Random Topics
As a kid, it is kinda funny how cool it is to get your picture in the paper. Of course, as you get older your picture in the paper is usually not a good thing.
At least when you are young there is always some lifestyle story happening and that is much more true in a small town.
My daughter, bless her heart, just had her picture in the community newsletter and the Payson Round Up; a newspaper published on Tuesdays and Fridays covering the Payson area.
Her picture was taken when she tied with a 6 year old (she is 10) on least eggs found in her age group at the community Easter Egg hunt.
I am not sure she really got it, but she is thrilled. 😉
Some of you saw my Facebook post on the Chili Cookoff win I had here in Christopher Creek. As a newbie cook, truly, it was very cool.
I made some really hot Texas Red Beef Chili. Is there supposed to be another kind? I did catch a couple of guys coughing after they tasted it and someone had underlined Hot on the label later in the day. LOL
The chili I made had pieces picked from a recipe, but I decided to use the new Shiner Brewery Summer Seasonal Beer (which is a smoked hickory flavored beer) for the liquid instead of water and I also used some habanero seasoning in place of a couple of tablespoons of the Hatch hot chili powder I prefer.
To add texture, I used sirloin mixed with the chili grind beef. I don’t know if I will ever do it again or cook other things for competition, but it goes back to gaining comfort in the kitchen. Little successes add up.
For mother’s day, my daughter gave me an envelope with bits of pieces of things she had drawn and written for me, when I got to the poem, I couldn’t resist posting some of it here, remember she is 10 and apparently aside from loving me, there is no false flattery, only the lens of honesty…
I love you by Cailin Anderson
…My mom loves to watch TV
And she watches a lot
But I still love her…
…And my mother loves to the the one that is
Annoying sometimes but she loves me and
I love her
Happy Mother’s Day!
At least I know she loves me in spite of my faults, what else could a mom want.
Wanted: Someone to Erase Internet History
If only it were that easy…
As a security person, it took me a LONG time to get on Facebook. Don’t have a MySpace, minimal LinkedIn, etc.
Why, because it is the Internet and the less people know about me, the better. (Kind of funny I decided to blog, but more on that later)
I have always told my kids that you shouldn’t tell anyone anything online that you wouldn’t tell a stranger who walked up to you on the street. Just because they are standing in front of you versus virtual, the risk is the pretty much the same. Again, here is the security person in me.
Facebook has been a complete puzzle to me. Loved the movie, Social Network, mostly because of the writer I am sure, and I understand what Zuckerberg and others were doing, but I am still dumbfounded by the popularity.
People post very real, very damaging information to Facebook on a regular basis. I have considered it somewhat of an inside secret, up ’til now.
Yesterday an article posted quoting a Florida lawyer, Carin Constantine who said that Facebook is used in 90 percent of her Divorce cases. Even if you limit your information to friends; they have 2 friends, and they have 2 friends, and someone doesn’t have their privacy settings right and there you are, exposed.
I will tell you as a technology manager, I have always Googled perspective employees to see what type temperaments they have. If I catch wind of massive profanities or other rantings from social sites, I have to seriously wonder if they will work well with others or bring drama.
Sometimes you find their contributions to forums or list groups and can tell they really do have the knowledge you are seeking.
Sometimes they have blogs and you get a better insight to their fantastic personality (yep, that is all about me). 🙂
I am not a Facebook hater, in fact, I will pepper this cautionary tale with a cool item I read from Facebook a few weeks ago.
Apparently a Doctor was reading the Facebook postings of a friend and after several noticed a pattern, he left a message for his friend telling him to call him. Sure enough, the guy had an appendicitis and the Dr. saved his life.
Were it only the case, that everyone wanted to use Internet data for good and not for evil.
It is in our nature to never know how things will hurt us until it is too late and then we just can’t believe it happened to us. Go figure.
It’s been such a long time
I have been away for way too long.
I have found an interesting thing about blogging or actually about my process of writing. I can’t so much do it when I am angry.
Which, while I think is bad, could be a good thing.
We all have those ups and downs in our lives and it is pretty tempting to discuss them, but many of them are things in people’s lives they don’t necessarily want to share with an Internet audience.
