Excellent video!
Showing posts with label Security. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Security. Show all posts
September 30, 2014
September 11, 2014
Okay For A Drive By
Until a colleague asked me, "Okay for a drive by?"
A little taken aback, but I was available (and figured not in any imminent danger by his type of "drive by"), so I agreed to meet for a few minutes.
The meeting was quick, like a car whizzing by, but we discussed what was needed and accomplished the immediate goal.
Personally, I prefer when someone is driving the meeting, rather than having a drive by meeting, but we all need to be agile to whatever the day brings. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
September 7, 2014
Handbag All Alone
Someone just left their handbag on a chair and went off to line up for coffee with their significant others.
I'm not sure they needed to save the table given that the place was fairly empty this morning.
However, it did strike me that this bag was all alone, far from pretty much anyone, and no one was watching it!
Also, not only was this handbag left unattended, it was also completely open at the top, sort of inviting double trouble.
As you can see, no one else seems to be paying much attention...so if someone wanted, I think this large, full handbag could've been a crime statistic in a moment.
Trust is nice, but this handbag is crying out for company. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
August 29, 2014
From Holocaust To Nation State
Where the Jewish people went from the fiery depths of the Holocaust to the rise of a modern democratic nation state of Israel.
We are the same sons and daughters of Israel, but no longer exiled from the Holy Land and paraded like sheep to the slaughter from the hate mongers de jour.
On the right are represented generations, who with the rise of every crazy demagogue that needed to blame their religious, political, social, and economic problems on a scapegoat, the Jewish people suffered at their bloody hands, discriminatory expropriation and expulsion, tax and torture, rape, pogrom, and slaughter.
On the left are shown the Jews from a free democratic State of Israel who are proud to seek a life of peace and security from persecution and who can chart their own course for their people and be a light unto nations for doing what is right and moral and contributing to the world in every significant development and advance of humankind.
As the Jews went from slavery to freedom many thousands of years ago with the Exodus from Egypt and settlement of the land of Israel, so too today, we can count on the miraculous transition from exile to promised homeland and from persecution to self-determination. ;-)
(Source Photo: here with attribution to Eliyokim Cohen)
July 26, 2014
Antimissile System for Airlines
Elbit Systems has an antimissile system that can protect commercial airlines from short range, shoulder fired missiles (MANPADs).
The military air fleet of the U.S., U.K., and Australia already have installed such devices to protect them.
Another system by Northrop Grumman is installed for heads of state like on Air Force One and Germany has ordered it for their Chancellor's plane.
But the Elbit C-Music is being used already on Israel's commercial airlines, El AL and Israir.
The thermal targeting device of C-Music uses a precise laser to deflect the incoming heat seeking ground to air missiles and save the passengers and plane.
According to the Wall Street Journal, a bill to mandate such devices for American commercial airlines would cost approximately $43 billion over 20 years.
While this system would not work against the type of sophisticated multiple launch rocket systems that brought down Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, it would go along way to enhance our anti-terrorism measures and protect Americans and other travelers coming to/from the U.S.
Please don't shoot down this idea... ;-)
July 17, 2014
Rally For Israel For Self-Defense
This video is from the Rally For Israel for their Self-Defense in Washington, D.C. today at lunchtime.
Israel is still trying for a cease-fire, but continues to be under a barrage of missiles from Gaza.
Thanks to G-d, as well as the support of the United States, the Iron Dome Missile Interceptor is protecting the people of Israel from more than 1,300 indiscriminate missile attacks by terrorists--this is truly miraculous!
Even today, the United Nations Reliefs and Works Agency (UNRWA) in Gaza found 20 missiles hidden by Hamas in one of the U.N.'s schools in Gaza--sort of leaves you scratching your head as to what type of schooling these children are unfortunately getting?
The multiple ceasefires by Israel, warning residents before taking military action, and even fixing the electricity to Gaza that Hamas knocked out with a missile they were aiming at Israel--is a wonderful testament to the humanity of the IDF.
Interestingly enough, at the rally, there were a handful of antagonizers with megaphones behind the stage and podium trying to interrupt the lineup of ambassadors, congressmen/women, and other speakers for Israel's right to self-defense--sort of telling that they wouldn't even respect other people's right to assemble and speak.
The trillion dollar questions is how you get to peace and security under these circumstances?
