Wed - September 22, 2004

This Blog is now closed


Nothing more to see here. Move along.

I have decided to close up my personal blog. I haven't really used it effectively or frequently. I am not sure how many people would care to read what I have to say anyway. It's really not for me.

I have several friends that do a much better job in this arena. I will continue to read their posts with much enthusiasm.

It's not that I don't have the time to do it. I think that I am not willing to share a lot of my life online.

Thanks for reading and adios...

Keith

Posted at 09:32 AM    

Thu - July 8, 2004

Got Married!


On June 26, 2004, Wendy and I were married.

We had a wonderful ceremony in West Lafayette, IN and even better honeymoon in New York City.

You probably noticed that my posting stopped at the end of April. Hopefully now that the wedding chaos is over, I can resume blogging. Stay tuned and thanks for reading...

UPDATE: I forgot to include info on our wedding web page. I am also working on honeymoon and wedding pictures too.

Posted at 11:16 AM    

Fri - April 30, 2004

New Terror Alert Level Indicator


Check out the current terror alert level indicator in the right-side navigation bar.

I found this indicator via Wil Wheaton's blog. I thought it was cool so I added it to mine.

Posted at 02:32 PM    

Wed - April 21, 2004

Linux: unfit for national security?


Professor Spafford says Linux not quite ready for prime time national security duties.

My boss likes controversy. He likes causing trouble. This EE Times article on Linux and national security is a good example.

Posted at 10:40 AM    

Solaris 10 Security


My last boss at Sun has an article published by SecurityFocus on Solaris 10 Security.

Ravi Iyer, group manager for security and my last boss at Sun, put together an article on security features in Solaris 10.

I remember having discussions (or, was it arguments?) with the Solaris Engineering group on security in Solaris 10. It seemed so far away based on the customer problems and complaints that we were dealing with at that time. Now, it's closer. Not here yet though.

I recently celebrated my departure from Sun two years ago -- way back on March 29, 2002. "Celebrated" might be a stronger word than appropriate here. I am just glad to not work there anymore. Sun is no longer the great company I remember.

Posted at 10:36 AM    

Tue - April 20, 2004

Expert Professor adds Prestige to University


Spaf is in the news again.

The Purdue Exponent has an article on my boss, Professor Gene Spafford:
He is one of 25 presidential appointees to the President’s Information Technology Advisory committee. The committee serves as a board of advisers to the president. Spafford, professor of computer science and philosophy, is examining issues of cyber security. He and other appointees, from all over the country in industry and academia, are investigating if the government is spending money in the right areas and then determining whether the research that is being done is correct.

Posted at 01:57 PM    

Sun - April 4, 2004

Woody's Seafood Saloon Picture


Caught on camera...

Woody's Seafood Saloon takes pictures of its customers and posts them on their site. Here is our picture with family and friends.

Posted at 08:06 PM    

Thu - April 1, 2004

Professor Succeeds in New Area


Professor Ahmed Elmagarmid has recently been working in the new area of "reversible computing."

There is a interesting story about Professor Elmagarmid posted on the CERIAS web site.

Hopefully, his research will lead to new advances and efficiencies in computing...

Posted at 09:47 AM    

Tue - March 30, 2004

Topix.net expands new sources


Topix.net is now trolling for news from 6,000 sources.

Topix.net has expanded their sources at a time when most news items are available online and often before most broadcast outlets can report it.

I am one that takes advantage of the availability of news on the Net. Other than listening to NPR in the morning, I no longer rely on the mainstream outlets for news. (Yes, I put NPR in the mainstream category. Shame on me.) I read through news through RSS feeds and occasionally through a web page or two. This works well for me since I am connected to the Net throughout the day.

Posted at 09:35 AM    

Fri - March 26, 2004

Travel Day (Keith)


We left for home on Friday.

Friday was busy because we travelled home. I went OK in the sense that we made it home when we were supposed to do it. It was just eventful and annoying.

Let me state right here for the record: I HATE THE U.S. IMMIGRATION SERVICE!!! I have been stopped by immigration officers in San Francisco, Denver, and Dulles. I have been questioned with intensity by every one of the officers at the desk. These guys appear to hate foreign vistiors, but I think they hate Americans even more. Doesn't make sense, does it? I can't figure it out either. Maybe they just hate me. Since Wendy and I were traveling together, we filled out one Customs form. Oh, that wasn't good enough for the officer. He had to give us a hard time for that. It made me feel unwanted in my own country. That's not right. The customs and immigration officers of Britain, France, Belgium, Grand Cayman, and Mexico have all been pleasant (often you don't even have to talk with one) and always seemed happy to have you visit their (except maybe the French officer). Not in the US though. You are not welcome. Don't bother me. Don't stay too long. We don't like your kind. I repeat, I hate these guys. We now return you to your previously started blog...

The ferry and taxi rides were pretty uneventful. The taxi ride was slower and less bumpy than the first one. The airline check-in process went fine. US Immigration was a pain, as usual. I had to do my usual strip-down for the TSA. We sat around for an hour and a half waiting to board. No problem.

