CUHK Bioencryption – Just storage, no encryption?

It was interesting to read about a team of students and their advisors from Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) School of Life Sciences won gold with their bioencryption project (see more news) at the International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) 2010 competition organized by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

While the team has certainly made some interesting progress, security technologist and author Bruce Schneier has questions about the team’s “bioencryption” claims (emphasis),

“Why can’t bacteria be hacked? If the storage system is attached to a network, it’s just as vulnerable as anything else attached to a network. And if it’s disconnected from any network, then it’s just as secure as anything else disconnected from a network. The problem the U.S. diplomats had was authorized access to the WikiLeaks cables by someone who decided to leak them. No cryptography helps against that.“

And Bruce even started his article with, “The article talks about how secure it is, and the students even coined the term “bioencryption,” but I don’t see any encryption. It’s just storage.“

I can’t find a full technical paper to read but after reading the above press reports and the team’s iGEM project description, project principle, and project results, I have to say, like Bruce, I also don’t see any encryption and it looks like just storage to me.

And reading scientist’s quotes like the following in popular press,

“Bacteria can’t be hacked. All kinds of computers are vulnerable to electrical failures or data theft. But bacteria are immune from cyber attacks. You can safeguard the information.“

just don’t exactly give me confidence that the scientist fully appreciate/understand computer security/cryptography.

I don’t mean to be too critical of some of the CUHK team’s achievements. I think they have done well. At the same time, I think it is very important for serious scientists to know the limits of their scientific claims and don’t overextend without proper justified support.

Of course, I might be wrong, and it will be wonderful if someone can explain to me what I missed so that I can learn and understand. If I am mistaken, it will be my pleasure to correct this article.

BPG Motors UNO electric unicycle – an update

It is really nice to read and watch updates of Ben Gulak’s BPG Motors (see Facebook page) after previously interviewing Ben in Dec 2009.

The following are two YouTube video clips. Also check out this Facebook video clip of “The CEO of SolidWorks talking about the Uno on Stage @ SolidWorks World“.

BPG Motors: Transforming UNO Video

BPG Motors: UNO Development Video

[HT Brett]

Einstein: His Life and Universe

Found this older video presentation by Walter Isaacson, author of the biography ”Einstein: His Life and Universe“.

Canadian Copyright Bill C-32 submission

Feel great! Finally got around to send in my Bill C-32 submission to the parliamentary committee (Committee’s mailbox at CC32@parl.gc.ca) three days before the 31 Jan, 2011 deadline!

Check out Prof. Michael Geist’s “Canadians Speaking Out on Bill C-32” for his views and other experts’ takes. And I found Project Gutenberg Canada’s submission very insightful.

Reminder:

“In order for briefs on Bill C-32 to be considered by the Committee in a timely fashion, the document should be submitted to the Committee’s mailbox at CC32@parl.gc.ca by the end of January, 2011. A brief which is longer than 5 pages should be accompanied by a 1 page executive summary and in any event should not exceed 10 pages in length.“

LinkedIn SEC form S-1 filing

The LinkedIn SEC form S-1 filing can be an interesting read to learn more about the business of LinkedIn. More news from CNNMoney.

[HT NowPublic]

Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission report

The Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission report was released this morning and available for free download online. Reports from MarketWatch, Fortune, Guardian, and CBC.

YouTube Life in a Day – LIVE world premiere tonight (27th January at 8pm EST)

Jan 27, 2010, 8:20pm MST post-viewing Update: Great film. Watching the LIVE Q&A from Sundance now. Interesting stuff.

***

Here is an excerpt from an email from Kevin Macdonald, director of “Life in a Day“, a documentary using footage shot on July 24, 2010 by people from around the world,

“Today we are unveiling Life in a Day at Sundance for the film’s World Premiere. [...]

We received a staggering 80,000 clips of film from all around the world for potential inclusion in the film – about 4,500 hours. With so much wonderful footage available to us choosing what to include in the film was extremely difficult. We honestly could have made many more films from all of the material received, so don’t be disheartened if your footage was not included in the final film! We probably thought it was beautiful material but just didn’t have room in a 90 minute film to include it. Remember that the videos in the Life In A Day gallery have already received over 5 million views and this historic archive, of what life was like on 24th July 2010, will live on at www.youtube.com/lifeinaday.

