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The Great Pantyhose Debate
Whenever I wear a skirt or a dress I almost always wear either pantyhose or leggings of some kind. But recently I've been paying attention to a very vocal debate about whether or not pantyhose are acceptable anymore as a part of one's wardrobe. On one hand you have many fashion experts like Stacy London and Clinton Kelly of "What Not to Wear" saying that natural or tan colored hose should never be worn ever. But then you see a very vocal chorus of women fighting back against that rule in posts like this recent one over at MORE Magazine with comments like, "I'm so glad to read other women fighting back against this silly rule!" and, "This is the most ridiculous article."
While the debate rages on in the genetic girl community, the issue seems to be more clear cut in the crossdresser and transgender community. Many genetic girls (and men) are quick to point out that a good pair of hose can make your legs look great, and that if properly fitted they aren't uncomfortable. On cooler days, or in cooler climates hose can keep your legs a little warmer, and many hose improve circulation making it easier to stand on your feet for long periods (if your job requires it.) For transgender women or crossdressers though I think the single biggest benefit is that hose can help smooth out the appearance of the legs and help them look more feminine.
If someone has great skin, and great looking legs I can totally see feeling good about going without hose. There are also many who have confidence to show off their legs, even when they don't feel they have nice skin. But for me anyway, I need to play down my masculine features as much as possible – and like many women out there I think hose really improve the look of my legs. This might be one area where the fashion police may be out of touch with a lot of women in the world.(Continued below...)
Normally, when it comes to my feminine appearance I do try to avoid as many a fashion faux pas as possible, but when it comes to hose I just can't make a break away from them. They help my figure look a little smoother, and they help make the imperfections in my legs (like the red bumps) less noticeable. This is a huge benefit for me, big enough that I'm willing to risk a fashion faux pas.
At least I know there are lots of genetic girls out there pointing out the many benefits of wearing hose, and exposing some of the more silly rules of the fashion police.
I'm curious, what do you think of pantyhose, and do you wear them? Is it really a fashion faux pas, or is this just a silly rule?
31 thoughts on "The Great Pantyhose Debate"
While I see nothing wrong with pantyhose, I prefer tights in the winter. Tights add the extra warmth needed. However most times during the summer months hose do have a place,
especially those in tan or sheer. Sheer is probably the closest shade for legs for the average white guy or girl. While brown
or darker colors are for black guys or girls. I have used black at night with my navy blue skirts or skorts.
The other thing, although lightly mentioned here is the use for
those with circulation problems. The Sheer Energy hosier is the best. Whether it be knee-highs or full pantyhose. I do not have a circulation problem but I do have three types of arthritis. The hosiery aid in massaging my legs. They allow me to walk further with the pain associated with the arthritis. Wifes and girlfriends of males with this ailment should encourage their
husbands or boyfriends to wear them. It has nothing to do with being a sissy, its for the health of your loved ones. Yes I wear skirts and I am a male and that in itself has nothing to do with wearing hose. If you watch the NFL during the winter months
you will see that the players wear pantyhose. Those tears are caused by the cleats brushing or scrapping the legs. Look carefully at their legs you can see the tears in them, sometimes even the runs.
So as to pantyhose, I don't think they are just a fashion item,
but a necessity for those with medical conditions, a inexpensive way to stimulated the legs and lastlya inexpensive way to warm the legs during cold months. Children even, boys or girls should have them as part of their winter wardrobe. Especially those childreen who walk to school.
I'd love to have legs good enough not to worry about tights, but alas I don't… My shins are fine, my thighs less so, and tights hide the fact well. I think the point is to go for something natural looking rather than something that screams tights. Something that goes for genetic girls as well…
If women can go without hose, so can the rest of us. Have you noticed how these young gals don't wear hose, even to the office. I say we wear them if we want. Summer though can be a pain with hose. Thank goodness it's starting to get cool again.
I love to wear pantyhose because I love the sheer feeling and I love too the way they look. I began crossdressing as a young boy many years ago when nylons were in fashion, and I loved those too. But when pantyhose came along in th 1970's,and women began wearig them, I quickly switched. I regret that more women don't wear pantyhose today but I surely still do.
I think too many of us worry about what the fashion police think. Fashion and style should be a personal choice and so it is with the decision of whether or not to wear pantyhose. Personally, I think hose add a bit of polish to a girl's look (that's my opinion). My real fondness for wearing pantyhose though is the way they feel. Ultimately, we should be free to choose without feeling pressured by what others think.
Heavens above, why bother what the fashion police think! Bear in mind that most of the population would consider that a male person wearing pantyhose, stockings, tights or whatever was wrong. So ignore them. Sensually I prefer stockings and a garter belt or basque but sometimes tights (pantyhose) are more practical – like now when it's damn cold.
Im male and wear tights most of time that help from muscle weak mainly from arthritis so been told to wear it with either shorts or short skirt – Ive wear black opaque tights and grey cord mini skirt that help my legs with plenty of air – I shave my legs first then put E45 milk body cream to make smooth then put tights on (usual Wolford Fatal 50 or De Luxe 66 – very softy) and put skirt on that look nicely and I have 100 deiner luxury tights for warm in the winter season – feel soooooooooo good. Men can wear what to wear as it unisex 🙂
as a guy who likes to blur gender lines i will never give up my hose. i don't care what the fashionistas say.
i love my tights for the winter. there's nothing like getting home and stripping off my pants and sliding on a denim mini skirt and hoody and glancing at my pink argyle legs while i relax. in the summer i love knowing that if i cross my legs my garter will show.
its the colours that really add to it. from nude to black to hot pink thigh highs, these are the things i love. i for one will always wear nylons or tights or leggings or thigh highs.
no one over 5 years old should wear hot pink anything I am a genetic girl (a gg?) and I can't wear hose or tights that aren't cotton – the forst pair I put on 12 or 14 I tihnk I broke out in a rash from tip of toe to top of thigh so that was that my 1st husband seriously got off on wearing my clothes which was fine w/me- unless he didn't tell me and he put holes in my stockings – very expensive to replace cheers all!
I agree with Sharon. I am a mature transvestite and I still wear nylons, but pantyhose are my daily wear. I love to wear them because I just don't feel dressed without them. The sensual feel of sheer pantyhose is unequaled. Men will stumble over each other just for a quick look at a girl in sheer nylon clad legs. I know, because I have caused minor stampedes myself. LOL
Do as you choose girls, but I will still wear pantyhose. I can't let the guys down 😉
hi i found your story and just wanted to comment.i to am a crossdresser.i think that the panty hose are just wonderful,they hide little imperfections on your legs if the proper shade and especially the hair.not everyone of us girls can have the luxury of shaving.they control my tummy a bit which is good.as far as i am concerned there is nothing more comfotable, for me anyway.
i have an older sister which in years past i would go to her home and she would help me dress.she once told me that i have nicer legs than any women that she knew.i think that clinched it for me.would not trade my panty hose for all the garter belts and nylons in the world.Kathy
It totally depends upon the outfit, but as a general rule this girl says "yes" to pantyhose. They improve our figure and the fit of our outer garments, not to mention the appearance of our legs. Even if you have young, flawless legs, a lady should think twice about bare-legging it with anything other than shorts, swim- suits, or capris.
Gartered nylon stockings are also nice, but pantyhose are just more pracical. Plus, they wear better. Tights in winter are great. They are a stylish alternative to pantyhose with many outfits–I have several pair. They are great because you can match certain patterns with specific outfits creating a fashion flair.
In closing, I believe some form of leg covering is necessary with most outfits. Is there anything worse than a beautiful dress or suit ending with yuckie , unadorned legs? Plus, its much nicer and moe comfy slipping into dress shoes with stocking feet.
Well my wife always wear pantyhose or stockings even on her days off she is always slipping into some stockings and heels and one of her many miniskirts she has over 100 so I encourage her to wear nylons we both love it and the looks she gets from men is awesome. I really enjoy her love of nylons she also has over 200 pair of nylons
No man should ever wear female clothing or hosiery, it's not right. I don't know why women wear pantihose, tights or stockings, they're a turn off. The only reason I think women do wear them is to show off their legs. Socks on women look nicer, I reckon. I wonder was nylons invented by a woman Like a women invented the "BRA"
I agree with everyone about ignoring fashion police..
but here's my personal approach =)
I have hairy legs, and like to cover them when dressing as a girl. I'm not a fan of pantyhose, I find it too conservative for my style. But, I think that coordinated tights are ultra stylish…fine fishets, lace tights, coloured tights that match an outfit, or pattern tights are the way to go. I say, why skip the opportunity to add colour or style to an outfit? But then again, I'm about looking busy and colourful, not as into the understated look. =)
Sooooooo Mr. King,
Why is it ok for women to wear mens clothing then? Women wear pants, shits, ties, etc, and it is fine for them and nobody is allowed to say anything?! I just don't get it.
I love my pantyhose and the way they look and feel. Men say they don't like women in them, riiiight. They are always staring at a womans legs when they have them on and if you have ever felt a pair of legs covered in silky pantyhose or stockings, you would love it.
Ummm as a natural female, First I want to say I totally support you. That's why I'm here. Now on to stockings comment…
I prefer garter belt and hose. Can't stand pantyhose restricting the crotch. Also I just think garter belt and hose are sexier.
I've been wearing hose as a t-girl for years; I love them all year long. I've been told that I have better looking legs than most gg's, so lately I've been dressing without hose. I get lots of compliments with bare legs, but I still prefer hose. I don't care what anyone thinks, they feel good and they look good–and they make a lot of legs look better than they do bare.
When I was pre-op I rarely wore pantyhose but now its simply easier for work to pop them on and keep my legs looking and feeling good alll day.
I love wearing tights. I am a trans girl figure skater, and live in my tights. When I go from on the ice to off, I just slip off my skating skirt and put on a regular skirt.
I wear hose whenever I can, mainly Leggs active support. I have arthritis and wearing hose in the winter keeps my legs from hurting too much. My wife thinks it's a little weird but she's ok with it. She will also let me wear them to bed on occasion and I also crossdress whenever she lets me. I just wish she would let me shave my legs but she feels it's going too far, especially since we have three young boys.
when ever it gets below freezing,i like to wear either pantyhose or heathered tights. i've learned the hard(and costly) way is to spend a bit extra for good quality…they feel better and are warmer as well as lasting longer….peace
As a genetic girl, I grew up tights before I was 12 years old wore my first pair of pantyhose at the age of 11 and a half. At 12, I began to wear them regularly, and continue to today. Since I was raised in a pentacostal household, pantyhose and tights were a required part of girls' and women's fashion. I have always loved the way they fit my body and the way they make my legs look and feel. I have great looking legs without pantyhose and pantyhose make my legs look more polished and provide me with a sensual and/or a professional look depending upon the sheerness and color or shade of the pantyhose. I have heard many of my friends say they hate pantyhose because they are binding and uncomfortable; but, my mother and my aunt taught me how to size them correctly and how to make sure they fit well so I have only had a couple of occassions in my life where their fit was confining and uncomfortable. Since I mostly wear skirts and dresses, I have only not worn pantyhose when it would be apparently inappropriate like at my boyfriend's company picnic (even though I have worn summer light weight pantyhose at a few of these…without having any runs…and could not help noticing the attention my legs received from the men and from my boyfriend). As an additional note, I have found that pantyhose make me feel more confident when I am in church. In the pentacostal church, people are sometime overpowered by the Power of God and fall to the floor. This is known as being Slain in the Spirit. Although the churches have clothes to cover the legs of girls and women in skirts and dresses, there have been times that when we fall some could see under our skirts before we are covered. This has happened to me several times but wearing pantyhose, especially control top with the more opaque panty, made me more confident before it happened and less embarrased after I came to (it also helped that I wear panties underneath my pantyhose).
I can't imagine not wearing pantyhose every. I love them.
This week was the first time I cross dress. It was little I put on pandas and pantyhose on under my pants and went all over town I love it tell my more I think I need a lot of help
As a man with transvestic fetishism I see nothing at all wrong with wearing Pantyhose Dresses Panties bras or womens High Heels it's a great escape and truely excites me
I'm just a dude who likes to wear tights. Wife got me into it. She says that pantyhose look better on men than they do on most women. She also got me into shaving my legs and armpits. I touch up my legs every time I shave my face. Tights feel great, so I'm not making any sacrifice here.
I am old enough to have been wearing nylons and pantyhose for almost 50 years. I consider them both a luxury and a necessity.
This subject is somewhat relevent in India, where I live. Hose is not a part of Indian women's clothing. except for very minute percentage of westerenised girls. U live in a a warm humid city, day temperature never goes below 27-30 degrees C, and none of the women too wear a hose.
My position on this issue is complex. As little girl and as a teen, I loved pantyhose and they way they made my legs feel.
As an adult, I love tights!!! I love their texture and color. Nude pantyhose have lost their magic for me. If I want silky legs I go for black or textured stockings or tights. If I want to show off my legs, I show them off 🙂
My biggest complaint with hose is bathroom related. They are a pain to roll down every time you have to go.
With all of that written, I say do what works for you. If you want to have them on, wear them! Life is too short to worry about stuff like this!


