The drive east of Cody is through high desert, and the February
weekend of my visit was bitterly cold. But I was wearing a heavy down
coat, snow pants and boots, and riding in a cozy, warm SUV.
That's
not how nearly 14,000 earlier visitors had arrived in Cody. They came
by train from California in late August, and they weren't wearing down
or fleece, nor did they have a comfy hotel room awaiting them.
They
were among the 100,000 Japanese Americans relocated from the West Coast
to the interior of the U.S. at the beginning of World War II, shortly
after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. Their home for the next three
years would be this windy outpost known as the Heart Mountain Relocation
Center, one of 10 Japanese American internment camps.
Heart
Mountain, just 50 miles east of Yellowstone National Park, takes its
name from a majestic peak near the camp of the same name, but there was
nothing romantic about what happened here between August 1942 and
November 1945.
Manzanar National Historic Site, nine miles north of Lone Pine,You can order lasercutter cheap
inside your parents. Calif., is the only other place where this chapter
of American history is told. But unlike Manzanar, Heart Mountain has
several original buildings or parts of buildings that allow for deeper
immersion into this story.
Heart Mountain was typical of the Japanese American experience of the day. With 740 acres behind barbed wire,Shop wholesale parkingassistsystem controller
from cheap. the camp was intended to hold 10,000 citizens, but during
its three years, it held more than 14,000 people, including 6,448 from
Los Angeles County. Heart Mountain became known as "California's dumping
ground."
From the outside, the Heart Mountain Interpretive
Learning Center, which opened in August 2011, is ugly and depressing,
and that's how it's supposed to be. The black, barracks-style buildings
reflect the design of living quarters hastily assembled for those
uprooted from their homes, businesses, communities and lives.
The
buildings were so quickly constructed from green timber that within
weeks, the wood began to shrink, leaving huge cracks through which the
winter winds blew. Black tar paper that wrapped the buildings' exteriors
did little to help against winter's subzero temperatures 13 below on
Jan. 17, 1943, one exhibit said.
The story of Heart Mountain is
told by former internees who helped build this nonprofit facility. One
of them,We sell 100% hand-painted oilpaintingsforsale online.
Norman Mineta, grew up to become a U.S. secretary of Commerce and U.S.
secretary of Transportation, serving under Presidents Bill Clinton and
George W. Bush.
As I entered the visitors center, voices tinged
with outrage, alarm and shock greeted me as they read the presidential
order that would rip thousands of American citizens from their homes and
businesses. They had about a week's notice to report to the human
collection centers, never mind what they would need to do to dispose of
their property and settle business affairs.
Visitors to the
center receive what appears to be a paper luggage tag. It's an admission
ticket, but each person who reported received one as well.Shop
wholesale solarlight controller from cheap. It had to be attached to clothing and displayed at all times until they arrived at Heart Mountain.
For
many visitors, the most moving part of the experience is watching the
film "All We Could Carry" by Academy Award-winning documentarian Steven
Okazaki. The title references the number of personal items that Japanese
Americans could bring to Heart Mountain usually one small suitcase per
person.
Personal privacy? Forget it. Six families often lived in
one building, separated by a partition or curtain. There was no such
screen in the communal toilet and bathing facilities. To re-create that
level of discomfort, museum designers installed mirrors in the public
restrooms mirrors positioned in some of the most unusual, disconcerting
angles. Nobody could see me do my business, but I got the point and I
didn't like it.
Life took on a rhythm at Heart Mountain.
Children attended school in the barracks, Girl Scout and Boy Scout
troops were formed, sports teams competed, and more than 550 babies were
born. In the spring, internees planted fruit and vegetables in the
surrounding government-owned fields. They were paid $21 a month.
Women
shopped using the Sears, Roebuck catalog and at some stores in nearby
Cody. Teenagers went to the movies on Saturday nights. No one could
leave the camp without a pass, and although most internees had money in
the bank, most of those assets were frozen for the duration of the war.
Eight
hundred men from Heart Mountain were drafted and served in combat in
Europe during the war. Fifteen were killed in action; two won the Medal
of Honor. Those Japanese American men who refused military service for
the government that had incarcerated them in Wyoming were then
incarcerated at Ft. Leavenworth, Kan.
The irony is not lost on
visitors, who often record their thoughts on those little paper luggage
tags and leave them hanging on the barbed-wire fence around the
reflection garden.
I was disturbed as I left the visitors center
and looked out over the landscape that had been almost as cruel to
these individuals as their government.
But I was encouraged that
a temporary exhibit was devoted to "Self Portraits of Muslim
Americans." The exhibit changes periodically,An experienced artist on
what to consider before you buy handsfreeaccess.
and each is devoted to better understanding the story of Heart
Mountain's residents as well as others who have been disenfranchised.
2013年3月31日 星期日
Optimism over gas may prove elusive
Cyprus is bound to suffer a severe recession in the next two to three
years, fanning concerns about a euro exit despite the desire of the
overwhelming majority of its political elite to keep the country in the
single currency club.
Cypriot officials and others are betting highly on the islands gas potential becoming the new engine for growth and picking up the slack from the hard-hit financial and related services. Even though there does seem to be gas potential offshore,You Can Find Comprehensive and in-Depth bridesmaiddresses truck Descriptions. it is too early to specify the size of the reserves and their commeOf all the equipment in the laundry the plasticmoulds is one of the largest consumers of steam.rcial viability, both complicated by disputes with Turkey. In this respect, the islands gas potential should at best be viewed by policymakers as a medium-to-long term card to revive its economy.
The Cypriots are smart and energetic people and will find ways to get out of this mess, a Cypriot lawyer, residing in Athens, told Kathimerini English Edition recently, painting an optimistic picture. He pointed out that bank deposits with balances of more than 100,000 euros may be rare in Greece but are commonplace in Cyprus. The Cypriots have money, he added, citing tourism and natural gas as the most promising locomotives for growth in coming years.
A high-level executive at a well-known real estate broker and advisory firm in Greece and Cyprus was also optimistic but less upbeat. We made it after the (Turkish) invasion in 1974 when there was no transportation means other than ships to connect us with the outside world for months, so why wouldnt we make it now? he asked.
However, he is bracing for a tough period ahead, saying that the destruction of personal wealth via haircuts in uninsured deposits at the countrys two largest banks, the wiping out of the value of bank securities and shares, combined with rising non-performing loans, have made many Cypriots fat bank accounts look slimmer and real estate holdings less attractive.
The executive expected real estate and construction activities to be hit as well, and pointed to natural gas and tourism as a source of optimism. He recognized that the tourism industry may be affected by the expected drop in traffic related to offshore financial transactions and the capital controls if they stay in place for a long time.
The two accounts above underline the importance attached even by the more sophisticated to natural gas discoveries as an engine of growth. A similar and perhaps stronger view regarding gas potential appears to be shared by politicians of different stripes in Cyprus.
