

http://www.magellangps.com/wireless/satcom.htm

http://www.orbcomm.com/globalgram

http://www.lei-extras.com/store

WebSkulker would be amazed if any jr. skulker actually buys this device (tell us if you do!), but the cat was fascinated by the concept and insisted on writing this.  What does she know about money?

If you have a spare $1,000 to buy the device and  maybe hundreds of dollars a month for the service, you could send and receive email messages directly by satellite from anywhere in the world.  Yes, this device is large and heavy enough to contain a transmitter that can reach the ORBCOMM Low-Earth-Orbit (LEO) satellite system.  Read all about it at the first link above.  There is supposed to be a movie on there in QuickTime format, but WebSkulker can't get it to work, even after installing the latest QuickTime 4 as requested.  The movie would be nice, but the text is enough to get the idea.

The second link gives details about the messaging system, including a map that shows that even though in theory this could be used anywhere in the world, it must be approved for use in each country and this is very limited right now.  You might think the device would work everywhere even if you aren't supposed to use it, but we get the impression that the satellites will refuse to send and receive messages if you are in an area where this isn't allowed.  Click on the little links near the bottom like Coverage Area, Services, Message Profile, and Send a Global Gram to get the details.  Go through the Send process and you will see how complicated this all is, including asking you to pick which satellite should be used.

The third link is to a mail order store that has the unit and accessories.  Their price of $1000 is lower than the others we found.

http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/nsa/elvis/elnix.html

"On December 21, 1970, Elvis Presley paid a visit to President Richard M. Nixon at the White House in Washington, D.C. The meeting was initiated by Presley, who wrote Nixon a six-page letter requesting a visit with the President and suggesting that he be made a "Federal Agent-at-Large" in the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs. The events leading up to and after the meeting are detailed in the documentation and photographs included here, which include Presley's handwritten letter, memoranda from Nixon staff and aides, and the thank-you note from Nixon for the gifts (including a Colt 45 pistol and family photos) that Presley brought with him to the Oval Office."

Submitted by Jr. Skulker Stuart Shostak

'Twas the night before Christmas - Old Santa was pissed.
He cussed out the elves and threw down his list.

Miserable little brats, ungrateful little jerks
I have a good mind to scrap the whole works.

I've busted my ass for damn near a year,
Instead of "Thanks Santa" -- what do I hear?

The old lady bitches cause I work late at night,
The elves want more money - The reindeer all fight.

Rudolph got drunk and goosed all the maids,
Donner is pregnant and Vixen has AIDS.

And just when I thought that things would get better,
Those assholes from IRS sent me a letter.

They say I owe taxes - if that ain't damn funny,
Who the hell ever sent Santa Clause any money?

And the kids these days - they all are the pits,
They want the impossible ...Those mean little shits.

I spent a whole year making wagons and sleds
Assembling dolls...Their arms, legs and heads.

I made a ton of yo yo's - No request for them.
They want computers and robots...they think I'm IBM!

Flying through the air...dodging the trees,
Falling down chimneys and skinning my knees.

I'm quitting this job...there's just no enjoyment
I'll sit on my fat ass and draw unemployment.

There's no Christmas this year...now you know the reason,
I found me a blonde.. I'm going SOUTH for the season!!

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