National security and social networking are compatible

Social networking tools must be a core part of national defense, harnessing the power of communities of interest to collaborate and share knowledge to address a range of issues from analyzing intelligence data to post-war recovery initiatives, according to panelists speaking this week at the Open Government and Innovations Conference in Washington.

Social media software is being used by activists, businesses, governments and even criminals and terrorists worldwide and, as a result, cannot be ignored, panelists acknowledged.

“We have to find a place to make use of it,” said Linton Wells, a distinguished research professor with the National Defense University’s Center for Technology and National Security. He spoke on Tuesday during a session titled “Web 2.0 and National Security.” The conference was hosted by 1105 Government Information Group, the parent company of Government Computer News.

As an example, Wells noted how social networking tools are being used by organizations working in stressed environments to provide essential services to villages in Afghanistan. The effort is part of a global social network known as Sustainable Technologies, Accelerated Research-Transportable Infrastructures for Development and Emergency Support (STAR-TIDES).

STAR-TIDES uses social wikis, online photos, video and microblogging tools like Twitter to connect people who have problems with those who may have solutions. A social network such as STAR-TIDES provides a way for organizations to communicate, collaborate and engage with local populations, Wells said.

Because social software can add value to many ongoing missions, and because citizens, allies and opponents use the technology, panelists said the defense community needs to embrace social media responsibly.

Totalitarian regimes that do not want to give their citizens the right to petition government see the value of social networking tools as propaganda tools, said Lewis Shepherd, a former senior technology officer at the Defense Intelligence Agency and currently chief technology officer with Microsoft's Advanced Technology in Government.

Shepherd cited the recent elections in Iran in which the Iranian government used Web filtering software to block its citizens from access to Facebook. Later, the regime realized the potential of spreading anti-western propaganda through Facebook pages, which it set up through front groups, he said.

DFAS adds a layer of security to myPay

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The Defense Finance and Accounting Service is using a virtual keyboard feature to increase security for users of its myPay online payment system.

Customers will use the feature to enter their personal identification numbers each time they access the myPay system, DFAS said. The virtual keyboard will appear on customers' computer screens after they type their myPay log-in IDs into the system on standard keyboards. The system will then prompt customers to enter their PINs via mouse clicks on their screens.

The feature changes the appearance of the virtual keyboard each time it appears. This is done to thwart hacking techniques used to capture or generate PINs, including Trojan horses, spyware and keystroke logging software, DFAS said.

The accounting service began providing the feature in mid-May. The system's other features will continue to operate as they always have, DFAS said. DFAS manages payments departmentwide, including payrolls and payments to contractors.

Mariah Carey LP Shaped By 'Amazing' Connection With Nick Cannon

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It's not the first time Mariah Carey has recorded music as a married woman. In 1993 Carey wed record executive Tommy Mottola and released her mega-hit album Music Box. But the couple separated in 1997 and divorced the following year. A decade later the singer found herself in wedded bliss with Nick Cannon.

So, has their marriage changed the music she's making these days? "Everything changes when you're in love," she told MTV News. "We have a connection that I've never experienced before. So that's amazing and it's something that I can't even really put into words."

She added that in some ways her relationship with Cannon did affect her new album, Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel, due this fall. She explained, "So everything that I do when I go into the studio — I mean, there are songs that are directly [about our relationship]. They come from the place where I'm at right now with him."

But that wasn't the only relationship she had on her mind when she was working on Memoirs. Certain tracks touch on past relationships and experiences. "There are some songs that are about years ago," she said. "There are some songs that are about old friends, stories they told me. So it's like every time I go in to write something new we go somewhere, and it's like I don't know that everybody would know that I've been through half of these situations."

'New Moon' Stars Preview Bella And Jacob's Chemistry At Comic-Con

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SAN DIEGO — It isn't often that, right in the middle of an interview, one of the subjects will suddenly lean over and nearly give the other one a full-on, passionate kiss. But when we caught up with "Twilight" saga stars Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner recently at Comic-Con, love was in the air.

As thousands of Twilighters walked around the Con wearing Burger King crowns that showed their support for either Team Edward or Team Jacob, 17-year-old Lautner knew the pressure was on. Not even a year ago, Robert Pattinson and Kristen created a rare chemistry that made them superstars, as they mixed their youthful good looks with the sort of classic romance that made the grandparents of their fans swoon over Bogey and Bacall, Tracy and Hepburn or Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh. Now he was in San Diego to convince fans that he could accomplish the same feat for "New Moon."

