The Pebble and the Avalanche

US Cyber Command

Thu, 08 Jul 2010 05:08:00 -0500

I personally find any product or service to be less believable when the prefix "cyber" is applied; as someone who works in high technology, to me the term smacks of decades-old terminology and attitudes, used by ignorant marketing executives who are ignorant of technology but desparately want to sound modern and up to date. The US "Cyber Command" falls into the category of distrusted services.

I've just seen this thoroughly unbelievable assertion in the Wall Street Journal:

Intelligence officials have met with utilities' CEOs and those discussions convinced them of the gravity of the threat against U.S. infrastructure, an industry specialist said, but the CEOs concluded they needed better threat information and guidance on what to do in the event of a major cyber attack.

Frankly, I find it very hard indeed to believe — given the Obama Administration's blundering, dithering, and outright obstructionism in the Gulf oil spill — that any CEO would look to this administration, or any other government agency, for instructions on how to respond to a security attack. That is, of course, unless the authorities require them to do so...

Now That's Funny

Wed, 02 Jun 2010 10:02:00 -0500

I read this blog about chemistry on a regular basis, because every once in a while it's great fun.

Today's article is about a company that offers a new miracle drug process. The blog's author is circumspect. As a physicist I personally find the web site hilariously funny, but I guess you have understand quantum electrodynamics to enjoy the incongruity.

Apple and Applications

Thu, 27 May 2010 08:04:00 -0500

I don't own an iPod, iPad, or iPhone because I object strongly to Apple's control over the devices. Apple simply won't let you put any application you like onto the device; they can even magically erase applications you've bought and paid for.

Of course this relates to disaggregation of ownership and authority. Google's Android phone — which allows anyone to not only create applications but even to manufacture the phone itself — poses a huge challenge to Apple. I've got an Android phone, and while I miss some of the applications that appear only on the iPhone, I'm willing to put my money where my mouth is and support the disaggregated, open platform.

Another Reason I Don't Have a Kindle

Wed, 12 May 2010 11:39:00 -0500

I don't have a Kindle because of Amazon's obnoxious policies about book ownership — the most famous instance being when Amazon decided to delete books that people had already purchased. In my opinion, you merely rent a book from Amazon, and Amazon is a terrible landlord.

Kindle lets you highlight books you rent. Now Amazon has begun to collect that data from you without notice and shares it with others in aggregation — so Amazon claims that there's no privacy violation.

I'm boggled at Amazon's brazen attitude. What comes next, highlighting-based marketing campaigns?

Facebook and Security

Mon, 10 May 2010 09:24:00 -0500

Security expert and author David Levine will delete his Facebook account because of Facebook's policies on information privacy.

The specific problem that pushed him over the edge was applications added to your account without your permission — something that Facebook claims was a bug, but as Levine points out, Facebook's implementation of web technology makes mistakes and outright scams possible. Then there's the controversy pointed out by TechCrunch. I believe I'll be leaving Facebook myself as well.

Bad Move

Wed, 05 May 2010 09:49:00 -0500

Techdirt explains while filing a "trademark infringement" claim against criticism is counter-productive. I have to wonder if the company that filed the suit can, in a practical sense, be called to account.

Greek Bailout

Tue, 04 May 2010 10:35:00 -0500

The slow collapse of Greece's economy continues: despite a promised bailout, creditors are reluctant to trust Greece. As Mark Steyn puts it, Greece has decided that many citizens will begin work at age 25 and retire at age 50. This works until you've consumed all your capital resources, and then the bill comes due.

I've seen two broad approaches to this crisis. Evans=Pritchard believes that the European Monetary Union &mash; which, to paraphrase him, this crisis demonstrates is not really a union but merely a currency price-fixing scheme — should step in to rescue Greece and others to prevent contigation. The Wall Street Journal, as always, believes strongly in bankruptcy to avoid moral hazard.

I'll go for the disaggregated solution: let Greece go bankrupt. Not only will this prevent problems for other currencies, but it's probably the only way to reform Greece's finances. At this point Greece can opt for capitalism or even more extreme socialism — and if the people do opt for deeper socialism, their situation is hopeless regardless and there's no point in spending any money on them.

Frightening Headline

Tue, 27 Apr 2010 06:17:00 -0500

Here's a frightening ad headline in the Wall Street Journal, Friday, April 23, 2010, page A12:

WORLD'S 1ST SELF-FEEDING HOMEOWNER CHIPPER

My spouse and I had the same reaction: we both believe there must be a better way to deal with the excess number of homeowners.

And the "self-feeding" part is particularly worrisome.... do any of our neighbors own this device?

On the European Financial Crisis

Wed, 21 Apr 2010 09:19:00 -0500

The most interesting blog to read on the European financial crisis is by Ambrose Evans-Pritchard; his writing is so succinct and to the point that I have to read each word carefully.

The financial crisis interests me a great deal. Clearly, the economies of nations are no longer disaggregated one from the other, and a problem in one country can spread across the world. I wonder if they can be disaggregated, and if so, how that can be achieved while retaining the benefits of free trade.

Greek Banking Crisis

Fri, 09 Apr 2010 09:03:00 -0500

The Greek banking crisis continues to spread to other members of the European Monetary Union. The Euro continues to drop, and other countries in the EMU with wild spending habits have seen their creditworthiness reevaluated.

A single currency can be considered as running counter to the principles of disaggregation, or considered as a standard. That is, like nuts and bolts, the currency inter-operates among states — a laudable goal and frankly quite a boost to inter-European commerce. The problem comes when countries ignore the standards for the currency: Greece and other EMU countries engaged in wildly prolific expenditures. When a manufacturing firm ignores the standards for nuts and bolts, their products don't work. But when someone ignores currency standards as part of a larger system, it's like a nurse in a hospital ignoring rules about sanitation: the contigation spreads everywhere regardless of the actions of others.

The only question now is how bad the Euro will crash. And whether the US will learn any lessons from this about Obamaspend.