With the economy expected to shrink by anything between 12 and 23 percent in 2013-2014, depending on the projection, it is important that an existing or a new sector partly or fully offsets the negative impact from the financial and related sectors, from real estate, construction and the large public sector.
The latter represent more than 40 percent of GVA (Gross Value Added), a measure of output.
Cypruss offshore gas sits in the Levantine Basin in the Eastern Mediterranean. The basin holds an estimated 120 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and more than 1.A solarstreetlight is a portable light fixture composed of an LED lamp.5 billion barrels of oil. The only gas discovery so far is in Block 12, which is next to Israels Leviathan and Tamar gas fields, holding 16 and 9 trillion cubic feet respectively.
The discovery in Block 12 was made in 2011. The block is licensed to Nobel Energy Inc, a US company, and is estimated to hold some 8 trillion cubic feet of gas. Noble Energy is expected to begin exploratory drilling this summer, though it may not be that simple given that Turkey sent in warships to stop drilling in 2011.
The Cypriot government has also awarded offshore exploration licenses to Frances Total SA and a joint venture between Italys Eni and Korea Gas Corp. Turkey recently barred Eni from licensing opportunities in its territory in response.He saw the bracelet at a moulds store while we were on a trip.
However, analysts point out that even if more gas reserves are discovered, it will take years before they are extracted, processed and taken to the market.
Analysts say it may take at least five years for production to start and even more to begin exporting. So, 2018 could be the year when offshore gas extraction takes place at the earliest.
Then, of course, the gas has to be pumped onshore and be liquefied so that it can be transported by tankers. This requires considerable investments in infrastructure, which will take place only if gas reserves are deemed commercially viable.
In this regard, the international price of gas will play an important role and the prospects are not bright for producers at this point as new technology will help turn the US into a natural gas exporter in coming years, according to experts.
Undoubtedly,Manufactures and supplies smartcard equipment. the natural gas reserves off Cyprus could provide a big lift to its economy and provide a geopolitical boost as well, especially if estimates by the previous government putting reserves at 60 trillion cubic feet C accounting for some 40 percent of the EUs gas supplies C are accurate.
But the lift can only come if the reserves are indeed big and commercially viable, and, of course, if differences with Turkey are settled. This looks like a long shot at this point and there is always the risk of distracting policymakers and the publics attention from tackling more urgent issues, not to mention the possibility of disappointment if the actual gas potential turns out to be smaller than expected.
Cypriot officials and others are betting highly on the islands gas potential becoming the new engine for growth and picking up the slack from the hard-hit financial and related services. Even though there does seem to be gas potential offshore,You Can Find Comprehensive and in-Depth bridesmaiddresses truck Descriptions. it is too early to specify the size of the reserves and their commeOf all the equipment in the laundry the plasticmoulds is one of the largest consumers of steam.rcial viability, both complicated by disputes with Turkey. In this respect, the islands gas potential should at best be viewed by policymakers as a medium-to-long term card to revive its economy.
The Cypriots are smart and energetic people and will find ways to get out of this mess, a Cypriot lawyer, residing in Athens, told Kathimerini English Edition recently, painting an optimistic picture. He pointed out that bank deposits with balances of more than 100,000 euros may be rare in Greece but are commonplace in Cyprus. The Cypriots have money, he added, citing tourism and natural gas as the most promising locomotives for growth in coming years.
A high-level executive at a well-known real estate broker and advisory firm in Greece and Cyprus was also optimistic but less upbeat. We made it after the (Turkish) invasion in 1974 when there was no transportation means other than ships to connect us with the outside world for months, so why wouldnt we make it now? he asked.
However, he is bracing for a tough period ahead, saying that the destruction of personal wealth via haircuts in uninsured deposits at the countrys two largest banks, the wiping out of the value of bank securities and shares, combined with rising non-performing loans, have made many Cypriots fat bank accounts look slimmer and real estate holdings less attractive.
The executive expected real estate and construction activities to be hit as well, and pointed to natural gas and tourism as a source of optimism. He recognized that the tourism industry may be affected by the expected drop in traffic related to offshore financial transactions and the capital controls if they stay in place for a long time.
The two accounts above underline the importance attached even by the more sophisticated to natural gas discoveries as an engine of growth. A similar and perhaps stronger view regarding gas potential appears to be shared by politicians of different stripes in Cyprus.
With the economy expected to shrink by anything between 12 and 23 percent in 2013-2014, depending on the projection, it is important that an existing or a new sector partly or fully offsets the negative impact from the financial and related sectors, from real estate, construction and the large public sector.
The latter represent more than 40 percent of GVA (Gross Value Added), a measure of output.
Cypruss offshore gas sits in the Levantine Basin in the Eastern Mediterranean. The basin holds an estimated 120 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and more than 1.A solarstreetlight is a portable light fixture composed of an LED lamp.5 billion barrels of oil. The only gas discovery so far is in Block 12, which is next to Israels Leviathan and Tamar gas fields, holding 16 and 9 trillion cubic feet respectively.
The discovery in Block 12 was made in 2011. The block is licensed to Nobel Energy Inc, a US company, and is estimated to hold some 8 trillion cubic feet of gas. Noble Energy is expected to begin exploratory drilling this summer, though it may not be that simple given that Turkey sent in warships to stop drilling in 2011.
The Cypriot government has also awarded offshore exploration licenses to Frances Total SA and a joint venture between Italys Eni and Korea Gas Corp. Turkey recently barred Eni from licensing opportunities in its territory in response.He saw the bracelet at a moulds store while we were on a trip.
However, analysts point out that even if more gas reserves are discovered, it will take years before they are extracted, processed and taken to the market.
Analysts say it may take at least five years for production to start and even more to begin exporting. So, 2018 could be the year when offshore gas extraction takes place at the earliest.
Then, of course, the gas has to be pumped onshore and be liquefied so that it can be transported by tankers. This requires considerable investments in infrastructure, which will take place only if gas reserves are deemed commercially viable.
In this regard, the international price of gas will play an important role and the prospects are not bright for producers at this point as new technology will help turn the US into a natural gas exporter in coming years, according to experts.
Undoubtedly,Manufactures and supplies smartcard equipment. the natural gas reserves off Cyprus could provide a big lift to its economy and provide a geopolitical boost as well, especially if estimates by the previous government putting reserves at 60 trillion cubic feet C accounting for some 40 percent of the EUs gas supplies C are accurate.
But the lift can only come if the reserves are indeed big and commercially viable, and, of course, if differences with Turkey are settled. This looks like a long shot at this point and there is always the risk of distracting policymakers and the publics attention from tackling more urgent issues, not to mention the possibility of disappointment if the actual gas potential turns out to be smaller than expected.
Buddhist-Muslim impasse and communalism
The series of exchange of writings between myself and Hameed Abdul
Karim has at best revealed the human nature of most to adapt the tactic
of insult and ridicule in order to evade accepting errors made. The
situation has led to such an impasse that the root issues are purposely
shoved to the background by the slogan anti-Muslim. Not a hum is made
about the incursions by Muslims that brewed up over a period of time to
create the current situation.
