http://www.cerias.purdue.edu/homes/kaw/iblog/B875939867 kaw (at) cerias (dot) purdue (dot) edu © Keith Watson Wed, 22 Sep 2004 09:33:12 -0500 Wed, 22 Sep 2004 09:33:14 -0500 iBlog 1.3.7 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

]]> Wed, 22 Sep 2004 09:32:36 -0500 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.

]]> Thu, 08 Jul 2004 11:16:19 -0500 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.

]]> Fri, 30 Apr 2004 14:32:57 -0500 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.

]]> Wed, 21 Apr 2004 10:40:23 -0500 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.

]]> Wed, 21 Apr 2004 10:36:35 -0500 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.

]]> Tue, 20 Apr 2004 13:57:03 -0500 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.

]]> Sun, 04 Apr 2004 20:06:35 -0500 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...

]]> Thu, 01 Apr 2004 09:47:35 -0500 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.

]]> Tue, 30 Mar 2004 09:35:01 -0500 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.

]]> Fri, 26 Mar 2004 17:16:44 -0500