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subset: commoncrawl


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AMMAN, Jordan — If you are keen on getting your Middle Eastern fix of ancient sites, sun, mint tea, and falafel, the Arab Spring may have challenged your travel plans. Although tourists have stayed largely safe in the Arab world in the past several years, the turmoil in Egypt, war in Syria and spill-over in Lebanon have kept some visitors away.
But fear not. Jordan is a world removed from the instability that has engulfed the region and Jordanians warmly welcome tourists year-round. On a recent visit, my first to Jordan, I found myself falling in love with its tranquility and hospitality.
Jordan's sites are spread out, but there's a good road and transportation system, and not an overwhelming number of things to see. It's easy to meet and talk with locals, many of whom speak English.
The serene capital, Amman, was originally built on seven hills on the ruins of ancient Philadelphia. The modern-day city has developed over a hundred years into a hip town full of young people and a regional hub for tech start-ups.
The capital's most prominent sight is a Roman amphitheater that's right in the middle of Amman. On the grounds of the amphitheater, do not miss the Folklore and Popular Traditions Museum where you can see displays of traditional dress from Jordan and Palestine and learn more about the cuisine and ways of life of the nomadic Bedouins.
The Citadel on Amman's highest hill is impressive, home to a Roman temple, Islamic palace, cistern and Byzantine church. From its vista you can get a full appreciation of the massive 2,000-year-old amphitheater a stone's throw away.
What the capital lacks in ancient sights, it makes up for in food. In a short span of several days, and accompanied by local friends, I was able to feast on the country's famed kebabs and mezze — small dishes — and even had pretty good sushi. Whatever you do, do not miss a late-night meat fix from Reem on the 2nd Circle (roundabouts in old Amman are numbered). Find the line of hungry Jordanians waiting outside this takeout shack for sandwiches ($1), and you're in good hands. The meat is marinated, grilled and topped with onions, tahini, tomatoes and salad for an unforgettable pita sandwich. The wait is long but worth it.
Jafra, also in the old city, combines a radical intellectual ambiance with a robust menu of traditional favorites. Photos of pro-Palestinian activist Edward Said, Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwich and Western left-wing celebrities adorn the walls, but the crowd is split between decidedly hip young Ammanis and middle-class families. Sit on the terrace to soak up the street atmosphere below you.
Outside Amman your travels could take you to ancient castles and Christian and Judaic sites or to wild natural reserves. But all paths will lead to Petra, an ancient city built in rose-red rock that remained largely undiscovered till the 19th century.
Petra was built by the Nabataeans, Arabs who controlled the region's trade routes over 2,000 years ago. The structures they left behind are so fascinating they were voted as one of the new Seven Wonders of the World in a global poll six years ago. This led to more visitors, so early morning is the best time to beat the crowds. To get to Petra, you can take a JATT bus from Amman (three hours) or hire a car and a driver for about $120 a day.
Entering from the official gate, you pass through a tourist market in a street that descends into a wide valley where Petra's architectural gems begin. Walking through the winding Siq, a gorge formed when land movement split the massive rock mass, you come to appreciate the site's enormity. You may even gasp out loud when you first glimpse the majestic "Treasury" building through the narrow gorge. The Treasury is actually a burial building and not, as myth had it, a place where treasures were hidden. The intricate facade of the building is Petra's most famous image, made even more famous by appearing in "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade."
Continue along a wide and sunny route past the Theatre, High Place of Sacrifice, Royal Tombs and other structures. The site's undiscovered gem, at its highest point, is the Monastery, a first century B.C. building. There's good reason few people make it there: It's at the end of a 45-minute climb of 800 rocky steps. But it's worth it. Beyond the Monastery at that elevation is a spectacular view of the entire city of Petra and the colorful valley, Wadi Araba.
I ventured also to Jordan's well-preserved Judeo-Christian sites, including Mount Nebo, where Moses saw the promised land. A map there shows the distance to towns in Israel and the Palestinian Territories; Jerusalem is less than 30 miles (48 kilometers) away.
Close to Mount Nebo is the historically Christian town of Madaba, whose St. George's Church houses an unusual floor map of the Middle East, done in colorful mosaics almost 1,500 years ago. Another unique mosaic is the large and almost-intact floor piece at the Church of Saint Lot and Saint Procopius in the nearby town of Khirbet al-Mukhayyat. These mosaics were discovered in a family's house when a cooking fire ruined the plaster hiding the original floor. The keeper of the church and son of that family holds the keys. He'll let you in and proudly explain that the house belonged to his Muslim family before they donated it to the government, which in turn made it into a church. He earns very little as the guardian of the site, according to my guide, and appreciates a tip of a dinar.
Beyond all this, there's the Dead Sea, along with more ancient Roman sites, Islamic castles and natural wonders — all beautiful and worth visiting. But if you are tempted to simply lounge about with a glass of Jordanian shiraz and a water pipes, staring at the stars in Amman's clear skies, go ahead. Enjoy it.
If You Go...
JORDAN: http://international.visitjordan.com/.
CURRENCY: You'll need local currency — Jordanian dinars (1 JOD is about US $1.70). ATMs are common. At tourist sites, there are two prices: a high one for foreigners and a lower one for Jordanians and Arab nationals.
WEATHER: Between November and April, temperatures are cool. Amman even gets cold in winter. Summer days can hit 100 Fahrenheit (38 Celsius), but you can stay comfortable by wearing loose cotton clothing and a hat, and by drinking lots of water. On spring and summer evenings in Amman, breezes cool the city's many open-air lounges and cafes.
GETTING AROUND: It's too hilly to easily walk between neighborhoods in Amman, but cabs are cheap. Even a long taxi ride across town is only about 5 dinars (US $7). Just make sure the cabbie turns on the meter.
PETRA: http://visitpetra.jo/. Petra is a whole city, not a temple or two, and visitors are typically told that it's too big to see in one day. But it can be done. Arrive early in the morning for eight or nine hours of exploring, which allows you to see most everything. The terrain is not particularly difficult with good shoes and lots of water. Resist offers to go by horse-drawn carts unless you can't walk 45 minutes at a time, and gently refuse offers to show you where "Indiana Jones" was filmed — you can't miss the Treasury building. No need to bring food — there are two good restaurants onsite.
Jordan offers ancient sites and a warm welcome
AMMAN, Jordan — If you are keen on getting your Middle Eastern fix of ancient sites, sun, mint tea, and falafel, the Arab Spring may have challenged your travel plans. Although tourists have stayed largely safe in the Arab world in the past several years, the turmoil in Egypt, war in Syria and spill-over in Lebanon have kept some visitors away.