Additionally, what fun is it to read about the trials and tribulations of people, well unless it is a really sexy vampire or wolf boy. Yeah, I know pathetic…
Anyway, what I have learned is that I have to work on my ability to write through times when I am “dealing”.
It is kind of like working out; I need the Nike shirt I bought Dave…
Every Damn Day, Just Do It!
Geek Post Alert: GPS, Friend or Foe
A couple of interesting tidbits caught my attention in my weekly SANS newsletter (www.sans.org; SANSBites), so I thought I would bounce some thoughts around.
The first item is the discovery that the version 4 operating system of the iPhone apparently stores GPS location information and downloads it to your computer iTunes. According to the blurb I read, the data is not sent to Apple or any other entity, but iPhone users are not advised this location information is tracked.
BTW, if you would like to read about this, here is one article about it also containing links to two tools developed by researchers which will provide a graphical representation of the data (just in case you want to know where any iPhone 4 users in the house have been recently). http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-20055885-37.html?tag=mncol;title
The second (which I will relate to the first shortly) is a note that the DOJ is asking the Supreme Court to allow warrantless GPS tracking authority. http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2011/04/scotus-gps-monitoring/
WOW
Ok, so from what I can tell the DOJ tried to use a 1983 case allowing the beacon tracking of a container to justify a GPS tracker on a drug dealer. (BTW, drug dealing bad, very bad). The case of the drug dealer is now making its way through the court system challenging the GPS tracking with the last round going to the drug dealer and GPS tracking being struck down. The thought behind the latest ruling was that the beacon tracking was from location A to location B while GPS tracking tracks continuous movement as it “illustrates how the sequence of a person’s movements may reveal more that the individual movements of which it is composed.” Uhhh, yeah.
While I am all about using GPS to track teen ager movements (after all as parents we are ultimately responsible for their actions) and potentially older, aging parents (when we are worried about their safety and sense of direction). I am not in favor of the DOJ deciding to track my movements on a whim.
Granted, they really don’t on a whim, but you know what I mean.
A warrant in its purest form requires a burden of proof to a judge of reasonable suspicion crimes are being committed. Warrantless is a fishing expedition.
Now to the Apple stuff, while the DOJ items are warrantless, let’s say the DOJ decides you are a drug dealer and wants to gain GPS information on you. They don’t even have to do it themselves, now all they have to do is subpoena your iPhone and computer with iTunes and they have historical data. Data you didn’t agree to allow nor even realize existed. Well, until now. You don’t get the benefit of a uh-oh, the Feds are watching so I better cool it. (If you even know they got a warrant.)
I am pretty much a fair player. I don’t believe in bad guys and support the good guys. I do, however, worry when Technology can potentially be used without context or safeguards.
I have seen people fired over misread proxy logs (i.e. incorrectly read listings of web site browsing) and other items where zealousness tramples common sense.
I am a bit disappointed in Apple for including this tracking in their latest OS.
Remember anything good guys can figure out how to get, so can bad guys. A hacked system with this type data provides hackers the ability to track your location and typical movements. Worst case scenario, gee whiz, look every Tuesday you are at Karate for 2 hours. I can sell that information to a local contact who robs your home Tuesday evening during the window of opportunity, no casing involved.
Some of my examples are extreme, and many of you may not care, after all you check in on Facebook with where you are all the time. A little GPS tracking is trivial.
The key difference, you choose to release the information you do on Facebook or tracking in Latitude (Google’s’ site).
Apple didn’t ask, and I guarantee, they didn’t code it unless they had a plan to use it.
GPS, Friend or Foe? I think the jury is still out on that one…
Random Texas photos and parting thoughts
From a T-Shirt in Gruene - couldn't have said it better myself.
Pulled up to a convenience store about 11 pm outside of Grene, it isn't often you find folks sticking their open beer on the dash while they are inside buying munchies. 🙂
Inside Gruene Hall, the oldest continuous running dance hall. It was featured in the movie Michael during the angel dance scene. Marty Stuart played here the night I was in Gruene.