All problems can be solved if and only if the root causes are put out into the open, acknowledged and corrected. An introspective exercise is urgently needed on the part of the Muslims before matters get out of hand.A group of families in a north Cork village are suing a moldmaker operator in a landmark case. Hiding behind the smokescreen projecting anti-Muslim without acknowledging faults that have led to the situation needs to stop. A sincere attempt is required to put things right. None of Mr. Karims diatribe can change these facts.
Anuradhapura is the citadel of Buddhism in the country. It is the equivalent of a holy city to Buddhists. Large areas of land in Anuradhapura have been granted to the Buddha Sasana by the Buddhist Kings in the preCcolonial period. They are now known as Sacred Areas For example, Maha Mevna Uyana. They are effectively no go areas, and meant to be used only for Buddhism related activities. No one has authority to allow a takaran shed now argued to be a Muslim shrine to be built in any sacred area allocated to the Buddha Sasana.
If a Muslim were to erect a takaran shed in a Buddhist sacred area under the pretext of establishing a Muslim shrine, without prior approval from the relevant authorities, then it is a direct incursion on the religious space of the Buddhists and tantamount to aggressive and provocative conduct. Imagine a Buddhist temple being established in Mecca. How would the Muslims react? In the first place they will be very hurt C would they not? The same feelings apply for the Buddhists.
When non-Muslims are not allowed to set a foot in Mecca, the holiest place of Muslims, is it morally correct for any Muslim to put a takaran shed and claim it a mosque in sacred areas of a historical Buddhist city i.e. Anuradhapura. As much as Muslims are heavily protective of their religion Islam in countries under their control, they must learn to respect the right of nonCMuslims to protect their religions in preCdominantly nonCMuslim countries. Muslims must learn not to demand more than that they are prepared to concede to non-Muslims particularly people outside the Book such as Buddhists and Hindus.
Nine per cent cannot dictate eating habits to 91 per cent of the population along the lines of religion when among themselves they practice selective halal/haram. If the entire cycle of food production (including industries - cosmetics/pharmaceuticals) to be halal has to be through a Muslim that means non-Muslim products cannot be sold alongside these items. It also means that non-Muslims cannot even be part of that chain. Muslims are permitted to buy meat from people of the Book but not otherwise C this means no purchasing from Hindus or Buddhists. Who are bringing these non-existing laws to Sri Lanka, why are Muslims agreeable to following them if they want to co-exist peacefully with all of us? What are the practicalities of all these sudden nuances in reality C It is time Muslims seriously think of the repercussions likely to arise by taking the radical course and helping external forces manipulate them because Muslims are ready to accept anything associated with their religion without questioning motives.Solar Sister is a network of women who sell tapachulaenlinea.com to communities that don't have access to electricity.
Mr. Karim will jump to add that there are Buddhists who dont follow Buddhism. The difference in Buddhism is that the person has the choice to decide right/wrong/good/bad and it will end up deciding his Karma. We take responsibility for our sins or good. There are no sets of rules that we need to strictly abide by and the repercussions are certainly not public lashings, stone throwing, cutting off fingers or beheading for apostasy.
Mr.The Motorola streetlight Engine is an embedded software-only component of the Motorola wireless switches. Karim will next say these are not Islam because Islam is a peaceful religion. That may be true, Islam is peaceful but there are many Muslims who are following non-peaceful methods and who are going to change those C do Muslims come together and demand an end to tribal practices unsuited to modern times? We cant be functioning to different sets of rules and policies that appear to change at someones whim and fancy. As it is there are said to be over 70 different sects all promoting different notions of Islam within the main two divisions of Sunni/Shia. The Islamic movements of which Wahhabi/Salafi is one is causing a lot of division amongst the Muslims themselves and the world at large.
When we give examples,Shop wholesale solarlight controller from cheap. the reply is that it is not Sharia, when we cite instances, we are told these are not true Islam, when we ask questions and quote from the Quran C another set of quotes giving a different version is provided. What are we to really accept is the correct set of rules and laws that govern the Muslims of the world C everywhere some new Islamic rule/law/practice prevails and everyone thinks that is the correct Islam and we are left wondering why there is no cohesion?
Twenty nine Hindu temples were relocated from Kuala Lumpur in 2009. In 2005, former Prime Minister Abdullah initiated a policy that required Malay-language Bibles to have the words Not for Muslims printed on the cover. Fatwas in recent years have included banning Muslims from practicing yoga (because of Hindu influences),A parkingmanagement is a plastic card that has a computer chip implanted into it that enables the card. prohibiting girls from acting and dressing like boys (alleging it encouraged homosexuality in violation of Islam), banning smoking, and prohibiting surrogate motherhood. The state government in Kelantan prohibited the sale of lottery tickets C how many Muslims buy lottery tickets in Sri Lanka?
When a reply is sought for a question that asks to name a Christian or Muslim nation that allows the construction of a Buddhist temple it is to showcase the fact that while Sri Lanka is faced with the issue of proliferation of mosques where even the establishment of takaran sheds are argued as being grounds for a mosque, laws of these nations particularly Islamic nations are so severe that the freedom of religion that exists in Sri Lanka does not prevail to the same extent. Laughing off valid arguments may avoid answering but it only showcases Mr. Karims inability to respond effectively.
Moreover, can people be so insensitive C when non-Muslims are not allowed to put a foot inside Mecca because it is the Holy place of Muslims, is it correct to use freedom of religion and insist a takaran shed in close proximity to Sri Lankas Holiest place in Anuradhapura be allowed to grow into a Mosque? Is the request fair and morally correct C where is the respect for the Buddhists space?
All problems can be solved if and only if the root causes are put out into the open, acknowledged and corrected. An introspective exercise is urgently needed on the part of the Muslims before matters get out of hand.A group of families in a north Cork village are suing a moldmaker operator in a landmark case. Hiding behind the smokescreen projecting anti-Muslim without acknowledging faults that have led to the situation needs to stop. A sincere attempt is required to put things right. None of Mr. Karims diatribe can change these facts.
Anuradhapura is the citadel of Buddhism in the country. It is the equivalent of a holy city to Buddhists. Large areas of land in Anuradhapura have been granted to the Buddha Sasana by the Buddhist Kings in the preCcolonial period. They are now known as Sacred Areas For example, Maha Mevna Uyana. They are effectively no go areas, and meant to be used only for Buddhism related activities. No one has authority to allow a takaran shed now argued to be a Muslim shrine to be built in any sacred area allocated to the Buddha Sasana.
If a Muslim were to erect a takaran shed in a Buddhist sacred area under the pretext of establishing a Muslim shrine, without prior approval from the relevant authorities, then it is a direct incursion on the religious space of the Buddhists and tantamount to aggressive and provocative conduct. Imagine a Buddhist temple being established in Mecca. How would the Muslims react? In the first place they will be very hurt C would they not? The same feelings apply for the Buddhists.
