Newsletter for past alumni of The Abbey School, Mt. St. Benedict, Trinidad and Tobago, W.I.
Caracas, 10 May 2007. Circular No.340
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Dear Friends,
(Written in February) This circular is about ID security, here the participants explain the problems that can occur and have occurred, if we do not take precautions in sending email.
Also there are ideas on how to prevent email being sent out in an inadequate manner and how to control emails.
In the recent past we have had an exchange of emails that ran out of control, fortunately just for a few days, but it had implications on our effort to gather the ALUMNI.
This can get out of hand and at the end instead of gathering there might cause an exodus from our rank and file.
We want to keep the Circular as a trusted custodian of your details, as always has and will in the future.
Thus you will not see the emails or sensitive date being published in a massification effort that might work against us, please read this compendium of messages, and draw your own conclusions.
(written in May) I have given time to even out the ideas, asking the participants and those that think that it might be harmful to express their views.
Nothing spectacular has happened during this three month period, but there was anxiety by some.
Maybe now that thing have quieted down, you can read the following email with scrutiny and interest.
I hope that the magisterial work that Jon Golding has detailed, may help you in your work around computers and Internet.
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Jon Golding
6 Feb 2008
PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL
Nigel,
However well intentioned, I do not recommend that you make a database of personal info like email addresses and mailing addresses etc. available over the web.
Apart for the obvious risks to identity theft and on-line fraud to each of us, not all of the old Mount boys are all on the same planet - as we have seen over the past 48 hours.
Any one of us can become an unguided missile, with no idea where it is going to stop!
We cannot risk access to any other 'insiders', who we do not know personally.
I am sure the core group we have already established is well aware of how to get hold of one another, and if they really need to, they can get in touch with one of their classmates who can.
In any event, if you decide to go ahead please exclude me.
I have all the contact addresses I want already.
Regards and best wishes
Jon
----- Original Message -----------------------------------------------------------------------
From:Nigel P. Boos
Sent: Wednesday, February 06, 2008 8:39 AM
Subject: UPDATED DATABASE AS OF FEB 4, 2008
So, here it is, guys - a compilation of all that you have told me about yourselves and your classmates - the New Database of MSB Old Boys.
I would like to extend it, by including the physical addresses of everyone, in whatever country we happen to be - so I'm inviting you to send it all to me again, and I shall do the necessary.
No pressure. . . . . . but if you want others to know where to find you .. . .
We've now got 243 email addresses out of a total of 756 names; 32% !! Not bad at all.
Because my computer can send out only a limited number of emails at one time, I have had to divide the large file into 3 groups, "Old Boys A-G", "Old Boys H-P" and "Old Boys Q-Z", so that the computer could manage to send out this info.
If you don't see your name in the addressee list, it's just because you're in another list. Don't panic!
I have done my best to convert all that you have said, into a format that meets certain criteria.
Undoubtedly, I have made errors in typing or in translation.
Please do not get upset about my failings, but rather, drop me a line, make the corrections and I'll take it from there.
At the specific request I can remove your email address from the database, and ask everyone to do the same.
This is regretful, and I would prefer it to be otherwise.
Today is Ash Wednesday, and the start of Lent.
Perhaps we can spend some time during this period reflecting on the fact that as past students of the Abbey School, we all experienced times of abuse, maltreatment, bullying, and slander, but at the same time, we were privileged to meet young men of our own age, with many of whom we established long and enduring friendships which remain to this day, and let us thank God for that.
There are obviously deep hurts and resentments, as a result of our experience, and though we have been separated by time spent at the Mount, we are still connected by the experience itself.
Let us remember our hurting brothers and those who have died, and maybe send up a prayer for each one during this Lenten season.
Best wishes to y'all, and thanks for all your inputs.
Nigel
Class of '60
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Jon Golding
6 Feb 2008
Nigel
The spreadsheet is excellent and I suggest you simply tell those who you know personally, by e-circular as you have done, that if they want to contact anyone to ask you (or whomever becomes the keeper of the list) and you will send them the specific info rather than the entire list which needs to be kept by highly trusted people only.
Just a precaution.
In a strange way, the rattlings of some of our ALUMNI have brought some good because it is now clear to me that the classes within about 5 years either side of our own (and everyone else's) class are about where the boundaries should be in the reunion sense.
To try to put a blanket over the whole ALUMNI is inadvisable and counterproductive since we are dealing with some major generational differences as we have experienced in the world over the past 50-60 years.
Our parents' generation has firm (almost Victorian) values and post war disciplines we did not find that appealing but still learned from it.
Maybe that's why they sent us up the hill.
Our own generation which was just about pre 60s vis-a-vis permissiveness in the larger countries was the 'breakthrough' or 'experimental' generation.
