tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36885522024-03-06T21:28:23.997-07:00Fly Fishing on the Stream of ConscienceJust my thoughts on whatever strikes me at the momentWardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14389577433912791845noreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3688552.post-48150254274155537762008-12-03T17:54:00.001-07:002008-12-03T17:54:44.175-07:00yeah yeah back off I knowDo I have anything interesting to say - well that depends. I have been busy - I have been concentrating on changing my life, making me a better person, jazz like that. So while I am not quite ready to spill those beans I am going to throw a link out for those that may be looking to change their own directions. I wish I was in a place where I could pursue something like this, alas I am not but who says you aren't. Take a look and see <a href="http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2008/12/if-you-could-ch.html">Change Your Life</a><br /><br />I promise I am returning and I ahve a lot to say.<br />Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14389577433912791845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3688552.post-31668070557344766142008-03-23T03:23:00.001-06:002008-03-23T04:43:19.731-06:00i know i knowIt has been awhile since I have attempted to put anything of value up on my blog. I had a quick story back in February on dealing with my son but really nothing since December.<br /><br />I am still making the long haul from Seattle to Germany on a regular basis - literally every two weeks. Lufthansa is adding a new direct from <a href="http://www.lufthansa.com/online/portal/lh/us/info_and_services/local_box?nodeid=2103946&l=en&cid=1000390">Seattle to Frankfurt</a> at the end of this month so I plan to start taking that. It cuts almost 4 hours out of my flying time - definitely worth it.<br /><br />I have been working hard and the office rewarded me for it. I was recently promoted to Director level within my consulting firm. It brings some new challenges and some changes. The title is only a couple weeks old and I have been back in Germany since being upgraded - so I haven't really had to act "Directorish". This will of course change over the next couple of weeks.<br /><br />Next I am in Amsterdam all week for <a href="http://blackhat.com/">Blackhat Europe</a>. The first couple of days I will be in class learning <a href="http://blackhat.com/html/bh-europe-08/train-bh-eu-08-pa.html">Reverse Engineering: Application in Malicious Code Analysis</a>. I am really looking forward to the class. It should be interesting and allow me to be more successful in my on reverse engineering assignments. I wrap that up and zip back to the States on the 29th.<br /><br />I will be in Seattle for a week (time to practice being a manager) then I am off to San Francisco for <a href="http://www.rsaconference.com/">RSA</a>. There I will get to practice my new Director skills as I begin the process of moving <a href="http://ioactive.com/">IOActive</a> forward in their information security offerings (glamorous words for me being a sales guy for a week). I will also be there as a technical resource to help the real sales people discuss what we can do as a resource for an organization. I am really excited about this. I have begun to make some new contacts and I am really looking forward to increasing the range of discussions and add my own input to the security community.<br /><br />After that long week I will be back in Seattle reviewing what I learned at RSA and preparing for a trip back to Germany. If you don't follow me on <a href="http://www.dopplr.com/traveller/wardo">Dopplr</a> let me know and I will add you. My travel schedule is crazy....<br /><br />I am considering starting a new blog that I can use more as a sounding ground for my security interests and what I am learning as an InfoSec manager. This will allow those that don't really care about where there credit card numbers go to rest to read about me versus my security minded opinions. I will let you know when it goes live.<br /><br />Update: I went ahead and started the new blog. You can find it here at <a href="http://seriouslyinfosec.blogspot.com">Were I taking this seriously...</a>Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14389577433912791845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3688552.post-14953819270527396302008-02-20T05:53:00.002-07:002008-02-20T06:10:13.815-07:00sometimes Dad isn't rightSo this post started off as a comment for one of my favorite <a href="http://eurotrippen.com">ExPat blogs</a> here in Germany. <br /><br />A few years back when my son was learning his colors, his brilliant father saw an amazing opportunity to screw with his mind. I decided that I would mistakingly teach him that blue was purple - there was ample opportunity to reaffirm this behavior as he was a fan of Thomas the Train - a very blue train.<br /><br />So I would privately giggle to myself when he would call out purple while mom quizzed him on his colors. Mom would patiently explain that it was blue, he would look puzzled briefly and they would move on. I thought how funny - heh heh dad messing with the little one's head. Father's take perverse pleasure's in warping the minds of youth today. I am sure my father madly giggles (ok so he guffaws) whenever I tell him of something that my own son has done to me recently.<br /><br />Well one Friday night we were shopping in Barnes and Noble (the married couple with kids date night) and I was sitting reading a magazine while my son played with Thomas (the very blue train).<br /><br />A young girl of 5 or 6 approached with her brother and began to play with the giant Thomas the (very blue) train set. She began to tell her brother the colors of things. Finally reaching Thomas she said "blue". My son stopped and looked at her "No that's purple!" I at this moment looked up from my magazine to see the glare coming from a young woman deciding that this little boy was in need of a solid 'put in his place'. "No!" she said, "this is blue! dummy." My son's upper lip trembling replied, "No it's purple - daddy tell her that it's purple." Ah geez why are we dragging the old man into this?<br /><br />I looked upon the children over the top of my magazine. My eyes were instantly met by a little girl with her arms crossed, and a glare any woman would be proud of. My son stood there, a look of deep concern upon his face (this is a positive thing - he is learning who wears the pants early.)<br /><br />"Well son this little girl is correct. The train is blue not purple." The little girl looked at me as if to say, "are you an idiot teaching your kid this crap."<br /><br />I looked at my little man. A look of defeat flashing across his face and then he turned to me and said, "daddy your an idiot." Okay so he said I was a dummy. Ahh the mouth of babes.<br /><br />I heard a slight giggle from the bookshelf down and his mother covered her mouth as she stepped away. An evil smile on her face. "Yes, son your dad is an idiot."Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14389577433912791845noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3688552.post-78437165259092017882007-12-20T13:23:00.001-07:002007-12-20T13:25:37.491-07:00Christmas gifts for momSo this year the family decided to do puts name in the bucket and draw who was buying who a gift. I ended up with my mother. I love my mom, but buying her a Christmas gift is probably the hardest thing in the world to do. I know all the things she likes - do you realize how hard it is now to find an antique cookbook for her collection, or a tin that she hasn't already found. Forget it.<br /><br />So this year I decided to raid my photographs and pick two that I thought she might like. These are the two I picked. I am a few days late, but I am getting them printed and matted and will ship them off as soon as possible. She knows I can barely remember to tie my own shoes most days - shouldn't be a surprise I can't mail Christmas gifts on time.<br /><br />Something about the colors in this one. I am going to have it matted with a rust border, similar to the beads in the picture.<br /><br /><img src="http://lh6.google.com/wardspan/R2rPlltdffI/AAAAAAAABhs/Tk6ZfyVTakA/IMG1.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="IMG1.jpg" border="0" width="480" height="640" align="left" /><br /><br />This picture - wow - I might have this one matted for myself.<br /><br /><img src="http://lh4.google.com/wardspan/R2rPuFtdfgI/AAAAAAAABh0/Ng-H7ck_hdc/IMG2.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="IMG2.jpg" border="0" width="480" height="640" align="left" /><br /><br />So there you go - mommy's always like something their babies made for them.