Category: Uncategorized

Pride goeth before a profile: Examine behavior, not body parts

Published November 20, 2010 by L. Legendary

As our nation becomes increasingly aware of the new and extremely controversial "naked body scanners" and "enhanced pat-down" procedures at our airport security stations, it’s time to ask ourselves some hard questions and acknowledge the elephant in the room. In this case, the purple pachyderm is our apparent refusal, under any circumstances, to consider profiling as an effective means by which to enhance air travel security. To say that our attitude is one of political correctness doesn’t go far enough. To me, it is more accurate to describe the current invasive security measures as posing, posturing and some pretty good theater. Further, we seem to be unable to move past perception and pride. We seem more concerned about how we might be viewed by other nations than we are concerned about real safety. What would be the result if we accepted reality and instituted profiling?

The answer to that depends upon the type of profiling we use. Here’s why racial profiling would be no more effective than the "pat-down or peepshow," as I’ve been calling it. None of these methods work because they do not address the underlying cause of the problem. We must treat the disease, not just the symptoms. Our prescription pad mentality does not acknowledge that there is a person at the core of every act of terror. In the case of the body scanners, they do not detect all of the materials used to make explosives. Second, they do not detect what has been inserted or implanted or ingested. Finally, each new threat requires a retool of our system, dictating incrementally more invasive measures.

The same is true, however, of racial profiling. Right now, we know who our enemy is, but that may not always be the case. Desperation and isolation from the mainstream can leave any person from any walk of life vulnerable to criminality. Racial profiling fails to address the potential for recruitment of other nationalities, including Americans. What if the next bomber is a middle-aged, blonde, blue-eyed American woman? So much for the racial profile.

The problem with the racial profile is that it assumes a commonality: Race. That is why it will not work.

However, there IS a commonality that we can exploit through a different kind of profiling: Behavioral profiling.

Not all terrorists look Middle Eastern, but all terrorists are criminals, and criminals behave in very specific ways that a trained, skilled profiler can detect. We must seek to examine the behavior of the flying public rather than seek to examine our private parts. It is criminal behavior that is the common thread of criminals, and a behavioral profile along with other security measures will prove to be a more effective and less invasive solution.

Ultimately, though, we must accept reality. The reality is that at any time the technology of terror may be sufficiently advanced so as not to require human participation. I suppose it is that way now, if you consider the possibility of a shoulder launched missile, or the currently favored roadside devices used in Iraq and Afghanistan. Besides, there’s always our water supply.

We cannot allow ourselves to be ruled by fear. We are losing the psychological war here. We are also losing the perception war, which has other nations laughing at us for our ineptitude. We must overcome our pride and abandon political correctness, if we are going to truly be secure. Perhaps the widely-held sentiment that the events of September 11th, 2001, was a loss of our nation’s innocence was only the beginning of a rude awakening: We must stop living in a child-like dream world where our government protects us from all calamities. It is simply not possible, we must face our mortality, embrace our manifest destiny, and accept reality with our eyes wide open. Behavioral profiling is the proactive and effective approach we need. Terrorists have successfully managed to alter the behavior of the entire American flying public. Turnabout is fair play. Now, that would be something to be proud of.

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Pat–down or peepshow: A few more questions about the full body scanners

Published November 18, 2010 by L. Legendary

Few issues have me willing to jump into the fray as much as does our most recent, terrorist-imposed incremental forfeiture of privacy. I’ve heard many of the justifications, ranging from claims such as "today’s youth have no expectation of privacy," to "privacy is an illusion anyway," to "better this than to be blown out of the sky." In my opinion, all of these arguments are nonsense. They may reflect a certain amount of reality, or they may suggest an accurate prediction of the future, but I really believe arguments in favor of further invasions of privacy and personal liberties will only lead to a different kind of disaster.