We got into the (new) birth control pill, (new) pop music culture, (new) eventual post war affluence and (new) overseas education for the lucky ones.
We had one foot in our parent's past and one foot in an uncharted future.
I guess we were the 'balanced' generation.
Then comes the next crowd who did not have a clue about war, post war and all that.
They were into everything from the getgo.
We had alcohol and cigarettes they had pills and marijuana.
They gave no second thought to premarital sex, partner living, single parenting, gay rights, abortion, gay parenting, gay clergy, open prostitution and brothels, Internet porn, young kids having sex recorded on cellphones, rapid dating, widespread youth group sex, euthanasia, paedophiles (these last 2 mainly in Holland but spreading), stem cell research, cloning, increased satanism, body mutilation, chequebook journalism, copyright infringement (music, CDs, DVDs, etc), large scale tax evasion, even corporate fraud and now in TT casual murders (over 1 a day) and soon there will be nothing left to add to the list.
What we have in this resurgence of Old Mount Boy interest is a mixture of these three generational groups which will never mix.
That's why I wrote 2-3 months ago after the attempted 'reunion' at the Mount, that a physical Old Boys Assoc was not going to work and that the virtual one in which Ladislao was the principal pioneer was the only thing that would.
Reading the comments and mindset of these resurrected MSB 'victims' confirmed my view.
Here we have a simple case of our (your and my) generation who were schooled in pre New Age beliefs and disciplines.
We were trying to emulate our respected parents but the Mount New Boys, who came after had totally different mindsets, as described above.
Today the big society pivot is homosexuality and promiscuity.
You see it at the highest level in the UK and EU Parliaments and US state legislation spilling over into the schools where it is now a PC not an RC (Roman Catholic) set of standards.
The New Agers (like the 'New' Mount Boys) are big promoters of the gay culture and most people are now to scared or 'polite' to object as they were in Nazi Germany.
They applaud and 'honour' their gay friends!
We are going into another Sodom & Gomorrah, I am convinced and it's irreversible. The West is imploding and we as Christians have to decide if we are with it or against it and be prepared to stand up and say so.
Many call themselves Christians and Catholics but I like the Muslim approach.
Ergo: a Christian or anyone can be considered a Muslim brother if he acts like one.
No baptism or confirmation protocol!
A bit of a simplistic explanation but that is their belief system.
We should learn from them.
Faith is not like nationality which stays with you whether you behave like your nationality or not.
Many misguided folk think so however.
Equally, being a Mount Boy or Old Mount Boy is not how long one spent there, but whether you were proud to be one and had loyalty to all on the hill and carry the torch thereafter and overcame the intimidation and became a man.
These recent on-line adults who sound like whining children are in need of special attention since it is clear they are deeply distressed about their childhoods (which include their unhappy home lives not mentioned by the way).
Sure we can all recall the bad times - as adults as well as children.
But we rise above it or get flattened by it.
Let us recognise that and not try to use our mature experiences of old MSB to try to heal these that have been unfortunate,
We cannot ever help them - since we are seen as part of the problem and not part of the solution!
My view on any form of attack from these New Mount 'kids' is to ignore them since this has turned into a childish attention seeking exercise who are very confused and wounded individual.
I am sharing these thoughts with you and am happy to do so with others of our generation who might relate to our understanding of the disjointed generation we seem to have been brought into recently contact through our common educational roots.
Wishing you and family well and hoping to see you here sometime.
Best regards
Jon
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From:Nigel P. Boos
Sent: Wednesday, February 06, 2008 11:57 AM
PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL - PLEASE DELETE
Jon,
On second thoughts I think you're quite right.
This information can be too sensitive.
Actually, the recommendation to collect the addresses was made by Geoffrey, your older brother, so I guess I'll have to let him know that we won't proceed along this line.
God bless.
Nigel
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Jon Golding
Date: 8 Feb 2008 23:40
subject ID PROTECTION
Dear Ladislao
You are the trusted custodian of our details and have been for some time.
You have done a grand job of running a clean ship and been very discreet and patient.
You have all our respect, my brother!
Personally I do not see a problem with you or anyone else asking anyone for their address updates and referrals to people we want to get back into contact with.
I can see from the various emails you publish that you have become like a clearing house for old boys making contact with one another and that simple facility is what makes this whole operation valid and valuable, apart from the news.
On the BCC, No I do not recall getting the payload of addresses from you.
And Yes it is good to have the email addresses of people in the blog you republish.
No problemo! Telephone numbers and physical addresses are not advisable.
But the downside of BCC is that we must be careful when responding to people on sensitive or personal emails since we do not know who they are BCCing.
Our only concern should be that the circularisation of anything MORE than email addresses (which senders are openly forwarding) leads to risks I have mentioned.
