I’m moving…

I’ve decided to switch to Blogger.  To find out why, click here: soapbox.schaubnet.org.

This site will no longer be updated.  Please update your links and feeds.

To Switch or Not to Switch

I’m thinking about making the jump to Apple.  Articles like this make me think that it isn’t worth the hassle.  Any advice for someone thinking about making the jump?

Leopard is the New Vista, and It’s Pissing Me Off - Columns by PC Magazine

Technorati Tags: apple, mac, switch,

Yet Again, XKCD Makes Me Laugh…

I should try this…

Little Life Lessons #2

Do not send the peelings from five large sweet potatoes down the Insikerator all at once. Send them down in small batches.

Little Life Lessons #1

Metal objects in a 500° F oven get hot much faster than you expect.

This is Freakin’ Cool!

Two teams of scientists independently discovered how to reprogram skin cells into stem cells.  Unfortunately, I won’t be able to grow a new, straighter set of legs in a petri dish just yet, but it sounds like this is the first step in the right direction.  The really significant property of this accomplishment is that it does not require human embryos to get the cells. 

The one slightly disturbing aspect of the accomplishment is that the researchers used viruses to create the stem cells.  The paranoid part of me immediately thought of how wicked it would be to engineer a virus that uses the same techniques but instead of creating stem cells, it creates cancerous ones.  Turning something like that loose in the world is a grim prospect. 

Human skin ‘reprogrammed’ to form stem cells - health - 20 November 2007 - New Scientist

Technorati Tags: science, biology, stem cells, new scientist

An Amusing Rant

This is an amusing rant that also holds a valuable lesson for me as someone who is considering trying to sell photos. As a beginner it is very tempting to let everyone use your images for free or for very little. At this point my compensation would come in the form of the thrill of publication. That thrill will only go so far though. As I see it, you need to set yourself up for success. Establishing an expectation in everyone else that you are free sells yourself short. I suppose it could even have an impact on your future work. Why put in the effort for something no one wants to pay for? However, if you are commanding serious cash for your work, that is one more motivation to produce quality. I could see that working for me anyway.

Tip ‘o the hat to SionPhoto for the pointer to the video.

IM Logging and PR Judo

Ben Wright over at Hack-i-gations posted a short piece on Instant Message (IM) logging.  I asked him about this when I took his SANS class earlier this year and he gave me pretty much the same answer he gave in this post: Logs are good.  Have lots. 

Instant Messaging creates logs therefore those logs should be retained.  That got me thinking about the IM logging again and here are my thoughts on IM logging and its impact on legal issues and public relations. 

The counter argument to logging everything is what I will call the “Ignorance is Bliss” school of instant messaging logging.  The general thought process here is that if you don’t know about it you don’t have to deal with it.  This is a technique one could use, but the flaw in it that I see is that an IM conversation is a two way street.  You might not have a copy of the IM conversation, but there is a chance that the guy on the other end does.  If you go to court over an IM conversation and the other guy provides a copy of an IM conversation that appears to have been modified in his favor, what do you do?  The “Liar, liar, pants on fire” argument probably won’t hold up real well if you don’t have evidence to support your side of the story.  Proving you didn’t modify your logs and he did is another discussion. 

The other problem I see with the “Ignorance is Bliss” approach stems from some non-technical concerns, primarily public perception.  A victory in court could very well be dulled by a defeat in the court of public opinion.  Failing to maintain IM logs could create the impression that an organization didn’t know enough to log the transactions.  If you counter that impression by saying that you considered logging IM conversations but decided not to based on legal considerations, you look shiesty to the public.

Extreme opinions on shiesty corporations is prime blog fodder.  The last thing your reputation needs is a massive herd of disgruntled bloggers drawing the attention of CNN.  Little did I know that information security decisions would have such potential impact on public relations matters. 

So, what do you do?  My gut feeling, which Ben affirmed at the class, is to embrace Public Relations Judo.  Accept the attack, but redirect its energy.  If there is a security event that generates bad press, acknowledge the negative aspect and accept responsibility.  After you have accepted responsibility, publicize your remediation plan and solicit the community for help so that others will not fall victim to the same error.  Acceptance of responsibility and development of corrective action tends to defuse most of the bad press.  By reaching out and asking other for help to prevent others from making the same mistake, you are acting as an upstanding member of the community.  Who can stay mad at an upstanding member of society?

As a disclaimer, I’m not a lawyer or PR professional and real life has a blatant disregard for theory, so your mileage may vary.  But I think it’s a good place to start. 

Comments are welcome!

Technorati Tags: security, logging, legal, law, PR, public relations

2007 Christmas List

LAST UPDATED: 11/18/2007 

This post is for the benefit of my mother in law who hates doing anything online, especially shopping. She wanted a Christmas list and I plan to use this opportunity to drag her kicking and screaming into the 21st century. Is there a risk that I’ll get a lump of coal or worse as a result? You bet, but it is so worth it.

First, go check out my Amazon Wish List.

Here are some things that aren’t on that list:

• A print of the photo Eighteen Seconds Before Sunset by Joey Lawrence. (Photo 9 of 35 in his X portfolio)
• French cuff shirts
• iTunes gift cards
• Good scotch
• Good small batch bourbon
• Golf lessons
• 2007 Mini Cooper S (British Racing Green with racing stripes preferred)
• Family Membership to the Columbus Museum of Art

This is just plain silly

I own the Sigma 10-20mm F4.0 - F.56 EX DC HSM wide angle lens and it is awesome.  “Wide Angle” really doesn’t do it justice.  The angle of view is so wide (104 degrees) I’ve accidentally actually got my feet in the frame.  This lens’ angle of view is 180 degrees.  You’ll be able to photograph stuff behind you with this thing. 

Sigma 4.5mm EX DC Circular Fisheye HSM: Digital Photography Review

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