<html><head></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><b>MIT EDITORS' CLUB<br><br>*Meeting Notes from March 27, 2013*<br><br><br>*Magic Mugs and a Hacking Headache*</b><br><br>Bet *that* headline got your attention :) And, it's quite accurate! We had no sooner assembled at the McGovern Institute for Brain Research when Julie Pryor, our hostess and McGovern's Communications Administrator/Science Writer, invited attendees to take a McGovern mug and flash drive. And what a mug! Way cool: Black with a white outline of a human head, when filled with a hot liquid the head becomes filled with a whitish line drawing of the brain. As your drink cools off, the "brain" disappears. Check out the following video Julie made about the mugs: <a href="http://mcgovern.mit.edu/news/videos/mcgovern-institute-magic-mug">http://mcgovern.mit.edu/news/videos/mcgovern-institute-magic-mug</a>/ Could be tweet-worthy, eh??<br><br>Julie also brought up the topic that dominated this meeting and riveted those in attendance: hacking. She proceeded to tell us about what happened when the McGovern web site was hacked (several times) this year. Her story is an important case study for all of us.<br><br>In a nutshell:<br><br>In early January, the site was first hacked with, I believe, a photo of Aaron Schwartz. Julie and what she describes as a very effective IS&T Swat Team got the site down, but it was soon hacked again (this time with a Turkish flag and a photo of a wolf). As a result, the site's been down for about 1 1/2 months (what you see on the web is actually a mirror site that is quite awkward to administer) while Julie and colleagues build a completely new site at some expense.<br><br>Here are some of the lessons Julie learned:<br><br>--Once your site is hacked, it's put on some kind of "hacking list" that means it's more likely to get hacked again.<br><br>--MAKE SURE to continuously update your security software.<br><br>Others at this meeting referred to a WBUR story that also had an important tip: CHECK YOUR PASSWORDS. According to the story, a huge percent of users use the password 1234--which is one of the first passwords hackers will try. Make your password more difficult.<br><br><b>*Pesky Passwords*</b><br><br>That last tip led to a round of groaning about passwords. How do you remember all of the darn things? Robyn Fizz of IS&T uses a program called lastpass, which essentially means you only have to remember one password to get access to all of your other passwords. For more: <a href="https://lastpass.com/index.php?">https://lastpass.com/index.php?</a>fromwebsite=1<br><br><b>*Win $1,000*</b><br><br>I used that headline to get you to READ this. I could have titled it Office Ergonomics, but….<br><br>Anyway, Robyn told us about computer vision syndrome, something we should all be aware of and take steps to prevent. For more, go to Robyn's story on the topic at: <br><br>http://ist.mit.edu/news/computer_vision_syndrome<br><br>That also brought up general office/computer ergonomics. Here's some important info that I'm reposting from a previous edition of MIT Editors' Club minutes:<br><br><blockquote type="cite">In my opinion the most important thing to come out of this meeting has nothing to do with editing or communications: it involves your health. Robyn Fizz of Information Services and Technology got us talking about the ergonomics of our computer workstations. Next week a gentleman from MIT's Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) Office will be dropping by her office to do an analysis of her workstation setup. This is a free service available to all of us, and it could potentially spare you from repetitive strain injuries (RSI) or other problems related to a poor computer setup or bad posture/typing habits.<br><br>To arrange an EHS analysis, send a note to <environment@mit.edu>. Emily Ranken of EHS was also at this meeting, and alerted us to two other useful resources related to this topic. First, EHS offers a computer ergonomics course that you can take on the web. For a link to this course and answers to many other questions about ergonomics, go to: <https://ehs.mit.edu/site/content/ergonomics>.<br><br>Emily also recommended the MIT Assistive Technology Information Center (ATIC). Through ATIC, you can try out a number of different assistive technologies like alternative keyboards; you can even take them back to your office for a period of time. For more: <http://web.mit.edu/atic/www/>.<br><br>I'm personally a fan of all of these services, having used them over 15 years ago when I had a bad case of RSI--shooting pain up both arms when I tried to type. I'm fine today, thanks in large part to a great manager, what I learned from the EHS and ATIC folks and the resulting changes I made to my computer habits and workstation.<br></blockquote><div><br></div><div><b>*Communication Production Services (CPS) Workshops*</b></div><div><br></div><div>There are two upcoming CPS workshops involving social media. To check 'em out, go to: <a href="http://commtoolkit.mit.edu/events/upcoming-events">http://commtoolkit.mit.edu/events/upcoming-events</a></div><div><br></div><div>PLEASE NOTE that several of these are already "sold out." HOWEVER, register anyway because 1) CPS keeps a waiting list, and 2) our feedback helps them determine interest (and whether to repeat a given session). Please also note that if you DO get in to a session and ultimately have to cancel, send CPS a note at <a href="mailto:cps@mit.edu">cps@mit.edu</a> so that your spot can be given to someone else. </div><div><br></div><br><b>*Thank You*</b><br><br>Many, many thanks to Julie Pryor, who hosted today's meeting at the McGovern Institute for Brain Research.<br><br><b>*Next Meetings*</b><br><br>Here are the MIT Editors' Club meetings for Spring 2013. All meetings are from 12-1, and you are welcome to bring a lunch.<br><br><br>Monday, April 22<br>66-360 (Chemical Engineering)<br><br><br>Thursday, May 16<br>1-236 (Civil and Environmental Engineering)<br><br><br>NOTE THE DATE CHANGE FOR THE JUNE MEETING. IT IS NOW:<br>Tuesday, June 11<br>NW17-218 (Plasma Science and Fusion Center)<br><br><br>Cheers,<br><br>Elizabeth<br><br><br>=========================<br>Elizabeth A. Thomson<br>Associate Director of Communications<br>MIT Resource Development<br>Office of Communications<br>600 Memorial Dr., W98-300<br>617-258-5563, 857-756-9457<br><thomson@mit.edu>, giving.mit.edu<br>=========================<br><br></body></html>