Egypts New President Vows to get World Trade Center Bomber Relased July 8, 2012
Posted by Chris Mark in Politics, terrorism.Tags: Al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya, blind shiek, bombing terrorism, Egypt, mark consulting group, Military Aid, mosri, Omar Abdel-Rahman, world trade center
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On June 29th, 2012, in his first pubic speach in front of tens of thousands of supporters, Egypts’ new president has vowed to gain the release of the World Trade Center bomber who is curently imprisoned in the United States. While often forgotten after the 9/11 attacks, the World Trade Center was bombed in 1993 by radical Islamic terrorists lead by the infamous “Blind Sheik” Omar Abdel-Rahman. (pictured at left) Rahmna has been imprisoned in North Carolina for his role in the 1993 bombing. According to Wikipedia: “Abdel-Rahman was accused of being the leader of Al-Gama’a al-Islamiyya (also known as “The Islamic Group”), a militant Islamist movement in Egypt that is considered a terrorist organization by the United States and Egyptian governments. The group is responsible for many acts of violence, including the November 1997 Luxor massacre, in which 58 foreign tourists and four Egyptians were killed.” While considered a terroris in the US, Rahmna is considered a hero by many in Egypt. It should be noted that the US provides $1.3 billion in military aid to Egypt annually and has provided financial aid for over 30 years.
COMTEC 2012 – Chris Mark Training on PCI & Payment Card Security July 6, 2012
Posted by Chris Mark in Industry News, Uncategorized.Tags: Chris Mark, COMTECH, mark consulting group, PCI, PCI DSS, security, TouchNet
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2012 is the year for COMTEC once again and the fine folks at TouchNet have invited me to conduct a training on Payment Card Security & PCI DSS at their October COMTEC event. COMTEC is a great event for TouchNet’s clients. The name comes from Commerce and Technology.. The session will be titled:
PCI Training: Full Cycle Compliance – Crisis – Recovery
“During this unique pre-conference workshop, you’ll investigate the full spectrum of PCI compliance and readiness. Attendees will better understand everything PCI, from the basics of PCI compliance to planning for the real-world impact of a breach and what to do in its aftermath.”
It is always positive to see that in 2012 there are still organizations that are taking a leadership role to educate their own customers on the importance of information security.
“Do as I say..not as I do”- UN Sends Restricted Computer Equipment to Iran and North Korea July 5, 2012
Posted by Chris Mark in News.Tags: Iran, North Korea, security, UN, United Nations, WIPO
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In yet another shocking revelation of questionable actions within the United Nations, Foxnews reports that the US State Department is now investigating the shipment of sensitive computer and other equipment to Iran and North Korea by way of an obscure UN department. The United Nations has prohibitions against sending such sensitive equipment to both countries as the countries are trying to develop nuclear weapons. According to the report, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), of which the US is a member, sent computers and other technology to both countries. The US State department was unaware of the shipment and, according to a top US official, it now appears that “”official at the U.N. agency, the Geneva-based World Intellectual Property Organization, or WIPO, “has not yet been fully open” to the inquiries…””
Laws & the US Constitution…a Primer ;) June 28, 2012
Posted by Chris Mark in Uncategorized.Tags: Constitution, house of represenatives, I'm just a bill, ObamaCare, schoolhouse rocks, senate, Stole Valor
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Today the US Supreme Court ruled on two laws that have been a major source of debate. I have already had two knock down arguments on Facebook over these findings. In light of this, and the fact that we are approaching the 4th of July, I am going to take a moment to interject some levity into the debate.
The Supreme Court upheld the law commonly known as ObamaCare and struck down as the Stolen Valor Act as unconstitutional. As we have foreign readers…here is a primer to the US Government..the Congress (comprised of the House of Representatives and Senate) in conjunction with the President of the US introduce Bills. (more…)
“Liberty must at all hazards be supported.”- Thomas Jefferson, 1765 June 28, 2012
Posted by Chris Mark in Uncategorized.Tags: 13 Colonies, 4th of July, concord, Declaration of Independence, King George, lexington, mark consulting group, Revolutionary War, war of independence
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With the coming US presidential elections, I am going to intermix the normal blog posts with some US history and political thoughts. The 4th of July in Park City, Utah (where we live) is a time of parties, fun and parades. I am always a bit dismayed when I casually ask people what the 4th is celebrating. While it is called ‘Independence Day’ there are a number of people who don’t appear to recognize the origins or the purpose of the 4th of July. Wow!..In a nutshell, Independence Day is a celebration of “our violently breaking free from the bonds of the shackles of our imperialistic British oppressors”…OK..that may simply be colorful way I describe it to my British friends to get them riled up but it is indeed a celebration of our ‘independence’ from British rule.
The revolution had been brewing for years with King George imposing oppressive taxes and other laws. “No Taxation without Representation” (an Irish phrase) was adopted by the colonists and adapted in 1765 when local politician James Otis famously said: “Taxation without representation is tyranny”. (more…)
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