Chocolate

Having a chocolatier as a friend can never be a bad thing. Especially if you love chocolates more than diamonds or cars. Hmm, okay that is quite a stretch, but you get my drift.Those familiar with our local trove of online homemade eats might know who this chocolatier is. His chocolate business of sorts was once known as Julius Truffles. Helmed by a young undergrad by the name of Julius Chen, this humble endeavour of his has blossomed into something very promising.A recent conversation with him revealed a change in direction. Julius Truffles is now known as 'byJULIUS chocolate indeed'. He's done a whole revamp and I'm sure the new creations will be just as popular as his famed truffles (which are great by the way).Julius was kind enough to let me try a box of his new chocolate creations:The gold box yielded four different pralines, all of different colours and shapes.From what I gather, the four pralines are as follows (from front to back):1. Hazelnut milk chocolate ganache praline2. White chocolate infused with grand marniar ganache praline3. 73% dark chocolate ganache praline with gold foil4. Raspberry framboise brandy liquer pink truffleNaturally, as a fan of dark chocolate, I took to the third one like bees to honey. Dark is always good. The other one I like has also got to be the most pleasantly surprising one - the pink truffle.You see, I couldn't resist sniping one or two shortly after I got the chocolates. I didn't know what each praline contained or what it was supposed to be. I only found out about the different flavours after checking the website.So I bit into the pink truffle not knowing what it was supposed to be. I had no idea it was filled with brandy liquer. I did spill some onto the floor (what a waste!) but it was a wonderful surprise. My dearest sister also told me that her favourite one was this pink one. Apparently, she likes the liquer centre.I do commend Julius for constantly trying to reinvent and repackage and even rebrand his products. That's the sign of a true and savvy entrepreneur. Hopefully he'll have his own retail shop in the near future. I won't be surprised when it happens

Did You Catch Some Phish?

The evolution of a phishing attack is quite straightforward. At first, the fraudsters compromise a vulnerable server and deploy a package called a "phishing kit," which contains a clone application of the targeted institution. Then, mass mailing activities, with the aim of reaching a large number of recipients, are accomplished. Finally, the fraudsters use social engineering techniques to entice victims to submit their credentials, from which the fraudsters attempt to derive valid credentials. This will only happen if the fraudsters are able to convince users that they should trust the phishing website, or at least be tricked into believing it is a legitimate site and not raise any suspicion. Of course, this is not always a painless task.Symantec has carried out several forensics analyses in order to evaluate the distribution of phished users over the different phases described above. Specifically, I want to focus my attention on the portion of users submitting valid credentials after visiting a phishing website. The figure below illustrates this statistic in relation to a recent single attack. This attack caught my eye, particularly because of the number of visits achieved and the exhaustive timeframe during which it survived before being taken offline.Over the twelve days taken into consideration in this sample, an average of 1.6% of users provided their credentials and so were successfully phished. Further Symantec analysis conducted on other recent attacks confirmed that the average percentage of users effectively phished after visiting a clone website is usually between 1% and 2%. This percentage may not seem very high, but consider an analogous phishing study completed in 2006, which provides a similar result of 2% of users effectively phished. (Gartner, November 2006) Given the technological advancements adopted over the past two years, the fact that the percentage of users being phished is, unfortunately, remaining relatively stable is of some concern. On the other hand, there are more phishing websites and an increased amount of phishing attacks these days; therefore there is a much larger pool of potential victims of phishing threats. These facts point to some success for different protection software (e.g. browser toolbars, anti-phishing software) that warns web visitors about the potential threats of particular websites, and/or an increase of more web-conscious users that are wary of suspicious URL they are visiting.These statistics highlight, once again, how important is to continue encouraging end users to practice safe online behaviors; that is, invite them to ensure the validity of the web application they are using as well as the legitimacy of the SSL certificate. In addition, it is just as important to assist them in taking care of their end points by recommending the usage of software that is capable of protecting against the latest online threats-for example, many financial institutions have already started providing discounted consumer protection software to their customers. There is still a requirement for further technical advancement and also increased education for end users so that we can all continue to combat phishing threats.

