Futurist Addresses Online Murder and Cybercrime at Scientific American

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Seattle, WA (PRWEB) December 04, 2014

At Scientific American this week, futurist Richard Yonck explores recent developments in online crime, including potential murders over the internet in the not-too-distant future. Yonck cites a recent Europol report on cybercrime, forecasting that the worlds first online murder could occur by the end of 2014.

The online murder forecast was part of a 2014 Internet Organized Crime Threat Assessment report by Europols European Cybercrime Centre. A foresight analyst with Intelligent Future Consulting, Yonck discusses the methods that could be used to commit such a crime and who might be its potential victims. He also offers some possible solutions for the challenges new technologies create.

Online murder is just one of many threats individuals and organizations face in the rapidly shifting world of cybercrime. According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a bi-partisan think tank based in Washington, D.C., cybercrime now carries a $445 billion annual global price tag.

The underground economy has been developing a Crime-as-a-Service (CaaS) business model, similar to the legitimate software as a service delivery model, Yonck explains. This allows black hat hackers and other skilled criminal specialists to provide a wide range of products and services. These cover many different forms of criminal activity and are allowing those with few technical resources to readily enter into the world of cybercrime. Unfortunately for most of us, this wasnt a bar that needed to be lowered.

In light of these developments, Yonck states that without changes to our security and legal systems, cybercrime will inevitably proliferate. Not only will this likely give rise to still more cybercriminal activity, it could also lead to a race to the bottom, with CaaS developers providing ever cheaper and easier to use tools and services."

The threat of cybercrime continues to grow, as evidenced by recent breaches at JPMorgan Chase and Target. Given the continuing increase of this activity and the rapidly growing cost to the economy, its obvious much more needs to be done to fight cybercrime and safeguard the interests of businesses and consumers everywhere.

About Intelligent Future Consulting Intelligent Future Consulting provides strategic foresight services to help organizations plan and prepare for inevitable change. Its principal, Richard Yonck is a consulting futurist, a member of the Association of Professional Futurists and an award-winning writer focusing on emerging technologies.

Media Contact: Richard Yonck (206) 618-4884 ryonck(At)intelligent-future(Dot)com

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Futurist Addresses Online Murder and Cybercrime at Scientific American

Futurist Jack Uldrich to Discuss Why Future Trends in Health Care Will Demand Unlearning

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New York, NY (PRWEB) December 04, 2014

"To attain knowledge, add things every day. To attain wisdom, subtract things every day." So said ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu. "Medical education and research are essential to the provision of the highest quality patient care," so says John F. Collins, CEO of Winthrop University Hospital. On December 4th, Winthrop will welcome Jack Uldrich, a Global Futurist and health care trend expert, to deliver his keynote combining these notions: Why Future Trends in Health Care Will Demand Unlearning

Winthrop-University Hospital located in Long Island, New York is a major regional healthcare resource with a deep commitment to medical education and research, offering a full complement of inpatient and outpatient services. WUH is very interested in attaining both knowledge, and wisdom. The key to doing this says, Uldrich, is "learning how to unlearn."

Hailed by BusinessWeek as Americas Chief Unlearning Officer Uldrich will discuss with WUH just why unlearning is such a critical skill necessary to forge ahead in the medical field. Having addressed such healthcare clients as the American Medical Association, United Healthcare, Allina, and St. Jude's Medical, among others, Uldrich is well versed in healthcare trends, and in "Unearning."

A best selling author of eleven books, including Foresight 20/20, he is also the founder of The School of Unlearning - an international leadership, change management and technology consultancy dedicated to helping business, governments, and non-profit organizations prepare for and profit from periods of profound transformation.

Uldrich says, "We live in a world where 'constant change is the only constant.' New advances in technology bring forth exciting discoveries every day. But often lost in this new reality is the fact that organizations must unlearn old, obsolete knowledge and old ways of doing business, before they can seize tomorrows opportunities."

One of Uldrich's primary goals for the event is to help WUH audience members identify concrete actions they can take today to future-proof themselves against the tides of tomorrow. To that end, Uldrich will follow up his keynote with a Strategic Planning session and facilitate a round table discussion on The Big AHA: How To Future Proof WUH Leaders Against Tomorrows Transformational Trends, Today. During his follow up, he will share insights from his upcoming book, "Business as Unusual: How to Future-Proof Yourself Against Tomorrows Transformational Trends, Today," outline the ten trends that will transform the world of tomorrow, and help the WUH leaders develop action plans based on the day's discoveries.

Parties interested in learning more about Jack Uldrich, his books, his daily blog or his speaking availability are encouraged to visit his website. Media wishing to know more about either the event or interviewing Jack can contact Amy Tomczyk at (651) 343.0660.