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SMALLRT is a popular manufacturer and brand of Android TV Box. Recently, the bushiness updated its website, teaching people how to download and flash its hot model SMALLRT X2 TV Box's Firmware and how to flash it.
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Artists John Conway, Bob Nicholls, and Luis Rey plus consultant Darren Naish and editor Steve White celebrate all things Dinosaur, and signing the spectacular book of illustrations Dinsosaur Art (Titan Books), at Forbidden Planet London on Saturday 22nd September from 1 – 2pm.
Featuring ten of the most prominent paleoartists working today, Dinosaur Art: The World's Greatest Paleoart (Titan Books) is a unique blend of breathtaking artwork – some never before seen – and cutting edge science. Bringing to life the distant past requires a unique artistic skill that blends imagination and paleontology – the study of prehistoric animals. Now, for the first time, Dinosaur Art: The World's Greatest Paleoart showcases a selection of skillful, innovative artwork produced for movies, television programmes (Jurassic Park, When Dinosaurs Roamed America, and Dinosaur Planet) and for museums around the world, alongside exclusive interviews with the artists, in which they reveal the sources of their inspiration, their working methods and the influence of digital multimedia on their artwork.
STEVE WHITE writes: "Dinosaur Art will appeal to anyone – from child to adult enthusiast – who loves dinosaurs and all the other spectacular creatures from our planet's evolution". The impressive lineup of the world's leading paleoartists artists features Mauricio Anton, John Conway, Julius Csotonyi, Douglas Henderson, Todd Marshall, Raul Martin, Robert Nicholls, Gregory S Paul, Luis Rey, John Sibbick. Steve White edits the collection.
Forbidden Planet London Megastore
179 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8JR


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American Humane Association Calls Animal Deaths On 'The Hobbit' Unacceptable; Renews Call To Extend Monitoring Off The Set As Well As On
Nov 19, 2012, 06:37 ET
"There are too many incidents off set and they must stop," says AHA President
WASHINGTON, Nov. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- American Humane Association, which has protected more than a million animals in film during the 70+ years of its famed "No Animals Were Harmed®" program with a 99.98 percent safety rate on set, called the injuries and deaths of animals living at the working farm where some of the animal actors from "The Hobbit" were also being housed needless and unacceptable. The organization renewed its call to the entertainment industry asking for additional jurisdiction and funding to keep animal actors safe not only while they are working on set, but off set as well to address illegitimate suppliers of animals and to ensure proper training, housing and retirement of these important and beloved co-stars of film and television. In January 2012, American Humane Association sent letters to industry leaders seeking ways to work together to improve the welfare of animals off the set as well as on.
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101108/DC97343LOGO )
"We are currently only empowered to monitor animal actors while they are working on production sets," says American Humane Association President and CEO Dr. Robin Ganzert. "We do not have either the jurisdiction or funding to extend that oversight to activities or conditions off set or before animals come under our protection. There are too many incidents off the set and this must stop. It is vital that we work with the industry to bring the kind of protection we have for animals during filming to all phases of production."
Because of American Humane Association's monitoring of the animal action which included having a licensed veterinarian on the scene, no animals were harmed on set during filming of "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey." However, upon learning of injuries and deaths of animals while being housed at a working farm 186 miles from the main set and 26 miles from the soundstage, American Humane Association went beyond its jurisdiction and authority to visit, examine and make safety recommendations and improvements to the farm. These recommendations were implemented a year ago, bringing a higher level of animal welfare to all animals living on the site into the future.
"We must bring the same high degree of safety and humane treatment that has been achieved on the set to animals throughout their life, including training, housing, and safe, dignified retirement," says Ganzert. "We owe it to these hard-working and beloved members of our community, just as we work to take care of their human counterparts. Anything less is unacceptable."
About American Humane Association and the Film & TV Unit
American Humane Association's legendary "No Animals Were Harmed®" program was founded in 1940 and protects some 100,000 animals on 2,000 sets each year with a 99.98 percent safety rate, keeping a watchful eye on the welfare and humane treatment of animals in filmed entertainment.
American Humane Association is the country's first national humane organization and the only one dedicated to protecting both children and animals. Since 1877 American Humane Association has been at the forefront of virtually every major advance in protecting our most vulnerable from cruelty, abuse and neglect.
SOURCE American Humane Association


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Festival of Lights set for Saturday
The CenturyLink Holiday Festival of Lights takes place Saturday in downtown Cape Coral.
Hosted by the Chamber of Commerce of Cape Coral, the event will run from 4-10 p.m. along Cape Coral Parkway East, between Southeast 15th Avenue and Candia Street. The roadway will be blocked off to through traffic starting at 6 a.m., which is a few hours earlier than last year, officials reported.
"Please plan your day accordingly and arrange for alternate routes during your travels," Donna Germain, a spokeswoman for the chamber, said in a prepared statement released last week.
The involved stretch of Cape Coral Parkway will reopen Sunday at midnight.
The festival features a visit from Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus at 6:15 p.m. at the Cape Coral Town Center, also known as Big John's shopping center. A tree lighting will then take place to officially kick off the holiday season in the Cape. Santa will be available for pictures until the end of the festival.
"He will be talking with kids and taking pictures," Germain said.
There will be four holiday stages with local entertainers performing throughout the night.
"They're dance groups, school groups," she said, offering some examples.
Another highlight of the festival will be a 25-ton snow drift slide for the children. The slide will be located in the parking lot next door to the Wendy's, at 1427 E. Cape Coral Parkway.


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The ability to juggle tasks - and mindsets - is crucial for anyone looking to move up in their company or land a new job.
Scooped by
Ioannis Nikolaou
onto personnel psychology
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Mark Keane's comment, May 14, 2013 4:50 AM
Great find Ioannis. Where succession is concerned it is also worth noting the importance of longevity, something Sir Alex is certainly known for. It would seem that in the managerial sense Manchester United and Sir Alex sought the development of a new era built on solid foundations rather than a short-lived succession covering a few seasons. David Moyes certainly fits the bill in this regard having managed Everton since 2002. Indeed, he is the third-longest serving manager in the English Premiership behind Ferguson and Wenger.
Jose M Quiroz's curator insight, June 11, 2014 2:51 AM
football (soccer) takes part in sports psychology and i think is a great deal (since it has been played for a long period of time and is played in most of the rest of the world.) the question here was why Moyes over Mourhino? well the answer is easy: its because Mourhino does not have what Moyes do. Moyes pays a great deal of importance to culture, ethics and moral which are inevitably real traits for a long lasting company with great accomplishments.
Jose M Quiroz's curator insight, June 11, 2014 3:12 AM
As Adam Bryant said "There are five hiring attributes we have across the company" and it is true about any job. those attributes are: humility and ownership, expertise, the ability to process on the fly, leadership, and the fundamental attribution error.
Ioannis Nikolaou's curator insight, January 15, 2014 2:23 AM
Researchers at North Carolina State University have found that when job applicants realize an organization has viewed their social media profile, they are less likely to perceive the hiring process as fair, regardless of whether they were offered the position. The practice may have serious repercussions for the hiring organization's reputation and make applicants more inclined to resort to litigation, says Will Stoughton, a doctoral student in industrial psychology and lead author of the paper. The study was published in the Journal of Business and Psychology. "There could be all kinds of negative consequences for creating a selection process that is perceived as invasive and unfair," says Lori Foster Thompson, a psychology professor at N.C. State and one of the paper's co-authors. "When you think about the fact that top talent usually has a lot of choices as to where they want to go to work, it begins to really matter."
Tony Brugman (Bright & Company)'s curator insight, April 9, 2013 4:41 AM
Good article in The Economist on the advantages of HR Analytics. The author gives several examples of how data-analysis can provide new insights for HR (eg. on employee attitudes and behavior).
Realisticly, the article ends with the remark that although "algorithms and big data are powerful tools", "they must be designed and used by humans, so they can go horribly wrong." In other words, blindly relying on such instruments is not recommended.
Gary Stroud's curator insight, June 17, 2014 10:24 AM
The purpose of this study was to examine whether firms that use more rigorous staffing and training outperform firms that do not—before, during, and recovering from the Great Recession. You can guess the answer!
Mark Keane's comment, August 4, 2013 6:22 AM
Ioannis, really good and useful insight. This perspective reminds me of the recent work by Taleb on Antifragility. A simple example would be perceptions of failure being destructive rather than constructive. Even in situations where failure is destructive, this is a catalyst for the construction of something else. The application of Taleb's concept in the world of business would mean that irrespective of financial conditions, the organisation continues to profit.


