stupidity

I had decided against commenting on the terror act killing one member of the Norwegian delegation to Afghanistan. But then this old Pixies tune kicked in: Where is my mind? Click Play before continue the reading!

Regarding the delegation - they published their itinerary on the Internet, thus enabling everyone the opportunity to plan where and when to meet them (or in this case - attack them). The website even had detailed information on how they where to travel, and by what means. It even said "The press will travel in a minibus (not bulletproof)".

I just have to ask the Norwegian Foreign department to sing Pixies now - Where is my mind?

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You may also remember I discussed about the Terra Securities shanghaiing a few municipalities late last year? As I stated back then - when a sales guy comes to you with a deal that sounds too good - it probably is. After all, the sales guy cares more for his bonus than he cares for your delivery.

So the next time you find yourself considering a "too-good-to-be-true" offer - do yourself a favour and join in on the singing!

Where is my mind?

Where is my mind?

Where is my mind?

Full lyrics.

Thanks Pixies!

Last week, we have had the doubtful pleasure to see and hear our Princess Martha Louise manifest herself as a Royal clown in the media. Not in one, but in two different cases, following nicely a summer where she claims to see and communicate with angels (yes, the Heavenly kind). 

First, she sues a publisher for using a picture of her on the cover of a book about angels, making history as being the first Royal in Norway running a civil case. 

Secondly, just a few days after the court, she is interviewed by a major Swedish Newspaper. She is asked about women rights, and says "We have equal rights and same payment for the same work in Norway". And she made a point of not being a feminist. 

Oh Princess, could you be more wrong? Equal payment is still one of the dreams of women rights. Even here in Norway.

Why do I care about the stupidity of the Princess?  I do so because this is a perfect showcase of how easy it is to make unforgivable blunders if you do not take precautions.

And as such, it has become a case for information security. Non of the actions the Princess did was accidental. The court was planned and executed. And they even managed to get a deal. The image had to go, the title "Marthas Angels" stands, and the Princess gets some cash. And I think she paid a high price.

In the second case, she had with her a personal political adviser.  She even took the opportunity to ask for her opinions before answering the journalist according to the story. So even her adviser was a bad apple, or the Princess should consider listening to the advices. 

Even though the Princess did pay a high price for the stupid answer too, the PR went to the roof. The book will sell to Gold, and the feminists got some long needed attention again.

My advice to the Princess is to continue to mess about. After all, you are not able to hide your ignorance and your stupidity. And you mean so well. We all forgive you.

For the rest of you - try avoiding such publicity. You will pay a high price, so will your company. No matter how you turn it, you will look like the looser. You are not Royal, so you cannot blame it on a royal mess and angles talking.  

Sloggi, the company of great underwear - want to undress your passport number according to a Norwegian article. 

Sloggi runs a world-wide campaign  to boost their sales. As any sane multinational would do. They do it with a twist. And they use Internet.

They want you to photograph your butt and upload it to their website. If your butt is found attracting enough, people may vote you to become a new model. What a bummer.

I guess they got the idea from the sites like Penest.no, where young girls sell pictures of their booty for points. 

In the article, Sloggi spokeswoman Sofie Lindahl-Jensen, says they have very good controls of making sure users are over 18.

"They [users] have to register with an e-mail address and a cellphone".

I am positive that I do not have to inform my readers how easy it is to fake that? Even the journalist of the article knows how to do it.

Well, it's not over yet. After being confronted with sharp reactions from Datatilsynet (Norwegian Data Protectorate), and the fake profile with a strangers behind, the same Sofie Lindahl-Jensen assures the readers that new measures to control the age are being implemented. 

How?

"We will use passport numbers to compare with the national passport databases to check their age.." 

No, you will not. Sorry. As the police says: 

"Unless they are paying off some rouge policeofficers, they will not get that access. That data is illegal to obtain."

Sloggi, we may question your methods. We may question your security. We may even question your motives. And we may believe you are stupid and incompetent.

YOU (Sloggi) should NEVER remove that doubt by admitting you have no clue what so ever about security. If you are in doubt - say nothing. When the journalist has gone, call someone for help. 

NEVER, EVER let us realize you are clueless. 

Bummer. Or was it Butthead?