I didn't even know you could still buy cigarettes out of a machine.
Oh, if only more places understood how vital it is to furnish their guests with Lawry's season salt on every table. This is how a table setup should be...
Wait for it...
I just can't imagine this name anywhere else but Texas and it cracked me up when I passed the place during my visit to Wimberley.
My body is back in Arizona now, my soul, well, you can guess where it is…
See title…
While planning to head to Lockhart for barbecue, I came across my digital copy of Texas Monthly with the cover article “How to Cook Like a Texan”. How appropriate.
So last night laying in a Texas bed reading Texas recipes from my Texas magazine, there were glowing raves for Franklin Barbecue in Austin and in true, busy making plans fashion, mine changed and the trip to Lockhart turned into a jaunt into Austin (which due to traffic is worse than being lost, really.)
Aaron Franklin, the owner and proprietor of Franklin Barbecue makes a terrific brisket. They certainly lived up to the hype. After trying it, I can’t wait to try his method listed in Texas Monthly. You may notice on the door the Sold Out sign (if you have good eyesight).
The word on the street is they are building a new pit but until then, they serve ’til they run out and luckily I got there in time. 🙂
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Along with my brisket, I had them throw in some turkey; who knew you could smoke turkey, keep it in a warmer and it would still be moist when served.
The purist move is to eat Texas barbecue without sauce and yes, it didn’t need any.
I shared my table with a couple of gentlemen who are frequent customers of Franklin who provided history of the joint as they have come to know it and their favorite meat items. For a more complete background a simple Google search will bring up info on the many places Franklin Barbecue has been featured.
For those of you not from Texas, THIS is what Barbecue should look like. Served on paper with white bread, add some tasty beans, a Lone Star beer and for dessert the Bourbon Banana Pudding Pie.
When I left Aaron shook my hand and in true Texas fashion, made me feel like he really was glad I had stopped by.
If you go, go early and while savoring the food, think of me.
I will be in Arizona trying desperately to replace all my missing Texas food…
Texas Friendly
It doesn’t matter how many times I imagine it or lament it, the reality of Texas friendly always ends up meaning more to me than I realize.
As I mentioned the other day I was planning on heading down to Lockhart for barbecue on my way to Wimberley Wednesday. I decided, with no place in particular to be, I would amble down back Texas farm to market roads enjoying the scenery.
I went through several small towns including La Grange, yes, just because of the song, adding a bit of time to my trip because more than once the navigation program on my phone lost GPS signal and if I took a different path it couldn’t tell.
Of course, you are never truly lost in Texas because so many nice people are willing to help you.
I stopped in Rosanky off FM 535 for a Diet D.P and to ask how I missed the 713 which would have taken me into Lockhart. A typical older Texas gentleman gave me directions to Lockhart and then asked why I was going. I told him, for the barbecue.
He shook his head and explained I had already missed barbecue for the day in Lockhart most of the joints were closed by 7 and the only one still open didn’t do Texas barbecue justice.
So with a change of plans, I asked for directions to Wimberley. He went to his truck and pulled a roadmap out of his glove box. Made x’s where Wimberley was and where we were and showed me the way, then he handed me his map.
I tried to refuse but of course, he would have none of that. We stood around and talked a bit longer.
Maybe this is why Texas is home.
It is a place where you feel kin to most follks, even strangers; where there are people willing to help or just willing to have a conversation; where you always feel comfortable.
That is my Texas and the place I miss most.
I know it is like all things, different folks in different areas create different experiences.
But Texas, no matter where I have roamed, has never failed to be a comfort to me.
And hey, if you are looking for something to do, I will say Wimberley is a terrific little weekend town. Cute as a button with all types of shops around the main square.
If shopping isn’t your thing, this weekend you can go see a reenactment of the Battle of San Jacinto for San Jacinto day; and I am sure that is just one of a hundred things going on in Texas this weekend.
When you have a history this long and this deeply embedded in folks, there is always something to celebrate.
Holy Grail
Today I am eating at Robb Walsh’s new restaurant in downtown Houston, El Real. It is indeed my pilgrimage to taste the Tex-Mex he writes about so eloquently in his cookbook.