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Michelle Money, who is arguably the craziest most controversial contestant on this season of the Bachelor, is once again making headlines for the wrong reasons.
Whether it be waking up with a random mysterious black eye on the show or being overly aggressive with Brad Womack, Michelle is definitely making her mark on the show.
The latest is now a Life & Style magazine cover story in which Michelle herself admits she had an affair with NBA star Carlos Boozer — while he was married. Michelle tells Life & Style, "Yes, I was in a relationship with Carlos while he was still married. What I did was wrong."
Michelle, an actress and single mother to 5-year-old daughter Brielle, claims what any good homewrecker claims, which is that she was under the impression Carlos was separated from his wife Cece at the time, though he didn't file for divorce until March 2009, while he and Michelle were already involved.
"I should never have been so naive to assume what I was told was true," Michelle says. "I'm not trying to shy away from the fact that he was still married. I don't put that on Carlos. I don't put that on anyone but myself. I feel terrible for Cece for that pain she's had to go through and that I am a part of it." Following Carlos' split with his wife, he and Michelle ended things in June 2009. "All I can do," Michelle says, "is try to do better with my life. I screwed up. But I can only try to do the best I can."
In other Bachelor news, tonight's episode, which has yet to air, is already proving to be a controversial one. The reason? It all has to do with a NASCAR date involving Emily Maynard.
See Emily, 24, a single mother to a young daughter, was 19-years-old when her then fiance and race car driver Ricky Hendrick died in a plane crash. A few days later, Emily discovered she was pregnant.
So while most people can imagine the kind of pain and trauma Emily has been through, it seems the producers of the show aren't quite seeing it the same way. Emily's first date with Brad had her flying on a small plane with him, something she was scared to do of course, but that wasn't enough for the producers as her group date with Brad on tonight's show has them visiting a NASCAR track. In the preview clips shown, Emily can be seen having a negative reaction to the date.
In a new interview with PEOPLE magazine, host Chris Harrison is defending the show and the date, claiming it was already planned before Emily was cast.
"This date and season were set up before Emily was cast. She ended up on the NASCAR date by happenstance. But we're not stupid. We knew her story by that point so we had a choice to make. We could have told Brad or warned Emily. We chose to let the real-life drama play out," says Chris. "It forced Emily to face demons I don't think she's dealt with. It also forced Brad to learn the rest of the story … It was either going to blow up in their face with Brad realizing, "I can't handle this. I can't replace this guy," and Emily realizing she's not quite ready, or they would move through it."
The new episode of the Bachelor airs tonight on ABC at 8/7c. A photo of Emily and Ricky is below.


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This is not an offer for credit and should be used for estimation purposes only based on the information you provided. You should not base your decision on this estimate alone. Title, registration, tax and other fees, and personal circumstances such as employment status and personal credit history, were not considered in the calculations.
Front - 4-piston fixed
Rear - 2-piston floating
Front - 160/60R18,70V,BW
Rear - 240/40R18,79V,BW
As shipped - 670 lb.
In Running Order - 699 lb.
Laden - 25.9 in.
Unladen - 26.6 in.
1st - 9.311
2nd - 6.454
3rd - 4.793
4th - 3.882
5th - 3.307
6th - 2.79
Black Tempest
Bonneville Salt Pearl
Industrial Gray
Vivid Black
Wicked Red / Twisted Cherry
Price, if shown, is Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) and does not include government fees, taxes, dealer freight/preparation, dealer document preparation charges or any finance charges (if applicable). MSRP and/or final actual sales price will vary depending on options or accessories selected.


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Looking for a classmate? Have you lost touch with someone you would like to re-connect with? We can help you find them.
Our Policy
In order to protect the privacy of our graduates' personal information, the NMU Alumni Association does not directly give addresses to individuals who request them.
In order to reach a fellow graduate, you are asked to complete the following steps:
Please call the Alumni office to see if we have a mailable address for the person you are looking for. You may also e-mail us with the name of the person you would like to find.
If we have a good address, you have two choices:
1. Write a piece of correspondence just as you want to send it to the person you are looking for. Seal the correspondence and mark it with your return address and the name only of the person you are wishing to contact. Place first-class postage on the correspondence. Letters will not be forwarded without first-class postage. Mail the correspondence (in a separate envelope) to: Alumni Office, Northern Michigan University, 1401 Presque Isle, Marquette, MI 49855.
Once your correspondence is received, the address of the person you are looking for will be written on the front and forwarded to them. Please enclose a note with the graduation year and any other pertinent information.
2. If you would like, we will send a postcard to the person you are looking for, letting them know you are looking for them. We will provide them with your personal information so they may contact you.
If you have any questions about this policy, please e-mail the Alumni office at email@example.com.


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Special to The Sun
Call it the Cara Delevingne effect, but suddenly, bushy eyebrows, making crazy cross-eyed faces at the camera, and finger tattoos of lions are cool. OK, that last one might be a stretch, but the British model has, without a doubt, given the fashion industry a much-needed dose of fun.
To get her look, you need only grow out your mane, throw on a toque, some skinny jeans and sneakers, and be sure to grow out your eyebrows. Easier said than done? Well, thanks to eyebrow artists such as Alisha Noon at Beautymark, Bombay Brow Bars and Kiran Darred, owner of the new Blink Brow Bar, getting great brows can be a cinch.
"Cara Delevingne is the latest in the land of brows," says Noon, of the model just nominated for model of the year by The British Fashion Council. And Darred agrees. "The trend used to be for very thin eyebrows, but that has changed, and thick, long and arched brows are what I get the most requests for now," she says. "Strong, well-shaped brows make any woman's eyes look captivating."
Both caution, however, that Delevingne's dark eyebrows, which are much darker than her hair, can be a difficult look to pull off. If you're still keen on trying it out, though, Darred also offers eyebrow tinting, "especially for women with fair hair or thinner brows as it can add fullness and colour where it's lacking."
Whatever you do, try to avoid swinging all the way to the other end of the spectrum. "The most common disaster I see is over-tweezed brows," says Noon. "Many women think that tweezing a thinner, higher brow makes eyes appear more open, therefore making them look younger," she explains. "It actually does the opposite." Instead, incorporate regular eyebrow maintenance into your normal beauty routine — the same way you treat manicures and pedicures. Indeed, since opening Blink in August, Darred has built a loyal client base of women that pop by every three weeks or so for threading; some even go on their lunch break.
Different stylists encourage different types of hair removal; don't be averse to trying a different technique. For Asian women, Noon often opts for a combination of waxing, tweezing, and trimming with precise scissors (and only ever in one-millimetre increments!), while Darred prefers threading as it's natural, more precise (each hair is removed individually), and prevents stripping natural oils away from the skin. No one denies that hair removal will always make you wince at least a little. Just pull a Cara Delevingne and get on with it.