<br />Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14389577433912791845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3688552.post-37813332937350752832007-12-19T13:01:00.001-07:002007-12-19T13:01:43.849-07:00Just sitting at my desk in SeattleI was just staring out the window and kind of amazed at my location in Seattle. There are some crazy views from the windows on the 68th floor.<br /><br />Here's what it looks like from my desk:<br /><div style="text-align:center;"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/wardspan/R2l3J1tdfaI/AAAAAAAABg8/BWxYZOgMnJ4/IMG_0919.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="IMG_0919.jpg" border="0" width="300" height="225" /></div><br /><br />This is the view from the back office:<br /><div style="text-align:center;"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/wardspan/R2l4bVtdfbI/AAAAAAAABhE/KCmDeCYbaCw/IMG_0921.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="IMG_0921.jpg" border="0" width="300" height="225" /></div><br /><br />and finally here's the other side of our space:<br /><div style="text-align:center;"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/wardspan/R2l4kFtdfcI/AAAAAAAABhM/sYQPnoZ8PI0/IMG_0922.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="IMG_0922.jpg" border="0" width="300" height="225" /></div><br /><br />I will be back with something of value in the coming days.<br /><br />Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14389577433912791845noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3688552.post-83642422329166456532007-12-05T16:43:00.000-07:002007-12-05T16:44:17.050-07:00planes, trains and my mis-adventures...So where did I leave you last - oh yes - I shared my experience with Hertz and then my visit with the awesome Expat bloggers that I follow.<br /><br />So last Monday my colleague Demon and myself flew back from the States. We had made the trip home for Thanksgiving. Demon and his roommate came over for dinner with my family. <br /><br />I served my "martha stewart" turkey (it should be on the cover of a magazine it looks so yummy), bourbon sweat potatoes, green bean casserole, wild mushroom stuffing, homemade cranberry sauce, garlic mashed potatoes, and turkey gravy. Typing this up is making me hungry for more turkey. Oh I can't forget my pumpkin cheesecake - this is my favorite - I make two of these because I want a piece every night from the moment I cut it till it is gone.<br /><br />I wish I had pictures of all of us crowded around our little table with plates full and giving thanks for friends and family - next year I promise.<br /><br />Monday morning creeped back around and Demon and I had a driver pick us up and deliver us to the airport. We cracked our standard, how do you tell an american in europe jokes? "take their shoes off, wearing ball caps, etc" as we worked our way through security. The pilot in front of us was laughing and enjoyed our company. We breezed through the airport, bounced through the business lounge and once again longed for the things we have in Europe. I tell you I am getting corrupted living abroad.<br /><br />Our plane flight was uneventful until somewhere around 5am. Demon had long been asleep. His several drinks had worked mine hadn't - argh! I had finally given up on sleep and had converted from a bed back to a seat. I was looking at the available movies for the 90th time that night and then it happened. A smell so awful, it slinked along the floor, clawing it's way up the seat and then attacked my sinuses. Someone had died on the plane - not literally but something inside of them had ripped it's way free of their internal control and had taken it upon itself to find me and pummel me stupid. Were it possible to identify the owner of this wretched smell I would have woken them with my smiling slightly lunatic face pressed very close, minus my front teeth and asked then politely to find the nearest WC/bathroom and rid themselves of whatever demon had possessed them. Instead I sat in silence and wished a thousand camels fleas upon them.<br /><br />I have begun to hate flying. I have been doing this constantly for 7 months or so. I don't mind short little hops here and there but these long hauls are going to turn me into crazy man. Some would argue that I am closing in on that status without much help from the airline industry.<br /><br />It isn't really the airplane or crew - I am flying business class - they serve me enough alcohol and food to put me into a coma - they know what they are doing. What is making me crazy is the time. Once a month I have a 12 hour day. Somewhere in there the other 12 hours just completely disappear. I go from it being Monday to it being Tuesday somewhere over the Atlantic. I am young (shut up peanut gallery) this shouldn't effect me but it does. I lose time, where did it go? Who is taking this time? May I have it back some day? The BDA is bothered by this. Then the reverse happens on the return I get a 27 hour day. Someone throws some time back at me. This kills the nice organized sections of my brain that care about things like that. Time is all relative - I know I know, but this isn't right. Just let me whine alright - I was granted permission to do that by lumping in with Whiney Expats.<br /><br />Trains - now that's a decent form of transportation. Well decent as long as they aren't on strike. You can book a seat without needing a degree in expedition planning by simply heading by the local train station and talking to the nice people who just want to help you. I know - I was just as surprised - it was amazing (hand wave) customer service. Supposedly I could do all this on the web but after attempting by myself and then procuring the help of a german colleague to book the tickets I just gave up and headed to the train station. It worked out in the end.<br /><br />So back to trains. They are just cool. You are relaxed, room to walk around, pleasant atmosphere and if you splurge you can even get a cabin by yourself. There is a bar car, restaurant and a guy wandering the aisles bringing hot coffee. I love it. I wish we had more trains available in the states. We have a quick ride between Seattle and Portland that I will probably take a few times in the coming months while I try to accomplish some work in the States. Rumor has it that this is one of the few corridor lines left on the west coast.<br /><br />I fell in love with trains when I was younger. My father loved them, and by proxy I felt love for them. My son likes them too. I like how that works out. My love affair with trains continued as I grew older - I had a young lady friend (sounds more romantic than girlfriend) living in Delaware and I would catch a train from Georgia or North Carolina up to spend long weekends with her. Of course we slept in separate beds - what kind of guy do you think I am. Alright I was lying about that part but the rest is true. I would leave late on Thursday night 9pm or so out of this little train station and would be in Delaware in the morning. She only had one class and would be done about the time I arrived. The romance lasted for a couple of semesters and I rode the train a lot as a starving college student. So now I find myself in Europe and have the opportunity to ride the train and then I discover that the train is as expensive as a plane sometimes more expensive. Oh well, I will ride them when I can.<br /><br />Demon and I are headed off to Amsterdam (riding the train!) for a conference on PCI DSS in Europe. I should be an expert of sorts on this - I recently sat on a panel and shared the good and the bad of the practices around protecting credit card data. However my current client is going to need all the help I can get them so I am off to meet the people running PCI in Europe. Should be fun. I doubt I will blog about the conference - the few followers I have bribed to follow me could care less about the scary things I do. Even fewer are interested in the assessment procedures for validating whether a control has been properly implemented safe guarding said credit card information. These people want to know their data is safe and that the bad guys can't get it.Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14389577433912791845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3688552.post-35232100128047571212007-11-30T07:34:00.001-07:002007-11-30T07:35:51.119-07:00i know i know - you don't post anymore - you don't love meMy schedule has been a little hectic lately. I was in <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/wardspan/Zaragoza">Zaragoza, Spain</a> for a week performing a security assessment and obviously wandering the city. I love Spain - I will be back. The food was amazing (hand motion), the people were friendly (I was labeled a "kissy slut" because I enjoyed the european kiss on both cheeks so much), did I mention the food was amazing.