Iran: Gotcha Government Systems With The Stars Virus

From Denny: The Iranian version of Chicken Little is running around screaming that their government systems were targeted again by the West. Read that as "It's America's and Israel's fault. We have been wronged by the Big Bad Bullies of the West."



Iran claims it is the Stars Virus, sent by vicious Western cyberattackers, has infected their computer systems. As usual for this clownish regime, they have not verified any of this to be true - other than the infection.



From Gholam Reza Jalali, who heads the Iranian military unit in charge of combating sabotage: "The Stars virus has been presented to the laboratory but is still being investigated. No definite and final conclusions have been reached."

Funny 1917 CIA Spy Technology Docs Released: Invisible Writing

CIA Director Leon Panetta



From Denny:  Anyone who regularly reads this blog knows I grew up in the CIA. Yes, it was one weird childhood living with such paranoid uptight and often humorless people. Whenever the CIA releases ancient documents molding down in their deep dark spy basement it always gives me a grin.



When I was a kid we spent a lot of time figuring out codes since Dad had been a code breaker in WWII - among other things. One of our other childhood past times was to figure out intriguing ways to pass messages and, yes, write in invisible ink. Even Dad joined in the fun. My mother just shook her head and thought we were all a bunch of looney tunes. Knowing Dad he was probably using his baby geniuses to do his research on the cheap. Who said you can't take your work home with you?



Anyway, it is with great pleasure I present to you Rachel Maddow's cheeky report about Dear Ol' Dad's creepy CIA. This week, The New CIA under Director Leon Panetta - and a lot less creepy, odious and just plain obnoxious - released some 1917 technology for public viewing, er, laughter.

Dennys Art Sanctuary: 38 Creative March Desktop Wallpapers

Dennys Art Sanctuary: 38 Creative March Desktop Wallpapers: "What do we think of when we reflect upon the month of March? We think of Winter ending, Spring coming in on the cool winds, soaking Spring rains, the trees leafing out and green weeds. There is the fun celebration of St. Patrick's Day. And there is the old adage, 'March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb.' These designers took these all as their inspirations."

28 Awesome Desktop Calendar Wallpapers

Check out the most interesting offerings from some great designers this year.

From Denny: Smashing Magazine has put out some real beauties for the "calendar challenged" where I culled out the most interesting and beautiful choices. Why print up a calendar  when you can display it on your monitor? Check out just a few of these beauties.



They come in several monitor resolution sizes - and without the calendar - if you just enjoy the photo.  You can even vote for your favorites on the site - which I did.  I figure if someone took the time to create, send, choose, upload and post them then I can vote for the ones I enjoyed the most. :)



The designers hail from countries all over the world:  America, Spain, The Netherlands, Myanmar, India, Nepal, Italy, Portugal, Russia, Poland, Romania, Moldova, England.  Be sure to check out their links as most have links and are some interesting design, illustration, flickr or photography sites.  Enjoy - and be sure to let me know your favorites! :)





*** All of these delightful designs can be found in five resolution sizes, with or without the calendar, at Smashing Magazine:  Desktop Wallpaper Calendar January 2011.





Celebrating 2011



Designed by Tim Fritz from USA.

Frost Bitten - "A collaboration between two sisters. One’s a photographer and the other is a designer." Designed by Denise Johnson and Sharleen Heist from USA.

Quiet Please - Designed by Diana Samoila from Romania.

*** All of these delightful designs can be found in five resolution sizes, with or without the calendar, at Smashing Magazine:  Desktop Wallpaper Calendar January 2011.