The restaurant is built-in an old movie theater, to keep a bit of that theme, they have a large screen projected with cowboys movies going (no sound) but it is a cute touch. I would avoid the Felix chairs they are tall and uncomfortable but many Texans appreciate the symbolism and they did restore them beautifully.
So far, the salsa is good, it could pack a bit more wallop but it does have just enough spice without being too chunky however, I must admit the salsa I make based on Pioneer Woman’s recipe is a bit better but for restaurant salsa it is nicely done.
I have to say any menu with a comment on Good Lard definitely a place I want to eat!
The waiter convinced me to try the Skinny Margarita (I choose not to think about any other unspoken implications of him steering me toward the “skinny” version). It is made with Agave nectar and was also pretty good for a diet margarita.
I ordered the original plate (with a tamale, which I don’t like, but I did try it and it probably was a nice tamale, I just don’t like them.)
The enchiladas however were fantastic. Exactly what I expected and very true to Walsh’s recipe in his cookbook. The beans were terrific as well, of course, anything with a bacon flavor wins in my book.
I tried to make the rice listed in the Tex-Mex cookbook and we really didn’t care for it, unfortunately this is the recipe they seemed to have carried into the restaurant, I agree with a comment by the Houston Press that it is a bit bland. I think the recipe just needs something. Of course, remembering I am a newbie I certainly don’t know what it needs, but…
I was really hoping I would happen upon Walsh in the restaurant so I could get him to autograph one of his cookbooks for me but it isn’t looking good for that. Will I come back, definitely. There just isn’t enough good Tex-Mex. LOL
What a great way to spend Monday lunch…as for the rest of the week, the only thing I know is that Wednesday, on my way to Wimberley, I am going to stop over in Lockhart.
The State Legislature named them the Barbecue capital of Texas – twice and apparently there are 4 places there that are must eat, so I will stop in at all four ordering 1 thing and dreading the diet Dave is gonna put me on when I get back.
Oh and today is Marsh’s birthday so I have to post a shout out to her.
Happy birthday friend and thanks for putting up with me these many, many years!
Houston we have liftoff…
Steam of consciousness, sometimes disjointed alert…
I am finally on a plane ready for some much needed PTO (which we all know means pretend time off) because, of course, I have work to do next week. But it will not kill the fun in my visit with my friends and to revel in being back in Texas.
Yes, I have been homesick for awhile. There is no other place like Texas.
But I didn’t really want to write about Texas, what I really wanted to write about was companionship. I can only speak for myself but some of my comments seem to be universal.
Companionship sets you free. Isn’t that a bizarre contradictory statement. The very act of entering a relationship would seem to mean some type of bond which I looked and webster’s does not include in the definition of free.
So in my Diet Dr. Pepper riddled brain, here is the logic.
I have a good man. Honestly, the kind that calls his mother on weekends, loves kids and pets, doesn’t get angry easily and lives each day with integrity. I am not even sure I could think of something I “wish” he did that he doesn’t. He hugs and kisses me when I get close and mostly, he lets me, be me.
Some of you know what that means, others, whatever you imagine is probably not crazy enough.
I told him I was headed to Texas to see friends. Not once, did he question, dampen my enthusiasm or otherwise make me feel badly for wanting to catch up and have girl time. I could have said I was headed to Hong Kong and he would have asked if I needed him to get my passport updated. What he would not have done is doubt me or give me a hard time about being away from him.
Brad Pitt looks will fade but the guy who lets your mom move in when she needs a place to land is definitely a keeper.
Many of you have also found this type guy and are living the dream. 😉
I guess I am writing this for those that aren’t.
It isn’t supposed to be hard. It isn’t necessarily easy either, but it isn’t supposed to be something that sucks your soul. Your relationships should always feed you.
As a country song I heard once sings, you’ll only miss the man that you wanted him to be, so shut up and drive (away).
I told my daughter the other day, if you are dating someone and he doesn’t make you stronger than he isn’t the right one. I think Dr. Laura calls it “Stupid Attachment”, one of the 10 Stupid Things Women Do to Mess Up Their Lives.