(Source Video: Andy Blumenthal)
July 12, 2014
From Hatred To Peace
Someone sent me this video by Dennis Prager on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and I wanted to share it.
An easy conflict to explain, a difficult one to solve: "One side wants the other dead!"
How do you get a people not to hate another?
"There are 22 Arab states stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the Indian Ocean, but only 1 Jewish state the size of New Jersey..."
"Why can't the one Jewish state be allowed to exist?"
After generations of hatred and hostility--taught and practiced--truly a miracle is needed where we can live and let live.
May G-d bring peace and security in our time, and may "nation not lift up sword against nation, and neither shall they learn war anymore." (Isaiah 2:4)
June 29, 2014
Solidarity For All Our Children
I saw a photo someone posted on Facebook where it said that the families of these boys had empty seats at their beautiful Shabbat table, and I couldn't imagine the grief of the mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, grandparents, and other family and friends of these poor children.
Walking in the community around Washington, D.C., I see signs such as this with "Bring Back Our Boys" with ribbons tied to trees--and I am deeply moved by people's expression of grief and hope.
This all happening just weeks after another extremist Muslim group, Boko Haram, abducted over 230 Nigerian schoolgirls, and the rallying cry for "Bring Back Our Girls."
I read how the these girls are being threatened with being sold in a massive human trafficking crime against humanity and can only imagine the rape and other torture they must be enduring by their captors.
I remember as just a child in day school seeing photos and videos from the Holy Land of what these types of terrorists did to their victims--it was horrific!
Aside from the general torture, beatings, isolation, and starvation, I saw images where they literally wrapped their prisoners in barbed wire, including their genitals--it was not just grotesque, but pure and utter evil.
I never forgot these images of unbelievable cruelty, and wish only for the return of all these children and for the people that would take them to be brought to true justice.
May G-d have mercy on all our children!
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
June 7, 2014
From Holocaust To Homeland
From the searing ashes of six million murdered in the Holocaust,
G-d remembered the Jewish people,
and restored them to the promised land.
The fulfillment of hope and yearnings for freedom and independence,
and never to be slaughtered like sheep again.
Some say that we are waiting for the Messiah,
But to me, the miracle of Israel is the beginning of the redemption.
While it is difficult to see Israel maligned in their continued fight for survival,
surely there will come a time when we can see clear the wisdom for all to live and let live.
May G-d bless Israel to live in peace and security.
April 26, 2014
Luxury Survival
Interesting underground survival shelters by Vivos--and they are built for luxury.
With everything from cushy entertainment theater rooms, indoor swimming pools, upscale kitchens and bathrooms, gyms, and stocked with clothing, bedding, toiletries, survival gear, and food and medical supplies for a year--this is for planning to survive and thrive.
They have dual generators, multiple water systems, airtight nuclear biological and chemical filtration systems, and medical and dental facilities.
This is communal living for 80-5,000 people. Shelters are co-owned--and it costs about $50,000 for an adult and $35,000 for children. Vivos will also make you a private shelter, but obviously this is a more expensive option.
Is this an insurance policy for you and your family to protect against the ultimate catastrophes or is this simply preying on people's worst fears?
You'll have to decide for yourself--and in the end, it's a gamble either way. ;-)
April 10, 2014
You Mess At Your Own Risk
"Touch this car again. You are laser sighted. You will be shot in the face!!!"
I remember in NY, people messed with the cars all the time--nasty stuff like backing or plowing into your bumpers when trying to park, keying cars, slashing tires, knocking off the mirrors, egging the cars, and one guy I remember even had his car stolen and the couple actually had sex in his back seat!
The stupid steering wheels locks to the brakes were a joke for security, the noisy annoying car alarms were so routine no one looked or cared, and LoJack helps you find the clunker again although you may never want to drive it anyway after what the crooks would do to it.
Not sure this sign will help ward off all the crap that people do--somehow they always find another way to be jerks with someone else's stuff.
Aside from James Bond's car that would explode if you tried to mess with it, does anyone else have any good ideas for car protection? ;-)
(Source Photo: Dannielle Blumenthal)
February 2, 2014
If I Forget Thee O Jerusalem
You can barely see it, right?
It is surrounded by 22 Arab countries.
Israel is 1/16 of 1% of the surrounding Arab countries.
After the Holocaust, where 6 million Jews were murdered (1 of every 3 Jews in the entire world), Israel has been attacked again and again by invading Arab countries calling for their utter annihilation.