Blogosphere Truth

The Internets can always be amusing, or interesting or just plain frustrating. It really just depends on what side of the fence you are, on any given subjects.Today, I was reading some of my Twitter stream when a few came across about Ford Motor Company and Cafe Press, and a calendar. Okay, not exactly ground breaking, blogworthy news, but some people already jumped on a bandwagon so I had to check it out. Full disclosure: I was born in Detroit, and we had a Mustang, and I've bought stuff on Cafe Press.This reminded me of a conversation I had a few weeks back with a well-respected reporter: there's truth, and then there's blogosphere truth. And, rarely do they meet. (Hey, look at my great graph illustrating it).What do I mean? What happens usually in the blogosphere is that something is glommed onto as truth, and that might not be the full truth or even the half truth. But, with the blogosphere, things can spiral out of control quickly, and then the blogosphere truth will be so far away from the truth that it's laughable ... but it's not because the blogosphere truth will be held up as authoritative because of how Google works.Here are four simple examples: Kryptonite Locks, FedEx Furniture, Staples and Ford. Each of these have been wrong information that has continued to spread out there, and for some reason, PR people like to bring some of these up as examples of why social media is so important.I'm going to start with Kryptonite, and a full mea culpa. I jumped on the bandwagon as well, and I was wrong. The back story is that you could break open the old Kryptonite lock with a Bic pen, yada yada (good information when you wanted to get free candy, btw). The blogosphere truth was that Kryptonite ignored the blogosphere, and did its crisis communications wrong. The truth is that Kryptonite did do the right type of outreach for a crisis - they followed the rules of the game - but the game had changed. It went from billiards to soccer, or some random sports analogy. Kryptonite was reaching out to its core audience of bike message boards, and getting the message out there to the core audience.But, well, that doesn't make for a good case study for PR people to push forward their own agendas on getting clients to bring out the wallet for more social media ... and the fact that PR people are still using this as a case study means it's time to move on and find a more relevant and truthful example.FedEx Furniture was a great little example of how one kid can take a bunch of boxes for free (yah, sending out that many FedExes while he couldn't afford furniture is SOOOOO true) but no one wanted to dig. As PR people - come on, we're PR people before PR bloggers, it was not hard to call up FedEx and ask them questions (like, I admit, I shoulda done with Kryptonite). Hey, wait, there WAS a blogger that called FedEx and got their side of the story ... me. The truth was that there was more of a story here than the blogosphere wanted to know, or tell. But, not to place the blame just on the blogosphere ... mainstream media ate up the story as well, with no real digging or due diligence.Boing Boing rushes out a post that claims that Staples charges for virus scanning. A PR blogger jumps on the story, and then realizes that he is just one of the fools that wrote up the story ... without getting the full story. But, hey, he gets to commend Staples for being on top of the blogosphere ... but doesn't see that blogging on blog truth instead of the real truth is just the bigger part of the problem.So, today's Ford story. In the world of blogs, it is not okay to protect your brand, I guess. Or content (just ask Lane Hartwell). You can read the rehash of the story on the above link, but it's only a one-sided story, until the company itself comments on the post (which does say they are monitoring the conversation). But, as a PR blogger, once again, don't we have a higher sense of truthiness (or, heck, professional courtesy) to verify information before we hit publish? Call up the PR person? Send an email? I dunno - worked for me with FedEx.The problem with PR blogging and blogging is that often, there is very little grey in the world. Bloggers rush out to push publish without getting the whole story, and that just brings half the truth (or blog truth) to the forefront. As PR professionals, none of us would want this done to our clients, but we rush to judgment for that bump in traffic, to be first. And, well, first is not always best.Rushing to publish just makes a blogger part of the lemmings that fall for the bait of other bloggers. And to perpetrate the blogosphere truth, rather than the truth.The irony, of course, is that we all counsel clients, and one of the things I would note when there was a fire drill is that the blogosphere tends to be self-correcting. And, often, it is, and that's a great thing.But in some cases, the blogosphere truth becomes the gospel, and no amount of praying to anyone is going to help change that.