<br /><br />My Spanish slowly began what we fondly called Sprench by the end of the week. I learned to speak French when I was younger - unfortunately when I have had a round or two and the brain gets slightly twisted I assume that you can use French for Spanish. So when I couldn't think of the word in Spanish and there were several I couldn't think of I used french. Makes for interesting conversation with people - fortunately at one point in my adventures there was a french man with us and he and I stood in the corner speaking a foreign language I can sort of communicate in. Please remember that my French still brings a smile, not quite the laughter that my broken German brings people. The party I was with wouldn't allow me to grab my translator so we stumbled along in my broken Spanish and there english. Red wine and tapas will make everything good. After a wonderful week I headed back to Germany.<br /><br />Ahh Germany how I had missed you so. I landed in Nuremberg (Nürnberg) a little over an hour late. I had stopped in Frankfurt at the Hertz rental and had them confirm for me that my rental car was waiting for me in Nuremberg airport. Sometimes I worry about silly things like this. The pretty young lady smiled at me, checked the reservation, said things were good and I wandered off to find my plane. I arrive in Nuremberg excited to go jump into the BMW 7 that I had rented previously from Hertz. <div style="text-align:center;"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/wardspan/R0_wUbLsSOI/AAAAAAAABUE/nweaOwt6D90/IMG_0157.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="IMG_0157.jpg" border="0" width="320" height="240" /></div><br /><br />Instead here's the conversation I had with the <a href="https://www.hertz.com/rentacar/index.jsp?bsc=t&targetPage=reservationOnHomepage.jsp">Hertz</a> girl.<br /><br />me: "Hi I am Ward Spangenberg. here's my confirmation and my Gold Card Number."<br /><br />her: "You're late."<br /><br />me: "Well yes I am."<br /><br />her: "We don't have a car for you."<br /><br />me: "umm I confirmed in Frankfurt that you had a car for me. I have a confirmation number. I am a Gold member. Where's my car?"<br /><br />her: "We don't have a car for you. You were late."<br /><br />me: "I understand I am late. That's part of why we use credit cards and join the Gold service is so that you guarantee the car will be here for me."<br /><br />her: "We don't have a car for you. You were late."<br /><br />me: "So what do you suggest I do"<br /><br />her: "Rent from someone else."<br /><br />me: "alrightie then - thanks for your help"<br /><br />her: "danken sie. auf Wiedersehen."<br /><br />I kid you not. A friend would tell me later that weekend to remember that in Germany, "you are paying for the service, not the customer service." It should be noted that my brain is a bit weak on exact quote that J provided me with but hey you get the idea.<br /><br />I wandered over to Avis and they had a car I could rent. I ended up with an <a href="http://www.audi.de/audi/de/de2/neuwagen/a3.html">Audi A3</a> from Avis. A cute little Audi with enough pep and most importantly a navi system.<br /><br />I grabbed my friend, who in a week's time had managed to garner one new nickname from our client "demon" and meet a wunderbar Glas washer - no good german translation for that. We jumped in the card and headed off to Dresden for the <a href="http://www.jbittner.com/germany/2007/08/3rd-whiney-expat-blogger-in-germany.html">3rd Whiney Expat German Meetup</a>. That by the way is not an exact description about this group of people. I don't think we whined at all the whole weekend. Well I may have but I am just a big baby.<br /><br />Half way to Dresden I gave up the car keys so my buddy could drive on the Autobahn. Somewhere in that I tweeted with worry about "Demon" having that maniacal look in his eyes and the speedometer pegged. On the return I heard him mumble something like, "it won't go any faster - I have had the pedal stuck to the floorboards since we got outside of Dresden." (I took some creative license with his mumbling.)<br /><br />We arrived safely in Dresden and wandered off to find the other Expats at the ice cream shop. Umm yummy ice cream - so I ordered a cappuccino.<br /><br />After introductions - meaning I walked right into the middle of the people speaking english and said, "Hi I am Ward". I naturally assume that everyone no matter where I am in the world knows the "Big Dumb American" (need to trademark that - hmm wait did I just trademark that.) Guess what I am not near as famous in reality as I am in "ward's world."<br /><br />Needless to say we were off and running. I am sure I scared a couple of people - it could have been me talking about all the scary things that "Demon" and I do with security - or it could be that I am a BDA. Everyone was polite and slowly slid away from me.<br /><br />Our illustrious leader J arrived and the group wandered into the streets. You now have 10-15 (counting has never been my strong suit) americans/canucks wandering the streets of Dresden. We were also graced with two very tolerant germans. <br /><br />I have several pictures. Here is one of my favorites as wandered along towards the river and our boat trip.<br /><br /><div style="text-align:center;"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/wardspan/R1Aau7LsSPI/AAAAAAAABUQ/Nrbl-49MDsQ/IMG_0644.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="IMG_0644.jpg" border="0" width="320" height="240" /></div><br /><br />I can't say enough about how wonderful it was to meet everyone. The entire group brought new perspectives, insights and humor to the meetup. I have received several compliments in their posts about the weekend. I thank all of you. There are several memories from the weekend - others have put them to words - I have just cataloged them for reference in my future stories. Literally translated this means Ward really needs to start carrying his <a href="http://www.moleskineus.com/">Moleskin</a> with him again and taking notes.<br /><br />It was a blast to meet the people behind the blogs - I get sort of star struck when meeting writers. I consider myself a hack and follow bloggers who write far better than I do. My fond hope is to one day be one of those bloggers people refer to and laugh about. You guys all rock - thanks for letting the BDA and the LDA follow along (little dumb american - he is really a medium - so going forward I will stop with the jokes about his learning disability aardvark.)<br /><br />So where was I?<br /><br />Oh so Sunday rolled around and MDA and I jumped in the car - and as stated before barreled down the Autobahn towards Herzo and my apartment. I went to sleep - I wasn't driving what do you expect from me?<br /><br />Monday morning creeped around and we both caught planes back to the states. Details that should be mentioned here include the fact that we visited the neighborhood mexican restaurant and drank towards stupidity. Hint: don't tell a German bartender his drinks are weak.<br /><br />We hit the states for T-day, me appearing on television to talk about the scary things called RFID (still waiting for them to put the video up - will link later) and me cutting down a Christmas tree.<br /><br /><img src="http://lh3.google.com/wardspan/R1AeerLsSQI/AAAAAAAABUc/Rg9iTU-SzRY/IMG_0658.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="IMG_0658.jpg" border="0" width="320" height="426" align="center" /><br /><br /><img src="http://lh4.google.com/wardspan/R1Aeh7LsSRI/AAAAAAAABUk/4VK4LcnWyJQ/IMG_0676.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="IMG_0676.jpg" border="0" width="320" height="426" align="center" /><br /><br />I will leave you here. More misadventure on the return trip to Germany to follow.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14389577433912791845noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3688552.post-30568469471866219372007-11-10T12:48:00.001-07:002007-11-10T12:48:36.149-07:00where you been kid?So it has been awhile since I have posted, felt like I should get an update in before I head off next weekend to the <a href="http://www.jbittner.com/germany/2007/08/3rd-whiney-expat-blogger-in-germany.html">meetup</a> in Dresden.