We arrived home safely and only a little late after full United flights yesterday from Baltimore to Denver, and Denver to Honolulu. The cats all checked in relatively quickly, which is always a relief.
A reader pointed me to this recent computer security analysis of something called iFrame attacks which reported 992 pages on the eHawaii web portal had been infected by an internet attack that can hijack computer addresses and send inquiries to a hidden site controlled by hackers. The explanation is a bit technical and doesn’t really get down to the “how does this potentially hurt me?” type of explantion. There is further discussion of the problem in March 12 and March 28 entries in an internet security blog. The eHawaii portal is specifically cited in the March 12 entry.
Of course, Hawaii just approved another 5-year contract with the vendor to maintain the eHawaii portal. I wonder if this contract spells out the company’s responsibilities regarding security and blocking this type of security assault, or whether the state even considered the problem and whether the company has invested adequately in security measures?
Reading the UH tea leaves…The Board of Regents meets today and tomorrow in Kapolei. This item is among the personnel items:
TSENG, ROSE
Chancellor and Professor
Office of the Chancellor, UHH
Special Salary Adjustment
July 1, 2007
Professional Improvement Leave
January 1, 2010 – December 30, 2010
Waiver of Return Service Obligation
Does this “waiver” mean that Tseng will essentially be stepping down at the end of next year and getting a year’s salary (in the form of a leave) as a “bonus” as she departs?
Also noted–the conspicuous absence from the BOR agenda of Gary Ostrander’s appointment as vice chancellor for academic affairs. Ostrander was recommended for the position last month and the appointment was expected to be acted on the BOR in May. However, there has been unhappiness in some quarters on the Manoa campus about the process which led to Ostrander’s recommendation, and it has apparently been deferred, at least temporarily.
A reader recommends Writer’s Block, a blog by Maui News reporter Ilima Loomis. A quick check this a.m. shows a number of interesting posts worth checking out.
Another reader wonders whether Brian Schatz’s election as Democratic State Party chair will mean an end to his regular columns in Honolulu Weekly? Should it? Opinions welcome.
And this from an email from UH Professor Steve O’Harrow sent to a whole bunch of people earlier this week:
There was expressed in the corridors at the Hawaii State Democratic convention this past weekend considerable sentiment for an Obama-Clinton ticket. We hope soon to be able to pass on to our readers an article on this subject from one of the more ardent proponents of this view for cool consideration. However, a “unity ticket” at this time is far from a foregone conclusion and there are quite a number of pundits who say that having two senators atop the ticket is not the best idea, especially if one wishes to get the broadest possible support. Others say, given the fact that more than half of all US voters are women, a unity ticket makes sense. The idea has been floated that Obama would want Hillary on the ticket to help with the blue-collar and the distaff vote, but would not want Bill hovering over his shoulder for the next four to eight years and would most likely appoint Hillary to the Supreme Court as soon as the next opening came along. This is not without precedent – the best Republican President of all time, Honest Abe, did the same thing and largely for the same reasons. Salmon P. Chase was a very talented man, but one whose personal ambitions were overweening, and Lincoln put him on the bench both to enhance the court and to rid the White House of his presence. And we know for sure that Barak has read Doris Kearns Goodwin on this very subject.
Brian Schatz should be able to continue his column; everyone reading should keep in mind that he’s now Democratic party chair. His columns even before his election last week did hide his leanings as a Dem and I don’t think Brian ever pretended otherwise.
As for Prof. O’Harrow’s note, didn’t hear much of that Dream Ticket stuff among the neighbor islanders (except to be polite to old friends on the HRC side). Tough to run on a theme of change and against a third (or fourth Bush, if you count 41′s one term and 43′s two terms) of old politics if you add to your ticket the Dem’s version of the old politics (whether or not she polls well today and lends some strength in rustbelt states). But Obama, as described in Mendell’s bio, can be a practical pol and if after the vetting, HRC makes a strong “partner” for the Fall, it may happen. I like Eddie Rendell or Strickland if an HRC person is added to the ticket, although the three Virginians should get a looksee (Warner, Webb and Kaine).
“did hide his leanings as a Dem” should be “did not hide his leanings as a Dem”