The live stream of the world premiere will take place on the Life in a Day channel (www.youtube.com/lifeinaday) today, Thursday 27th January at 8pm EST. Outside of the US you can tune in for the re-broadcast at 7pm on Friday, January 28, in your local time zone. This will be your only chance to see Life in a Day before it is released across the world later in 2011.”

Here is a teaser trailer.

James Franco

Until I read the article “The James Franco Project” in New York Magazine, I have no idea how multi-talented James is. Here is an excerpt (emphasis added),

“At age 28, ten years after dropping out, Franco decided to go back to college. He enrolled in a couple of UCLA extension courses (literature, creative writing) and found them so magically satisfying—so safe and pure compared with the world of acting—that he threw himself back into his education with crazy abandon. He persuaded his advisers to let him exceed the maximum course load, then proceeded to take 62 credits a quarter, roughly three times the normal limit. When he had to work—to fly to San Francisco, for instance, to film Milk—he’d ask classmates to record lectures for him, then listen to them at night in his trailer. He graduated in two years with a degree in English and a GPA over 3.5. He wrote a novel as his honors thesis.

It was interesting timing. As soon as Franco decided his Hollywood career wasn’t enough, his Hollywood career exploded—which meant that his intellectual pursuits got picked up on the radar of the A-list Hollywood publicity machine. Which was, of course, baffled by all of it. Plenty of actors dabble in side projects—rock bands, horse racing, college, veganism—but none of them, and maybe no one else in the history of anything, anywhere, seems to approach extracurricular activities with the ferocity of Franco.

Take, for instance, graduate school. As soon as Franco finished at UCLA, he moved to New York and enrolled in four of them: NYU for filmmaking, Columbia for fiction writing, Brooklyn College for fiction writing, and—just for good measure—a low-residency poetry program at Warren Wilson College in North Carolina. This fall, at 32, before he’s even done with all of these, he’ll be starting at Yale, for a Ph.D. in English, and also at the Rhode Island School of Design.”

Also check out his selected works.

Robert G. Burton & football

I have admired Robert G. Burton Sr. as a business manager for years through the ups and downs of business cycles. Today, I learned just how passionate he is about football. Wow, what a letter!

I can understand the frustration and anger Bob has and also understand why some people may think Bob is pushing a bit too much. Well, if I were as passionate about football as Bob and had donated as much, I might have felt the same. Sure, I might have worded my letter differently but feeling the same. My respect for Bob has not changed. I just hope Bob’s football passion is not affecting his ability to run the business. :)

* Hartford Courant, “UConn Donor Robert G. Burton Demands Return Of $3 Million Donation“

* “Robert G. Burton: From Kentucky’s Coal Country To Connecticut’s Gold Coast“

* “The Letter: Burton Demands $3 Million Returned From UConn (PDF file)“

* ”Video: Gov. Malloy Responds To Robert G. Burton’s Letter“

Jan 27 & 28, 2011 Update: USA Today, “Pickens understands UConn donor’s anger“

Forbes Blog, “Unhappy Donor Burton Wants Backsies“. To read about the Robertson family vs Princeton University settlement agreement, click here. “For tips on how to attach strings to your charitable gifts, click here.”

The Cavalier Daily, “Don’t fault Burton“

Feb 11, 2011 Update: Here is an excerpt from UConn Today, “University and Donor Put Differences Aside“,

“The University of Connecticut, longtime UConn donor Robert G. Burton Sr., and his family have agreed to move past their differences and continue their longstanding relationship, according to UConn Board of Trustees Chairman Larry McHugh. McHugh previously said he intended to meet with the family, which he and board Vice Chair Tom Ritter did on Feb. 9.”

From courant.com, “Major Donor Robert Burton, UConn Settle Differences“.

Remembering Audrey Best

I am very saddened with the passing of Audrey Best at age 50 from breast cancer. In particular, I really admire her frankness during the 1995 referendum as you can see from this news excerpt (emphasis added),

“Best expressed disappointment when Bouchard announced he was seeking the leadership of the Parti Quebecois. It had only been a few weeks since the 1995 referendum.

During much of Bouchard’s news conference, she stood with her arms crossed, turned slightly away from him.

“I’m an American and so I see the whole question of Quebec sovereignty more objectively,” she said in fluent French.

When asked how she felt about her husband becoming premier she replied: “It’s true that it was not my first choice. . . I had thought Lucien would return to private life after the referendum.”“

I admire her even more as she took up the study of law in 1997 and built a career at one of the country’s most prestigious law firms over the recent years.