As the current issue regarding the "enhanced pat-down" procedures and the use of the "naked body scanners" catches fire, I have been cruising all of the media outlets in an effort to find solace in an even, measured argument in favor of what is sure to be the new normal. I have yet to hear any response that does not play on our fear. This is wrong. When one manipulates another through fear, seeks to gain control and manipulate, humiliate and degrade another, we call that abuse. Or, we call it slavery. Or, we call it oppression. In just about any other context, we think of this type of exerting our will over another person as abhorrent. Yet, we permit it in this case, because the consequences of doing nothing seem far more extreme. No one wants to be on the plane that is carrying 249 souls and one inhuman monster. But we are allowing our fear to cloud our judgement. We have ceased to think clearly.

For example, would someone please answer the question: What is going to happen when the terrorists exploit yet another weakness they will surely find? then what? Right now, I read we are exempting children under the age of 12 from the full body screening. Oh? So, then what is going to happen the first time the terrorists use a child to blow up a plane?

So, once children are included, are we going to exclude anyone else? No one has really addressed the issue of pregnant women and these body scanners. I’ve read as many articles written by experts who claim there is no danger of ill effects as a result of radiation or electro-magnetic exposure as I’ve read articles written by experts who claim there is. Someone said to me, "Any pregnant woman with good sense would opt out of the body
scanner, but what about the women who don’t know yet that they are pregnant?"

So…what are we going to do the first time a "pregnant" woman blows up a plane?

Again, no one has been able to answer the question about other types of exemptions from this procedure. Is a well-known celebrity actually going to permit a stranger to view them through a full body scanner? No one is guaranteeing that these videos will not eventually surface on the Internet. I’d be willing to bet it will happen sooner rather than later. Okay, so let’s say the celebrity opts-out. are they really going to subject themselves to an "enhanced pat-down" by some stranger who can’t wait to tell his buddies he got a good feel of the latest "it" girl or sex symbol?

If you are the father of a fifteen-year-old girl, do you get to choose for your child either the pat-down or body scanner? What if your choice is not the choice of your daughter? What if your choice traumatizes her? What of people who have been victims of sexual assault in the past, or violent crime? what if the enhanced pat-down is traumatic to the degree that the process is psychologically damaging?

Who is accountable for the inevitable claims of sexual assault, pat-downs gone awry, misinterpretations of intent or attitude? You will be unable to prove in a court of law that a security agent was not leering at you lasciviously, enjoying their job a little too much, feeling powerful in the face of your humiliation, or simply being rough or rude.

As a person who is blind, I can be easily deceived. how do I know that I have not been walked through the body scanner, while being told I walked through the regular metal detector? How would I know if in fact I had been taken to a private area for the enhanced pat-down? How would I know, unless the person actually spoke to me, if the screener was male or female? I have no way to know what is happening around me, who is witnessing the procedure, who is an airport TSA or not.

What about those people who are unable to give consent? what if they are unable to choose? People who travel are from all walks of life. What about people with intellectual disabilities? What of seniors or persons who have compromised cognitive function, stroke victims, or those who are simply uninformed about the extent to which these searches may be invasive?

I doubt anyone at Homeland Security would appreciate an accusation that they have acted first, and without thought, to the current air travel security climate. If they are doing their job, let’s hope they have done little else other than to think about it. Yet again, I must raise the question of ultimate end: If Janet Napolitano’s admonishment were taken to heart by all Americans, and we en masse decided to no longer fly, then what? We would go through this all over again in another venue. Trains, buses, shopping centers. Yes, I know, there have been no other airline hijackings or attacks on American soil since September 11, 2001. I’m not saying they are doing a terrible job of protecting us. I’m saying that it seems that we lack a fundamental understanding of the problem. We are applying band-aids to a levy breach. If we take the human element out of security, we will remain at a disadvantage. That is their will. If they cannot accomplish their goal with overt violence, they’ll retool and use some other, more insidious means. The terrorists have been trying to tell us that it matters not who is in office, which party, what security measures we undertake, or how much time must pass. They intend us harm, in whatever way they are able to succeed. Are we really hearing that message?