We should be better with someone than alone. Some can’t fathom being alone, but sometimes it is just a rest stop where you recover and prepare to continue the journey.
In the movie The Rookie, the wife makes a statement, “I am a Texas woman which means I don’t need the help of a man to keep things running.”
Even if you aren’t a Texas woman, believe it, having a great guy is fantastic, having a terrible guy is hell but in the end, you have everything you need to survive inside you already.
Of course these are things we are supposed to tell our daughters, we have to teach them to be strong, to be alone when they must. Our children need us to be strong for them, when they can’t. We are their shield, their shelter. We can do amazing things for them that we sometimes can’t find the strength to do for ourselves. Because we have to.
Mexican proverb, The house does not rest upon the ground, but upon a woman.
Sorry to sound preachy today, I just caught myself dwelling on how lucky I am with Dave and how bad it can be when it is and how we have to be survivors everyday even in the little things because that is how we survive the big ones.
Geek Post Alert! Epsilon Breach & RSA Follow-Up
Most of you have probably received at least one email from a company notifying you that your email address was stolen in the recent Epsilon breach. So far this is the most complete list I have found for the companies breached emails:
1-800-Flowers, AbeBooks, Air Miles, Ameriprise Financial, Barclays Bank, Beachbody, bebe Stores, Best Buy, Brookstone, Capital One, City Market, Citi, Dillons, Disney Destinations, Eileen Fisher, Ethan Allen, Food 4 Less, Fred Meyer, Fry’s, Hilton Honors Program, Home Shopping Network (HSN), Jay C, JPMorgan Chase, King Soopers, Kroger, Lacoste, LL Bean Visa Card, Marriott Rewards, McKinsey & Company, MoneyGram, New York & Company, QFC, Ralphs, Red Roof Inn, Ritz-Carlton Rewards, Robert Half, Target, The College Board, TD Ameritrade, TiVo, US Bank, Walgreens
The report is that 2% of the Epsilon 2500+ clients had their email lists breached – but no financial data.
It is time to dust off the reminder on Phishing and remind everyone that the best thing you can do to make sure this breach doesn’t impact you is to not click on email links and don’t open email attachments.
I know that sounds impossible. You may get photos from grandkids or drawings, etc and you just have to open what is sent.
The problem is, your Uncle Bob or Little Joe did click on a link and have gotten infected and have sent you a virus.
Honestly, with Facebook, Picasa and Flickr around. There are so many avenues to post photos and provide updated information to folks that you may be able to avoid many of those attachments. Other than that, only open attachments when you know someone is sending one. If you get a document from someone, just email them right back and ask if they really meant to send it. If they did, open away, if not, that one email may have saved you a bunch of trouble.
As details on the breach come out, I will let you know what happened at Epsilon, but please just remember, as convenient as email is, it can be brutal and to point out how bad, I will transition to my RSA follow up.
Email did it.
I have privately told some of my students and others that the breach at RSA had to have internal components and it looks like it did. From a couple of reliable sources this is the story behind the RSA breach.
Apparently there was an email specifically crafted and directed toward a couple of technical teams within RSA. The email went into the spam email folder on their system however, this one RSA person went into the spam email folder and found the email titled “2011 Recruitment Plan”. Once that email was opened there was an Excel spreadsheet by the same name. The RSA employee opened the .xls (Excel) spreadsheet launching an embedded Adobe Flash Video which exploited a known Flash vulnerability (which has since been patched by Adobe).
At this point, you should visualize a long row of dominos you set up. It really does take a string of events to get through this breach.
The flash vulnerability installed a RAT virus (remote access trojan) which proceeded to phone home. The virus reached out to a pre-defined address on the Internet enabling the “bad guy” to remote control the computer inside RSA just as if he was sitting there. From that, they were able to copy and steal information.
Is that scary enough for ya?
Just from an email this large security firm suffered one of the worst breaches in the last decade in information security.
Now do you see why the Epsilon breach and bad folks having your email can be dangerous.
Please, please, please be careful, its a jungle out there…