By the grace of G-d, the determination of the Israel Defense Forces, and help from righteous countries like the United States, Israel has been able to survive.
But now, Israel is under a new threat--coming from the the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement.
The new tactic of Israel's enemies is that if they cannot defeat Israel easily on the battlefield, then they will try to conquer them by a campaign of eroding economic and political pressure and sanctions on Israel.
For millennia, Israel and the Jewish people have been the minority and have repeatedly faced destruction, murder, expulsion, inquisition, crusades, forcible conversion, Holocaust, and more.
The BDS movement is another attempt to conquer this tiny country and add it to the trove of the surrounding Arab nations and "throw the Jews into the sea."
Thankfully, America and other friends and allies see that Israel seeks to live in peace and security, and not the oppression of anyone.
Hopefully, Congress, in their wisdom, will propose and enact appropriate legislation to stop the destructive action of the BDS movement, and will call for and mandate the boycott, divestment, and sanctions of any country or entity that does this to Israel.
As it says in Psalms 137:5 -6--"If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skills! Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth, if I do not remember you, if I do not set Jerusalem above my highest joy!"
(Source Photo: here with attribution to ScaryIsrael.com)
January 12, 2014
On Friends and Enemies
1) The first was from Peggy Noonan in the Wall Street Journal where she reminds us of a political rule that "Friends come and go, but enemies accumulate." Really this applies in all of life, a few real friends may last over an entire lifetime, but most others are transient, such as in school, at work, or in a community, but when you leave that place or circumstance, the friendships often do not persist. However, enemies seem to last forever, where people never forget when they feel they've been wronged and these people may actually seek each other out and even join forces to get their contemplated revenge. The fight is not always fair or just, but people's feelings when they think they've been wronged, hang in the air, like the stench of decaying carcasses. Something to beware of.
2) The second was from a martial arts movie called Ninja 2 where one of the characters says to a martial arts expert, whose wife was brutally murdered, "The man who seeks revenge should dig two graves." Upon which, the martial artist wittingly responds, "They'll need to dig a lot more than that," and in the movie, the Ninja exacted his revenge on the drug lord and his gang for the murder they committed.
My impressions are that we should try to be good people and have a broad positive influence in the world. With some people, we will find true friendship--and very often, there is an almost unexplainable chemistry to this, where it just clicks--and it's as if we've known this person not only in this lifetime, but in prior lifetimes as well. In other cases, the friendships are more temporal based on shared circumstance, camaraderie, or even an alliance or sorts, and these really are not sustained when one or both parties move on. And that's okay, not every friendship is deep and forever.
In terms of enemies, you know it when you have it. Again, chemistry may play a role or one person may have indeed wronged the other. Sometimes, people can learn from making a mistake, they can apologize, commit to do better in the future, and there can be forgiveness. In other circumstances, the blood between people is bad and won't get better, because there is scarcity, misunderstanding, bias, or even blind hatred. In these cases, it often seems as if no amount of communication, negotiation, or bending over backwards will resolve it. You can try--it's always worth a try--but be prepared to circle the wagons and defend yourself, if all else fails.
Finally, a wrongful act can be so brutal and egregious that at times it seems that only a "joust to the death" will do, but revenge in the end, does not bring anybody back or undue the harm done. Yes, when justice is done, the world seems somehow righted and the fallen can be released from their painful throes and go on in peace, and maybe the evil aggressor will be prevented from hurting others in the future. In the end, the smell of peace is the sweetest of all, when we can live and let live. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
November 9, 2013
Remembering the 52 And Hoping For A Real Peace
52 Americans were held hostage for a long 444 days.
Now, Iran is negotiating for a relaxation of sanctions imposed due to their hostile nuclear WMD program.
However, there are questions about whether Iran will really give up the nukes that they have pursued for decades or whether this is another stalling tactic.
The Wall Street Journal is reporting concern by Western Allies including Israel, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain, and that "Republican and Democratic supporters of Israel said the agreement in the works was far too easy on Iran."
On the positive side, potentially, this is only the "first stage" in the Iran nuclear disarmament process--let's hope.
We need to ensure a substantive nuclear non-proliferation deal that safeguards America's and allies' security and interests in the region.
We can all rest easier when the Iranian nuclear capability is fully dismantled, until then this is not a slam dunk for peace.