At some point, we know not when, we will have exhausted every technical means we can dream up in defense of our well-being. Yet there will likely be an act of terror that will harm us. Even the most hyper-vigilant, protective and caring parents can turn their back for a split second, resulting in harm to a child. It’s horrible, but it happens. I presume the parent loves the child far more than our government cares about any of its citizens. However, no one wants to make the mistake of raising a child so traumatized by smothering control, micro-management, and restriction to the point of near imprisonment that he or she becomes an utterly dysfunctional adult, incapable of independence. Yet, that seems to be where we may be headed as a nation. If we are really so concerned about our safety, perhaps it’s time to rely less on expedient solutions like full body scanners, and more on that uniquely human ability for critical reasoning and independent thought.

Pat-down vs. peepshow: Outrage over airport full-body scanners

Published November 16, 2010 by L. Legendary

As a follow-up to a previous post on the subject ( A few questions about the airport full body scanners , I’d like to comment on the current dialogue now getting some air play. Thanks to the "Touch my junk and I’ll have you arrested" guy, more air travelers are expressing their outrage over the use of the full body scanners. Recently, some members of the pilots union as well as some individual pilots, most notably "Sully," the hero who made an emergency landing on the Hudson river, have come out against the scanners.

I’ve been listening carefully to the heated discussion over the pat-down vs. peeping process, as I call it. While I can certainly find some common ground with those who would rather endure the indignity of this sort of screening rather than to be blown from the sky, I disagree that the scanners are the solution. I do not believe that the pat-down would have caught the "underwear bomber," presuming he would have opted out of the full body scan. The security agent would have had to run their hands around his pants waistband, possibly even inside the waistband, to have detected the contents he brought aboard.

The body scanners are not going to work as long as we are permitted to opt out. The purpose of the body scanners is to detect what cannot be sensed by touch or other methods, such as the wand. Opting for the pat-down puts us on the privacy slippery slope where the bad guys will use the next logical hiding places…Body cavities. how are we going to search that?

I’m serious. Once we devise a pat-down thorough enough to have detected contraband in our undergarments, menstrual pads, medical devices and ostomy bags, the only other place to go is inside the body. Can’t see it, scan it, wand it, feel it. A perfect example of the aforementioned slippery slope is the fact that the security agents can now use the front of their hands to pat you down instead of the backs of their hands. Well, isn’t that sneaky? What’s next, digital manipulation? that means fingers, people.

Once we have all determined that body orifice scanning is all that’s left us, then what? CT scans? MRI’s and sonograms? Doesn’t it stand up to logic that if terrorists are willing to kill themselves by blowing up a plane, they would have no problem ingesting, inserting or otherwise surgically implanting explosive materials?

I don’t want to be on the plane with the bomber who gets through, either. Nor do I want to be in a shopping mall, a sports stadium or a hotel. I think we need to continue to address the fact that these evil-doers are bound and determined to do what they will, and if they fail in one way, they will seek to succeed in another. All that talk about not allowing them to terrorize us is meaningless though, if they succeed in taking our lives, bit by bit, one flight at a time.

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When is the last time you actually read our Declaration of Independence? Read it here.

Published July 3, 2010 by L. Legendary

It had been awhile for me.

—

IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.–Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

___

Read that last sentence again. Would you?

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Symantec to Offer Broadest Data Protection Capabilities With Acquisition of PGP Corporation and GuardianEdge

Published April 30, 2010 by L. Legendary

Making Data Protection More Intelligent, Policy-Driven and Easy-to-Manage While Ensuring Information Is Protected at Rest, in Use and in Motion

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA, Apr 29, 2010 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) –Symantec Corp. (NASDAQ: SYMC) today announced it has signed definitive agreements to acquire PGP Corporation and GuardianEdge Technologies, Inc., two privately-held leaders in the email and data encryption market, which will extend its ability to help customers secure and manage their most critical information. Under the terms of the agreements, Symantec will acquire PGP Corporation for a purchase price of approximately $300 million in cash and GuardianEdge for a purchase price of approximately $70 million in cash. The agreements are subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals, and are expected to close during the June quarter.