Backstage with Oscar-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black

I'm still giddy over Dustin Lance Black's win for best original screenplay. I wanted to post the entire transcript from backstage which includes a question from me. The transcript states that Lance just said "Hi." But it was more of a "Heeeeyyy!! Hi" Just a week ago, we had a nice chat at Nobu and two weeks before that at the DGA Awards. I have loved seeing him enjoy all this success. Q. Congratulations on your win. It was very touching, and I loved what you said. Do you think President Obama should reverse the stand on gay marriage? A. I think that there's a few things that I would love him to do immediately, which is to repeal "don't ask don't tell," and DMA, Defensive Marriage Act. But I do think that for inspiration for the gay community, we need to look not to Proposition 8, but dream bigger and look back to 1964 and the Civil Rights Act, because no group has ever won full civil rights in this country going state by state or county by county. I think it is time for the gay and lesbian community to have a federal civil rights act for full civil rights. Q. So you think it should be reversed? A. Absolutely. We are equal. Everyone. Q. Congratulations. A. Thank you. Q. Hey, Lance, Greg Hernandez. Daily News. A. Hi. Q. Hey, you know, you were talking about how you were inspired by Harvey Milk when you were a kid. What would have happened if, say, you were 13 and you saw someone like you at the Oscars, saying what you said? What do you think that would have done for you back then? A. I don't know. I didn't hear that at the Oscars when I was a 13 year old kid. You know, I just hope it makes you feel a bit less alone. It's easy in San Francisco and L.A. and New York, Chicago, because you can find support, you can find mentors and heroes. But where I'm from, and a lot of places, you know in this country, in small town America, they just don't know there are gay heroes, and they don't know there's other gay people, and they don't know there's a potential future, I mean a beautiful future. I mean, look at this; it's insane for out gay people. So, you know, I hope it inspires some folks. Q. Congratulations. First of all, working on the screenplay you did, have you ever have the dream of an Oscar moment or award moment? Did it fulfill the expectation that you felt? A. It's all sort of an out of body thing. I mean, definitely, when we started this journey, I was, you know, just charging hotel stays and gasoline on my credit card and driving out to meet with Cleve Jones and Anne Kronenberg in San Francisco. There's no studio, things like that. Your dream is don't screw it up, first of all; and your second is, let's get it to a great director. And I was fortunate and got it to Sean and it just kept being the next thing in front of you. And then all of a sudden, four weeks ago was a nomination, and it's just sort of unbelievable. I don't quite believe it yet. Maybe when I see my mom in a few minutes, I'll believe it. Q. Did you know what you were going to say if and when you got up there? A. You know, I hadn't I had an idea. You know, I had an idea. I mean, for me, the whole thing was always just sort of, you know, pay it forward. You know, Harvey gave me his story. And Harvey gave me his story and it saved my life. I just thought it's time to pass it on. So the only thing I really knew I wanted to say is tell those kids out there they are going to be all right. Q. Congratulations. You're making us all emotional. You've mentioned your mom a couple times. Was there something your mom said to you right before you came in came here tonight or were on the red carpet? Is there something you guys talked about that really struck a chord with you? A. You know, she always, you know, she just says, "I can't believe we are here. Think of where we came from." You know, we were, like, a broke family. It was just my single mom raising us for a very long time before my beautiful stepdad came around, and, you know, and it was just about survival for so long. So, I think for her, she's completely overwhelmed and, you know, and she just does what she always does. I mean, this is a Mormon woman who should not be accepting or loving, and she just says I love you, and I want you to fall in love and be as happy as I am, so... Q. I wanted to know at what point did you think that this film could grab the attention of the Academy? A. I think that's an easy one. I think it was the moment we first saw Sean with his hair cut with the suit on, and he came in, onto the set. And I was blown away at how much it reminded me of everything I'd heard and seen of Harvey. And I looked out to turn to Cleve and I went, "My God. That's him, isn't it?" And Cleve was outside like smoking manically going, "Oh, my God. I've seen a ghost." But that was the thing. I thought this film would only succeed if we could somehow get close to that charisma, because that charisma of Harvey Milk is what transcended our community again and reached out to all these other people and will embrace the film. I think they have.

back to the grind tomorrow

Today is the last day of Christmas Break for the kids. We just put them in bed at 7:30 am. I am sure that Simon is already sleeping as I know longer hear him bellering his usual songs. I am not sure how tomorrow morning will go as they haven't had to get up at 6:45 am for quite some time and neither have I. I guess we'll just have to wait and see. It is so strange knowing that the kids have only 3 days of school before we leave on our "vacation". I was just discussing with Trevor how the only part of our holiday which will be relaxing may be while participating in the half marathon on Saturday and the full marathon on Sunday. Why???? well the kids are at that age where they are constantly bickering with one another. Honestly, it drives me bonkers. My brother and I were the exact same way when we were younger. This truly is a concern of mine while vacationing with the children. Am I going to go crazy??? Will I be able to handle them (will we)??? While we were in the car coming home from the gym (the kids were at oma's place) we discussed some options (bribery), which we could put in place to make for a more pleasant vacation. We came up with the following idea...beginning of Thursday, January 8th first thing in the morning the kids will each be given $5 dollars (play money). If we catch them doing something bad like fighting, arguing with each other, complaining about something, lying, talking back ...etc. then we will give them a warning. If the continue on with the behavior then we take $1 away from them. I guess that leaves them with a total of 5 times where they can misbehave before they have no money left for that day. If for some miraculous reason they were excellent and were able to keep there $5 that day we will add an additional $2 to their pot. At the end of the day the money which they are left with gets banked. The next day they start out with $5 again and so on and so on....this continues till Saturday at 6pm (January 17th). Then on Saturday evening their banked play money gets turned into real money and they are allowed to go shopping at the Magic Kingdom with their money. SO that is the plan of attack to keep the kids in line for the holidays. Now I just have to find some play money. I was hoping that they would have some at the dollar store, but it looks like I will have to go to Toys R Us instead.Besides the above plan we also discussed some goal setting for myself. Trevor seems to think that a 2:30 half and a 5 hour full would be reasonable for me. I do think that sounds achievable for me and after reading a bunch of blogs and knowing what to expect as far as the course goes I think my nerves have settled down a wee bit...Trevor I am sure would beg to differ and call me a basket case, but that's okay. That's how I deal with races. I love that Trevor spends hours and hours researching everything and anything about the race, so that I don't have to waste my time. If I have a question he always has the answer. I even know that I start Corral C for the full marathon and Corral B for the half and Trevor is Corral C for the full and A for the half. Anyways...he is just a wealth of information...that's my guy...good looking and smart : )Well tomorrow is a new day and I too have to get up bright and early. Fortunately I do not have to work, but I do have 2 appointments in the morning so till then....

