Wednesday, October 16, 2002

I don't like their website (all Flash), but Dipo's concept for ubiquitous RF-enabled location tags is very cool. A high tech solution to an ageold problem. Where did I leave my keys? Oh yeah, they just called my cell phone and checked in... comment []9:51:05 AM

Bruce Schneier on the US government's mishmash of a national cyberspace security plan: The worst part of it is that some of the people involved in writing the document were high-powered, sincere security practitioners.  It must have been a hard wake-up call for them to learn how things work in Washington.  You can tell that a lot of thought and effort went into this document, and the fact that it was gutted at the behest of special interests is shameful...but typical. Thanks to Karlin Lillington [[ t e c h n o c u l t u r e ]] for pointing this out. I'm currently re-reading Schneier's Secrets and Lies, the best book ever on net security. Schneier knows more about this space than anyone, period. So if he's unhappy with the Fed stance on cybersecurity, we've got a problem. My take on the issue: encrypt everything. Strong encryption should be available (and usable, which is the current problem) to everyone. Freedom of speech and privacy depends on it. The right to communicate privately is, IMHO, a more important right than the right to bear arms. And strong encryption is the only way we'll retain net privacy. comment []7:58:17 AM

Music Reviews I'm in a bit of a rut, writing only about tech things I read elsewhere on the net. Boring, even for me. So here's some non-tech commentary. I've been listening to four new CDs. Here's my take. Mark Knopfler's The Ragpicker's Dream: Good but not great. Occasional riffs reminiscent of Dire Straits, but on this disc Knopfler wanders around a bit among bluegrass, blues, and light rock. It's a strange disc. I think it'll grow on me, but first listenings weren't great. James Taylor's October Road: Awesome. Great. Beautiful. JT's voice just gets better with age (if that's possible), and these songs, mostly written by him, are poetry. To think we almost lost this guy 20 years ago to heroin - what a personal comeback he's made. Buy it. Bruce Springsteen's The Rising: I didn't like it when I listened to it on the home system, but I've moved it to the car, and it's great road music. The 911 tribute song, Empty Sky, is one of those parasitic tunes that you just can't get out of your head. Not the Boss's best effort, I'd have to admit. Van Morrison's Down The Road: Another great, great disc. I could listen to this one over and over again (and I do). He's another one who just gets better with age. Beautiful lyrics, Van's distinctive voice and cadence. And talk about poetry - each and every one of these songs is worth reading. Here's an excerpt from "Man Has To Struggle": "Man makes his money and they call him rich Deep down inside he knows that life's still a bitch Man tries to keep things but they're taken away Man has to struggle all the live long day Man has to sweat and toil his life filled with trouble Man got to step and fetch it on the double Man has to work so hard to make it all pay Man has to struggle all the live long day Man keeps on moving 'cos he can t keep still Man has to set his goals and climb up the hill Man sees the mountains and the deep blue sky Man has to struggle till the day that he die Well yes siree Bob them there's the breaks That's how it is my friend don't make no mistake" Anyway, the VM disc is highly recommended. But I guess that was obvious. comment []7:39:49 AM

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