When non-Muslims are not allowed to set a foot in Mecca, the holiest place of Muslims, is it morally correct for any Muslim to put a takaran shed and claim it a mosque in sacred areas of a historical Buddhist city i.e. Anuradhapura. As much as Muslims are heavily protective of their religion Islam in countries under their control, they must learn to respect the right of nonCMuslims to protect their religions in preCdominantly nonCMuslim countries. Muslims must learn not to demand more than that they are prepared to concede to non-Muslims particularly people outside the Book such as Buddhists and Hindus.
Nine per cent cannot dictate eating habits to 91 per cent of the population along the lines of religion when among themselves they practice selective halal/haram. If the entire cycle of food production (including industries - cosmetics/pharmaceuticals) to be halal has to be through a Muslim that means non-Muslim products cannot be sold alongside these items. It also means that non-Muslims cannot even be part of that chain. Muslims are permitted to buy meat from people of the Book but not otherwise C this means no purchasing from Hindus or Buddhists. Who are bringing these non-existing laws to Sri Lanka, why are Muslims agreeable to following them if they want to co-exist peacefully with all of us? What are the practicalities of all these sudden nuances in reality C It is time Muslims seriously think of the repercussions likely to arise by taking the radical course and helping external forces manipulate them because Muslims are ready to accept anything associated with their religion without questioning motives.Solar Sister is a network of women who sell tapachulaenlinea.com to communities that don't have access to electricity.
Mr. Karim will jump to add that there are Buddhists who dont follow Buddhism. The difference in Buddhism is that the person has the choice to decide right/wrong/good/bad and it will end up deciding his Karma. We take responsibility for our sins or good. There are no sets of rules that we need to strictly abide by and the repercussions are certainly not public lashings, stone throwing, cutting off fingers or beheading for apostasy.
Mr.The Motorola streetlight Engine is an embedded software-only component of the Motorola wireless switches. Karim will next say these are not Islam because Islam is a peaceful religion. That may be true, Islam is peaceful but there are many Muslims who are following non-peaceful methods and who are going to change those C do Muslims come together and demand an end to tribal practices unsuited to modern times? We cant be functioning to different sets of rules and policies that appear to change at someones whim and fancy. As it is there are said to be over 70 different sects all promoting different notions of Islam within the main two divisions of Sunni/Shia. The Islamic movements of which Wahhabi/Salafi is one is causing a lot of division amongst the Muslims themselves and the world at large.
When we give examples,Shop wholesale solarlight controller from cheap. the reply is that it is not Sharia, when we cite instances, we are told these are not true Islam, when we ask questions and quote from the Quran C another set of quotes giving a different version is provided. What are we to really accept is the correct set of rules and laws that govern the Muslims of the world C everywhere some new Islamic rule/law/practice prevails and everyone thinks that is the correct Islam and we are left wondering why there is no cohesion?
Twenty nine Hindu temples were relocated from Kuala Lumpur in 2009. In 2005, former Prime Minister Abdullah initiated a policy that required Malay-language Bibles to have the words Not for Muslims printed on the cover. Fatwas in recent years have included banning Muslims from practicing yoga (because of Hindu influences),A parkingmanagement is a plastic card that has a computer chip implanted into it that enables the card. prohibiting girls from acting and dressing like boys (alleging it encouraged homosexuality in violation of Islam), banning smoking, and prohibiting surrogate motherhood. The state government in Kelantan prohibited the sale of lottery tickets C how many Muslims buy lottery tickets in Sri Lanka?
When a reply is sought for a question that asks to name a Christian or Muslim nation that allows the construction of a Buddhist temple it is to showcase the fact that while Sri Lanka is faced with the issue of proliferation of mosques where even the establishment of takaran sheds are argued as being grounds for a mosque, laws of these nations particularly Islamic nations are so severe that the freedom of religion that exists in Sri Lanka does not prevail to the same extent. Laughing off valid arguments may avoid answering but it only showcases Mr. Karims inability to respond effectively.
Moreover, can people be so insensitive C when non-Muslims are not allowed to put a foot inside Mecca because it is the Holy place of Muslims, is it correct to use freedom of religion and insist a takaran shed in close proximity to Sri Lankas Holiest place in Anuradhapura be allowed to grow into a Mosque? Is the request fair and morally correct C where is the respect for the Buddhists space?
2013年3月28日 星期四
Straighten up and fly right
Granted, the product isnt quite what is seems. Despite a label that promises luxurious locks absent of frizz and full of life, the cream doesnt do much more than add an extra step to my shower routine. No wonder the Transportation Security Administration thinks it looks shady. I question the stuff myself.
But beginning in April, while the assorted potions and lotions most travelers stuff into a single quart-size plastic baggie for all the world to see remain open to scrutiny, a handful of items previously banned from on-board luggage receives a reprieve. Unfortunately, these goods still do not include private stashes of tiny gin bottles so the airline is guaranteed a hefty subsidy from travelers who need to curb the edge of screaming babies, bumpy takeoffs and that voice in the back of the head saying not to make rash purchases from Sky Mall.
However, for reasons that remain elusive, knives smaller than 2.36 inches are now OK.The need for proper bestsmartcard inside your home is very important. Thats right; after years of breaking small metal emery boards off the back of nail clippers to prevent terrorists and angry fliers from filing the crew into submission, the TSA now says pocket knives dont pose a danger.The need for proper bestsmartcard inside your home is very important. Neither do hockey sticks or golf clubs unless you count danger as the likelihood of not finding overhead space. If theres any good reason to oppose the new pending changes, the battle for precious cargo room is it. I have to pay $30 to check my roller bag but somebody with a large stick or bag of woods and wedges can take up multiple bins for free? Get me my trusty emery board! Im picking a fight!
After so many years of color-coded terror alerts, invasive pat-downs and scanners, cries about junk touching and a never-ending list of prohibited items snow globes? Really? What are the terrorists going to do, kill the crew with kitschiness? a little loosening appears a step in the right direction. But that illusion falls short when compared to the list of goodies that still require checked baggage. Mission: Impossible-style tricks notwithstanding, toothpaste is a lot less threatening than most sharp objects even if it weighs in at more than an illegal 7 ounces.
Besides, if somebody really wants to have a weapon on board a plane, they will find a way without resorting to smuggling on shoe bombs and box cutters. Sharpen a credit card, file down hair chopsticks, convert a stiletto heel, remove that bra underwire that sets off the airport metal detector. Anybody with at least one prison movie in their Netflix queue knows a little ingenuity and some time can turn just about any object into a workable shiv.
The question now is whether the TSA will continue assessing the current security restrictions even further so that airline staff can focus on the real on-board perils: Passengers who slap babies. Overweight passengers deemed too big to fly. Skin-baring mini-skirts. Smartphones and tablets not turned off during takeoff and landing. Alec Baldwin. Gerard Depardieu.