<br /><br />I am currently in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zaragoza">Zaragoza, Spain</a>. It is a beautiful city - come to think of it I haven't been anywhere in Europe yet that has been ugly. I am staying at the <a href="http://www.palafoxhoteles.com/index.php?mod=hoteles&mem=detalle&idhotel=3">Hotel Palafox</a>. It is a great hotel, super service and centrally located to everything so I can walk around and get lost. <br /><br />I slept in this morning, had an amazing (hand effects - ask me sometime) breakfast. The breakfast buffet introduced me to so many wonderful things and the variety of fresh fruit will bring me back. I then wandered off the hotel lobby to finish my <a href="http://www.jim-butcher.com/books/dresden/8/">book</a>. I felt like taking my time today and was rewarded with a <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/wardspan/Zaragoza">beautiful afternoon</a> to wander the streets. The Spanish seem to have had better planners working on the designs for the road layout than most of the German cities I have been getting lost in.<br /><br />Unfortunately my spanish is as bad as my german, so I spent a long day building up the nerve to enter a restaurant and get something to eat. I eventually chose <a href="http://www.redaragon.com/gastronomia/Restaurantes/default.asp?accion=pagina&Restaurante_ID=797">Pasta Nostra</a>. The food was good and their Tiramisu made me all warm inside.<br /><br />As for my language skills - I have been in denial for several months now. I am scared to try my limited language skills - well shy - somewhere in my life I decided that unless I can speak the language it is better to keep my mouth shut. I wonder if that was drilled into my head by my french teacher. I pissed her off on a regular basis and have managed to only be able to read and write french - my pronunciation is horrible.<br /><br />This actually explains a lot to me - I take language much like any of my other skills - if I can't do it perfectly then I practice till I have it well enough that I feel comfortable - and comfortable for me is defined as better than average. I refuse to play the guitar for anyone because I don't feel that I can play it well enough to sit with anyone - I am missing the opportunity to learn from others because I am shy/scared/stupid. The same goes for my language - I won't attempt to use it because I don't feel like I have enough of a grasp to be understood, and I want to be understood. First step is realizing you have a problem.<br /><br />I read an interesting post the other day about <a href="http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/11/07/how-to-learn-but-not-master-any-language-in-1-hour-plus-a-favor/">learning a language</a>. His ideas follow a scientific approach that makes sense to me. Suddenly I am filled with new confidence to try things out and see where they go. Wow - all this from wandering around Zaragoza - scared because I don't want to be insulting for not speaking the language.<br /><br />okay then - guess that's done.<br /><br />I have some questions now.<br /><br />Why don't they have instruction manuals on bidets? The BDAB isn't up to date on the proper use of such devices and is curious. Maybe google holds the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bidet%23Usage">answer</a>.<br /><br />Why is Russia Television (RT) in english?<br /><br />Why do the Spanish rename American things? i.e. New York = Nueva York, Cookie Monster = Monstruo de las galletas<br /><br />Just wondering...<br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14389577433912791845noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3688552.post-13304348291576709552007-10-22T11:09:00.001-06:002007-10-22T11:09:03.528-06:00whatcha doin?I see the light - well okay really it's just the end of October and I am going to be bounding off to Seattle for a week on Friday. I am happy to be heading home - it has been a long month and I am looking forward to seeing everyone. I did my prerequisite gift shopping for everyone - chocolates, <a href="http://technic.lego.com/en-us/Products/Trucks/8273Trucks.aspx">Legos</a>, Cinderella <a href="http://barbie.everythinggirl.com/">Barbie</a>, and <a href="http://www.charm-club.org/en/charmclub/menu_cc.html">Thomas Sabo</a>.<br /><br />I managed to catch the England vs. South Africa game. I was disappointed that England lost - just can't be a Bok fan. The try after careful consideration was really not a try - I agree with the video judge - hate video judges now for that reason - when did we decide that we needed them?<br /><br />The referee on the field called the try but the Line Judge said nope - so off to the box the Referee goes - as we the hunched crowd in <a href="http://www.finnegansirishpub.de/">Finnegans</a> screamed TRY TRY TRY - <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=488950&in_page_id=1770&ico=Homepage&icl=TabModule&icc=picbox&ct=5">Prince and other Prince Brother both shared our views</a> - and - BAH the Line Judge was correct! As the french would mumble, "C'est la vie!"<br /><br />I received a compliment the other day when I responded correctly in german. The gentleman said that my accent was correct and I had responded perfectly. The first and last time I pull that off. I have been trying to practice ordering my breakfast and coffee in German - I am trying to pull it off.<br /><br />All right it has been a really long day so I am going to take off<br />Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14389577433912791845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3688552.post-65199208101853858632007-10-13T07:09:00.001-06:002007-10-13T07:09:32.991-06:00absence makes the heart grow fonderSo I have been in Germany for 3 months now. You know that you have been away for too long when you watch a silly television show and watch two people kiss and your breath catches and you wish that it was your wife/husband that you were kissing like that. That's all the embarrassment I am willing to suffer for the day. So enough about my television viewing habits.<br /><br />Life is good. I fall in love with Germany a little bit more each week. <br /><br />Since my blog is more of a rambling account of the silliness that invades the area where I am residing I tend to browse other people's blogs with more intelligence and better observations and then comment on them. There have been several stories back and forth lately among the crazy ex-pats and their experiences living abroad. <a href="http://www.eurotrippen.com/2007/10/03/do-germans-really-hate-americans/">Do the Germans like us or no</a>t? Do we care? How do we make friendships? Is the Nuremburger better with mustard or without?<br /><br />One of my favorite posts in the past couple of weeks was about <a href="http://andrewhammel.typepad.com/german_joys/2007/10/although-instan.html">Americans and Germans interaction</a>. This post was great and also disheartening to me. One it finally helped me understand why I am having such a hard time building friendships with Germans. Basically I am going to need to be here for awhile and get invited into the group. I can deal with that. I discussed this with one of the German fellows I work with and he generally agreed with the article and the points made. His comment was that even Germans have the same problem between cities. The north not liking the south. Wow sounds just like being back in the states. Craziness! <br /><br />The disheartening part of the article was me taking a moment to reflect about the generalized behavior associated with Americans and our social groups. I say disheartening because it made me examine my friendships and realize that their basis was very fragile and really only related to the circumstance we were in at the moment, whether that be career choice, sporting activity, or coffee shop (bar) we hang out at. I have only had 5 really good friends. People outside of what we did, where we were, that I could call at any moment and be on the same track within moments of hearing the other's voice. My friends are scattered around the US; Washington, Kansas, NY, NC. I have the friends in the same town, neighbors, etcetera but these are built around our current time, place and circumstance. The Germans have it figured out, "Enormous warmth, compassion, and helpfulness permeate the private sphere, while the public realm is generally characterized by social distance and purely functional exchanges with only formal involvement. Conversely, all 'impersonal' values - particularly those indigenous to the economic and occupational spheres such as achievement, competition, and goal-attainment - are strictly banned from the private sphere. Nor are public sphere relationships characterized by these values viewed as capable of being transformed easily into ones of friendship. Thus, frequent contact in the workplace - the major 'recruitment' arena for friends in the US -- does not lead, to the same extent, to the development of close ties." (copied from German Joys via American sociologist <a href="http://www.bu.edu/sociology/fac-kalberg.html">Stephen Kalberg</a>) <br /><br />I like this. It makes sense to me. These are the people you want influencing your life, your children, things within your sphere. I really like this. If you have a moment check out the post - I have read it a couple of times - some would say I am slow I prefer to believe I am being thoughtful.