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"We do not dig up objects, we dig up people."
– Sir Mortimer Wheeler
The need to go back to the past is process of rejuvenation of memories or their placement in time and space anew, as well as a realization and replenishment of the complete picture of a certain geographical ambient.
The seeker directs his interest of a certain space towards its deeper perception and befriending forgotten experiences, discovering, stone by stone, that which his forefathers before him have sawn.
For each individual, the mounting of Vodno, as any other mountain, is a goal to reach. To that end, there is a possibility to walk the marked mountain road, others have walked before you, or to boldly take the unmarked road full of various challenges and obstacles.
Climbing up the steep eastern slopes of Vodno, one can reminisce of the old road stretching from the great Stone Bridge on the river Vardar to the south towards Kisela Voda village. There it split in two directions, one continuing south-east (villages of Taor and Zelenikovo), whereas the other turning more to the south towards the gentle hills to the east and south-east of Vodno (villages of Soptishte, Rakotinci, Dobri dol and further down to Pelagonia). (Evans 1885, 98; Hadzi-Vasiljevic 1930, 24-25; Shkricanic 1974, 80.)
This geographical area was known as Karshijak or "on the other side", "across the river Vardar or opposite Vardar" (Hadzi-Vasiljevic 1930, 33). Once road passes by Markovo Kruvche, or medieval Chrnche, one would arrive at the old quarry where blue limestone (limestone deposits from the third Mesozoic shallow sea dating around 150 million years ago) was excavated and used to tile the streets in the center of old Skopje (Radovanivic 1937, 75; Trifunovski 1958, 84; Herak 1973, 314-317). Remnants from that time can be found even today, a time when the noise, dust, smoke and clatter of the craftsmenwere companions to every weary traveler. Most probably, Sir John Arthur walked this same road while exploring the Roman remnants in this region.
Next are the village of Sopishte, and then the village of Rakotinci, both spread over the long valleys and dry trenches shaped by the long hand of the wild spring and summer rain.
The village of Dobri dol is located south of Skopje, at a distance of around 10 km from the city center. It is situated in a valley shaped as a horseshoe in the southern slopes of Vodno, ridged by the two small rivers, Krushka and Rakotinski Dol (made up of Buturec and Cimkoec springs) that contributed to the fertility of the soil and the ease of its processing, and a little higher up, on the neogene terraces, the soil is dry, sandy and perfect for growing Dobridol grapes. It is protected from the cold north winds, but through the valley of the river Markova reka, open to the warm south wind (South-Razvigor breeze or Lodos) (Hadzi-Vasiljevic 1930, 18; Trifunovski 1958, 15, 130).
In the area surrounding the village Dobri Dol the following toponyms can be found: Preku dol, Preku rit, Ciganski grobishta, Gola Rudina, Kocho padina, Pitoma rupa, Po rogoi chuki, Pargoi chuki, Kushica, Gorni Zabel, Dolni Zabel, Perkoec, Dushkov dol, Opal, Bel Krst. Mankoec, Kojdui rupi, Grashishta, Crna shuma i Drmos (Skok 1936, 104-105; Trifunoski 1958, 138).
Preserved testaments of the first settlements dating from the early Stone Age can be found in the area surrounding the nearby villages of Rakotinci and Govrlevo. Two settlements were located to the east of Dobri Dol, in the terraces of the Orlovica hill and above the two small river-streams flowing from Dobri dol and the neighboring Rakotinci, the first one dating from the early Stone Age and the second one form the Copper Age, Orlovica 1 and 2 (Bilbija 1996, 380; Mitrevski 2013, 139; 32, 155)
In the middle reaches of Markova Reka, near the village of Sushica (Kolishtrkovska-Nasteva and Videski 1996, 42), deep in the sandy shore, the traces of Mycenae pioneers who most likely were in search of rivers rich in gold, lie hidden.
Fragmented (Mycenae) vessels belonging to the Bronze Age of the Vardar Valley are found in Govrlevo (according to Bilbija 2012; Mitrevski 2013, 184), west of Dobri Dol.
Settlements and fortified stations, small forts and shelters have been woven into the landscape since Ancient times and the Middle Ages. Old cemeteries, stone markers, stelas and crosses. Slanted or excavated. Lonely or attached, one can find them on the hills and fields. Christian or Muslim religious temples tower over the red tile rooftops of the village houses. But, also holy and healing springs and creeks that bring peace and tranquility to the weary travelers and eternal seekers under the deep shadows of the centennial trees and the on road resting places reminiscing of times past.
- Archeological site Krushka,
is situated in the vicinity of Krushka spring (Kushica) (Vuchkovich-Todorovich 1958, 289; Jovanova 1996, 370), 500 meters north-west of the village church St. Spas. A double tomb dating from the late Antique was found in the 50's of the last century and six secondarily used stelae intended for the double tomb construction inscribed in Latin letters, and one inscribed in combined Latin and Ancient Greek. Bricks were used for the floor of the tombs. Bricks with larger dimensions, were a little elevated than the rest were set as the headrest.
Burial gifts were found in both chambers: a coin (Constantine), gilded crossbow fibulas, a golden earring, golden ring, glass vessels- vials and two ceramic vessels (Vuchkovich-Todorovich 1958, 295-296).
The stelas most probably belonged to high class decedents who held lands in the horseshoe-shaped valley, but served their professional and life course in the administrative, religious and transit center in the province of Upper Moesia, in Skupi. They originate from the period at the end of the 1st to the beginning of the 3rd century (Vuchkovich-Todorovich 1958, 290-295, Dragojevich-Josifovska 1982, 68-69, 81-82, 86, 99, 118; Petkovski 2013, 182, 197, 198, 209, 213).
The following names are mentioned:
– Decedent (soldier in the Flavian cavalry-ala) Vanno, Iulius Vanno Missicius and the dedicator – establisher Flavius Antiocus,
– Decedent (centurion veteran) Antonius and the establisher, free slave Simphorus,
– Decedent Drutie Mestulae and the dedicator Maema Dioscuridi,
– Decedent (veteran of the VII legion Claudia Pia Fidelis), Publius Caetennius Clemens and the establisher, free slave Simphorus and heir Publius Caetennius Felicianus,
– Decedent Publius Aelius Posidonianus and the establisher Antonia Saturnina,
– Decedents (sons, praetorian soldiers Caio Valerio Pudinti veteran and Caio Iulio Celeri, the son-in-law, who was Augustales (priest of the royal cult in Skupi) Caio Valerio Maximo and the establisher mother Iulia Victorina (Vuchkovich-Todorovich 1958, 290-295, Dragojevich-Josifovska 1982, 68-69, 81-82, 86, 99, 118).
On this very spot, atKushica near the high poplars, ceramic pipes – tubules most probably belonging to an ancient water supply system were excavated while repairing and constructing a new water supply system for the village, thus this place got the name Old Spring.
- Archeological site Grmadi
is believed to be the settlement or one of the village estates belonging to some of the abovementioned persons located at a distance of around 500 meters from the double late-antique tomb. While reconnoitering this are numerous rocks and tegulae were found, as well as house foundations that were probably ripped out in the process of ploughing the fields. (Vuchkovich-Todorovich 1958, 295)
- Archeological site Smilanci,
situated around 1.2 kilometers to the south-east of the village, on the slopes of a flattened plateau and above a deep valley and an aqueous spring scattered stones and pieces of Corinth tegulae can be found. Maybe this was also the location of a village estate from the Roman period.
- Archeological site Bel Krst (White Cross),
a gentle hill at a distance of less than one kilometer to the south-east from the center of the village. On the top of the hill, a wide ditch was dug where most likely a roughly caved stone block was set with a recipient in the middle. Nearby the stone block, there is a stone cross inscribed in Old Slavonic letters.
The little horseshoe-shaped valley which is the resting place of Dobri Dol village is also a meeting point for several communication routes, connecting the Skopje region to the south and vice verse. The good and fertile soil and the closeness of the forests and higher pastures have provided conditions for a secure and good life for the population inhabiting this area in different time periods.
The presence of quality drinking water gushing from the several watery springs (a few of which are completely dried out today) as well as the favorable and mila climate were a precondition for forming the first settlements ever since the early Stone Age.
This short review of the few archeological points in the village and its vicinity is merely a starting point for further, more scrutinized and comprehensive research into the archeological past of the village of Dobri Dol.
This text was finished on the day of † Venerable Martyr Fevronija;
Venerable Dionisiy Kosturski, 2014
By Igor Tolevski – email@example.com