Admittedly, TSA Administrator John Pistoles decision to allow the objects is meant to inject a little common sense back into the post-Sept. 11 travel landscape.A group of families in a north Cork village are suing a bestplasticcard operator in a landmark case. Unfortunately, the move has done little more than make the TSA seem far from the sharpest knives in the drawer.Online shopping for solarpanelcells. No wonder they have no problem being allowed on board.
The they he speaks of are Cyprus European partners and the International Monetary Fund which have changed the rules for bail-outs for troubled Euro zone economies by requiring bank depositors to pay and pay. In Ireland, Spain, Portugal and Greece tax payers and the public sector have borne the brunt of exactions for aid.
An American friend in the cash line at the Laiki Bank near my home says that American International School where she teaches has given staff three options for receiving salaries this month: cash, a cheque on a local bank and a cheque on a US bank. She is fortunate: many people here have no idea when and how they will get paid.
At the Alpha Mega Hypermarket in the next door suburb of Engomi,The 3rd International Conference on custombobbleheads and Indoor Navigation. grey-faced society ladies in expensive outfits are pushing carts filled with jumbo packages of toilet paper and household cleaning materials. Cyprus is an island that does not produce such items, so if suppliers cannot pay for imports, we will have none of these essentials. At the checkout counters, all but one of the handicapped people employed to help pack goods have been laid off. Most of these people contribute substantially to family budgets.
Across the street, the car park of McDonalds is nearly empty but many people have gathered at nearby Glorias Jeans, Costa Coffee and Coffee Beanery, three cafes that have taken over from the once thronged cafes of Nicosias high street, Makarios Avenue, named for the Cypriot Orthodox archbishop who led the 1950s struggle for independence from Britain.
Around low tables in the garden of the Coffee Beanery are groups of Cypriots listlessly sipping lattes and discussing The Situation, some with computers ate trolling for flash news on the world-wide web. Cyprus has suddenly, unhappily become a hot global story.
A group of young professionals sits on wicker couches and chairs around a low table mulling their prospects. Manolis Sergides, who works in construction, states, We dont know what will happen tomorrow. We dont even know whats happening today.
Construction has been at sea for the past two years. We are suspended just above the bottom so we cant put our feet down and push up, he asserts. We should go back to the Cyprus pound, a move most economists argue would be even more disastrous than the capitulating to the Euro-groups harsh conditions for the partial, conditional bail-out.
But beginning in April, while the assorted potions and lotions most travelers stuff into a single quart-size plastic baggie for all the world to see remain open to scrutiny, a handful of items previously banned from on-board luggage receives a reprieve. Unfortunately, these goods still do not include private stashes of tiny gin bottles so the airline is guaranteed a hefty subsidy from travelers who need to curb the edge of screaming babies, bumpy takeoffs and that voice in the back of the head saying not to make rash purchases from Sky Mall.
However, for reasons that remain elusive, knives smaller than 2.36 inches are now OK.The need for proper bestsmartcard inside your home is very important. Thats right; after years of breaking small metal emery boards off the back of nail clippers to prevent terrorists and angry fliers from filing the crew into submission, the TSA now says pocket knives dont pose a danger.The need for proper bestsmartcard inside your home is very important. Neither do hockey sticks or golf clubs unless you count danger as the likelihood of not finding overhead space. If theres any good reason to oppose the new pending changes, the battle for precious cargo room is it. I have to pay $30 to check my roller bag but somebody with a large stick or bag of woods and wedges can take up multiple bins for free? Get me my trusty emery board! Im picking a fight!
After so many years of color-coded terror alerts, invasive pat-downs and scanners, cries about junk touching and a never-ending list of prohibited items snow globes? Really? What are the terrorists going to do, kill the crew with kitschiness? a little loosening appears a step in the right direction. But that illusion falls short when compared to the list of goodies that still require checked baggage. Mission: Impossible-style tricks notwithstanding, toothpaste is a lot less threatening than most sharp objects even if it weighs in at more than an illegal 7 ounces.
Besides, if somebody really wants to have a weapon on board a plane, they will find a way without resorting to smuggling on shoe bombs and box cutters. Sharpen a credit card, file down hair chopsticks, convert a stiletto heel, remove that bra underwire that sets off the airport metal detector. Anybody with at least one prison movie in their Netflix queue knows a little ingenuity and some time can turn just about any object into a workable shiv.
The question now is whether the TSA will continue assessing the current security restrictions even further so that airline staff can focus on the real on-board perils: Passengers who slap babies. Overweight passengers deemed too big to fly. Skin-baring mini-skirts. Smartphones and tablets not turned off during takeoff and landing. Alec Baldwin. Gerard Depardieu.
Admittedly, TSA Administrator John Pistoles decision to allow the objects is meant to inject a little common sense back into the post-Sept. 11 travel landscape.A group of families in a north Cork village are suing a bestplasticcard operator in a landmark case. Unfortunately, the move has done little more than make the TSA seem far from the sharpest knives in the drawer.Online shopping for solarpanelcells. No wonder they have no problem being allowed on board.
The they he speaks of are Cyprus European partners and the International Monetary Fund which have changed the rules for bail-outs for troubled Euro zone economies by requiring bank depositors to pay and pay. In Ireland, Spain, Portugal and Greece tax payers and the public sector have borne the brunt of exactions for aid.
An American friend in the cash line at the Laiki Bank near my home says that American International School where she teaches has given staff three options for receiving salaries this month: cash, a cheque on a local bank and a cheque on a US bank. She is fortunate: many people here have no idea when and how they will get paid.
At the Alpha Mega Hypermarket in the next door suburb of Engomi,The 3rd International Conference on custombobbleheads and Indoor Navigation. grey-faced society ladies in expensive outfits are pushing carts filled with jumbo packages of toilet paper and household cleaning materials. Cyprus is an island that does not produce such items, so if suppliers cannot pay for imports, we will have none of these essentials. At the checkout counters, all but one of the handicapped people employed to help pack goods have been laid off. Most of these people contribute substantially to family budgets.
Across the street, the car park of McDonalds is nearly empty but many people have gathered at nearby Glorias Jeans, Costa Coffee and Coffee Beanery, three cafes that have taken over from the once thronged cafes of Nicosias high street, Makarios Avenue, named for the Cypriot Orthodox archbishop who led the 1950s struggle for independence from Britain.
Around low tables in the garden of the Coffee Beanery are groups of Cypriots listlessly sipping lattes and discussing The Situation, some with computers ate trolling for flash news on the world-wide web. Cyprus has suddenly, unhappily become a hot global story.
A group of young professionals sits on wicker couches and chairs around a low table mulling their prospects. Manolis Sergides, who works in construction, states, We dont know what will happen tomorrow. We dont even know whats happening today.
Construction has been at sea for the past two years. We are suspended just above the bottom so we cant put our feet down and push up, he asserts. We should go back to the Cyprus pound, a move most economists argue would be even more disastrous than the capitulating to the Euro-groups harsh conditions for the partial, conditional bail-out.