<br /><br />As for whether German's hating us - I strive daily to be a positive representative of the US. This doesn't mean I am not still the BDAB ("big dumb american boy") My german sucks, but I am trying Tee sounds just like Tea to me but the Der Beck girl laughs at me every day. The Germans I work with love my BDAB stories - some of them even want to introduce me to their wives - guess I can't be that bad. I understand that the politics associated with my country are a bit absurd but hey I didn't vote for the knucklehead either time. <br /><br />Oh by the way - you should always have the spicy mustard on your Nuremburgers - it's just plain yummy!<br /><br />eeps almost forget - the <a href="http://www.jbittner.com/germany/2007/08/3rd-whiney-expat-blogger-in-germany.html">3rd Whiney Expat Blogger in Germany Meet-Up</a> is just around the corner. I will get to meet people who at first glance appear to be much smarter about this living abroad thing than me and maybe they can laugh at my BDAB stories, or at least laugh at my attempts at learning German. See you there.<br /><br /><br />Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14389577433912791845noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3688552.post-16099697055353789032007-10-03T05:08:00.001-06:002007-10-03T05:08:43.501-06:00McDonalds saved my lifeOkay so it really didn't but for whatever reason this morning when I woke up (actually it was almost 11 when my lazy body decided to finally open my eyes) I was homesick - I mean really homesick - I needed something - so I got dressed climbed into my car and started driving - low and behold was a <a href="http://www.mcdonalds.de/html.php">McDonalds</a>.<br /><br />I know that there is a <a href="http://www.mcdonalds.de/html.php?t=Restaurant&c=mcfinder&c2=mcfinder2">McDonalds</a> here in town - I have driven by it countless times and refused to stop and get anything - we have them on every corner that <a href="http://www.starbucks.com/retail/locator/MapResults.aspx?storeKey=95466">Starbucks</a> hasn't bought in the US. Anyway back to my story...<br /><br />I parked walked inside and got into line. Lines are a foreign thing it appears everywhere I go in Europe - in Paris there are no lines on the streets. A gentleman told me that because of the lack of lines people were more careful when driving - yeah okay whatever you say - crazy frenchies! <br /><br />Another great example that leaves me boggled is while waiting to board the plane, there is always a mass crowd that surges forward and is forced into a bunch that eventually settles into a single file sort of line - but only after the crowd has been forced into this.<br /><br />What's the deal - why are lines an issue? Is it the forced compliance to stand behind each other? I know they aren't complicated to form - I have seen local children all following along behind each other with little to no jostling to get to the front - when does this stop making sense, I must have missed that lecture in school. (my father is grinning right now - yeah just one more lecture you missed Bubba)<br /><br />After a 15 minute wait and jostle I managed to approach the counter and attempt to order in my broken german. I don't claim to be very good, actually I suck when it comes to speaking german - I can say Hello, Thank You, and Goodbye, and Please. I am frustrated with myself that I have not forced myself to learn more. I have not been overly impressed with the Rosetta software - it seems well a bit slow to actually teaching me things of value - although I know how to say dog, cat, horse, man, woman, boy, girl, and airplane. <br /><br />So I order a Big Mac, 0,4l Kaltgetränk und Mittlere Pommes - well that's what i tried to order - the young lady serving me laughed and started to speak to me in english - I give up - if I try my german and I get laughed at, I am not being successful - but no I continue to plug ahead and attempt to order Griechischer Salat (greek salad) and she laughs at me again. This is not going my way.<br /><br />Anyway I manage to get my food and eat it. Big Macs taste the same all over the world - I know this because I was having a panic attack one time while working in Hong Kong. I had gotten tired of being yelled at by a million people for being the big dumb american boy and needed something to bring me back to reality - McDonalds and the Big Mac saved my life there too.<br /><br />So I am back in Germany, happy to be here but miss the family. At least I have McDonalds.<br /><br />Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14389577433912791845noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3688552.post-32847335920863939412007-09-07T08:33:00.001-06:002007-09-07T08:33:46.444-06:00another long flight and all i got was some ear plugs and a blindfoldSo I lost on the seatmate roulette on the trip back. The gentleman next to me said 3 words the entire flight - I noticed he was carrying a speech concerning <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_rights_management">DRM</a> so I didn't really introduce myself - I figured something about how DRM was really a waste of time wouldn't be a good conversation starter.<br /><br />I did get to enjoy a beautiful sunrise over the Netherlands this morning. It is amazing to be flying along above the clouds and see the sun slowly rise, warming everything up. It made the fact that I was awake at 4:00 am a little more bearable.<br /><br />I saw the first <a href="http://www.starbucks.com/default.asp?">Starbucks</a> in Amsterdam on my way through the airport. I will take my customary picture on the return trip. I was in a rush to get to my plane and didn't stop for my customary iced americano.<br /><br />I am off to Paris for the weekend. It is <a href="http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/">Rugby World Cup</a> and I have premier tickets to the <a href="http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/home/teams/team=45/index.html">Samoa</a>/<a href="http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/home/teams/team=39/index.html">South Africa</a> game. One of my best friends is flying into Paris and we will go the game on Sunday. Our seats are almost on the field. The Boks are expected to win but Samoa is going to come out and play hard.<br /><br />Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14389577433912791845noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3688552.post-71304347077437407232007-08-29T11:55:00.000-06:002007-08-29T12:00:36.795-06:00My trip back across the pondI like to fly. I still have the romantic image of flying from when I was a child. My parents dressed me up; you always dressed nicely for a flight. You got to the airport, waited patiently (as patient as a small child who loves airplanes can be); boarded the plane and off we flew. The experience was amazing. Well that’s what I remember, and since it is my memory I am going to keep it that way.<br /><br />I am flying back from Germany. One of the little games I play in my head is called “Seatmate Roulette.” Sometimes I am really lucky, there was this one time where I sat next to a dancer from <a href="http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/CirqueDuSoleil/en/showstickets/O/O-Las-Vegas.htm">Cirque du Soleil</a>, other times I am presented with well the bullet.<br /><br />Today however was a lucky day – I was fortunate enough to be seated next to a 17 year old young woman who gave me faith that my own little girl has a chance. This young lady was amazingly polite, yet managed to give her little brother a hard time when he couldn’t actually figure out what country were leaving (in his defense he is 13 and well he is 13.) I smiled and settled back to read whatever <a href="http://www.arenamagazine.co.uk/">men’s magazine</a> I snagged in the airport and this young lady pulls out <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Freakonomics-Economist-Explores-Hidden-Everything/dp/006073132X">“Freakonomics”</a> For the crowd reading at home – not necessarily the reading you expect out of a 17 year old, heck I read it and most people would wonder what I was doing carrying the book around. I was amazed and congratulated her on her selection, and she began a conversation with me.