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Major Source of Online Scams and Spams Knocked Offline
A U.S. based Web hosting firm that security experts say was responsible for facilitating more than 75 percent of the junk e-mail blasted out each day globally has been knocked offline following reports from Security Fix on evidence gathered about suspicious activity emanating from the network.
For the past four months, Security Fix has been gathering data from the security industry about McColo Corp., a San Jose, Calif., based Web hosting service whose client list experts say includes some of the most disreputable cyber-criminal gangs in business today.
On Monday, Security Fix contacted the Internet providers that manage more than 90 percent of the company's connection to the larger Internet, sending them information about badness at McColo as documented by the security industry.
On Tuesday afternoon, I heard back from Global Crossing, one of McColo's major Internet providers. Their spokesman declined to discuss the matter, except to say that Global Crossing communicates and cooperates fully with law enforcement, their peers, and security researchers to address malicious activity.
Two hours later, I heard from Benny Ng, director of marketing for Hurricane Electric, the Fremont, Calif., company that was the other major Internet provider for McColo.
Hurricane Electric took a much stronger public stance: "We shut them down," Ng said.
"We looked into it a bit, saw the size and scope of the problem you were reporting and said 'Holy cow! Within the hour we had terminated all of our connections to them."
As of this writing, McColo's Web site is no longer available. In fact, I pinged no fewer than three different researchers who have tracked activity at McColo for many months: None could find a single Internet address assigned to the hosting provider that was still reachable.
Officials from McColo did not respond to multiple e-mails, phone calls and instant messages left at the contact points listed on the company's Web site before the site was taken offline.
There's more to come with details about this story later tonight or early tomorrow, but I wanted to get this post published before we got scooped on our own story.
Brian Krebs
November 11, 2008; 7:06 PM ET
Categories: Cyber Justice , Fraud , From the Bunker , Web Fraud 2.0
Save & Share: Previous: Pharmacy Processor Offers $1M Reward to ID Extortionists
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Well done sir. You have made life for most Americans much, much better. There is a bust for you in the good guy hall of fame (right next to the person who invented EZ Pass).
Posted by: tderrick17 | November 11, 2008 7:48 PM | Report abuse
Nice work! Another reason we need a fearless and unfettered press. We'll never know how much misery you've saved people, but with the government busy with other things, it's nice to see you make a difference in such a positive way.
Posted by: PunditFan | November 11, 2008 7:51 PM | Report abuse
I also see this as a good development, but isn't the media supposed to report the news, rather than creating the news?
Posted by: stj4d | November 11, 2008 7:56 PM | Report abuse
Fine work, Brian. It is distressing, however, to see Global Crossing's response. Even a common carrier has a responsibility to society to help stomp out child pornographers and identity thieves. To look the other way is to be complicit in such criminal activities.
That said, my fear is that some morally bankrupt host in the former Soviet block or China will happily take McColo's sleazy business.
Please keep up the great work.
Posted by: none3 | November 11, 2008 7:56 PM | Report abuse
Amazing work. Congrats to the third power!
Does anyone anywhere maintain a spam volume chart to keep track and report to the public?
If so there must be at least a temporary cliff dive in spam volume. Has anyone documented it?
Hurricane Electric's response seems genuine and was certainly decisive! Is it common for industry players like them to be unaware of what harm they may be involved in?
Congrats again.
Posted by: featheredge9 | November 11, 2008 9:00 PM | Report abuse
Excellent investigative journalism. Thanks.
You just saved millions of people from wasting untold hours dealing with the detritus of the internet. I can't thank you enough.
Posted by: FishOutofWater | November 11, 2008 9:01 PM | Report abuse
Great stuff, thank you for your efforts.
Posted by: JkR- | November 11, 2008 9:11 PM | Report abuse
>Does anyone anywhere maintain a spam volume chart to keep track and report to the public?
If so there must be at least a temporary cliff dive in spam volume. Has anyone documented it?
Based on SpamCop, I'd say the HurricaneElectric heroes cut off the sewage flow at about 16:30 EST Tuesday
Posted by: moike | November 11, 2008 9:41 PM | Report abuse
Brian - Well done, and well reported.
For the user who asked about reporting news versus creating news, you misunderstand Krebs's reporting. Like most good reporters who write big stories, he either got tips or analyzed data regarding spam and cyber-security. It probably was a combination of both. If he determined from his research, reporting and analysis that this data was coming from one place, he did not create a story by informing the spam host's business partners. Rather, he sought comment from them about this site, and they took action.
What Krebs reported is not a big a story as Watergate, but what do you think Woodward & Bernstein did? Wait for a press release? A regulatory filing? No, they took one news event, worked backwards from it, and determined that something big was going on -- just like a spammer. Then they wrote about it, just like Krebs did.
When Henry Blodget on Silicon Alley Insider wrote that The New York Times Co faces several possibilities for survival, he did not tap into a planned news event. He analyzed a balance sheet and made conclusions.
Much of the news that comes out is because beat reporters see connections and draw conclusions that are not opinion, but reasoned and accurate viewpoints based on evidence out there that resists coalescing into a larger news event because most of us don't get it. That's why we have journalists, and this is a great example of that.
And now for the full disclosure: I'm Robert MacMillan. I am a reporter at Reuters who covers the journalism business, and I worked at washingtonpost.com for many years with Brian. I sat right across from him so I know what he eats for lunch.
Posted by: easymac | November 11, 2008 9:45 PM | Report abuse
Great work!!!
I always wondered why it wasn't more common that upstream providers could not shut down these type of scumbags!
Posted by: elmgator2 | November 11, 2008 9:56 PM | Report abuse
Who-hoo - hope they can fully document (backup tapes) what was coming from there and keep them out of business for a long time.
Posted by: mike21 | November 11, 2008 10:01 PM | Report abuse
Dude -- If you were here I'd give you a big huge hug!
But what's up with Global Crossing? They that hard up for a dollar that they have to support those evil people or what?
Great work!
Posted by: saj_pratt | November 11, 2008 10:04 PM | Report abuse
>>>Based on SpamCop, I'd say the HurricaneElectric heroes cut off the sewage flow at about 16:30 EST Tuesday
Pretty close! It happened at 16:23:17.994627 EST
Posted by: alanstein | November 11, 2008 10:08 PM | Report abuse
Well, don't discount any actions that may or may not have been taken by Global Crossing. When we first wrote about the badness at Atrivo, Global Crossing was the first of their many upstream providers to pull the plug. They just never told anyone till after the entire network was dark.
Secondly, if you trace some of these McColo IPs that were once downstream of Global Crossing, you will see that they now die inside of GC, which indicates the company is doing some sort of filtering on those IPs (there is no indication yet that they have dropped McColo entirely from their routing tables as of yet, but this could change soon).
Posted by: Brian Krebs | November 11, 2008 10:10 PM | Report abuse
This makes me very happy.
Now if only the US Government would get as concerned about this....
Posted by: Pete_from_nyc | November 11, 2008 10:11 PM | Report abuse
Well done! I haven't been getting much spam lately anyway but this should reduce it even further. We are all ever so grateful.
Posted by: jetfan85 | November 11, 2008 10:25 PM | Report abuse
You are a genuine Americn Hero Sir!
Things like this and the FBI's "Operation Bot Roast" are what give us internet users the hope that we won't have our life savings, oour good name, or our kids stikeb from us by criminals.
And if you know anybody at the FBI, or if they're listening - which might not be a bad thing, given some of the fine folks that post here - I have a Thanksgiving Request - "More Roast Bot, Please!"
We're hungry for a solution the the problem of spam which we find very distateful.
A steady diet of arrests of Hackers and tender, jucy press releasees about their arrest will keep us all well fed.
Arrests, seasoned with a heaping helping of media coverage, of people who steal over the internet or turn people's machine's into bots would be especially delicious.
We're always really hungry for it.
These are really bad guys.
If you're 100% sure of who you've got, and it has to be 100% in this case, we won't mind if you give them the treatment that more conventional "blue collar" criminals receive, especially when they are taken and held for questioning.
These guys are criminals and should be treated that way, but for God sakes, guys, please, please make sure you've got the right guy.
Anyway, Brian, we, your readers, would love to see you do a book like "The Cuckoo's Egg", and I bet you'd enjoy going on John Stewart and Steven Colbert.
Anyway, Thanks again, and please keep taking down the bad guys.
Maybe you can get some bright computer scientists to work with you to automate what you did (or write the code yourself) so you can take down bad guys in bulk, taking down the next smaller bad guys and the next ones after them and so on.
If you could cut spam down to 10% of what it is today, Obama should buy you lunch and a medal to go with it.
Thanks Again!!!
Posted by: svreader | November 11, 2008 10:29 PM | Report abuse
Good gracious, Robert. Nice to hear from you and thank you so much for the kind words.
Robert is being self-deprecating as usual. He was my editor for several years, and of course knows quite a bit about this business.
I believe he's spot-on about one thing in particular: I'm not breaking news so much as aggregating what people a lot smarter than me have already said but in disparate and far flung forums. The real credit for this should go to the unsung researchers and security experts who are forced to wade neck deep in this crud every day.
Posted by: Brian Krebs | November 11, 2008 10:36 PM | Report abuse
You are way too modest.
You've done something truly amazing.
If someone would have told me that taking down a single company could cut down on spam by 75% I would never have believed it.
I'm serious about the stuff in my post.
Anything you can do so that we can have anti-bot bots or any other automated system would be great, and I bet you've got more than enough material from this story or this plus some others to make a really interesting book!
Posted by: svreader | November 11, 2008 10:44 PM | Report abuse
I don't know how it will appear in the print version of the Post, but I think this should be the #1 lead story, with a humongous-type headline.
This is in the finest tradition of investigative journalism serving the public interest.
Outstanding work, Brian.
Posted by: IceNine | November 11, 2008 11:13 PM | Report abuse
This is, of course, great news. But I am afraid the fact that they shut down does not prevent them from popping up someplace else with a fresh new name, fresh new IP addresses and the same old client list. The key will be in following them around and keep shutting them down. Then they will probably go outside the USA. This is simple a small respite. If their is a profit to be made they will figure out how to keep popping up. But until that day I will enjoy this victory and hope it lasts at least a few weeks. The harder (and hence more expensive) the large ISP's make it for them to come back online the sooner we will be rid of them.
Posted by: rcc_2000 | November 11, 2008 11:15 PM | Report abuse
Brian, we're really proud of you, kid.
I agree completely with the guy who says this should be front-page news in the dead tree edition and with an "easy eye type" headline!
I wasn't kidding about the importance of press coverage of the operations that take these guys down.
Its the Reporters, Security Experts, FBI, etc, that are the "stars" not the criminals.
Too often, all you guys work incredibly hard and only have yourself and close associates to sppreciate it.
I hope the you guys, the people at the national network security center, the FBI, etc, all know how much ordinary citizens appreciate the work you guys do to stop internet criminals.
That's incredibly important.
Let's hope Obama increases funding for securing the internet.
Unlike Bush, he knows that its singular, not plural!
Posted by: svreader | November 11, 2008 11:37 PM | Report abuse
I just checked the graph on my spam blocker. Exactly one piece of spam was sent to my email address Tuesday. Great work, Brian.
Posted by: rashomon | November 12, 2008 12:05 AM | Report abuse
some more info on Mccolo and these botnets connections..
Posted by: visioneast | November 12, 2008 1:19 AM | Report abuse
Great job, BK! Now, let's get that remaining 25%!
Posted by: Russ_Walker | November 12, 2008 1:24 AM | Report abuse
So far, a job well done.
Congratulations !!!
Posted by: firstname.lastname@example.com | November 12, 2008 1:24 AM | Report abuse
This is investigative journalism at its best. Congratulations Brian!
Posted by: Dawny_Chambers | November 12, 2008 6:57 AM | Report abuse
First: thank you for this story. Fantastic news.
Second: since you have managed to make contact with Global Crossing, you may want to remind them that people like me have also been reporting a diploma mill phone number which they are also the provider for (718-989-5740). It's been prolifically spammed since May of this year and they have never, ever responded to a single complaint about this number. Fake diplomas are a definite scam. (Would you like to be operated on by a "surgeon" who had one of these?)
Great news all around though. Thank you.
SiL / IKS / concerned citizen
Posted by: killspammerz | November 12, 2008 9:23 AM | Report abuse
What awesome news! You guys are outstanding, power to the press baby!
Posted by: johnalexgolden | November 12, 2008 10:46 AM | Report abuse
I run a very small domain of users and for the past month have been following the *small* (40 - 60k per day) selection of junk inflow to it. I can not only say that I have not noticed any reduction over the past several days but it has grown slightly over the past 3 days. Still, that is no reason not to cheer the removal of such scum, even if only temporarily, from the net.
If they do manage to flee to some 3rd world hole I would think that pressuring hi level provider to stop peering would be a route to go to keep them shut down.
Posted by: No11 | November 12, 2008 10:48 AM | Report abuse
Where is the government? Why didn't they take action long before this?
Where is the security industry? Why didn't they take action long before this?
Those strike me as questions deserving in depth stories in of themselves.
Three cheers,
Posted by: bdawes | November 12, 2008 11:03 AM | Report abuse
Wow, that is freaking awesome! Go you!
Posted by: theamazingjex | November 12, 2008 11:21 AM | Report abuse
It's sad that it takes a major newspaper like the Washington Post raising alarms before the major upstream providers like GBLX and HE will kick folks like McColo off the internet, but good going Brian. It's good to see tech journalists taking their responsibility to investigate and inform seriously and actually accomplishing something for the public good.