Encryption technology is an important element of an information-centric security solution, as critical information is increasingly on mobile devices and in the cloud. State and national governments are enacting more stringent and costly compliance mandates, such as the HITECH and UK Data Protection Acts, which are driving the need to encrypt sensitive information and protect an individual’s privacy. Also, the increased costs and frequency of data breaches are driving the adoption of encryption as companies strive to mitigate risk and protect their critical information from cybercriminals.

By bringing together PGP and GuardianEdge’s standards-based encryption capabilities for full-disk, removable media, email, file, folder and smartphone, with Symantec’s endpoint security, data loss prevention and gateway security offerings, Symantec will have the broadest set of integrated data protection solutions. This unique portfolio will address the data protection needs of all major customer segments from the largest enterprises and governments to small businesses and individuals. Together these acquisitions will expand Symantec’s addressable security market opportunity and will position the company as a leader in the fast growing encryption market which, according to IDC, is estimated to reach $1.7 billion in 2013.

"As information becomes increasingly mobile, it’s essential to take an information-centric approach to security. Our market-leading data protection solutions provide the intelligence for customers to better understand what data is important, who owns it and who accesses it," said Francis deSouza, senior vice president, Enterprise Security Group, Symantec. "With these acquisitions we can further protect information by using encryption in an intelligent and policy-driven way to give the right users access to the right information, enabling the trust that individuals and organizations need to operate confidently in an information-driven world. We’re now able to offer the industry’s most comprehensive solution across encryption and data loss prevention for protecting confidential data on endpoints, networks, storage systems and in the cloud."

Symantec expects these transactions to be 2 cents dilutive to non-GAAP earnings per share in fiscal year 2011 and accretive to its non-GAAP earnings per share in fiscal year 2012.

Consistent with Symantec’s strength in addressing heterogeneity in customer environments, PGP and GuardianEdge are committed to standards-based technologies, helping customers ensure broad compatibility and simplified management among deployments. Following the close of these transactions, Symantec intends to bring together key features and functionality from each company’s offerings and standardize on the PGP key management platform in order to deliver centralized policy and key management capabilities across the entire suite of encryption solutions.

Symantec also intends to integrate the PGP key management platform into the Symantec Protection Center, which simplifies security information management by providing customers consolidated access to threat, security and operational dashboards and reporting. Integrating the PGP key management platform into the Symantec Protection Center will further enhance the management of endpoint security, data loss prevention and gateway security products, which are also integrated with Symantec Protection Center, allowing customers to more seamlessly protect information.

"What I really like about these acquisitions is that they go well beyond PC full-disk encryption alone," said Jon Oltsik, Principal Analyst at Enterprise Strategy Group. "With PGP and GuardianEdge, Symantec gets a geographically-dispersed install base, a leading standards-based key management platform, a PKI SaaS offering, a strong government presence, and encryption coverage from mobile devices to mainframes. Yesterday, Symantec was lagging in encryption and key management and today, with PGP and GuardianEdge, it is now able to provide leading solutions worldwide."

PGP and GuardianEdge’s solutions are ideal for Symantec’s worldwide distribution network. PGP’s global customer base crosses enterprise, small and medium business and individuals. GuardianEdge, already a Symantec technology partner for Symantec Endpoint Encryption, provides strength in the government sector. The addition of encryption offerings will provide up-sell and cross-sell opportunities for Symantec’s sales team and extensive partner network as customers seek to conduct business with fewer vendors.