(Source Photos: EVResourceSite and Pere Ubu; Mashup by Andy Blumenthal)
November 8, 2013
Cloud Kool-Aid
And with almost 1 million active apps alone in the Apple Store it is no wonder why.
The cloud can create amazing opportunities for shared services and cost efficiencies.
The problem is that many are using the cloud at the edge.
They are taking the cloud to mean that they in government are simply service brokers, rather than accountable service providers.
In the service broker model, CIOs and leaders look for the best, cost effective service to use.
However, in NOT recognizing that they are the ultimate service providers for their customers, they are trying to outsource accountability and effectiveness.
Take for example, the recent failures of Healthcare.gov, there were at least 55 major contractors involved, but no major end-to-end testing done by HHS.
We can't outsource accountability--even though the cloud and outsourcing is tempting many to do just that.
Secretary Sebelius has said that the buck stops with her, but in the 3 1/2 years leading up to the rollout relied on the big technology cloud in the sky to provide the solution.
Moreover, while Sebelius as the business owner is talking responsibility for the mission failures of the site, isn't it the CIO who should be addressing the technology issues as well?
IT contractors and cloud providers play a vital role in helping the government develop and maintain our technology, but at the end of the day, we in the government are responsible to our mission users.
The relationship is one of partners in problem solving and IT product and service provision, rather than service brokers moving data from one cloud provider to the next, where a buck can simply be saved regardless of whether mission results, stability and security are at risk.
In fact, Bloomberg BusinessWeek outlines the 3 successful principles used in the creation of consumerfinance.gov by the new CFPB, and it includes: "Have in-house strategy, design, and tech"!
Some in government say we cannot attract good IT people.
Maybe true, if we continue to freeze salaries, cut benefits, furlough employees, and take away the zest and responsibility for technology solutions from our own very talented technologists.
Government must be a place where we can attract technology talent, so we can identify requirements with our customers, work with partners on solutions, and tailors COTS, GOTS, open source solutions and cloud services to our mission needs.
When Sebelius was asked on The Hill about whether Healthcare.gov crashed, she said it never crashed, which was technically incorrect as the site was down.
The cloud is great source for IT provision, but the pendulum is swinging too far and fast, and it will by necessity come back towards the center, where it belongs as an opportunity, not a compliance mandate.
Hopefully, this will happen before too many CIOs gut the technology know-how they do have and the accountability they should provide.
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
October 20, 2013
Going For Gravity
He said, "You'll definitely like it, and make sure you see it in IMAX!"
G-d, I don't recall the last time that I went to an IMAX showing.
So keeping in the mind the saying, "try it and you'll like it," we went for the $19.00 IMAX 3D experience.
(OMG, I still remember when movies in NYC were $1!)
I was hesitant about this movie having heard that there were only 2 characters, and that 1 was Sandra Bullock!
Also, that she was the only one left for the second half of the movie--and I thought how interesting is this going to be?
Okay, I told myself, I'll get excited by the action and destruction in the first half with Clooney and sleep through the second half with Bullock.
But it was so much better than I anticipated--one of the best movie experiences for me ever!
The IMAX 3D was absolutely amazing...only thing better would've been a massive in-your-face hologram of the whole movie--and I bet this comes one day soon.
The space walks, hurling space debris, exploding space stations and daring escapes was right there and up close in this movie.
I found myself at times reaching my hands out to practically touch the characters--since they seemed that close.
And Bullocks tears floating in space--were very moving and cool at the same time.
Bullock is going to win a ton of awards for her performance in Gravity.
Oh, and one more funny experience was when a lady told this guy in the theatre to hush, and when he didn't listen, she kicked his chair.
But that wasn't the end of it...
After she kicked it a few times, he turned around grabbed her shoe right off of her foot and then threw it at her.
She ran out of the theatre to get security.
Security told them both to cut it out, and then I heard the guards outside laughing about these two quarreling theatre-goers.
Anyway, I didn't sleep a wink in this movie, and enjoyed the whole experience. ;-)
(Source Photo: Rebecca Blumenthal)
June 16, 2013
Dystopia Man
I named the person in the portrait, Dystopia Man, because he reminds me of how people would look in a speculative futuristic society.
The way the man looks askew with bloodshot eyes, head split, and hand partially covering his mouth all make me feel like the future is quite unknown, somewhat risky, if not sort of ominous.
We have lots of national and global challenges--with security versus privacy, openness versus secrecy, sharing versus private ownership, social entitlements versus capitalism, theocracy versus democracy, control versus freedom, and man versus machine.