<br /><br />Let be known that I talk to everyone. I like hearing about peoples’ experiences. I like to hear their stories. <br /><br />So I discover that Katie is being moved back to the US. She has spent the last 13 years living in Belgium. She like any high school’r is a bit worried about things: her boyfriend is still in Belgium (he will visit in October and December), the fact that she has been able to enjoy a glass of wine with her family since she was 16 (we tend to frown upon that in the States), she has never even driven a car and will have to get her permit in the coming month (her brother failed the first time he took the test and he was a freshman in college), she played sports at her school in Belgium and now she has to start the whole process over again (volleyball, basketball and track – no Futbol.)<br /><br />It was refreshing to talk to this young lady. She was a confident young woman who had grown up abroad, understood that she would have to deal with cliques and silly girl stuff that just isn’t as important outside the US. She was scared but also aware that she could conquer these fears. <br /><br />We talked off and on as we flew from Frankfurt to Washington, DC. I asked questions about growing up abroad. She said that going to International Schools were amazing – you constantly got to meet new kids. Everyone was always open to new people joining the group. She talked about how amazing it was to be part of sports teams that traveled around Europe. She told me about shopping trips to Singapore with her mother. I enjoyed every minute of the trip, listening to her stories. <br /><br />When we got to DC I was able to commend her mother on having such a wonderful daughter. I wish I had gushed more. Her daughter is something wonderful. <br /><br />I can only hope that my wife and I can raise our daughter to be this confident and sure of herself. The world needs more young women like this and the Lindsey Lohan and Paris Hilton crowd aren’t creating them.Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14389577433912791845noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3688552.post-34437190372002792952007-08-20T09:41:00.000-06:002007-08-20T11:01:31.741-06:005 second postSo while I was chilling on the couch Sunday afternoon - (Note: This is a rare occurrence for me however Germany is attempting to teach me new behaviors by closing everything and rolling up the sidewalks on Sundays. Well except for the sidewalks heading towards a Gastehaus) - anyway back to the point of the story I invested some time on google and discovered that I was not alone and that there are lots of crazy americans who have packed it up and moved over here - Expats is a better word but I remain one of those crazy americans to my workmates.<br /><br />So I have invited myself along to an Expat meetup in Dresden in October/November.<br /><br />Thanks to my new found blogger friends.<br /><br /><a href="http://justcallmemausi.blogspot.com/">Mausi</a><br /><a href="http://www.jbittner.com/germany/">Germany Doesn't Suck</a><br /><br />Oh and I also found an <a href="http://www.foodfromhome.de/index.php?aff=YCGPWJY4SZ">online grocery store</a> that will get me those things I crave from the states.Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14389577433912791845noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3688552.post-27450122454756825692007-08-17T11:16:00.000-06:002007-08-17T12:40:22.818-06:00Still alive and eating tooSo another week and I managed to get to the grocery store twice and not make a fool of myself. You need to weigh the vegetables before coming to the checkout. If you don't hopefully there is a nice german woman standing behind you that shows you how to get things done without slowing the line horribly.<br /><br />I have managed to learn to say hello (when the german girls say al-lo makes your heart go pitter patter.) I am practicing my little vocabulary and trying to learn new words as quickly a possible. I need a friend - wonder how you advertise that. Would you be my friend and teach me german while you are at it - I just need a walking translator that I don't annoy, that shouldn't be that hard to find. (my friends are laughing so hard right now they can't see straight.)<br /><br />I can order a beer ein gross Pils (the really big beer). You should also know that there are breweries within a stone's throw of everywhere you are located. Some crazy number like 3000 breweries. My father warned me of this - along the lines of, "Ward you really don't have to sample all 3000 the first week you are there."<br /><br />I have learned that you can order meals without something fried included.My father also warned me of this. He forgot to mention that they make this potato dumpling with bread crumbs inside and covered in gravy that could only be eaten with a slab beef that made my heart skip a beat or two and me smile for two days about how yummy it was. If it only came wrapped in bacon too...<br /><br />My car makes me giggle every time I get in. Someone thought it would be funny to rent me a <a href="http://www.channel4.com/4car/gallery/gallery.jsp?id=333">Peugeot 107</a> My Director was in town at the beginning of the week and he and I couldn't sit shoulder to shoulder in the car. It was a funny sight. Someone made the comment that at least the trunk could hold two cases of beer. Is everything is measured in beer?<br /><br />What else? Money - Us crazy Americans and our credit cards. Mine is worthless over here. I have found one place that takes my card, well besides the outlet store. So I carry cash for everything, not a problem but then they really throw me a curveball - 1 and 2 euro coins. Craziness I tell you, I have 50lbs of coins in my pocket that I never seem to get rid of. I actually counted it this morning and I was carrying 25 euros in my pocket.<br /><br />So to all those that are considering a trip to Germany, drop me a line, at the very least I can take you out for beer and wurst.Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14389577433912791845noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3688552.post-47352237027511499452007-08-13T07:35:00.000-06:002007-08-13T07:36:10.368-06:00Where in the world is Ward?So for those that don't know it - I took a 5 month assignment in Germany. I got to Germany last Wendesday morning and managed to work almost a full day before turning into a zombie. It took a few days for me to recover from the flight. Who knew partying like a rock star in Vegas for 3 days before jumping on a plane to fly around the world was a bad idea. Who knew?<br /><br />I spent my weekend in my new home...working... I spent almost the entire weekend writing up a report for a client in the US. Oh well, work seems to follow no matter where you are in the world. Late on Sunday morning I wrapped up and managed to get into town. I am currently in an apartment provided by <a href="http://www.herzogspark.de/home/default.asp?flash=true&c=ne">Hotel HerzogsPark</a> in <a href="http://www.herzogenaurach.de/aktuell/english/englishstart.htm">Herzongenrauch</a><br /><br />The town is cute. I know, people hate to hear that, according to something I read the first recorded mention of the town was in the year 1009. When town's are celebrating their 1000 year anniversary you have to be impressed. Yes I know that it is only 2007 - just pointing out that - oh forget it. The town's first recording was 1009, sure it was around before that.<br /><br />So I am scrambling to learn enough German to be dangerous. If you have any recommendations let me know. I own <a href="http://www.rosettastone.com/en/?a=b">RosettaStone</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html%3FASIN=0028619625%26tag=ws%26lcode=xm2%26cID=2025%26ccmID=165953%26location=/o/ASIN/0028619625%253FSubscriptionId=02ZH6J1W0649DTNS6002">"Complete Idiot's Guide to LEARN GERMAN Your Own</a>, and an english/german dictionary. I really need someone who wants to practice english while teaching the big bescheuert american boy german...Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14389577433912791845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3688552.post-57673686938342961692007-08-01T00:50:00.000-06:002007-08-01T00:52:40.223-06:00I'm coming back!I have been gone for awhile, however that's all about to change. I am heading off to Europe for 5 months of work and fun and I will be updating and sharing my adventures once again. Stay tuned!Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14389577433912791845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3688552.post-1164855702913001262006-11-29T20:01:00.000-07:002006-11-29T20:01:43.023-07:00What position am I on the security hockey team?I just got caught up again on some of my favorite blogs. Among those is the <a href="http://www.taosecurity.com/">TaoSecurity</a> run by <a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/1110534">Richard Bejtlich</a>. If you ever get to speak with him, take one of his <a href="http://www.taosecurity.com/training.html">classes</a> or generally hang out with him, take the time. You can sponge quite a bit listening to him and those that flock around him. Anyway on to the point..