"It's not tough when you're working with someone like this," Lautner insisted, moments after KStew responded to the chemistry question by leaning over and fake-kissing the hunky actor who packed on more than 30 pounds of muscle for the sequel. "[Stewart] is extremely talented."

"And it's such a different relationship," added Stewart, who couldn't possibly look any more anti-Bella these days as she finishes up work on her "Runaways" biopic about rocker Joan Jett, with short black hair and a Minor Threat T-shirt as her Comic-Con attire. "It's entirely original."

As those who've memorized every word of Stephenie Meyer's novels know, the Bella-Jacob chemistry is indeed entirely different from what makes the Bella-Edward moments leap off the page with passion. It's sweeter, more innocent, more playful — but if the "Twilight" films are to be as successful as the novels, then the pressure is on Stewart and Lautner to create the same "Which man will she choose?" drama heading into next year's "Eclipse."

"[Bella and Jacob] are light," explained Stewart, whose playful kiss may have given us a "New Moon" preview. "They actually have fun with each other."

And judging by the rapturous response they got at the Con, Taylor and Kristen had a lot of fun this week as well. "We get along really, really, really well," Lautner said of his time with Stewart. "It was fun; we had a great time on the set."

Get the look: Rachel McAdams & Cameron Diaz at Comic Con 2009

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Friends Rachel McAdams and Cameron Diaz were spotted downtown, attending Comic Con 2009 to promote their upcoming films "Sherlock Holmes" and "The Box," respectively. They kept it casual and summertime chic with simple sleeveless ensembles and minimal jewelry.

Get McAdams' look with a printed slouchy tank from Forever 21 (try the Satin Rose Texture top, forever21.com). Pair the silky, breezy piece with skinny black pants and ballet flats, and you're good to go.

Diaz's simple gray button front vest is an easy find, but if you need some direction, head to Nordstrom's Brass Plum section and seek the Quiksilver St. Francis Bay Checked Racerback Vest (on sale right now!). Or if you're looking for something to take you from the office to the party, try the Modern Vest by Express (express.com).

Alice in Wonderland and New Moon feature at Comic-Con

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Comic-Con 2009 is just wrapping up today, and, as always, this year’s convention has provided a wealth of new information and insights into the speculative fiction world. Although it would be virtually impossible to recap everything that happened at the convention in San Diego this weekend, here are a few highlights of what’s in store in the spec-fic world over the next few years.

Alice in Wonderland: The only thing that surprises me about Tim Burton doing an Alice in Wonderland movie is that he hasn’t done it sooner. At Comic-Con, Burton revealed 3-D footage from his upcoming film, which is due to be released on March 5, 2010. As if that wasn’t enough, fans were also treated to a surprise visit from Johnny Depp, who plays the Mad Hatter in the movie. Watch the trailer here, or read more about Burton's and Depp's appearances at mtv.com.

Dollhouse: Fans of Joss Whedon’s Dollhouse got to see the unaired final episode of season 1. The episode, titled Epitaph One, is apparently crucial to the plot of the series, but wasn’t aired due to a snafu involving the Fox network counting the number of episodes differently than the Fox production company. After the screening, Whedon appeared for a discussion of the episode.

True Blood: The stars of True Blood appeared at the convention to discuss the remainder of the second season. Much of the discussion centered around the burgeoning love triangle between Sookie (Anna Paquin), her vampire beau Bill (Stephen Moyer), and vampire sheriff Eric (Alexander Skarsgard). Creator Alan Ball also announced that TruBlood, a blood orange soda packaged in bottles resembling the props used on the show, will be available for purchase starting September 10. Read more about the True Blood panel at the LA Times website.

Twilight: And, of course, as all good Twilight fans know, two New Moon clips were revealed at the convention. In one, we see Jacob teaching Bella to ride her motorcycle, and in the other, we see Edward about to remove his shirt and dazzle the Volturi with his sexy sparkles while Bella runs in slow motion to stop him. The only question is whether the fangirls in the videos scream louder when Jacob takes his shirt off, or when Edward does. Rest assured, both screams are pretty piercing.

Condensed Sugar: Robert, Kristen and Taylor Take Comic-Con!

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Comic-Con kicked off in San Diego on Thursday, with Johnny Depp and Cameron Diaz both on hand to chat about their new films. The biggest crowds came out to get a peek at the New Moon kids. Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner joined Robert Pattinson and his many faces at a panel, where they debuted some new shirtless scenes from their upcoming movie. They weren't the only stars making news — here's a rundown of the week's top stories.