Well, the plane started on the taxiway. It was recalled to the gate again. The pilot angrily explained that the local airport maintenance staff had missed one procedure and log book entry. Once that matter was cleared up, we got into the air without a hitch.

We made it to Charlotte and then on to Indy without troubles.

The vacation officially ended when we landed in Indy. Too bad. We had a lot of fun during our time there.

Posted at 05:16 PM    

Thu - March 25, 2004

On Thursday we rested (Keith)


We decided to take it easy on Thursday.

I was just getting over some food poisoning, so we decided to take a day to relax by the pool. It was a nice day though it did rain a few times. We got some reading down and just watched the day go by.

Kory left for home today.

Posted at 04:59 PM    

Wed - March 24, 2004

Wednesday's hike (Keith)


Kory and I went for a hike... and got soaked.

It rained most of the morning and soaked most of the ground around the island. Kory and I decided to take a hike anyways.

The island of St. John is mostly a national park and a good portion of it is underwater. The US National Park Service on St. John has many miles of trails and even underwater plagues for snorkelers.

Kory and I started our hike at the edge of Cruz Bay on the Caneel Hill trail. Just before we made it to the trailhead the rain started again. We put on our rain gear and proceeded anyways. We were mostly soaked by the time we reached the top of the hill. From there we went down to Honeymoon beach and then back to Cruz Bay to meet up with Mary Ellen, Mom, and Wendy.

Posted at 04:56 PM    

Tue - March 23, 2004

Employee Badges in the Strangest Places


While on vacation in the US and British Virgin Islands, I found a real employee badge in the strangest place.

On March 23, 2004, I was on the island of Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands for a wedding reception for my cousins who were married earlier in the day. There is not much on this island. It was only wired for power twelve years ago. Yet on this island is a famous tiki bar called "Foxy's". Visitors are encouraged to leave behind personal items for others to see. We found license plates, business cards, T-shirts, bikini tops, and even underwear.

I found the business card for the store manager of a Togo's restaurant I used to go to in the Bay Area many years ago.

I also found something from a guy named Mark Allen. His Nortel employee badge.

It is real. I know because I worked for Nortel. I have seen them before. It is hanging from the rafters in one of the tiki huts near the beach-side bar. The badge is even attached to a Nortel-labeled neckstring thingy.

I can hear the scream of security practioners everywhere. So many questions and thoughts about security risks popped into my head the moment I saw it.

Yes, Mark Allen, I found your employee badge. I wasn't looking for it. I just happened to stumble across while on vacation.

Who brings an employee badge to Jost Van Dyke? What's with that? Are you nuts? Did you quit your job, go for a vacation, and decide to leave it behind? Why? Inquiring minds want to know?

Posted at 04:47 PM    

The boat ride to the weeding reception (Keith)


My uncle hired a boat to take us to Jost Van Dyke and Foxy's.

The boat was named the "Cinnamon Bay" and captained by Bob (aka "Capt'n Bob"). Once on board we filled out US Customs and Immigration forms in advance to get that crap out of the way to enjoy our cruise. We cruised around St. John and the surrounding cays (pronounced "keys") on our way to the British Virgin Islands.

The cruise was a lot of fun and we say some amazingly beautiful coastlines and beaches. We passed Cinnamon Bay Beach once more to photograph it from the water. It was just as beautiful as earlier that morning during the ceremony. We say many other beaches with snorkelers and divers going down to see the reef and colorful fish.

Once we reached Jost Van Dyke, BVI, Capt'n Bob went ashore to file the paperwork with the British Customs official. We cleared that hurdle and were ferried to the beach by the bost's dinghy.

There is not much on Jost Van Dyke. It was only wired for power about twelve years ago. At one end of the bay sits Foxy's, a tiki bar with live music and the best Barbecue ribs. We had a great dinner and then climbed aboard the boat for the cruise back to Cruz Bay.

Traveling at night by boat was a lot of fun too. The stars were bright and plentiful. (I still couldn't see any recognizable constellations.)

Posted at 04:20 PM    

Wedding Day (Keith)


March 23 was Mom's birthday and Nikki and Jay's wedding day. Mom got some presents and Nikki and Jay got married on the beach.

It was a beautiful day for wedding...

It rained a few times, but nothing heavy. It was that nice Caribbean island type rain. Often it was sunny outside and lightly raining. (Hey, if it has to rain, that's the way I'd like it.)

Anyways, we loaded up and left for the Cinnamon Bay Beach for the ceremony. We arrived early and had to wait for the wedding party to arrive. Finally, they did. It was a unique ceremony. One that would be considered strange to most folks. I thought it was pretty cool.

Once the ceremony was over, there was the usual photographs to be taken. The professional photographer did some great work. (She also remembered everyone's name and was very polite.) Everyone in attendance also has a camera. I think just about everyone was photographed at least fifty times while standing around. Some more than others, obviously.

After the ceremony, we headed to villa that my aunt, uncle, and cousins were staying for some food and presents for the happy couple.

A little before 2:00, we left for Cruz Bay to take a boat ride over to Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands for dinner.

Posted at 04:09 PM    

Cinnamon Bay (Wendy)

Jazz Villa (Wendy)

Sunday's Activities (Keith)