Warrant Canaries & Transparency

I recently ran across the warrant canary FAQ from the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF). The concept is simple – put up a statement now saying that so far you have not been compelled by a secret order to turn over data to the government. Wikipedia has an entry for it. The example I read about […]

Google Buys Nest

I was a bit sad to see that Google bought Nest. I like upstarts that see a problem and solve it. I’m highly in favor of them profiting from doing so. I just don’t want to see Google (or Microsoft, or Apple, or Facebook, or Amazon) buy them all up. I wouldn’t have turned down […]

Google IQ Test

Friday (Dec 20, 2013) the Google Doodle was a crossword puzzle. I was curious so I clicked and yes, it was a full puzzle. It’s been years since I did a crossword. I did them for many years on Sunday, kind of a family tradition, but stopped somewhere along the way – I think it […]

Security Cameras in the Neighborhood

I live in a pleasant, calm, middle class neighborhood. Not much crime here, at most the rare break-in or vandalism, not a place where you worry about going out for a walk in the evening. Recently the HOA sent out a letter discussing the install of security cameras to increase security and that provoked some […]

Assorted Links for April 27, 2013

Spend a few minutes reviewing 20 Critical Security Controls. Very interesting stuff. For example, #1 refers to having and maintaining an inventory of authorized devices/etc. Do you know all the servers running SQL and would you know if someone set up a new one? Add this blog about servant leaders to your reader if you’re […]

The Shredder Challenge

The Shredder Challenge was a contest sponsored by DARPA to find ways of putting shredded documents back together. Take a minute to look at the puzzle and solutions. Interesting stuff.

Deleting Accounts from Websites

I ran across this article about How to Delete an Account from Any Website on the PC Magazine web site. It covers how and what options you have for about 30 popular web sites. Interesting how some make it easy and some don’t. As a data guy it’s definitely interesting. We’re not big on deleting […]

Book Review: Bury My Heart at Conference Room B

Bury My Heart at Conference Room B: The Unbeatable Impact of Truly Committed Managers by Stan Slap ($15 @ Amazon) is about finding a way to mesh your personal values with the values of the business, and how showing your values to your team and encouraging them to live and work to their values can […]

Notes from the December 2010 OPASS Meeting

Our December meeting was a time for a lot of changes: New location, the Hampton Inn in Lake Mary. It’s further north in a good tech area, great access, decent parking, decent room. New leaders. Well, sort of. Jack Corbett had been co-President for a year, but now he’s the sole big dog, and has […]

Revisiting The West Wing

Sometimes spending some time with your spouse watching TV is right up there with comfort food, the challenge is often finding something that you’ll both find interesting and relaxing. We watched West Wing when it was originally aired, and somewhere along the line acquired the entire set of DVD’s which sat on the shelf unused […]

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