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Futurist Jack Uldrich to Discuss Why Future Trends in Health Care Will Demand Unlearning

St. Vincent shredded all, including convention

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While the inanimate "David Bowie Is" exhibit remained on display at the Museum of Contemporary Art on Tuesday, a living embodiment of much of what the Thin White Duke symbolized was busy thrilling a near-capacity crowd a few blocks away at the Chicago Theatre. St. Vincent (real name Annie Clark) championed unfettered expressionism and individuality during a 90-minute set in which her music went through chameleon-like changes.

Akin to Bowie, St. Vincent values anxiety-ridden songs that blend various disciplines and resist easy description. She also embraces shape-shifting appearances, often altering her hair and fashion as she continues to transform from a once-guarded performer into a confident, fearless whirlwind. Near the end of the concert, Clark abandoned her three-piece band, crawled off the stage, waded into the audience and collided with fans en route to the rear of the venue. She then jumped on a man's shoulders, returned to the stage on his back, tumbled around, executed a headstand and finally collapsed.

The exhilarating sequence radiated control and chaos, apparent contradictions that have come to define St. Vincent's limits-pushing originality. Few contemporaries experienced a stronger breakout stretch of late than the New York-based singer, who used her 2012 collaborative record and subsequent tour with David Byrne as creative springboards. During the past ten months, St. Vincent played with the surviving members of Nirvana, released an acclaimed album (the self-titled "St. Vincent") and dominated this summer's Pitchfork Festival. If the increasingly commanding sound of her guitar serves as any indication, the momentum won't fade anytime soon.

"Hello freaks," said St. Vincent, greeting the crowd after finishing an extended trumpet blast of a six-string solo steeped in sustain and distortion. "I think we have a few things in common," she announced, launching into one of several eclectic monologues about perception and reality. Her unorthodox persona mirrored the outre futurism of her choreographed theatricality and animatronic movements. Augmented by restless fare such as the percolating "Digital Witness," vicious "Huey Newton" and spring-loaded "Birth In Reverse," the visuals provided smart, caustic commentary on modern life.

St. Vincent further conveyed paranoia, violence, coldness and isolation via unsettling lyrics delivered via innocuous, upper-range singing. Disparities between the disruptive narratives, lush melodies, nervous instrumental structures and delicate vocals suggested turmoil lurking just beneath the surfaces and that, like the rabid-hearted lover she couldn't make heel on "Bring Me Your Loves," it refused to be contained.

Shuffling about in a black dress and high heels, the vocalist savored moments when fissures appeared, alternating between shredding notes and intruding with spastic runs on her guitar. "The truth is ugly / Well, I feel ugly too," she sang amid the turbulence, her flair for the dramatic balanced by casual poise and blunt honesty befitting an artist for whom nothing seems out of reach.

ctc-arts@tribpub.com

Twitter @chitribent

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St. Vincent shredded all, including convention

Russia, Turkey Lead Global Decline in Internet Freedom

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For the fourth consecutive year, Internet freedom around the world is on the decline, according to a new report from a human rights group. Russia, Ukraine and Turkey dropped the furthest in Freedom House's "Freedom on the Net 2014" report, which looked at 65 countries for signs of increased Internet surveillance, censorship, arrests of social media users and more. This year in Turkey, Twitter was temporarily blocked in the run-up to local elections, while in Russia the government was criticized for increasing Internet censorship during the Sochi Winter Olympics and for its military conflict with Ukraine. Overall, Iran, Syria and China hold the top spots as the "world's worst abusers of Internet freedom," according to the report.

More people were arrested and prosecuted for their online actions in 2014 than ever before, the report stated. "In a departure from the past, when most governments preferred a behind-the-scenes approach to Internet control, countries are rapidly adopting new laws that legitimize existing repression and effectively criminalize online dissent," it said. There were very few countries that made gains in the rankings, with most of the increases due to "less vigorous" enforcement of existing laws instead of positive new steps. The United States was judged less free than only five countries: global leaders Iceland, Estonia, Canada, Australia and Germany.

First published December 4 2014, 3:33 AM

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Russia, Turkey Lead Global Decline in Internet Freedom

Basketball preview: Virginia Conference 15 boys

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By Joey LoMonaco December 3 at 4:05 PM

Top teams

Potomac (28-1), Freedom-Woodbridge (14-8), Brooke Point (8-15)

Top players

G Frank Agyemang, Freedom-Woodbridge 6-3, Sr.

F Armond Griebe, Potomac (Va.), 6-6, Sr.

G Keijon Honore, Potomac (Va.), 5-11 Sr.

G Capree Manning, Freedom-Woodbridge, 5-8 Sr.

G Terrance Ward, Potomac (Va.), 6-3, Jr.