Newtown Gunman Had Access To Huge Weapons Cache
He loaded the weapons into his car, drove to Sandy Hook Elementary School, blasted his way into the building and within five minutes fired off 154 shots with a Bushmaster .223-caliber rifle. Having slaughtered 20 first-graders and six educators, he killed himself with a shot from a Glock handgun. He still had more than 100 rifle bullets at hand.
Warrants released Thursday provide the most insight to date into the world of the 20-year-old gunman, a recluse who played violent video games in a house packed with weaponry that was all too real. The inventory of items found in the spacious, colonial-style home included books on autism,Online shopping for solarpanelcells. a vast array of weapon paraphernalia and images of what appears to be a dead person covered with plastic and blood.
The weapons used in the shooting had all apparently been purchased by Lanza's mother, Nancy, with whom he lived, said prosecutor Stephen J. Sedensky III, in a statement accompanying the warrants.
She was found dead in her bed; Adam Lanza had shot her the morning of the massacre, Dec. 14. Authorities also found a gun safe in his bedroom and a holiday card from Nancy Lanza containing a check made out to her son for the purchase of yet another firearm.
"Most of this is pretty high level stuff that we were aware of already and it just reminds me of what happened, that a gunman stormed his way into an elementary school and shot to death 26 people, 20 of which were first-grade boys and girls," Barden said.
The shooting elevated gun safety to the top of President Barack Obama's agenda; at an event in Washington on Thursday, joined by the families of four children killed at Sandy Hook, he urged lawmakers not to get "squishy" in the face of opposition to gun control.
"Shame on us if we've forgotten," Obama said. "I haven't forgotten those kids."
The debate has extended to Newtown, a rural community of 27,000 people in western Connecticut that is also home to the National Shooting Sports Foundation. A protest and counter-protest were held outside the foundation's offices Thursday.
If it's possible to determine a motive for the massacre, there may be clues in Adam Lanza's journals, which state police seized from the house and turned over to the FBI for analysis. But authorities say that so far no conclusions have been reached. Sedensky estimated that the investigation will be finished this summer.
Investigators found a 7-foot pole with a blade on one side and a spear on another, a metal bayonet, three samurai swords, a .323-caliber bolt-action rifle, a .22-caliber Savage Mark II rifle and a .Choose the right bestluggagetag in an array of colors.22-caliber Volcanic starter pistol. There was a military-style uniform in Lanza's bedroom; literature seized from the house included a news article on a 2008 shooting at Northern Illinois University and a National Rifle Association guide to pistol shooting.
News outlets including The Associated Press reported previously that Lanza showed interest in other mass killings. Some, including The Hartford Courant, reported that he had a particular interest in Norwegian mass murderer Anders Behring Breivik, who killed 77 people in twin attacks in 2011 in Norway's worst peacetime massacre.
In a duffel bag, investigators found ear and eye protection, binoculars,Cheap logo engraved luggagetag at wholesale bulk prices. numerous paper targets and an NRA certificate that belonged to Adam Lanza. The NRA said Lanza was not a member.
An unnamed person told investigators that Lanza was an avid gamer who played "Call of Duty" and rarely left his home. The affidavit, which is partially blacked out, also has that person saying that Sandy Hook, the school Lanza attended as a child, was his "life."
A judge's order to seal the warrants expired on Wednesday, and a Danbury Superior Court judge granted a request by Sedensky to withhold some details. Sedensky asked to redact the name of a witness, saying the person's safety might be jeopardized if the name were disclosed. He also asked that the release not include other information such as telephone numbers, serial numbers on items found and a few paragraphs of an affidavit.
Malloy, a Democrat in his first term as governor, said the fact that Lanza left smaller magazines at the house should boost support for a state ban on high-capacity ammunition magazines.
"That somebody could get 154 shots off in less than five minutes, kill 20 children and six adults, is disturbing," Malloy said.
Connecticut House Minority Leader Lawrence Cafero Jr., a Republican, said he expects the General Assembly will be ready to vote next week,Elpas Readers detect and forward 'Location' and 'State' data from Elpas Active RFID Tags to host besticcard platforms. possibly Wednesday, on a package addressing gun control and other issues raised by the shooting.
At the same time, gun control groups were staging a "Day to Demand Action" with more than 100 rallies and other events planned from Connecticut to California. This was on top of a $12 million TV ad campaign financed by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg that has been pressuring senators in 13 states to tighten background-check rules.
Meanwhile, when Adam Lanza walked out of his house for the last time, he left behind firearms and knives and more than 1,600 rounds of ammunition -- taking only four guns. They would suffice.
He loaded the weapons into his car, drove to Sandy Hook Elementary School, blasted his way into the building and within five minutes fired off 154 shots with a Bushmaster .223-caliber rifle. Having slaughtered 20 first-graders and six educators, he killed himself with a shot from a Glock handgun. He still had more than 100 rifle bullets at hand.
Warrants released Thursday provide the most insight to date into the world of the 20-year-old gunman, a recluse who played violent video games in a house packed with weaponry that was all too real. The inventory of items found in the spacious, colonial-style home included books on autism, a vast array of weapon paraphernalia and images of what appears to be a dead person covered with plastic and blood.
The weapons used in the shooting had all apparently been purchased by Lanza's mother, Nancy, with whom he lived, said prosecutor Stephen J. Sedensky III, in a statement accompanying the warrants.
She was found dead in her bed; Adam Lanza had shot her the morning of the massacre,We have a wide selection of handsfreeaccess to choose from for your storage needs. Dec. 14. Authorities also found a gun safe in his bedroom and a holiday card from Nancy Lanza containing a check made out to her son for the purchase of yet another firearm.
Warrants released Thursday provide the most insight to date into the world of the 20-year-old gunman, a recluse who played violent video games in a house packed with weaponry that was all too real. The inventory of items found in the spacious, colonial-style home included books on autism,Online shopping for solarpanelcells. a vast array of weapon paraphernalia and images of what appears to be a dead person covered with plastic and blood.
The weapons used in the shooting had all apparently been purchased by Lanza's mother, Nancy, with whom he lived, said prosecutor Stephen J. Sedensky III, in a statement accompanying the warrants.
She was found dead in her bed; Adam Lanza had shot her the morning of the massacre, Dec. 14. Authorities also found a gun safe in his bedroom and a holiday card from Nancy Lanza containing a check made out to her son for the purchase of yet another firearm.
"Most of this is pretty high level stuff that we were aware of already and it just reminds me of what happened, that a gunman stormed his way into an elementary school and shot to death 26 people, 20 of which were first-grade boys and girls," Barden said.
The shooting elevated gun safety to the top of President Barack Obama's agenda; at an event in Washington on Thursday, joined by the families of four children killed at Sandy Hook, he urged lawmakers not to get "squishy" in the face of opposition to gun control.
"Shame on us if we've forgotten," Obama said. "I haven't forgotten those kids."
The debate has extended to Newtown, a rural community of 27,000 people in western Connecticut that is also home to the National Shooting Sports Foundation. A protest and counter-protest were held outside the foundation's offices Thursday.