<br /><br />Richard had a recent post <a href="http://taosecurity.blogspot.com/2006/11/digital-security-lessons-from-ice.html">comparing hockey to security work</a>. He has a solid reference to a darn fine hockey player and how he changed the game by moving from being solely a defensemen to skating the ice and shooting the puck. I have always admired defensemen who can take solid shots - two of my favorites have played for the Av's: <a href="http://www.nhl.com/players/8445550.html">Blake</a> and <a href="http://www.hockey-fans.com/players/bourque.php">Bourque</a>. There skill, as Bejtlich points out, is being well rounded, able to play as a forward and be back to help the goalie. He then asks what position you play on the security hockey team.<br /><br />So it got me to thinking - what position do I play? Well I know I am not a goalie. You can never be a successful consultant and be a goalie. Getting and keeping contracts are based upon the individual being able to handle whatever situation is thrown at you, whether it is defensive and helping build a firewall, to being a forward and auditing the capabilities of the newest web application that is being deployed to being a bit of both and performing a PCI assessment. <br /><br />So in the end I think I am a defensemen. I want to play as a forward, the rock stars - but I know my levels and that I can't skate that fast. So I will stay back at the blue line, let fly a slap shot every once in awhile that will rattle the goalie's teeth and be a good consultant. I will continue to learn as much as possible, question the forwards on what they are doing - asking Dan Kaminsky sometime to slow down and explain the DNS over DNS.<br /><br />Thanks Richard - glad I stopped to get a better view of where I play on the team. Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14389577433912791845noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3688552.post-1164776379398794812006-11-28T21:59:00.000-07:002006-11-28T21:59:39.406-07:00MP4 versus WMV and why the Zune won't fly.So in my spare time (sometime around 9pm, and ends somewhere around 2am) I picked up a fun new hobby/gig. I became the producer, editor and consultant to an online company. I have been around the internet for awhile and have learned a thing or two; so this opportunity really called out to me. I record video clips of physical trainers and models, edit them with <a href="http://www.apple.com/finalcutstudio/finalcutpro/">Final Cut</a>, add some background music (original score by me) using <a href="http://www.apple.com/finalcutstudio/soundtrackpro/">Soundtrack Pro</a> and then hand it off to the web admin to have posted on the site. When the site officially launches I will point you in the right direction. As part of this I have stumbled across another gig, helping put together a DVD for sale that has training information for Professional Mountain Bikers.<br /><br />So as one of the requirements to the content delivery I need to offer video clips to the widest audience I can. To do this I obviously want to hit the <a href="http://www.apple.com/ipod/ipod.html">Video iPod</a> market, and with the introduction of the <a href="http://www.zune.net/en-US/">Zune</a> (it sucks!) I need to include them too. I happily started off encoding everything to mp4 directly from FC5 and was very happy with the results, everyone was happy, amazed (one of the models seemed shocked that I knew what I was doing!)<br /><br />The Zune arrives and we decide we should encode to the best format for the Zune. Same video size as the Video iPod, with more compression. I start encoding and look at the results. They are horrible, artifacts everywhere. I go back tweak the settings higher, encode again. Results only mildly better. I decide to push the limits of the device and crank it up, encode and I get tolerable. I am really upset by this point, figure I am missing something. I grab my Zune, and head off to the <a href="http://concierge.apple.com/store/R030">Apple store</a>, catch up with a <a href="http://www.apple.com/retail/procare/">Apple Pro</a> and show them the final WMV product - after they laugh and point at the Zune - we start discussing my settings. The Pro says I have maxed the FC5 settings, that the <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/forpros/format/codecdownload.aspx">windows media codec</a> is giving me what it is going to give me. This really depresses me. <br /><br />If I was going to introduce a product that i expected to compete with Apple I would try to deliver something that rocked. What was Microsoft thinking - the video is really horrible, and even doing encoding using the MS tools and using the best draft copies to encode with I got nothing better. The Zune while kind of cute will probably get returned to Best Buy because I can see little to no use for the device.<br /><br />On a side note: my Zune software loaded without a hitch, although the Windows XP Pro computer was only two days old - I needed something to look at my WMV product and figured that the Dell in the corner was getting lonely.<br /><br />Here are the recommended <a href="http://www.zune.net/en-us/support/howto/start/providecontent.htm">Zune WMV settings</a>:<br /><br />Audio: 128 Kbps, 44.1 kHz, stereo CBR<br />Video: 320x240<br />Video Bit Rate: 500K<br /><br />Not pretty so I tried<br /><br />Audio: 128 Kbps, 44.1 kHz, stereo CBR<br />Video: 320x240<br />Video Bit Rate: 1000K<br /><br />not that much better so I tried the max the Zune will run with<br /><br />Audio: 128 Kbps, 44.1 kHz, stereo CBR<br />Video: 320x240<br />Video Bit Rate: 1500K<br /><br />I was still unhappy - blacks were ugly, colors not holding true. I did this all from the <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/forpros/encoder/default.mspx">Windows Media Encoder 9</a>. Until someone sits down and tweaks the codec, MS is going to have problems convincing anyone that they want a Zune for video content.<br /><br />I will keep you updated as I play with the codec looking for a way to make things look better - just not ready to write MS off, I believe they can figure things out or I can find a suitable enough shim to make everyone happy.<br /><br />*This is not a paid advertisement - I use a Mac for everything, but MS is kinda cool in a hurt puppy kind of way*Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14389577433912791845noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3688552.post-1148341419843167522006-05-22T17:32:00.000-06:002006-05-22T17:43:39.883-06:00Where have I been?So the big question - where did I go? What happened? Why did I stop posting?<br /><br />Well for the last year I have been a <a href="http://www.ctg.com/infosecurity/index.htm">security consultant</a>, performing <a href="http://usa.visa.com/business/accepting_visa/ops_risk_management/cisp.html?it=l2|%2Fbusiness%2Faccepting_visa%2Fops_risk_management%2Fcisp%2Ehtml|Cardholder%20Information%20Security%20Program">PCI assessments</a>, <a href="http://www.isaca-mrc.org/index.html">VOIP audits</a>, and generally geeking around in the security industry. This is all about to change - I took a new job - I will be starting at <a href="http://www.maniatv.com">ManiaTV</a> on May 31st.<br /><br />Take a look at the web page, let me know what you think. I am excited and looking forward to the opportunity. I am planning on updating my blog more regulary, so stay tuned.Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14389577433912791845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3688552.post-1121971590623854762005-07-21T12:36:00.000-06:002005-07-21T12:46:30.626-06:00Pete Ashdown for US SenateWell in my two year stint in Utah I managed to meet <a href="http://pashdown.org/">Pete</a> on several occasions. He is a great guy, understands technology; <a href="http://xmission.com/">Xmission</a> was to be one of the providers on the <a href="http://utopianet.org/">network</a> I worked on, and had the public's general interest at heart when he spoke in front of several city council meetings concerning the project iw ass associated with. I wish him luck in his bid. If I still lived in Utah I would happily donate my time and money to help him.<br /><br />Thanks to <a href="http://www.boingboing.net/">Boing Boing</a> for letting me know about this.Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14389577433912791845noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3688552.post-1120085891408123162005-06-29T16:58:00.000-06:002005-06-29T16:58:11.413-06:00<p><a href="http://www.berksmontnews.com/site/printerFriendly.cfm?brd=2694&dept_id=552980&newsid=14742096">Berks-Mont Newspapers - Kutztown Area Patriot - 06/23/2005 - 13 teens face felonies</a>: "06/23/2005<br />13 teens face felonies<br />By: Dan Roman<br /><br />Thirteen Kutztown Area High School students are facing felony charges for tampering with district-issued laptop computers.<br /><br />According to parent testimony and confirmed by an otherwise vaguely-worded letter from the Kutztown Police Department, students got hold of the system's secret administrative password and reconfigured their computers to achieve greater Internet and network access.<br /><br />Some students used the newfound freedom to download music and inappropriate images from the Internet.</p><br /><br /><p>(Via <a href="http://boingboing.net/">BoingBoing </a>.)</p><br /><br />Okay once again people are getting out of control with punishing for security violations. <br /><br />I would like to first point out that "50Trexler" is a horrid password. No special characters and it is more than likely someone's last name. So the school administration's is already weak before we look at the student's poor behavior. The student's took advantage of their administration falling down on the job - no one was obviously looking at access logs, auditing the computers, or even tracking administration access over the whole year. I notice if someone new has attempted access on my network daily. Handing a tool to someone and then not teaching or monitoring the usage of the tool gurantees that the user will figure out other ways to "play" with the tool. <br /><br />I am not defending the student's behavior. Was the student behavior right? No! Is it a felony? Well let RIAA decide that one - they like to prosecute old ladies and children. It's like having a substitute teacher in the classroom - you know to a certain degree things are going to fall apart - we all look for human weakness and try to use it to our advantage - high school students do this on a daily basis. <br /><br />As a security auditor I notice regulary that even if you hand someone a written policy you are never guranteed compliance. However, if you demostrate to the user that there are reasons for the policy and that you are going to monitor their usage regulary - you have a smaller percentage of people abusing the policy. In my eyes the school dropped the ball - the students picked it up and played a game or two. The administration should have stopped the behavior at the first instance and enforced the violation with a solid slap on the wrist - jail might be a bit extreme. Even RIAA just tries to make you pay for violations - helps float the music companies that were robbed at gun point.<br />Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14389577433912791845noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3688552.post-1115401274097689872005-05-06T11:41:00.000-06:002005-05-06T11:41:14.156-06:00Noodling for CatfishGrowing up in North Carolina, not quite a redneck but definately not a city boy we were always looking for ways to entertain ourselves, be it chasing groundhogs with slingshots to shooting branches out from under squirrels so they would fall down into the middle of the girls sunbathing on the quad, but I don't ever remember my old man saying to me, "hey son, let's go grab some catfish by the lips and yank him out of the water. it'll be fun." (remember to say this with a good southern drawl)
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<br />Please remember no catfish has lips to harm nor do the people of North Carolina like to equate themselves at the lower social status of those from the armpits further south.
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<br />I ger-ron-tee that there are those of a different upbringing than me that will point out North Carolina's own mistakes in not being able to determine whose side it was on during certain 'portant battles of these here 'Nited States. To those I remind you that we still drink and eat our <a href="http://www.budweiser.com/">Budweezer</a> and <a href="http://www.moonpie.com/">Moonpies</a> or for the youngins <a href="http://www.rccola.com/">RC Cola</a> same as you folk do.
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<br />Gosh I sure do miss home.
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<br />Thanks to <a href="http://www.boingboing.net/">Boing Boing</a> for the link.
<br />Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14389577433912791845noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3688552.post-1115068769845420162005-05-02T15:17:00.000-06:002005-05-02T15:19:29.850-06:00I went and "switched" ...This last week on the way home from the office I stopped off at the local Apple store and purchased a brand spanking new 15" Powerbook, with 100 Gig HD, 1 Gig RAM, and 128 Mb video card. About the only thing left would have been to get the 17" monitor which I see no purpose for.<br /><br />So I started playing with it as soon as I walked in the door of my house - my wife's comment was something like, "you are more proud of that new laptop than you were when you got your little girl last year for father's day!" She's wrong, I love my little peaches but hey I am a geek and this is a brand new powerbook.<br /><br />I didn't get Tiger - the guys at the store convinced me to hang on, and I agreed with them. Some great articles about Tiger have been in the news. The best being the <a href="http://arstechnica.com/reviews/os/macosx-10.4.ars">Ars Technica article</a> . I have read it three times and have finally gotten a solid understanding of what's going on underneath the hood. I like articles that make me think about how things work. I also picked up a copy of <a href="http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/mpantherunix/">Mac OS X Panther for Unix Geeks</a>. I'm not sure I am a unix geek but this book as showed me how to do things the mac way that I commonly do on all my other *nix boxs.<br /><br />I have also installed <a href="http://www.codingmonkeys.de/subethaedit/">SubEthaEdit</a>, <a href="http://fink.sourceforge.net/">Fink</a>, <a href="http://www.ethereal.com/">Ethereal</a>, <a href="http://iterm.sourceforge.net/">iTerm</a>, <a href="http://ipodder.sourceforge.net/index.php">iPodder</a>, and <a href="http://ranchero.com/netnewswire/">NetNewsWire Lite</a>. All of these programs are shareware utilities. My powerbook was more valuable to me in about 2 hours of work than the usual 4 hours of work it takes me to get my Windows XP boxes ready to go. Plus all of the utilities I installed didn't cost me another arm and a leg to Microsoft for them. <br /><br />To understand what I mean check out the article I mentioned about comparing <a href="http://www.classic45s.com/blog/2005/04/of-course-macs-are-more-expensive_24.html">Apples to oranges-Dell</a> . That article had a follow up today comparing <a href="http://www.musingsfrommars.org/">Apples to IBM Powerbooks</a>.<br /><br />I am noticing things I need to do some research on: .png files not showing up correctly in Safari, some ASP pages don't behave correctly under Safari or Firefox, blogger.com editor doesn't have all the options in Safari, have to convert old exchange to mbox then import into mail to import finally into entourage. <br /><br />I will keep you updated as the machines joins my family of 9 other pcs. We counted them at lunch today.<br /><br />Oh it already made a friend in my wife. I took my son's first soccer game, edited it with iMovie, and then burned it to DVD with titles using iDVD (5 copies, grandparents, and a dear friend, and of course a copy for mom and dad) all in about an hour. It made up for my sudden infatuation with a piece of warm aluminum.Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14389577433912791845noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3688552.post-1114821718456998522005-04-29T18:38:00.000-06:002005-04-29T18:41:58.456-06:00Standing in the middle of Apple's Tiger ExtravaganzaSo i managed to get in the door within only about 15 minutes of it's release here in Colorado. Unfortunately I will not be going home with Tiger. I filled my paperwork out and mailed faxed it in this morning. I figure sometime next week I will see my copy of Tiger show up in the mailbox. Overall I think this release will be the one everyone talks about as the main reason they finally made the "switch". It is one of the final factors in why I decided to make the move. The IBM laptop will be made into a dual boot redhat/xp machine this weekend, and I will be a fulltime Mac user. Ahh the fun of belonging to a new cult.Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14389577433912791845noreply@blogger.com1