Skinny: Despite graduating its top three players from last years Virginia 5A championship team Tariq Felder, Trey Porter (George Mason) and All-Met Randy Haynes the Panthers have no intention of making this a rebuilding season. Restocking the Panthers front court is 6-6 senior forward Armond Griebe, a transfer from Belgium by way of Alaska. Griebe hasnt been exposed to the AAU circuit, Honore said, but lately recruiters have been, kicking the door in trying to get him. Terrance Ward, a junior transfer from Christ Chapel, holds an offer from James Madison. Junior Keijon Honore, Keiths son, will reprise his role as a starting guard, where he averaged 7.8 points per game during the title run. ...

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Basketball preview: Virginia Conference 15 boys

Zone Heating with ECO-heater Wall-mounted Heaters Is a Cost-effective Way to Warm Cold Rooms

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(PRWEB) December 03, 2014

ECO-heater has debuted a new wall-mounted heater, model T400DS, now available for sale online at http://www.ecoheat.com.

As one of the leading manufacturers of economical, supplemental heating solutions, ECO-heater offers several models of ceramic wall-mounted heaters, including some with prices starting under $100.

Using ECO-heater wall panel heaters is an efficient way to add supplemental heat only where desired. This practice of warming rooms as needed rather than the entire house is known as zone heating and can be a cost-effective heating method for homes of all sizes and ages.

High utility costs have spurred an interest in zone heating here in the U.S. as consumers look for ways to warm their living spaces economically, said Christyana Hopkinson, ECO-heater sales manager.

In southern states without harsh winters, supplemental heating units such as ECO-heaters wall panel heaters are the perfect choice. They can reduce the chill in a typical-size bedroom or home office without the expense of operating a central HVAC system.

Even in a new home or a well-insulated home with central heating, some rooms can be colder than others because of their placement and distance from the furnace, Hopkinson explained. For example, a bedroom over a garage will tend to get colder faster than an interior space. Or, a guest bedroom may only need increased warmth when visitors stay. Plus, different people have different comfort levelssomeone may always be hot while another always cold.

With zone heating, supplemental warmth can be added only where and when its needed, said Hopkinson. The result in an overall reduction in energy consumption compared to having to run the furnace longer or higher.

In addition to controlling temperature comfort at the room level, ECO-heaters wall panel heaters offer quiet performance. Unlike typical space heaters, they do no use fans that cause unwelcomed background noise. Rather, the air between the panel and the wall is heated then rises, which causes cool air to be naturally drawn up from below the unit, which in turn is heated and rises, so as the cycle repeats warm air is circulated silently throughout the room. The effectiveness of the heater can be improved with a heat reflector that is included with ECO-heater. The heat reflector adheres to the wall behind the unit, so the reflector prevents warm air from being absorbed into the wall and keeps more warm air circulating in the room.

This Silent Flow convection heating technology allows ECO-heaters to use only 400 watts of electricity versus 1,500 for most floor-model space heaters. Furthermore, ECO-heaters T-Series units have built-in thermostats for temperature control and even greater efficiency.

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Zone Heating with ECO-heater Wall-mounted Heaters Is a Cost-effective Way to Warm Cold Rooms

Green turns to gray

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In August 2013, Fire Station 21 opened with fanfare. The building, at 7320 Dublin Blvd., was billed as the city's premier eco-project, energy-efficient with a graywater system designed to use treated laundry and shower water for a community garden.

But the garden hasn't been built, and the Colorado Springs Fire Department has dropped the idea of feeding vegetables with second-hand water. Instead, the station's used water will irrigate, via drip system, the station's landscaping, and newly installed fresh-water spigots will provide water for gardens yet to be built.

"After consultation with the director of Pikes Peak [Urban] Gardens, and El Paso County Health Department," Deputy Fire Chief Ted Collas says in an email, "we concluded that greywater cannot be utilized for consumable agriculture."

PPUG director Larry Stebbins oversees five gardens across the city, and acknowledges telling the department that "we would have to back off."

"Firefighters come back and wash up after a fire," he explains. "They're dealing with people in accidents. There's body fluids involved. That would go out in the graywater."

So where did the misunderstanding come from? Well, project architect Jim Fennell points out that graywater can be used to irrigate gardens if done with an underground drip system. He's spoken with the county Health Department several times, most recently in mid-November, to confirm as much.

That's true, Stebbins says, but other places have said "under no circumstances" should it be used on edible crops (although subterranean irrigation of orchards is common). And, Stebbins says, "I think we need to err on the side of caution."

The website greywateraction.org says water can be reused for gardening, including berry bushes, though it advises, "Greywater should irrigate the roots, not be sprayed or dumped onto the plant itself. Greywater is not safe to drink, and thus should not touch the part of a plant someone would eat."

Given the differences of opinion, Fire Capt. Steve Oswald says the city opted to "take a conservative approach" using the graywater on landscape greenery only.

The good news is that since graywater will be used on-site, the U.S. Green Building Council still views it as a LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) project. In fact, says Fennell, it "is still scored platinum," the highest rating.

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Green turns to gray