What's Woody Doing Now

Oops! My Roof was Damaged by Hail and Wind

My neighbors never mentioned the hailstorm that happened in June. But after getting repeated roof repairers stopping to offer to a roof inspection, I guessed something happened to the neighborhood while I was not home.

Well, the insurance claim adjuster found enough and significant damage on the roof to replace it. Life is full of surprises and expenses.

READING: How To Hijack 'Every iPhone In The World' - Forbes.com

iPhones come under fire.

How To Hijack 'Every iPhone In The World' - Forbes.com.

If you receive a text message on your iPhone any time after Thursday afternoon containing only a single square character, Charlie Miller would suggest you turn the device off. Quickly.

That small cipher will likely be your only warning that someone has taken advantage of a bug that Miller and his fellow cybersecurity researcher Collin Mulliner plan to publicize Thursday at the Black Hat cybersecurity conference in Las Vegas. Using a flaw they've found in the iPhone's handling of text messages, the researchers say they'll demonstrate how to send a series of mostly invisible SMS bursts that can give a hacker complete power over any of the smart phone's functions. That includes dialing the phone, visiting Web sites, turning on the device's camera and microphone and, most importantly, sending more text messages to further propagate a mass-gadget hijacking.

READING: iPhone Vulnerability May Expose Sensitive Data

iPhones and other GSM network phones (AT&T and T-Mobile) may be vulnerable to attack via SMS and MMS.  Your sensitive data may be exposed.

Last week, I discovered that anti-theft program on my phone was sending SMS messages to an international number.  I have since uninstalled the program and contacted the vendor.

If it had not been an international number (and charged an extra fee), I would have reviewed my SMS/MMS messages sents on my bill.

BEWARE!

Some SMS Networks Vulnerable to Attack - Business Center - PC World.

The iPhone tool, which runs on a jailbroken version of the device, lets them send SMS messages with data that should normally only be sent from the carrier network, the source said. "They have found a new attack vector by which people can try to exploit phones based upon invalid assumptions the network operators and the phone operators have made about the security of this communications channel."

The attack works on the GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications)-based networks used by carriers such as AT&T and T-Mobile, but does not work on CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) networks, he said.

It's not clear how dangerous such an SMS-based attack could be, or what exactly the researchers were able to do with their spoofed messages, but carriers use SMS to send basic configuration to the phones. In theory, an attacker might be able to use this technique to redirect a phone's Web browser to a malicious server or change voicemail notifications.

Internationals Meet at local Rotary Club

In my little Rotary Club, Indianapolis Northeast, we have quite a few members who travel internationally. Just this year, members have been to France, Austria, UK, Ukraine, Kenya, Switzerland, and Congo. That's just the trips through July.

Today, we had a visitor from the UK. Francis had a French-British accent. Unusual, but not that unusual. But here's what was fascinating. Francis was born in Kananga, DR Congo.

Kananga is provincial capital of Kasai Occidental. My home-base province. And the location of my club's international partner.

Where's the Tailgate Party?

Mass exiting from the arena equals gridlock in the parking lots. I wish I was tailgating in parking lot.

Munice's finest stopped directing traffic. Cut backs?

Attending Commencement at Ball State University

Evan Meltzer graduates from Ball State University today. He completed sudies in Accounting from College of Business.

I was Evan's mentor for confirmation.

Reading: Bringing mHealth back to earth - Projects and perspectives on global health

Phones are, by far, cheaper to implement than a modem (USB or PCMCIA).  But there is another reason, I like to use a phone with a data cable.  If you working in an area or building with spotty reception, it is easier to position the phone for the best reception than to try to position a computer (notebook or netbook).

opsa.org » Blog Archive » Bringing mHealth back to earth - Projects and perspectives on global health.

“mHealth” is intimidating. I’ve written about this before - most of FrontlineSMS:Medic’s partners cautiously approach us. After we work together to get projects up and running, I consistently hear, “We never thought this technology would be - much less work - here.”

With this post, I’m hoping to dispel some mHealth myths and start to dissolve the perception of mHealth programs as unattainable for small and large clinics (with or without technical know-how). Below, you’ll find pictures and prices for all the technology we’re using for the Partners in Health project in Malawi. Here’s the key: except for FrontlineSMS, all of the following tools were already being used locally.

In 40 years, What happened to our government?

What happened to our government during the last 40 years?

The US Government landed a man on the moon. But many believe it can not improve health care in 2009. Also, many believe it cannot run a postal service, etc.

I heard a speech this morning at my toastmaster's club about the government 40 years ago. It focused on our pride after the moon landing.

I think the operative word is 'after'. During the early 60's there were many who opposed the space program. Now, most of us see the many benefits from the space program.

Reading a Reminder - Invitation - Water is Medicine - Capitol Hill Briefing

Water is Medicine, Capitol Hill Briefing, July 29, 2009

On Wednesday July 29, 2009, the bipartisan Congressional Water Caucus and Water Advocates are hosting a Capitol Hill Briefing in Washington, DC on the vital linkages between safe drinking water, sanitation and global public health challenges:

** Water is Medicine: Safe Water, Sanitation and Global Public Health Challenges **

Speakers will discuss the gravity of the current global safe drinking water and sanitation challenge, and its critical impact on global public health, including the 25+ diseases due to unsafe water and inadequate sanitation.

Speakers will also review what is currently being done around the world to help meet the need for safe water, improved sanitation and better health, and offer examples and case studies of what the U.S. government and others in the international donor community are doing to help meet and exceed the Millennium Development Goals for water, sanitation and health.

The costs associated with this challenge will be addressed, as will the impact of inaction on health and economic development.

What: Capitol Hill Briefing, "Water is Medicine: Safe Water, Sanitation and Global Public Health Challenges"

Who: Speakers will include noted public health experts and leaders from prominent international aid agencies

* Christine Moe, Director, Center for Global Safe Water Emory University

* Jae So, Manager, Water and Sanitation Program Global Partnership administered by the World Bank

* Rich Thorsten, Director of International Programs, Water.org Co-founded by Matt Damon and Gary White

Moderated by John Oldfield, Water Advocates

When: Wednesday, July 29, 2009, 2pm - 3pm

Where: Capitol Visitor Center, South Meeting Room http://www.visitthecapitol.gov/Visit/

Please allow time for security clearance. Please circulate this invitation widely. RSVP to Water Advocates at wateradvocatesrsvp@gmail.com. 

Visiting Crawfordsville

Ending a great visit to Crawfordsville.

I met with Rev. John Van Nuys, one of founders of the Whitewater Valley Presbytery's Congo Mission. Through his efforts, I got involved with Congo in 1997.

At noon, I attend the Crawfordsville Rotary Club mmeting. The 2009 Strawberry Festival Queen gave a great speech. Also, I signed up to speak to them on December 16th.