To echo the sentiments of others, where is the government? We hear a lot about our armed forces and intelligence agencies scrambling to mount a "cyber defense", but they're not paying attention to places like McColo which are pulling the strings of massive botnets that could potentially be used to mount the same kind of attacks they claim to be concerned about.
Perhaps fodder for a follow-up piece later? :)
Posted by: mgrazi3 | November 12, 2008 11:35 AM | Report abuse
While this is a good short term improvement the result of this are completely useless...
Let me explain why.
These perpetrators will simply move to other networks and become more disperse and harder to track.
NO individuals or named organizations where identified in this report
NO intelligence was revealed to identify and LAMBAST them in the court of public opinion
I saw NO law enforcement arrests. For the type of activity you a describing it would be a big RICO case. I think its a travesty that law enforcement has not used RICO laws to prosecute organized cyber operations of the scale and scope that is occurring today.
The penelties that are currently being meted out by our courts are a freaking JOKE
Big guys with major crimes get like 4 years or less. Even with the most egregious of ID theft, intellectual property theft and spying.
I see NO evidence of organizational infiltration to get intel on the bad actors, conduct sting operations, the luring and aprehension of suspect bad actors, the Arrest and Leaning on suspects to roll on their superiors of the network similar to how they do it in organized crime and drug networks.
Until you start treating cybercrime like real crime alot of this stuff is neat from improving the Cyber world by temporarily dispering the activity and allowing researchers to observe and monitor elsewere and report on new trends.
NO evidence of using cyber methods aside from research to exploit, and attack malicious cybernetworks, identify their drop sites, and attack their systems.
If you want advice on how to really make an impact contact me firstname.lastname@example.com
Posted by: mzeberlein | November 12, 2008 11:45 AM | Report abuse
Good work!
According to http://www.lerfjhax.com/as/26780, there are two other peers that need to be cut off - Cogent and Telianet.
Posted by: Peter_Quirk | November 12, 2008 11:51 AM | Report abuse
No investigation was done into the finances of MColo or their paying clients
How about naming their clients
How about identifying their corporate leadership,
How about the location of their facilities, the names of their operators and adminstrators, the financial assets and addresses of their companies leaders
How about an audit of their cashflows and a listing of their clientele.
You get my point. Even bad guys dont like being exposed to the light of scrutiny.
Posted by: mzeberlein | November 12, 2008 11:52 AM | Report abuse
This action really points to the need to establish an international "Internet Use Commission" armed with enforcement powers and agreed-up rules of RAPID action to regulate the Internet in order to provide fair, free, and unabusive service to the entire world. Preserve neutrality? Yes, by all means, but serious regulation is as badly needed here just as much as it is now obviously needed in the stock markets and financial markets as well.
Posted by: toketeeman | November 12, 2008 12:05 PM | Report abuse
My spam has been cut in half. Thanks.
Here is a graph
Posted by: anthrovolution | November 12, 2008 12:23 PM | Report abuse
This is great news!
The unfortunate truth is that as indicated by others in previous post, these
criminals will likely move on to other hosting providers who may be less
inclined to take proper action.
This is where I hope you will help by passing along some very important
information to your readers and asking them to become INVOLVED.
As you may know ICANN (the people who REGULATE Domain Names & Numbers) is currently reviewing policy regarding Registrars (the people who SELL Domain Names). The current policy requires anyone buying a domain name to provide "complete and current contact information" and that is good, but it
leaves enforcement of this policy to the REGISTRARS... duh????
A number of REGISTRARS are operating with INVALID or FALSIFIED contact information, some only show a Postal Drop Box, while others work off of an e-mail address and provide no valid way for law enforcement or anyone else to reach them.
A number of these REGISTRARS have CONNECTIONS to PROVEN CRIMINALS, some with OWNERS/CEO's that have been convicted of various cyber crimes (child
porn, drug sales, identity theft etc.)
The existing policy is as effective as leaving the fox to guard the hen
You and your readers can help change this by sending a "polite letter or
e-mail" to ICANN, "insisting" that the REGISTRAR ACCREDITATION AGREEMENT be Updated, or Amended to include language similar to the following:
"All Accredited Registrars must submit main office location, including
country, to be publicly disclosed in ICANN web directory. Post Office
boxes, Incorporation addresses, and mail-forwarding locations will not be
acceptable. Registrars must also provide for public display the name of CEO
or President. ICANN must be notified within 30 days of a location or
presiding officer change."
You can find postal and e-mail addresses for ICANN on their website
Once again Brian...
THANK YOU for helping to expose this criminal activity. I have been reporting this type abusive activity to Hurricane and other host for a very long time and am convinced they (Hurricane) took much swifter and decisive action because you presented the evidence and they knew it was going to go public.
Posted by: wokndadog | November 12, 2008 12:25 PM | Report abuse
I know I'm not be popular with this position but, if anyone can shut off Internet communications unilaterally without the benefit of a judiciary process, then freedom of speech is at risk. Like it or not, spam is a part of speech. You may find the content reprehensible and disturbing but, it is still speech and people have a right to speak. The other half of free speech is the freedom to listen or to choose to not listen.
How would I deal with something like spam? I would look for a distributed, nondiscriminatory solution that increases the opportunity cost for spammers so through a natural economic mechanism, their activity becomes unprofitable. Take a look at hashcash.org for one of the components. Used properly with a reputation engine, there is little or no affect on legitimate users but a very large effect on spammers and commercial advertisers. If you want to talk about it, you can find me on the hashcash mailing list.
Posted by: esj1 | November 12, 2008 1:04 PM | Report abuse
thanks - what makes ME want to vomit is how many people apparently justify dishonesty,distortion, deception and really, whatever they damn well please under the guise of "business" or making money. GROSS. WHAT is WRONG with these sick, messed up "people"???? Are you so disgustingly self centered, selfish and greedy, are you SO desperately in need of material things and $ that you feel it's okay to do whatever you WANT and SCREW whomever you please? its SICK. Be GLAD you don't encounter ME, because MY wrath and fury would be significant. Cease and desist! be honest! HELP other people, don't HURT them! it's just so blatantly obvious. Hard to believe people like this walk around able to even live among us and meet our gazes and hold their heads up. SICK, sick sick. YECCCH.
Posted by: hkindt | November 12, 2008 1:34 PM | Report abuse
But Brian, do you ever worry about your safety with this stuff? I am sure you have p/o'ed a lot of ugly characters...is this a concern for you?
Keep up the essential and important work!
Posted by: arizzo2 | November 12, 2008 2:13 PM | Report abuse
While I congratulate Brian for executing his ability as the "third" force, making law enforcement and ICANN look as the "toothless nannies" they seem to be, the problem will NOT be solved until much needed laws are being set up. We will see russian cybercrime take its beatings but their money laundering has already gone further than any LE would allow himself to dream in his worst nightmares: they are opening banks, issuing creditcards and are undermining the industry in such a big scale, that there is no more way out!
As long as LE is looking the other way, as long as the organized crime structure is not fully investigated, as long as terrorism and child porn are the only issues where LE jumps in, as long as e-commerce is being let loose as it is, we will not see a change! McColo will be back under another name, ICANN will take money from russian cybercrime mafia members for top level domains and drink their champaigne on the parties they are invited to...business as usual....
Still a small victory and keep up the good work!!
Posted by: roflem | November 12, 2008 3:54 PM | Report abuse
And to illustrate what I presume this did. I am the email administrator for a University. The below link is what our spam charts looked like today when I showed up for work.
Impressive to say the least.
Posted by: dustinak | November 12, 2008 5:26 PM | Report abuse
While it's good news that they did get shut down, one really has to wonder how they could've operated within the US for YEARS with that sort of activity going on inside.
Things are not quite adding up.
Global Crossing and Hurricane Electric couldn't have possibly been unaware of this. I have a hard time believing the FBI was unaware of them either.
Posted by: gorbachev | November 12, 2008 5:57 PM | Report abuse
esj1 - Your defense of the First Amendment is admirable, but I believe it is slightly misinformed.
In my understanding (and I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong), what McColo did was not simply "spam" in the sense of sending out unsolicited e-mails. Its activities included hosting and perpetuating illegal and dangerous activities, including viruses, worms, etc., fake pharmaceuticals, fraudulent products and possibly child pornography. Companies like Global Crossing and Hurricane Electric are well within their rights (and some would say are morally obligated) to "unilaterally" turn off access if their services are being used for illegal activities.
Were McColo simply "speaking" it would be one thing. But using bots and e-mail to hijack computers, steal information, sell fake and dangerous products and so on is not covered under free speech.
Posted by: mlflint | November 12, 2008 7:25 PM | Report abuse
Seriously, thank you, thank you, thank you!
When I looked at my junk e-mail folder this morning, I had received a mere 79 e-mails while I was sleeping. I normally see over 250.
I initially panicked thinking one of my e-mail servers went offline!
The trend has continued throughout the day. I've only seen a little over 100 SPAM messages today.
You deserve a medal, an award, maybe even a cash prize!
Posted by: Knowzy | November 12, 2008 7:38 PM | Report abuse
What's with people claiming that spam is some sort of free speech right? Sending spam is no different than breaking into the Washington Post's computers and putting in an ad, even without the spammer committing any explicitly illegal acts.
(Which isn't to say there's much spam out there where the spammer is that straightforward. They almost invariably forge headers, spam through zombies, sell prescription drugs without a prescription, etc.)
Posted by: MrMorden | November 12, 2008 8:31 PM | Report abuse
Wouldn't Global Crossing be leaving itself open to a class-action multi-billion dollar suit if it fails to shut off McColo after it has been given evidence that it is a problem child? It seems like every major (and minor) company in the nation would be on board that one. Very dangerous game they are playing.
Posted by: miraweb | November 12, 2008 8:38 PM | Report abuse
If you aren't a technology guru (and working in IT doesn't make you one, or managing technology for that matter) then you have no competence nor business advising people on how to solve this problem. The 'I have the answer' people are almost exclusively incompetent in these matters. Half of them are benefiting from the spam-or benefiting from 'fighting it'. You can't fight spam. It doesn't work like that. The best you'll ever be able to do is avoid spam in the first place. This reduction in spam isn't real-even if some people happen to see some temporary reduction. To avoid spam you have to be competent and NOT give out your email address in the first place. Using throw away addresses like mytrashmail, or forwarding addresses unique to each person you give your address to works better in that you can disregard mail from addresses where you start receiving spam without effecting the ability to receieve mail. You also need to realize how spamers get your email in the first place. They it when you post your email address online in a text format. For instance these posts should not contain anybodies email. If you are posting your email here and think you have the solution to spam you are an idiot. Pure and simple. Any by the way having a Hotmail account just furthers the sterotype Microsoft users are technically incompetent. It might be true... but lets stop propigating it as I'm sure there must be at least a handful of people who don't fall under that sterotype. Posting an address that spammers can't easily harvest is esential to posting an address on a forum and not getting on spamers lists as a result. Here is a better way to do it "If you have information for me, please email it to john.doe at hotmail dot comy minus the y. "
Posted by: tmail25 | November 12, 2008 9:50 PM | Report abuse
easymac said:
For the user who asked about reporting [...] I worked at washingtonpost.com for many years with Brian. I sat right across from him so I know what he eats for lunch.
So, as long as we're on the subject, what does he eat for lunch?
And don't say spammers...too obvious.
Posted by: ibsteve2u | November 12, 2008 10:58 PM | Report abuse
Even I see a decline in spam today. Isnt it weird, that Brian has to call the connecting hosters to make them shut down mccolo?
Wouldnt it be time to investigate the kickback payments to the upstreamers who can charge for the bandwidth? Since we all know that spam is NOT generating income by idiots clicking on it, why doesnt anybody investigate the generated bandwidth issue?
Somebody is making money because of the spam bandwidth....lets find out who it is.
Lets hope the new spam-hosting setup will be identified soon and this can be repeated quicker.
Posted by: roflem | November 13, 2008 10:01 AM | Report abuse
Pictures speak volumes so...
Many thanks.
Posted by: lynch143143 | November 13, 2008 2:27 PM | Report abuse
Posted by: whois7 | November 13, 2008 5:36 PM | Report abuse
Number of spams. Daily Graph. Wed 12/Nov/2008
Posted by: whois7 | November 13, 2008 5:42 PM | Report abuse
Awesome work, Brian! According to this article, spam has been reduced by 75%!
Posted by: swalsh1 | November 14, 2008 11:51 AM | Report abuse
I am so happy, I don't like anyone that wants my money.
I would very much to still be able to see porn on my internet.
why is there any problem with seeing think that i want?
child porn was how my life began, I like to see others, what could be wrong with that?
the taking of of ones cloths and touching is what life is all about, the people that take money from other people are the crime
Posted by: leroy_slater | November 16, 2008 3:23 AM | Report abuse
I can only hope that 'perfspot' was one of these. they can into my inbox but always say that i was out of thier area because i choose to live in the philippines. they only wanted money from people that where in side the boarders of the usa, because then they could do bad to my bank account
Posted by: leroy_slater | November 16, 2008 3:26 AM | Report abuse
The comments to this entry are closed.