If it's possible to determine a motive for the massacre, there may be clues in Adam Lanza's journals, which state police seized from the house and turned over to the FBI for analysis. But authorities say that so far no conclusions have been reached. Sedensky estimated that the investigation will be finished this summer.
Investigators found a 7-foot pole with a blade on one side and a spear on another, a metal bayonet, three samurai swords, a .323-caliber bolt-action rifle, a .22-caliber Savage Mark II rifle and a .Choose the right bestluggagetag in an array of colors.22-caliber Volcanic starter pistol. There was a military-style uniform in Lanza's bedroom; literature seized from the house included a news article on a 2008 shooting at Northern Illinois University and a National Rifle Association guide to pistol shooting.
News outlets including The Associated Press reported previously that Lanza showed interest in other mass killings. Some, including The Hartford Courant, reported that he had a particular interest in Norwegian mass murderer Anders Behring Breivik, who killed 77 people in twin attacks in 2011 in Norway's worst peacetime massacre.
In a duffel bag, investigators found ear and eye protection, binoculars,Cheap logo engraved luggagetag at wholesale bulk prices. numerous paper targets and an NRA certificate that belonged to Adam Lanza. The NRA said Lanza was not a member.
An unnamed person told investigators that Lanza was an avid gamer who played "Call of Duty" and rarely left his home. The affidavit, which is partially blacked out, also has that person saying that Sandy Hook, the school Lanza attended as a child, was his "life."
A judge's order to seal the warrants expired on Wednesday, and a Danbury Superior Court judge granted a request by Sedensky to withhold some details. Sedensky asked to redact the name of a witness, saying the person's safety might be jeopardized if the name were disclosed. He also asked that the release not include other information such as telephone numbers, serial numbers on items found and a few paragraphs of an affidavit.
Malloy, a Democrat in his first term as governor, said the fact that Lanza left smaller magazines at the house should boost support for a state ban on high-capacity ammunition magazines.
"That somebody could get 154 shots off in less than five minutes, kill 20 children and six adults, is disturbing," Malloy said.
Connecticut House Minority Leader Lawrence Cafero Jr., a Republican, said he expects the General Assembly will be ready to vote next week,Elpas Readers detect and forward 'Location' and 'State' data from Elpas Active RFID Tags to host besticcard platforms. possibly Wednesday, on a package addressing gun control and other issues raised by the shooting.
At the same time, gun control groups were staging a "Day to Demand Action" with more than 100 rallies and other events planned from Connecticut to California. This was on top of a $12 million TV ad campaign financed by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg that has been pressuring senators in 13 states to tighten background-check rules.
Meanwhile, when Adam Lanza walked out of his house for the last time, he left behind firearms and knives and more than 1,600 rounds of ammunition -- taking only four guns. They would suffice.
He loaded the weapons into his car, drove to Sandy Hook Elementary School, blasted his way into the building and within five minutes fired off 154 shots with a Bushmaster .223-caliber rifle. Having slaughtered 20 first-graders and six educators, he killed himself with a shot from a Glock handgun. He still had more than 100 rifle bullets at hand.
Warrants released Thursday provide the most insight to date into the world of the 20-year-old gunman, a recluse who played violent video games in a house packed with weaponry that was all too real. The inventory of items found in the spacious, colonial-style home included books on autism, a vast array of weapon paraphernalia and images of what appears to be a dead person covered with plastic and blood.
The weapons used in the shooting had all apparently been purchased by Lanza's mother, Nancy, with whom he lived, said prosecutor Stephen J. Sedensky III, in a statement accompanying the warrants.
She was found dead in her bed; Adam Lanza had shot her the morning of the massacre,We have a wide selection of handsfreeaccess to choose from for your storage needs. Dec. 14. Authorities also found a gun safe in his bedroom and a holiday card from Nancy Lanza containing a check made out to her son for the purchase of yet another firearm.
Schnucks credit card fraud is testing shopper loyalties
Schnucks
customers who were victims of credit card fraud say they're furious at
the company for not warning people about the growing problem — and some
say it's testing long-standing loyalties.
“I don't understand why Schnucks can't put a sign at the door saying: 'Use your credit card at your own risk. We're still having a problem,'” said Mary Lowe, a Schnucks shopper who had unauthorized charges on two different cards, from two different banks. “They're just letting people use their cards and not saying anything.”
Investigators, meanwhile, say they're receiving more complaints, suggesting that any security breach at the company has yet to be patched. They advise customers to use checks or cash when shopping at Schnucks.
Schnuck Markets Inc. has said, in three written statements, that it is cooperating with investigators and has hired an outside forensics company, but has not responded to questions.
Security experts said Thursday it could be some time before the company will know what happened,Choose the right bestluggagetag in an array of colors. and say they sympathize with the Maryland Heights-based chain, calling it a victim of shrewd hackers who are,Online shopping for solarpanelcells. increasingly, finding ways to breach security even as retailers scramble to shore up their payment systems.
In the meantime one local bank says a security breach is costing it thousands of dollars, though it is quick to stress that Schnucks may not be linked to all of the fraudulent charges that its customers are seeing.
“We've just had an enormous uptick in fraudulent transactions,” said Ken Witbrodt, chief executive of Montgomery Bank. “In a normal month, we have a handful — less than 10. In March, we've had almost 600 cards we've had to cancel and reissue.”
Witbrodt said the breach has cost the bank $60,000 so far. “The loss is 100-percent absorbed by the bank” he added. “That's why the transaction fees we charge are appropriate.”
The breach, experts said, is merely evidence that hackers are getting more and more sophisticated as they look for ways to compromise payment systems.
“It's just a battle between the bad guys and the good guys, and it constantly evolves based on how good the security gets,” said Gary Palgon, vice president of product management and strategy at Georgia-based Liaison Technologies,We have a wide selection of handsfreeaccess to choose from for your storage needs. which develops security systems.
In the past decade, credit card companies and banks have pressured retailers to improve security systems, developing standards the industry has worked to adopt, called the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard, or PCI for short. Initially retailers balked at the standards, so banks started imposing fees for non-compliance.
But adhering to the standards is costly, so smaller regional chains have been slower to gain compliance than deep-pocketed big box chains. That has driven the hackers toward smaller operations, experts say.
“The larger enterprises have taken a lot of steps to improve security,” Palgon said. “The hackers are saying it's too difficult to get into a Macy's now.”
That is making supermarkets a ripe target. “Supermarkets are one of those industries with very thin margins,” Palgon said. “They don't have a lot of money to spend, and they haven't spent a lot of time and money to improve security as the should or could.”
The situation strikes some analysts as unfair and burdensome to retailers at large, and to grocery chains specifically.
“The banks have stacked the system. They're shifted the cost to retailers, and it's not right for retailers to take the hit,” said Avivah Litan, a security analyst with Gartner Inc., a technology research and advisory firm. “It's very frustrating for grocery chains because their margins are so thin.”
