................



Andrew Wyeth, one of the USA's most acclaimed artists, died this morning at the age of 91, according to The News Journal. “Andy Wyeth died in his sleep peacefully at 4:25 today,” Phyllis Wyeth, his daughter-in-law, tells the paper.

In 2007, President Bush presented a National Medal of the Arts to Wyeth in recognition of "a lifetime of paintings whose meticulous realism have captured the American consciousness, and whose austere vision has displayed the depth and dignity of American life."

Here's Wyeth's website... https://www.andrewwyeth.com/

.................

Three million hit by Windows worm

The worm can also spread via USB flash drives.

A worm that spreads through low security networks, memory sticks, and PCs without the latest security updates is posing a growing threat to users.

The malicious program, known as Conficker, Downadup, or Kido was first discovered in October 2008.

Although Microsoft released a patch, it has gone on to infect 3.5m machines.

Experts warn this figure could be far higher and say users should have up-to-date anti-virus software and install Microsoft's MS08-067 patch.

According to Microsoft, the worm works by searching for a Windows executable file called "services.exe" and then becomes part of that code.

It then copies itself into the Windows system folder as a random file of a type known as a "dll". It gives itself a 5-8 character name, such as piftoc.dll, and then modifies the Registry, which lists key Windows settings, to run the infected dll file as a service.

Once the worm is up and running, it creates an HTTP server, resets a machine's System Restore point (making it far harder to recover the infected system) and then downloads files from the hacker's web site.

............

The pilot who safely crashed the Airbus plane (US Airways) into the Hudson River yesterday without losing one of his passengers should be awarded a lifetime pension, free flights anywhere, and some of that TARP cash. The man is a bonafide hero. Every one of those passengers should kiss his hands and thank him personally.

............

If it gets any colder (right now it is about -2F) I am going to save electricity by unplugging my freezer and hanging the meat on the porch.

-It is sooo cold that hitchhikers are holding up pictures of their thumbs!

-Chickens are rushing KFC and begging to use the pressure cookers!

-I dialed 9-1-1 and the message said to call back in April!

-Pickpockets are sticking their hands in people pockets just to keep warm!

-Starbucks is serving coffee on a stick!

-and... I heard that it is so cold Brittney Spears had to wear underwear before she went out.