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Wednesday, September 13, 2006

The W32/Vanebot Worm

My computer had the W32/Vanebot Worm. In answer to an earlier suggestion, no... I didn't get it from surfing porn, although I'm sure I got it from surfing for something. What, I don't know.

There was an opening pop-up that came on when I turned on my computer which read: "LLIBKCUF / File has remove his self." This actually provided a rather humorous note to the whole thing. Hmmm! I wondered... could this be indicative of a computer virus when the grammar is as graceful as a inner-city gang member's? I can see some nerdlike cretin working away at this, night and day, only to become the laughing stock of the world. You would think a hacker might consider using an English dictionary before he publishes his virus.

Once I input that phrase into the search engine, I discovered what the problem was. I am currently cleaning everything up using some freeware provided by Sophos (which I highly recommend).

Horse Slaughterhouses

Let me mention something I wanted to blog about a couple of days ago: Horse Slaughterhouses in the U.S.A. It turns out we have a couple, and they kill the horses, carve them up, and sell their meat overseas to other countries that have a taste for horsemeat.

Right now there's legislation in place that will stop these slaughterhouses. I agree. What's next? Dogs & Cats R' Us: We Ship Only the Finest Cuts to the Finest Customers in Asia.

Social Drinkers Make More Money

Today I heard of a new study showing that social drinkers make up to 20% more than teetotallers. The announcer half-jokingly recommended that everyone needs to drink more.

What ever happened to scientific research? Undoubtedly cause and effect are getting mixed up here, but no one is pointing that out.

The reasons are probably very simple. Either social drinkers have more discretionary income to start with, and can afford to go out for a couple of drinks on a regular basis, or they are networking and increasing their business opportunities after work. Either way, it's not the drinking that leads to the profitability. The profitability leads to the drinking.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Why is it wrong to kill a horse for food but not a cow?

Deb said...

Well, regardless, cats are already being served up in some other cultural restaurants and fine dining....but horses? I didn't know people ate horses?

I always say, a drink a day keeps the heart attacks away! ;) The French paradox seems to prove true, no?

mal said...

I do no eat horse meat, but I know some folks prefer it. Why should horses be treated different from Cattle, Swine or Poultry?

Anonymous said...

Good reasoning about the drinking leading to networking. That would surely be my experience. And I'm for the drink too!!!!!
js

Grant said...

I have read claims that a lot of hackers are overseas, which is why you frequently see poor grammar associated with the viruses.

exMI said...

I have no problems with eating horses. Haven't done it that I know of but it causes me no grief.

Miss Cellania said...

Yeah, cause and correlation are not interchangable. I live in a mostly-dry area, with a depressed economy. Bible belt, that is. The folks in the bigger Northern cities make more money because the cost of living is higher there. There is also less stigma against social drinking. Thats a correlation, not a cause.

Ellen said...

The problem with getting a virus is that it loads all kinds of porn sites into your computer as part of the mess to clean up, and you are just not fast enough to bat them all down. I had the same problem, and not only did it make a mess, it fried my hard-drive. I was embarrassed to bring it in to get it fixed, but I had to have my computer for work, and bit the bullet for all the ribbing I knew I was going to get. Occasionally I experience some problems here and there, but have finally learned to shut it all down and run Norton, which cleans up my computer on a daily basis anyway. Never hurts to have a little extra cleaning done though.

Glad you were able to find the germ, and hopefully it will not return anytime soon. Being without the computer makes for a lonely day when you can't get to your favorite reads, etc. Also, very glad you are back in the swing of things! I can always count on you for something interesting or controversial to read.

High Power Rocketry said...

I think it is the networking...

Ed said...

God gave us dominion over all animals to raise as pets or eat as we see fit. I say amen to that!

Notsocranky Yankee said...

I'm not sure how raising and slaughtering horses is any worse than doing the same to cows. So I will remain neutral on that one.

I am happy to hear that my love of beer will someday make me richer...

Fred said...

Let's just go back to writing letters. It was all so much simpler and more personal.

LZ Blogger said...

I think I knew about the SOCIAL DRINKERS!

Nihilistic said...

Completely off topic...But...not from your other post...I'm leaving Verizon! Switch with me! Sprint...Here I come!

Anonymous said...

Horse meat tastes good, trust meat.

NO MEAT HYPOCRISY!

If I could spell it...