If you send out a cautionary circular email warning everyone to be careful what info they exchange through your circulars you cannot do more than that, Ladislao.
If I were you I would add a disclaimer and warning paragraph at the end of each circular (similar to the ones many spam mailings and newsletters have).
The problem today with older folk like us (except the tecchies) they do no have any idea how powerful and pervasive the Internet is and how many undesirable people trawl it and how much e-crime is taking place, harmful virus attacks, data theft from hackers you would not even notice it happening while you are using your computer, keylogging trojan programs coming is through not only attachments but picture files, and the list goes on.
We do not have to concern ourselves with such fears if we keep our info at the superficial and chat level which has been the case so far.
But we have had the wake up call with the unchecked emails lately so let's use that to our advantage by now implementing the warning notice.
On a positive note it has really brought the whole network alive even though many have refrained from commenting.
Those are my thoughts but feel free to discuss further.
Best regards
Jon
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Ladislao Kertesz
Date: 8 Feb 2008 20:00
Subject: ID PROTECTION
Dear Jon,
Good that you mention this because I have been asked every now and then for the database in the listing.
Nothing really detailed but I believe that privacy is important to people.
Unfortunately if I am to send out the Circular I need addresses.
Since I use BCC, can you tell me if you ever got a list of email addresses with the circular when I send it out??
Many might think that I have a secret operation and that is why I do not let everyone on the listing and email address.
I only publish the email addresses of those whose writing is in its respective circular with the intention that classmates and friends can get together.
Of course I have thought many times that I should eliminate the email address from the messages, but then am I being unfair??
Many are so lazy that they are not going to ask for a FW to their friends.
Your comments are welcomed
God Bless
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Jon Golding
8 Feb 2008 14:26
Subject: ID PROTECTION
Gentlemen,
I hesitate to send this but I feel I have to since I read below that
>> I am for publishing the directory, with as much contact information as possible. >> Don>>
I agree but with certain caveats, safeguards and permissions.
As modestly as I can put it, as a qualified electronics engineer and Chartered Information Technology Professional (UK) let me offer some suggestions to make the database available to bona fide members and still protect our privacy from e-fraud and e-abuse (which is sometimes more costly than e-fraud!).
Don, as an experienced and retired lawman of the highest calibre you must know how easy it is for innocent communications to be considered libellous (even through frivolous or mischievous parties). This e-blog and other open forum media today make us all highly vulnerable.
The wake up call came to me in the past few days with what has happened.
My reaction to having even simple (non-libellous) databases not locked down with Secure Technology through Password Access is that if we are going to publish or even email Excel or other data files.
We have to inform those whose details are made available of the risks and get at least a simple written email saying they understand the risks and are still happy to have the info published.
A simple test should be that members should not have any problem making available contact info that is already in the public domain, eg. on their business websites or other directories or even on-line telephone directories. You alluded to that in your email below.
Many of us have ex-directory phone numbers and may be remiss in passing on personal numbers or even our closely guarded private addresses to our group in good faith and then the cat is out of the bag!
Here are some of the mines in the minefield:
Addresses, middle names, names of children, pets, mother's maiden name, date and place of birth, schools attended, favourite place to visit, etc, etc.
Many of these are ID verification questions in on-line banking. credit card and on-line retailing. Hence, not the kind of info that should EVER be shared without being aware of the risks.
You may well be aware that if anyone has your US social security number they can obtain (for a reasonable price) an almost complete dossier on you within less than 48 hours including bank balances securities held, etc. I know people in the US who routinely do this.
When I was running the 'private banking' division of RBTT I had many incidents that could illustrate this risk but cannot repeat. What I can say is that most of the banking fraud in the world is committed from within or from disgruntled ex employees with inside information.
We had a classic case here of an MSB 'insider' with access to a list with our personal contact info and lots of other personal info (some newly admitted) who has turned against the house! Watch out because 'Hell hath no fury .... etc!
The next step in my view is to have a reasoned formal circular to all asking if they want to have any of their contact info available on-line and if so to please either send us what they are happy to display or (more tediously) send them the info held on record and ask if it is correct, needs updating or should be removed entirely.
We also need to have a simple caveat and disclaimer for them to acknowledge.
After all guys, we are dealing with a mature crowd of men all over the age of 45-50 most of who have responsible jobs and who should be fully aware of what we are saying to them AND appreciate it fully!!
I offer these suggestions privately and hope we can use our collective intelligence to help everyone stay in touch but to do so privately and securely for the next years to come.
Regards
Jon
PS: On another note, many email users do not know how to send out a mass email to say 50 addresses and not show the addresses. This tip should also be mentioned. Ie. to address the email to yourself and to BLIND COPY (bcc) everyone else!
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RE: Revised Database as of February 12, 2008
Glen Mckoy
Hello Glen,
Nigel is right there are a lot of useless stuff being sent to members, like jokes etc. and should stay within the group of people who don't mind that.
