bank internet security ramblings

Bank of Ireland has introduced what seems like a very silly (in)security measure. Instead of typing in digits of a personal pin, the user must select each one from a drop down box. Personally, I think it is easier to look over one's shoulders and see what option is selected rather than see what someone typed in. Instead of covering the keyboard when I type it, I now have to cover the screen. Ok, I know the vast majority of customers will be accessing it from home or maybe work, but if you are on holidays in an internet cafe then maybe you want to be sure noone can see your details, so this is a bit worrying.

However, maybe they are concerned with a miscreant keyboard-logger logging the users details during login and then emailing them back to the evil hacker who created the logger in the first place, who would then run off and transfer all our money to his or her own account.

Birthday Greetings! and stores about ducks

Birthday Greetings to MGB! Wishing him well.

I remember a friend of mine told me a story about a duck attack they encountered. They were in a park in a city centre, walking around a pond. Suddenly, they heard this loud quacking and fluttering. They saw a couple of large ducks flying towards and then attacking a slightly smaller duck in the pond. They were biting and ravaging the smaller duck. My friends were puzzled by this behaviour, and subsequently heard ducks are known to rape female ducks. According to the Economist, Drakes are apparently notorious rapists (this document raises some other possible observations about research funding, but thats a different story). A blogger witnessed something similar and has a video showing it (I couldn't see video, due to restrictions on our proxy).

The above story has of course nothing to do with what I started thinking about, which is what would you do if you encountered a duck that had an injured leg beside a pond or a river? Would you ring someone? Would you get a Vet? Would you kill it "sympathetically"? or would you try and find out more about the duck and decide if it deserved to live or not and play God with it? What would you do if you found out the duck was a leader of a country and wanted lots of money, but got his leg broke because his mates were to fashion conscious?

Birthday greetings.

Birthday greetings to Braz

Had lots to write about but not enough time.

I need recommendations!

I am considering moving into Limerick and would like any suggestions as to where would be a good place to live.

Weekend goodness

A wedding on Friday and postwedding bevies on Saturday ensured a tired puppy on Sunday. Too tired even to see Loughmore-Castleiney win the munster club championship, which was a pity. I did attend a craft fair in Nenagh, which was a bit disappointing. There were one or two interesting pieces but there was nothing really outstanding or novel, and the prices were a bit steep for some of the things that were on offer. €20 for a bottle of fruit infused alcohol that could be purchased in the shops for €18.

Like Michael I have purchased a tree for christmas. It is alledgedly a live tree, with roots and a pot of soil, purchased from Superquinn. Hopefully, I will be able to plant it somewhere in the new year. Politicians like planting trees and stuff, don't they? I often see one with a shovel in hand, showing it to the soil before hurriedly handing it off to someone else in a relieved fashion. Hmm, I wonder who I could persuade to come down and plant it for me.