In what appears to be a final move before the end the owner of PACE Airlines, William Rodgers Sr., suspended all operations citing an instance of vandalism to the car of Stuart Carnie, a top executive. After weeks and weeks of delayed or missing paydays and a layoff of as many as 215 this past Tuesday further troubles started this week with investigations by U.S. Department of Labor, the N.C. Employment Security Commission and N.C. Department of Insurance. The U.S. Department of Labor is looking into possible wage violations and the Fair Labor Standards Act while the N.C. Department if Insurance is looking into the failure of PACE Airlines to make premium payments to insurers for employee insurance when deductions from paychecks had been made for those cost.

The memo sent out to employees citied specifically the incident to Mr. Stuart’s car which was located at the Residence Inn on North Point:

"With consideration of everyone’s personal safety being first and foremost at all times, and not knowing exactly what party has perpetuated this personal attack on Mr. Carnie, or who might be next be attacked, all non-essential personnel will be relieved of their duties and responsibilities, effective immediately upon notice by their supervisor,"

The use of this “personal attack” as cause for the shutdown has been called into question by many of PACE’s employees on various Internet forums and one has to question this considering the “vandalism” was a broken passenger window and theft of a GPS unit left in the car. Of course North Point being North Point there were no less than a half dozen Police reports for the same area from Drug Arrest, Shoplifting and Police Warrant service. The “LARCENY FROM AUTO” one just one of many reports Winston-Salem Police filed in an area some would say has a history of such issues. In fact a similar crime occurred in May at the same address with exactly the same results, a broken passenger window and stolen GPS as well as in April a few doors down. Seems there may be a slight pattern here but I’m no crime expert, ha ha.

According to further reports all aircraft owned by PACE Airlines have been recalled to Winston-Salem except for two one of which is awaiting an FAA check while the other will return at the first of the week. Maintenance contracts with Continental Airlines have been cancelled along with multiple deals for various charters or aircraft contracts. Lastly FalconAir has posted a job listing for Aircraft Mechanics in Winston-Salem on the same day PACE more or less closed their doors, interesting.

If you haven’t been out I-40 towards Advance of late you may not have seen the new soccer fields for the Twin City Youth Soccer Association. Named the BB&T Soccer Park the facility has some 13 soccer fields with lighting on 9 of them. There is a Field House with lockers, showers, concessions and how’s this, wireless Internet access.

A pretty impressive setup and it didn’t cost $47 million and it actually is completed.

QuickTime Falls Prey to Malicious Movies and Images

Severity: Medium

9 September, 2009

Summary:

§ These vulnerabilities affect: QuickTime for OS X or Windows

§ How an attacker exploits them: By enticing your user to click a malicious link or view a maliciously-crafted movie or image

§ Impact: An attacker could execute code on your user’s computer, potentially gaining control of it

§ What to do: Download and install QuickTime 7.6.4 for Windows or OS X (or use Apple’s Software Update tool)

Exposure:

Today, Apple released a security update to fix four vulnerabilities in QuickTime, their popular media player for both Windows and Macintosh OS X. The vulnerabilities differ technically, but all involve various buffer overflow or memory corruption vulnerabilities. They also share the same scope and impact. By luring one of your users into viewing a maliciously crafted movie or image file, an attacker can exploit one of the four QuickTime flaws to execute code on that user’s computer (or, less worrisome, crash QuickTime). Some of the files susceptible to this attack include MPEG-4, H.264, and FlashPix. These vulnerabilities can be exploited on Windows and OS X computers, with differing results. Attackers exploiting these flaws only gain the privilege of the logged in user. OS X separates normal users privileges from root or administrative privileges. So an attacker will not gain complete control of OS X machines with these flaws. However, most Windows users have local administrative privileges. So an attacker could potentially leverage these flaws to gain complete control of Windows machines.

Solution Path:

Apple has released QuickTime 7.6.4 to fix these security issues. Windows and OS X administrators should download, test, and deploy the appropriate update as soon as possible. By default, Apple’s download bundles iTunes with QuickTime, but because iTunes often has security issues of its own, we recommend that you select the option of downloading QuickTime alone.

For All Users:

Because QuickTime handles so many different media types (many of which are essential for doing business today), trying to block exploitable file types using your firewall may not be the best way to support your organization’s mission. Instead, your best solution is to download and install Apple’s fixes.

Status:

Apple has released updates to fix these issues.

References:

§ Apple’s September QuickTime advisory

This alert was researched and written by Corey Nachreiner, CISSP.

German Bloggers have published an “Internet Manifesto”, a 17 point statement of where Journalism on the Internet is, where it is going and why it should be allowed to go there.

Internet Manifesto How journalism works today. Seventeen declarations.

I know this isn’t technically local news or local business related however with all the talk about the Town Hall Meetings I thought everyone would be interested in seeing this one. Representative Baron Hill of Indiana tells a student and other audience members that filming is not allowed because “This Is My Town Hall Meeting”:

For those that use Gmail if your trying to access the web interface today your probably running into a bit of trouble. Appears Gmail’s web interface went down around 4:15PM EST although IMAP and Gmail services themselves are up and processing email. The event seems to be worldwide so here’s a big, fat, WOW!