I send my stuff to only my class mates, and a few selected member, however if they forward this to other people I have no control over this, you understand what I mean.
However I only comply to what Nigel asked because I do send out a page of information, my little lessons which could be annoying to other.
But for you Glen I will continue, I will disregard all and continue,
Thank you, your friend till the end
Glen.............
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Re: FW: Revised Database as of February 12, 2008
"gevelyn1@bellsouth.net"
Glen,
Not even a halfpenny for those thoughts.
Why don't you change your name to Muckoy if you plan to just blow-away.
Hey farmer boy take those onions out of your ears and listen-up.
Yes the members left because we kept paging them with crank calls about eternal life.
Ok your penance is to write a song that rhymes with the colour used in the house of the Lord----
Purple, Glen
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From: mckoy43glen@hotmail.com
Subject: Revised Database as of February 12, 2008
Date: Fri, 15 Feb 2008 10:18:27 +0000
Hello Nigel,
Thank you for this revised database, and I will refrain from writing useless articles also, because the last thing I want is for a member to leave because of someone like me, I do take notice and support your wishes,
Best Regards
Glen.
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From: nigelboos@eagles-wings.ca
Subject: Revised Database as of February 12, 2008
Date: Thu, 14 Feb 2008 21:19:15 -0500
Gentlemen,
There have been a number of changes in the database since it was last sent to you.
There are now 750 names, for example, with necessary additions / notes.
Rather than list all of these, it would be of the greatest help to me, if you could please do us all a favour and delete any existing MSB Old Boy databases you might have, and replace it with this revised one.
It's too complicated to explain all the many changes which have been made as a result of the excellent advice and contributions made by so many of our old boys of Abbey School.
I could pay tribute to quite a few of our friends, but naaaah...
You know who you are, and you know what we need more help to find the email contacts for a few more hundred Old Boys. (We've now found 191 valid email addresses plus another 3 who have 'opted out', and yet another 3 who do not use/own a computer, out of a possible total of 750. This equates to 26% of the total accounted for.)
So I'll hold the kudos for the time being.
I would ask a few things:
1. Please go through the entries CAREFULLY, and check the database.
All of these have been proven to be correct, without any bounce back' problems.
Make sure to put the exact addresses as I've put them into the database, into your address books.
2. Please be wise in the use of the database.
For example, if you want to discuss a matter, plan a get together or point out whatever to one or two other guys, please include JUST these few fellows in your message, and do not copy everyone on the matter under consideration.
When everyone gets inundated with miscellaneous stuff in which they have little or no interest, comprehension fatigue can set in and it can easily become "too much" to try to keep up with everybody's doings.
I have already received two messages from Old Boys indicating that if they are to be subjected to this type of information, then they'd want me to remove their names from the database, and that's not what we're trying to do, is it?
Rather, we're trying to simply give everyone an opportunity to contact old friends and to maintain and grow those relationships which were formed initially at our alma mater.
So, just be careful, please, in how you use the information in the database.
3. Concerns have been expressed regarding issues of identity theft.
As a result, I am including, in this version of the database, if you've given it to me, or if it has been submitted by a former MSB Old Boy on your behalf, only:
(a) the years of attendance at the Abbey School.
(b) your name and surname.
(c) your email address.
(d) your country of present residence
If you should wish to have the telephone numbers of any of your old school friends, I have been advised that, to avoid unwanted identity theft problems, the best we should do would be to pass on specific telephone numbers to whomsoever should ask for them, rather than publishing these carte blanche.
So, if you would like to have a telephone number, please let me know and I shall be happy to pass on to you whatever I might have.
4. For similar reasons, I have chosen, for the time being, not to include your mailing address, nor your school nicknames.
So here then, is the current database as it now stands.
Of course I am always interested in updating it with new, accurate information, to meet the criteria for publication expressed above.
I would be very happy to hear your constructive comments, additions, amendments, etc. and I shall try to put your thoughts into effect with future versions of the database.
Thank you, everyone, for your kind help with the development and preparation of this tool.
I hope you find it useful in re-establishing your contacts and relationships.
Best wishes, and don't forget to say your prayers.
Nigel
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This is the longest Circular I have published and please I hope that you have read it as an excesice of prudence, to take care at your job in the general work that you do to make for a living and not as a particular case.
Ladislao
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Photos:
59UN0001basketball lk Ladislao Kertesz , Matias Fedak, Gerhard Most and UNKNOWNS.
08UN0427LKEGRP, Ladislao Kertesz, Adolfo Aumaitre and Edgar Moffie
07DM0035WKE, Reunion 2007 Winston Kerry
57RB0002a4, UNKNOWN and Manuel Prada