Upon close of the acquisitions, PGP Corporation and GuardianEdge will join the Enterprise Security Group led by Senior Vice President Francis deSouza. For more information on how PGP Corporation and GuardianEdge will complement Symantec’s security portfolio please visit: go.symantec.com/PGPGuardianEdge

Webcast and Conference Call Information

Symantec will host a conference call and webcast today to discuss the acquisition at 5 a.m. PDT/ 8 a.m. EDT. The live discussion can be accessed by dialing 888-778-8912 domestic and 913-312-1502 internationally, passcode 4938806. An audio webcast of the call will also be available at www.symantec.com/invest. Please go to the Web site at least 15 minutes early to register, download and install any necessary audio software. A replay of the call will be available via webcast at www.symantec.com/invest. A slide presentation providing an overview of the transaction and strategic rationale is available at investor.symantec.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=89422&p=irol-eventnpres.

About PGP Corporation

PGP Corporation is a global leader in email and data encryption software. Based on a unified key management and policy infrastructure, the PGP(R) Encryption Platform offers the broadest set of integrated applications for enterprise data security. PGP(R) platform-enabled applications allow organizations to meet current needs and expand as security requirements evolve for email, laptops, desktops, instant messaging, smartphones, network storage, file transfers, automated processes, and backups.

PGP(R) solutions are used by more than 110,000 enterprises, businesses, and governments worldwide, including 87 percent of the Fortune(R) 100, 73 percent of the Fortune(R) Global 100, 80 percent of the German DAX index, and 60 percent of the U.K. FTSE 100 Index. As a result, PGP Corporation has earned a global reputation for innovative, standards-based, and trusted solutions. PGP solutions help protect confidential information, secure customer data, achieve regulatory and audit compliance, and safeguard companies’ brands and reputations. Contact PGP Corporation at www.pgp.com.

About GuardianEdge

GuardianEdge, the leader in endpoint data protection for the enterprise, offers award-winning solutions to protect sensitive data on end-user devices including laptops, desktops, portable storage devices and smartphones. GuardianEdge products offer a breadth of encryption, port, device and file type control technologies while establishing a market-leading position in solving the operational issues of deployment, management, scalability, reporting, auditing and user productivity at the lowest possible total cost. Millions of users worldwide depend on the EAL 4 certified, enterprise-software standards-based GuardianEdge Data Protection Platform to safeguard confidential or proprietary information, to ensure compliance with regulations for maintaining consumer privacy and to enable secure enterprise mobility.

GuardianEdge data protection solutions have been deployed by leading organizations including Lockheed Martin Corporation, Lincoln Financial Group, and The Hertz Corporation as well as numerous government agencies including the U.S. departments of Veteran Affairs, Defense, Energy, State and Education and the California Department of Healthcare Services.

About Symantec

Symantec is a global leader in providing security, storage and systems management solutions to help consumers and organizations secure and manage their information-driven world. Our software and services protect against more risks at more points, more completely and efficiently, enabling confidence wherever information is used or stored. More information is available at www.symantec.com.

NOTE TO EDITORS: If you would like additional information on Symantec Corporation and its products, please visit the Symantec News Room at www.symantec.com/news. All prices noted are in U.S. dollars and are valid only in the United States.

Symantec and the Symantec Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Symantec Corporation or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of U.S. federal securities laws, including expectations regarding the closing of Symantec’s acquisitions of PGP Corporation and GuardianEdge and the integration of their products and technologies into Symantec’s products and solutions and the expected impact of the acquisitions on Symantec’s fiscal 2011 and 2012 operating results, that involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in this press release. Such risk factors include, among others, satisfaction of closing conditions to the transactions, our ability to successfully integrate the merged businesses and technologies, and customer demand for the technologies and integrated product offerings. Actual results may differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Additional information concerning these and other risk factors is contained in the Risk Factors section of Symantec’s most recently filed Form 10-K. Symantec assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement contained in this press release. The contents of the Symantec website shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into this press release. Any forward-looking indication of plans for products is preliminary and all future release dates are tentative and are subject to change. Any future release of the product or planned modifications to product capability, functionality, or feature are subject to ongoing evaluation by Symantec, and may or may not be implemented and should not be considered firm commitments by Symantec and should not be relied upon in making purchasing decisions.