September 25-27 and October 2-4

Day Out With Thomas™, featuring Bob the Builder™ in a live Can-Do Crew stage show, begins each day at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 6 p.m. – even on Sundays. We try to make these special days as much alike as possible, so that the “best” day depends on what is convenient for you rather than what is scheduled.
- Below is an alphabetical list of things you will need to know about: activities; diaper changing and restroom areas; directions; food; gift shop; local accommodations; parking and on-site transportation; tickets; train ride; and weather.
- If you have any other questions, call 704-636-2889 or toll-free at 877-NCTM-FUN or visit our Web site at www.nctrans.org.

ACTIVITIES
• Day Out With Thomas™ offers an opportunity for children and their grownups to take a 25-minute ride with Thomas the Tank Engine™ and pose for a picture with Sir Topham Hatt™, the Superintendent of the Railroad. Every event includes Thomas & Friends™ storytelling, a viewing station for Thomas & Friends videos, temporary tattoos, and an Imagination Station.

• A special guest will also pay a visit to the Day Out With Thomas event, as everyone’s favorite builder, Bob the Builder™, stops by to help his friend. In a 20-minute performance, Bob the Builder will ask for the help of aspiring Can-Do Crew members in building a great project.
- Bob the Builder shows will take place four times per day at 10 a.m., Noon, 2 and 4 p.m. About 30 minutes after each show, Bob will be available for pictures.

• The activities on site at Day Out With Thomas™ are for you and your children to enjoy for several hours or more. Your ticket defines a specific Thomas train ride time; however, Bob the Builder stage shows will take place at 10 a.m., Noon, 2, and 4 p.m. and do not have assigned seating, so you may enjoy one or more performances if you choose. Please plan your day accordingly so that you arrive at least one hour before your scheduled train departure, and also allow enough time to attend one of the Bob the Builder shows.

• Event maps will be available at the information booth, showing you where and when the various activities will take place. The site opens early at 8:30 a.m. and stays open late until 6 p.m. so that you can enjoy all of the activities.

• Our site was originally the steam locomotive repair facility for Southern Railway. It is large and fairly flat and handicapped-accessible. Wheelchair lifts are available on our train rides. If you have specific needs, simply ask a staff member and we will do our best to accommodate you.

• The additional activities are included in the price of your ticket include: Visit with Sir Topham Hatt, Temporary Tattoos, Magician, Model Train Layouts, Storyteller, Live Music, Thomas the Tank™ and Bob the Builder™ Videos, Coloring Area, Hay Bale Slide Play Area, Inflatable Bounce Castles, Putt Putt Golf, Thomas the Tank Play tables, Operation Life Saver locomotive on display, and more.

• A photo area near the real Thomas the Tank Engine will be available for you to take your own snapshots in between train ride times. A professional photographer may also be set up in that area and will offer photo packages for a fee.
- Whether you take your own pictures or have them professionally made, you must still wait in line for your turn, since this is also used for crowd control so that the train ride can depart on time.

• You will also want to bring a camera to get a picture of your child with Sir Topham Hatt and Bob the Builder. There is no professional setup at these locations.
- Disposable cameras, 35MM film, batteries, and memory cards will be available for sale in the Gift Shop.

• A second train ride – a Caboose Train – will also run on approximately the same schedule as Thomas. This is NOT covered by your Thomas ticket, and tickets for this ride are not sold in advance.
- Museum members can ride this train at a discounted rate. For others, tickets will be at “festival” rate (same for everybody 3 and up – probably $7 each).
- The Caboose Train loads at Barber Junction Visitor Center.

DIAPER CHANGING AND RESTROOMS
• A truly nice diaper changing room is available at no charge during Thomas. Find it on the event map.
- There are no restrooms attached to the diaper changing room. Restrooms are clustered next to Barber Junction Visitor Center, the red brick building near the Thomas train loading area, and in the far end of the Roundhouse. Port-a-jons will also be available throughout the site.

DIRECTIONS
• The North Carolina Transportation Museum is located in Spencer, in the central piedmont of North Carolina, less than a five minute drive from Exit 79 off Interstate 85, and almost exactly halfway between Greensboro and Charlotte. In good traffic we are a 45-minute drive from the outskirts of Charlotte, Greensboro, Winston Salem, Statesville, and Albemarle.
- Our address is 411 S. Salisbury Avenue, Spencer, NC 28159. Our Foundation’s mailing address is NCTMF, P. O. Box 69, Spencer, NC 28159.
- Salisbury Avenue in Spencer is an extension of North Main Street in Salisbury. Both are also Hwy. 29. By the time it passes our entrance, it is also Hwys. 70 and 150. Hwys. 601 and 52 come near.
- Get Google Map directions here.

• Take North Carolina’s Amtrak train to get to the event. Click here for information on trainride schedules and prices, or visit www.bytrain.org.

FOOD
• Approximately ten food vendors will be on site – mostly area civic groups, and with very reasonable prices.
- If you prefer, you are permitted to bring your own food and use the picnic shelters. You are also permitted to leave the site and return during the day. Finding another parking space, however, could be a problem.
- There are several restaurants and some very nice shops within walking distance.
- Salisbury also has an excellent selection of restaurants.

GIFT SHOP
• The BIG tent is our special Thomas the Tank™ and Bob the Builder™ Gift Shop. Our regular museum Gift Station will also be open. Our Foundation is a non-profit associated with a state-owned facility, so there is no sales tax.
- Both gift shops will accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover Card, and American Express, as well as cash and checks – with proper identification.
- A branch bank (SunTrust) with a teller machine is across the street from the Museum. A Cash Points station is located in the Food Lion shopping center about one block north of the museum.

• This event is the museum’s largest fundraiser of the year and is run by museum staff and volunteers. Funds go toward restoration projects and educational programming.