How will these turn out for society, for us? Will we maintain a healthy balance and respect for individuals? Will these and other conflicts be resolved peacefully?
Hopefully G-d will grant us the wisdom to solve these dilemmas and many others that await us in the present and not so distant future.
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
January 26, 2013
A Falafel A Day
Reminiscent of the peace marches and brightly painted VW peace vans of the 1970's, The Washington Post (26 January 2013) reports on a 76-year old retired Energy Department staffer with a PhD in mechanical engineering who for his second career is starting a peace food truck in DC.
The food truck will have two windows for selling kosher food from one and for selling halal food from the other.
The owner-activist who is an Egyptian American hopes that "it will bring people from different backgrounds, who are waiting on line, to talk together."
He says: "I think it will work because, well, everyone likes food," and he hopes to fund additional food trucks in Chicago, New York, Israel, and the West Bank.
The truck has both the Jewish Star of David and Islamic Crescent painted on it--it is truly a truck for representing diversity of people, but with a common taste in good Mediterranean food.
It's amazing what a falafel can do--perhaps, even help bring peace and security to the Middle East. ;-)
(Source Photo: here with attribution to Shoshanah)
December 14, 2012
Children, Our Future
Completely unacceptable!
We need better psychiatric screening, more treatment options, and safer schools.
How can we expect children to excel, when they can't even feel safe.
Safeguard our children, protect our future.
(Source Photo: here with attribution to Massimo Valiani, Source Quote: ABC News article comment by Quinn, and Mashup by Andy Blumenthal)
August 25, 2012
Choke Points to Checkpoints
This is some promising biometric technology from AOptix.
Enrolling in the system is the first step and means just seconds of standing in the capture field of the slender tower, and the device scans both iris and face of the person.
The scanning captures images within seconds and the software converts the images into binary code.
It then subsequently scans and matches the person's biometrics against the database for positive identification.
The beauty of this system is that it is simple and fast and can be used for passenger screening, immigration, or any other access control for entry/egress for a building, location, or even to a computer computer system and it's information.
According to Bloomberg Businessweek, the Insight Duo Towers sells for $40,000 each.
Eighty of these are currently in use at all air, land, and sea borders in Qatar. Further, Dubai International Airport has been piloting this at a terminal that handles 40 million people per year, and it has cut immigration waiting times from 49 minutes to 22 seconds.
This technology has obvious important applications for military, law enforcement, and homeland security, as well as even more generalized security use in the private sector.
And while very impressive, here are some concerns about it that should be addressed:
1) Enrollment of Biometrics and Personal Identification--registering for the system may only take a few seconds for the actual scan, but then verifying who you are (i.e. who those biometrics really belong to) is another step in the process not shown. How do we know that those iris and face prints belong to Joe Schmo the average citizen who should be allowed through the eGate and not to a known terrorist on the watch list? The biometrics need to be associated with a name, address, social security, date of birth and other personal information.
2) Rights versus Recognitions--rights to access and recognition are two different things. Just because there is iris and facial recognition, doesn't mean that this is someone who should be given access rights to a place, system or organization. So the devil is in the details of implementation in specifying who should have access and who should not.
3) Faking Out The System--no system is perfect and when something is advertised as accurate, the question to me is how accurate and where are the system vulnerabilities. For example, can the system be hacked and false biometrics or personal identification information changed? Can a terrorist cell, criminal syndicate, or nations state create really good fake iris and facial masks for impersonating an enrollee and fooling the system into thinking that a bad good is really a good guy.
4) Privacy of Personally Identifiable Information (PII)--not specific to AOptix, but to this biometric solutions overall--how do we ensure privacy of the data, so it is not stolen or misused such as for identity theft. I understand that AOptix has PKI encryption, but how strong is the encryption,who long does it take to break, and what are the policies and procedures within organizations to safeguard this privacy data.
5) Big Brother Society--biometrics recognition may provide for opportunities for safe and secure access and transit, but what are the larger implications for this to become a "big brother" society where people are identified and tracked wherever they go and whatever they do. Where are the safeguards for democracy and human rights.
Even with these said, I believe that this is the wave of the future for access control--as AOptix's says, for changing choke points to checkpoints--we need a simple, fast, secure, and cost-effective way to identify friends and foe and this is it, for the masses, in the near-term.
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