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Version 2.0: The ultimate “follow Friday” list for accessible tweeps

Published April 9, 2010 by L. Legendary

As promised, here is the updated list with a few additions, as per your request. Please follow them on Twitter, find them on Facebook, link to them on Linked In, and avail yourself of their genius. Thank you to all of you for your great work and contribution of time and energy in educating others.

Now that I’ve spent some time as a tweep, I’m getting a better handle on how reaching out to a network of like-minded business people can enhance my own little universe, even if it’s only 140 characters at a time. In just a few months on Twitter, I’ve made some great connections with both business owners and consumers in an effort to market my own offerings. I’ve hired consultants I’ve met through Twitter, I’ve downloaded some great software and apps I learned about from Twitter, and have received the most wonderfully positive and encouraging feedback from complete strangers who have learned of my work through Twitter. Along with my other social networking efforts, I’ve managed to come up with a really stellar list of great resources from which I’ve personally benefited. I thought I’d share some of them with you, in hope that you find the same superb quality I’ve discovered. Remember, behind every seemingly meaningless screen name is a brilliant human being who is seeking to share their wisdom and experience.

Note: For newcomers to the world of accessibility, the use of “a11y” is an abbrieviation of sorts for the word “accessibility.” Also, some of the URL’s I shortened, just for your ease of use. No malware here!

@mcourcel — Accessible tips and tricks, including screen reader friendly app reviews can be found at: www.accesscontent.ca/blog
@BCCPD Find the BC Coalition of People with Disabilities Help Sheets, reports, and magazine online: www.bccpd.bc.ca

@tbabinszki – Tom Babinszki Section 508 accessibility consultant, publisher of Even Grounds newsletter www.evengrounds.com/

@blindbeautiful — Blind Beautifully Blind Inc. is a Non-Profit organization that bridges the gap between the sighted and visually impaired. ow.ly/1wkLh

@InclusivePlanet — Creating an online community where the visually-impaired can easily share accessible content and conversations. www.inclusiveplanet.com

@stcaccess – Tweets from the SIG (Karen and Cyn) about accessibility issues for technical communicators, spiced with dashes of usability and other goodies. www.stc-access.org

@Independence1st – Independence First : Disability, access, advocacy news – from NPO ILC headquartered in MKE, WI – #1 "Disability" listkeeper per Listorious.

@AccEase Robyn Hunt Info access & human (disability) rights specialist, writer, blogger, trainer, speaker etc www.accese.com/ / tinyurl.com/ygojlzx

@sgauder – Sandi Gauder Web Accessibility Experts offers accessible web design courses & AODA legislation insights. webaccessibilityexperts.ca

@INDATAproject – Sarah Norman INDATA services include: Information, referrals, funding assistance, device demos, device loan, and equipment reutilization.

@EqualAccessSOU- Disability Resources from Southern Oregon University

@aablog - Ron Graham: Author of Access Ability blog, assistive technology trainer, & advocate for inclusion & disability rights. And, yes, I’m blind.

@grwebguy – Bill Creswell 34-36 Million people in the US have trouble hearing your video message. 4-5 million cannot hear it at all. If your message is worth hearing – caption it. www.facebook.com/l/fccb0;captionwire.com

@blindbargains Products and info for anyone with vision loss.-

@mosaicpossible – 65,000 Americans with intellectual disabilities don’t have adequate housing wouldyouhelp.org

@EmpowerAbility – Deb Young,OTR/L,CAPS, occupational therapy. Serving DE, SEPA and S. Jersey

@Fredshead - Blog, news, products for people with disabilities. American Printing House for the Blind aph.org

@aboutdignity Advocates dignity for everyone from all walks of life.

@IBMAccess – IBM Accessibility Austin/San Jose/all over!
@WebAxe Blog, podcasts, assistive technology news and information. By Dennis Lembree, creator of Accessible Twitr.