Litan believes the problem won't ebb until payment systems are overhauled and the American banking system adopts different security measures, such as the “chip and pin” system used in cards in Europe.
“It's a terrible situation,” she said. “Everybody's afraid they're going to be next.”
Hackers,Elpas Readers detect and forward 'Location' and 'State' data from Elpas Active RFID Tags to host besticcard platforms. experts explained Thursday, typically break into databases where credit card information is stored. They then sell that information, usually online, where crime syndicates buy it and apply it to counterfeit cards.
The thefts are usually discovered by card-issuing banks, which have software that looks at anomalies in charging patterns. When those banks report changes, credit card companies then try to find common threads, creating a "watch list" of cards.
Some stores, however, are moving toward a system in which a person's credit card information is immediately encrypted before it's processed. That means if a hacker breaks into a system,Cheap logo engraved luggagetag at wholesale bulk prices. the information they gather there is useless to them.
Under the standards, companies are required to undergo an immediate audit if there's a security breach, and sometimes the outside auditor may caution a company not to say anything to the public or its customers about the nature of the attack.
“In times of crisis, you want to reassure customers,” said Andrew Koneschusky, a senior vice president with Washington public relations firm, Chlopak, Leonard & Schechter, which specializes in handling public relations in crisis situations. “Sometimes sounding alarm bells is counterproductive. What's important is that the company gets to the bottom of what happened and when it does have the answers, it communicates them quickly.”
Still, customers say, Schnucks should at least warn them about the possible perils of using cards at its stores, and are saying the matter is forcing them to switch allegiances. Schnucks rival, Dierbergs, said it has received numerous calls asking about its security systems.
One Schnucks customer, unsatisfied with the company's lack of response to questions about security precautions, wrote to Dierbergs asking about its measures. Dierbergs responded, saying it has invested considerably in new security systems, including an encryption system.
“We have enjoyed the Des Peres Schnucks,” wrote Daniel Peters, in an email to Dierbergs. “Their offerings have been great, but they have not responded whereas you did and show that you are concerned. We will drive a little further down Manchester to the Dierbergs.”
“I don't understand why Schnucks can't put a sign at the door saying: 'Use your credit card at your own risk. We're still having a problem,'” said Mary Lowe, a Schnucks shopper who had unauthorized charges on two different cards, from two different banks. “They're just letting people use their cards and not saying anything.”
Investigators, meanwhile, say they're receiving more complaints, suggesting that any security breach at the company has yet to be patched. They advise customers to use checks or cash when shopping at Schnucks.
Schnuck Markets Inc. has said, in three written statements, that it is cooperating with investigators and has hired an outside forensics company, but has not responded to questions.
Security experts said Thursday it could be some time before the company will know what happened,Choose the right bestluggagetag in an array of colors. and say they sympathize with the Maryland Heights-based chain, calling it a victim of shrewd hackers who are,Online shopping for solarpanelcells. increasingly, finding ways to breach security even as retailers scramble to shore up their payment systems.
In the meantime one local bank says a security breach is costing it thousands of dollars, though it is quick to stress that Schnucks may not be linked to all of the fraudulent charges that its customers are seeing.
“We've just had an enormous uptick in fraudulent transactions,” said Ken Witbrodt, chief executive of Montgomery Bank. “In a normal month, we have a handful — less than 10. In March, we've had almost 600 cards we've had to cancel and reissue.”
Witbrodt said the breach has cost the bank $60,000 so far. “The loss is 100-percent absorbed by the bank” he added. “That's why the transaction fees we charge are appropriate.”
The breach, experts said, is merely evidence that hackers are getting more and more sophisticated as they look for ways to compromise payment systems.
“It's just a battle between the bad guys and the good guys, and it constantly evolves based on how good the security gets,” said Gary Palgon, vice president of product management and strategy at Georgia-based Liaison Technologies,We have a wide selection of handsfreeaccess to choose from for your storage needs. which develops security systems.
In the past decade, credit card companies and banks have pressured retailers to improve security systems, developing standards the industry has worked to adopt, called the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard, or PCI for short. Initially retailers balked at the standards, so banks started imposing fees for non-compliance.
But adhering to the standards is costly, so smaller regional chains have been slower to gain compliance than deep-pocketed big box chains. That has driven the hackers toward smaller operations, experts say.
“The larger enterprises have taken a lot of steps to improve security,” Palgon said. “The hackers are saying it's too difficult to get into a Macy's now.”
That is making supermarkets a ripe target. “Supermarkets are one of those industries with very thin margins,” Palgon said. “They don't have a lot of money to spend, and they haven't spent a lot of time and money to improve security as the should or could.”
The situation strikes some analysts as unfair and burdensome to retailers at large, and to grocery chains specifically.
“The banks have stacked the system. They're shifted the cost to retailers, and it's not right for retailers to take the hit,” said Avivah Litan, a security analyst with Gartner Inc., a technology research and advisory firm. “It's very frustrating for grocery chains because their margins are so thin.”
Litan believes the problem won't ebb until payment systems are overhauled and the American banking system adopts different security measures, such as the “chip and pin” system used in cards in Europe.
“It's a terrible situation,” she said. “Everybody's afraid they're going to be next.”
Hackers,Elpas Readers detect and forward 'Location' and 'State' data from Elpas Active RFID Tags to host besticcard platforms. experts explained Thursday, typically break into databases where credit card information is stored. They then sell that information, usually online, where crime syndicates buy it and apply it to counterfeit cards.
The thefts are usually discovered by card-issuing banks, which have software that looks at anomalies in charging patterns. When those banks report changes, credit card companies then try to find common threads, creating a "watch list" of cards.
Some stores, however, are moving toward a system in which a person's credit card information is immediately encrypted before it's processed. That means if a hacker breaks into a system,Cheap logo engraved luggagetag at wholesale bulk prices. the information they gather there is useless to them.
Under the standards, companies are required to undergo an immediate audit if there's a security breach, and sometimes the outside auditor may caution a company not to say anything to the public or its customers about the nature of the attack.
“In times of crisis, you want to reassure customers,” said Andrew Koneschusky, a senior vice president with Washington public relations firm, Chlopak, Leonard & Schechter, which specializes in handling public relations in crisis situations. “Sometimes sounding alarm bells is counterproductive. What's important is that the company gets to the bottom of what happened and when it does have the answers, it communicates them quickly.”
Still, customers say, Schnucks should at least warn them about the possible perils of using cards at its stores, and are saying the matter is forcing them to switch allegiances. Schnucks rival, Dierbergs, said it has received numerous calls asking about its security systems.
One Schnucks customer, unsatisfied with the company's lack of response to questions about security precautions, wrote to Dierbergs asking about its measures. Dierbergs responded, saying it has invested considerably in new security systems, including an encryption system.
“We have enjoyed the Des Peres Schnucks,” wrote Daniel Peters, in an email to Dierbergs. “Their offerings have been great, but they have not responded whereas you did and show that you are concerned. We will drive a little further down Manchester to the Dierbergs.”
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