Carmaking in France: Mover and shaker

Christian Streiff makes another exitIF GENERAL MOTORS Rick Wagoner was fired for not being confrontational enough, the other car boss to lose his job last weekend, Christian Streiff, was almost certainly ousted from PSA Peugeot Citroen for precisely the opposite reason. Mr Streiff called the decision by the board of Europes second-biggest carmaker to get rid of him without warning incomprehensible. In some ways it was. During his two-and-a-bit years running the family-controlled firm, Mr Streiff cut costs, sped up development of new cars and improved quality. On his watch Citroen was restored from being a cheap and cheerful discount brand to something like its former glory. ...

Greg backstage at the Oscars (LIVE!)

Had a problem logging on from inside the Kodak but here I am. Heath Ledger has just won and his family was so dignified and touching. I got choked up. But that was nothing compared to a little while ago when Dustin Lance Black was back here. When his name was called for original screenplay for "Milk," I felt so happy inside. Then there was that speech - a speech that was probably the most important one of the night. I asked him about it backstage awhile ago. He got a litlle choked up talking about his heartfelt words of support to young gay kids out "Harvey gave me his story and it saved my life...The only thing I could think of was to tell those kids that they were going to be all right." "You know, I just hope it makes you feel a bit less alone. It's easy in San Francisco and L.A. and New York, Chicago because you can find support., you can find heroes and mentors. But where I'm from, and a lot of places, you know in this country, in small town America, they just don't know there are gay heroes, and they don't think there's other gay people, and they don't know there's a potential future, I mean a beautiufl future. I mean, look at this (holds up his Oscar); it;s insane for out gay people. So you know, I hope it inspires some folks." ************************************************* The family of Heath Ledger, father Kim Ledger, sister Kate Ledger and mother Sally Bell, were composed and thoughtful backstage fielding questions ranging from who will get his Oscar to what Heath would have thought of winning the Oscar. "I think he would have been quietly pleased because I think he enjoyed the performance he did," his mother said. "I think he would really be quietly pleased that it;s been recognized by his peers in the industry." Asked whether they knew they were raising a future Oscar winner, his father said: "Kate was the actor originally. I guess Heath was ever the clown..He was always acting the fool and playing around just like a nomral kid was. The one thing that stuck out in out in our mind is that he was extremely talented in a lot of areas, a lot you might not know about but you may in the future...We didn't know which way he was going to go but he certainly had an immense passion for (acting)." Sally Bell said the family took it for granted that Heath would win Sunday night: "I think we are a little bit overwhelmed actually because nothing is a sure thing...You just don't know do you? We were really relieved and excited and really overwhelmed. ...it was fantastic." Sally Bell on her granddaughter Matilda: "You just have to look at Matilda to know she's totally like her daddy. I really feel he's in her...That;s a delight to be watching her and know that she's full of enthusasm and the same energy..." ******************************************************** Penelope Cruz, best supporting actress for "Vicky Christina Barcelona," said backstage that she planned to call her director Woody Allen as soon as she gets the chance: "He sent me flowers last week...I call Woody sometimes just to say hello.; I adore him. I think he's so funny and charming and unique." ****************************************************** I wanted Meryl Streep to win awfully bad but it is tough not to be happy for Kate Winslet's win for "The Reader." Just love that it was presented by five former best actress winners - can you BELIEVE Sophia Loren??? What a godess! Backstage with Winslet: "It's sort of dawning on me now that I just won an Oscar...Oh My God." ***************************************************** Sean Penn wins!!! WHAT.A. SPEECH. Will write about it in separate post....Also, love Robert DeNiro's line on his friend Penn: "How did he do it? How did for all those years Sean Penn get all jobs playing straight men?" What best actor winner Sean Penn would tell the anti-protesters outside the ceremony: "I'd tell them to turn in their hate cards and find their better self. I think these are largely taught limitatons and ignorances these kinds of things. it's very sad in a way because it's a demonstration of such emotional cowardace." I'm going to keep adding to this entry throughout the night...