@AccessibleTwitr – Follow news and updates about Accessible Twitr. www.accessibletwitter.com

@Accessibility_ – Access & Mobility

@Disabilitygov– www.disability.gov USA
@Disaboom – Disability Website, Everywhere!

@ AdvocateAbility – Disability Advocates, Grand Rapids MI
@GlobalDR- Disability Relief,   Portland, Oregon USA
@disabilityblog – Disability Lawyers,   Beaumont, Texas

@Abadi_Access – Eliminating architectural barriers in design and construction using the ADAAG bit.ly/cZCkX2

@disabledsportOR – Disability Sports Wheelchair rugby, wheelchair basketball and goalball all practicing strong in Portland!

@Disability RightsMT - Montana, USA

@gimpgirl – A group for women with disabilities.
@DisabilityGuide – Disability Guide

@DisabledWorld – – Disability newsfeed
@a11yjobs – Jobs in the accessibility field, all over the world.

@a11yevents - Accessible events of interest all over the world.

@SakshamSeva – Disability Portal, New Delhi India. Eliminating Disability by Enabling Minds" (twitthis.com/yhbq9w)

@CSUNCOD – The Center on Disability at California State University, Northridge

@RangerStation Ramblings from some dude in the AT industry therangerstation.blogspot.com/

@aznightingales –Disability Nurses in Phoenix, Arizona
@AccessAfrica -Disability Solutions

@Accessible_info – Accessible news and info, community and communication.

@InsightsEmpire – Laura Legendary speaker, author and educator specializing in disability awareness and advocacy www.eloquentinsights.com

If you do not find yourself or your favorite accessible twee-source (Oh come on, now. You have no idea how long I debated over the use of “twee-source”), please add your info to the comments. Help me identify and grow an important list from

Technorati Tags: Twitter,accessibility,disability

which everyone can build.

LL

7 Comments

Accessible Insights goes audio with Odiogo

Published April 3, 2010 by L. Legendary

In an effort to be as accessible as possible, I have subscribed to a service that will enable my readers to become listeners. The service is called Odiogo.

For my screen reading friends, it is spelled O D I O G O. Cleverly named, in my view, because it turns your blog into an audio feed that can also be podcast on iTunes and other feed directories. Just click the “listen” button, and you can hear the blog post spoken in synthesized speech, and if you subscribe to the RSS feed of this blog, you can download it to your phone or iPod.

Rocked my world. You?

To give credit where credit is due, I discovered this cool plugin while browsing through the Fred’s Head blog at American Printing House. I wrote to the Fred’s Head blogmeister, Michael, and he filled me in.

Thank you, sir, and be flattered. My blog wants to be like yours when it grows up.

Just go to Odiogo.com and read up on it, and add the listen feature to your own blog.

I’ll reveal a little secret about how I believe being a screen reader user gives me an advantage over others: Hearing your writing spoken aloud will make you a better writer. Or, speaker. Don’t tell anyone I said that.

It’s true. Once you hear your own words spoken aloud by someone else, or in this case, something else, you will be pained to discover your sloppy writing habits. If you suffer from comma-itis, rambling run-ons or dangling prepositions, the writing maladies will suddenly leap out at you. “Leap out at you” being a good example of a dangling preposition. Horrifying.

Okay, that entire previous paragraph consisted of the worst grammar ever.

anyway, give it a try. It adds a fun new dimension to your otherwise silent cyberspace.

Go to:

www.odiogo.com/

Visit the American Printing House for the Blind blog:

www.fredshead.info/

American Printing House for the Blind:

www.aph.org/

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Need Word Press help? I’ve got you covered.