text:
It's one thing to sling Viagra, like Rafael Palmeiro and Mark Martin used to do. It's quite another to hawk Extenze, the "natural male enhancement pill" that has no evident medical benefits. But that doesn't stop the shameless Jimmy Johnson. These commercials have aired since 2010, but no one had broken the thing down frame-by-frame until NPR's Mike Pesca did on this week's episode of Slate's Hang Up and Listen (live!) podcast. The commercial deserved such a frisking. Everything about it is so revolting yet delightfully hokey. Watch above.
You can listen to the full podcast here or subscribe on iTunes.


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Parents, school officials in New Hartford concerned after driver's 'adult friend' allowed on bus with kids
NEW HARTFORD >> A female New Hartford school bus driver was permitted by management to bring a male "adult friend" onto a school bus full of students during a route, according to bus company and school district officials.
All children were transported safely to their stops on Feb. 21, the day the incident occurred. But now, the Dattco bus company, which provides transportation services to the district, is facing harsh criticism from parents and New Hartford Superintendent of Schools Philip O'Reilly.
He said Thursday he "asked (Dattco) to address how they plan to meet their contractual obligations, and how they ensure all New Hartford kids are safe at all times, and how can we better serve the contract."
O'Reilly said the company transports up to 600 children over 13 separate routes daily. The district's contract, which runs through 2016, is worth $464,000 annually for morning and afternoon transportation, plus another $100,000 for special education transportation, according to O'Reilly. This doesn't include fuel costs, which the district pays for separately.
The incident set off a firestorm of online criticism when an anonymous letter was mailed to parents Tuesday and accompanying Facebook page was created Wednesday, and addressed to the community at large, detailing the incident and several unconfirmed allegations. It was not clear how the letter writer obtained the addresses of New Hartford parents who received the letter.
In an email to parents sent on Feb. 24, O'Reilly said an investigation is ongoing and said "I anticipate that disciplinary action will result from this incident."
O'Reilly said in the same message he is "appalled" by the incident and called it "a clear breach of Dattco policy and common sense safety protocol."
The company's chief operating officer is scheduled to attend a March 5 New Hartford Board of Education meeting to address the concerns. The meeting was previously scheduled to pass the board's annual budget.
Dattco COO Cliff Gibson confirmed the 25-year New Hartford school bus driver allowed another adult onto the bus, but wouldn't address the anonymous letter.
"We're aware that one of our drivers was allowed to bring a non-employee on the vehicle, and of course we regret that this occurred," Gibson said. "And of course we've taken steps to ensure that this doesn't happen in the future.
"We're happy that the children were delivered to their homes safely that afternoon and we're continuing to work with the school officials to ensure safe and reliable transportation to their district," he added.
According to the state Director of Pupil Transportation for the Department of Motor Vehicles, Lt. Garfield Green, only drivers and district-approved student monitors and aids are permitted on school buses with children during routes.
Green said he'd, "never heard of any such thing," as the incident described by Dattco and school officials, but that it "would be an issue between the school bus company certainly and the local board of education."
In addition to a commercial driver's license and state certifications, at the time they're hired Connecticut school bus drivers must undergo fingerprinting, an FBI background check and a criminal background check. After they're hired, drivers annually self-certify that they haven't been convicted of a crime, according to Green.
Gibson said Dattco requires annual background checks of employees.
"Dattco does its own internal checks and criminal checks on its drivers, we use a third party agency to do that," Gibson said, but added he didn't know the names of the companies which Dattco uses to perform background checks. "I don't have that information, there's several that we use. There's several that run criminal background checks for us."
This isn't the first time the New Britain based transportation company has been criticized for its safety performance. In 2010, Dattco Inc. was fined $13,440 by the federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the fifth largest fine in the state of Connecticut. Two carriers tied for first place with a $25,000 fine. On its own website, Dattco has more than one response to safety concerns about the company or industry.
In a statement on "safety compliance" in 2009, the company detailed how it had mistakenly allowed a "casual" driver whose license had been suspended due to an eyesight review to operate a bus twice despite the license suspension. The driver was eventually dismissed.
Tuesday's Board of Education meeting is scheduled to be held at Town Hall, but may be moved to Ann Antolini School to accommodate the larger than normal crowd that is anticipated, according to an email sent to parents by the town's superintendent on Wednesday.
"At this meeting Board members will be asking specific questions, and if time permits, the public will be allowed to address Mr. Gibson. This will occur in public session," O'Reilly said in the message, adding that more information on an exact location would be sent out as soon as possible.
The meeting is set to start at 7 p.m.


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