Published April 3, 2010 by L. Legendary

In the interest of full disclosure, I get paid absolutely nothing to write
my blog. So, when I write about a person or enterprise that I find to be
very helpful, useful or otherwise incredible, it is my pleasure to sing
their praises. Anger is a great motivator, and statistically more of us are
inclined to write a nasty letter than an affirming one. Just read the
comments at the bottom of almost any news story, and you’ll see what I mean.
Maybe it isn’t as much fun to write a note of encouragement or support,
maybe it just makes me a chump. However, I like to help others, and if I
find something wonderful that I believe might be a benefit to someone else,
I’m happy to share.

My most recent find is a little consulting firm called Word Press Help
Center. I discovered them while I was surfing the sea of Word Press plugins
that I might want to use to enhance my blog. On one of the myriad lists of
“best SEO tools,” “must-have Facebook apps” or “mission critical WP
plugins,” I found them.

After choosing the plugins I wanted, I realized that I didn’t have the
faintest idea how to install them. So, I resorted to surfing the endless
“how to” articles on the task. After consuming everything I could find on
the subject, I realized that I still didn’t have the faintest idea how to
install a Word Press plugin. So, I called the number on the Word Press Help
Center web site.

Amazingly, an actual human being answered the phone, and when I sent email,
that same human being wrote back, almost immediately. the novelty made my
head spin.

Matt, one of the consultants with the WP Help Center, relocated my blog to
my web site, copied over every one of the posts, installed my handful of
plugins, and dispatched each requested task with courtesy and efficiency.
What’s not to love there? His boss may not be thrilled that I say this, but
Matt was generous with his time, and his prices were very reasonable.

I asked Matt if he wouldn’t mind adding just a few words to my post, so you
can get a sense of what kind of great guy he is.

“I work hard for my money and when I spend it, I want to feel like I’m
getting value for that money. I expect our clients to feel similarly,
so we take a customer first attitude in our approach. As long as a
client is willing to compensate us fairly for the work we do, we’re
willing to do everything in our power to make sure the job gets done
right and that they are taken care of.”

Word Press Help Center
p: (303) 395-1346
w: wphelpcenter.com/

You can hire them on an ongoing basis via retainer, or hire them by the
job/hour. Good humans, good service, good job.

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We're moving! Sort of…

Published March 10, 2010 by L. Legendary

Building the Accessible Insights blog wasn’t exactly the most well thought-through undertaking of my business life. Seems that while I was struggling to dream up captivating posts week after week, I neglected to dream up the accompanying categories that should be attached to them. thirty posts later, I realized that a little organization probably would have improved the overall readability of my blog. Gee, you think?

(Insert Homer Simpson sound here)

Unfortunately, what I also overlooked was that by not self-hosting my blog, I would be unable to add those really cool plug-ins that everyone is using, also enhancing the blog’s readability. Well, if there was ever an opportunity to remedy that, the time is now.

The entire Insights Empire is being relocated to a new web host. The previous web hosting company suffered from an abundant lack of service, support, accessibility, features or benefits. They did manage, however, to excel at infuriating me with their utter disinterest in my customer satisfaction.

I’m one of those people who tends to vote with my wallet, so it didn’t take too long for me to come to terms with the hassle factor, grit my teeth and decide to move all five web sites, my parked domains, and whatever else was in the junk drawer to another web host. Enter Host Gator. they are the new, only somewhat more interested landlords of the Insights Empire. Actually, to be honest, their service and support have been stellar. they have gone out of their way to make my experience as painless as it could possibly be.

(I would proudly display my affiliate link here, but I can’t find it right now.)

So, while the DNS is propagating throughout the globe (there’s just no end to the jokes that could be made here), I will become a blog grown-up and install the Accessible Insights blog onto the Accessible Insights web site.

While my email bounces like a superball across the digital cosmos and links get disrupted like the Earth’s crust in a subduction zone (sorry, the quakes are on my mind), and my search engine rankings go from 2,837,354 page rank to hovering just above 17 billion, I’m hoping the new and improved Accessible Insights blog will merit a grand reopening. thank you for your patience, and your patronage.

Gratefully,

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