My thoughts go to Mr. Bouchard, Audrey’s two sons Alexandre and Simon, and her family.

***

CTV Montreal, “Audrey Best succumbs to breast cancer“

TorStar, “Audrey Best, ex-wife of one-time Quebec premier Lucien Bouchard, dies at 50“

CBC, “Audrey Best dies“

Vancouver Sun, “Lucien Bouchard’s former wife dies from breast cancer“

***

In July 1994, LA Times has a profile of Audrey, “Bouchard’s Wife Was Raised in Orange CountyUnpolitical: She is a self-described ‘Navy brat’ from Los Alamitos with a French mother and an American father.“

Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach resigns

Whether you approve or disapprove of Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach‘s performance as premier, his sudden decision to resign comes as a surprise to many Albertans.

***

Jan 26, 2011 Update:

An excerpt from “Stelmach’s exit muddies Conservative waters in Alberta“,

“The most pressing issue is the unreleased budget, over which Finance Minister Ted Morton had intended to resign on Tuesday. A fiscal hawk, Mr. Morton said tabling such a budget ran afoul of his political ideology, and planned to step aside in a meeting with Mr. Stelmach in Calgary Tuesday. That threat, and the potential fallout from a battle between the two, precipitated Mr. Stelmach’s sudden exit.

Instead of boarding an 11 a.m. flight from Edmonton to meet Mr. Morton and others for a Treasury Board meeting in Calgary, Mr. Stelmach called a sudden 11:30 a.m. press conference in Edmonton.

Mr. Morton was taken aback by that, and thought he’d be fired. Instead, Mr. Stelmach announced his own imminent resignation, a statement that shocked even close allies within his party.

“There is no doubt, no doubt that my decision today will come as a shock to many and a disappointment to my friends and Albertans,” the Premier said Tuesday.

But the battle is far from over. Both men need to find a resolution to the budget impasse. Mr. Stelmach pledged to push forward a budget without major cuts, almost surely at a large deficit that Mr. Morton won’t sign off on.

“Of course, he [Mr. Morton] is still not going to deliver that budget, so he still might get fired or he still might have to resign, or God knows,” one source close to the party said.”

Morgan Spurlock – The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, Sundance 2011

You may know Morgan Spurlock from his insightful and funny documentary “Super Size Me“. Morgan has come up with another interesting documentary “The Greatest Movie Ever Sold” exploring product placement and branding.

From USA Today (emphasis added),

“After the premiere of The Greatest Movie Ever Sold at the Sundance Film Festival this weekend, corporate sponsors featured in the film trooped up on stage to join director Morgan Spurlock, who wore a suit emblazoned with their brand names and logos. [...]

The sponsors represented included Pom juice, JetBlue, Ban deodorant, Mini Cooper, Hyatt hotels and the island of Aruba.

“We tried to get money from everybody,” said Spurlock. “We called 500 to 600 brands. Ultimately we ended up with 15 in the movie.”

Some wouldn’t even entertain the idea of being in the film.

“We tried to get BP to come and sponsor us,” Spurlock said. “Because if anybody needs a brand makeover, it’s BP.”

Spurlock said he got the idea two years ago when watching an episode of Heroes in which Hayden Panettiere’s character was given a car by her father and kept repeating the model, Nissan Rogue, over and over.

“Ban was the first sponsor to sign on,” he said. “Then everybody else came on. That’s how much power Ban deodorant has.”

The film’s tagline: “He’s not selling out. He’s buying in.”“

Check out the following interesting, insightful and funny indieWIRE interview to find out more, “Morgan Spurlock talks The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, Sundance 2011“.

Sundance Alumni of the Month: Morgan Spurlock

P.S. Product placements have been one of my pet peeves for years even I love and enjoy well executed advertising campaigns. I am excited to see Morgan has created this documentary and I look forward to watching it and possibly interviewing him.

Update: From Reuters (emphasis added),

“They called hundreds of companies to participate, starting with ad agencies then marketing strategists, who all refused. Then, they started contacting the brand companies directly.

Interesting Kevin Smith Sundance 2011 speech

Here is that insightful & interesting speech from Kevin Smith at Sundance 2011. It will be interesting to see if his plan will work for his film and if this method will work for other filmmakers. Successes have certainly been seen elsewhere in a smaller scale in films like Gary Hustwit’s Helvetica and Objectified (Gary’s next film is Urbanized).

Best of luck to Kevin for what he is trying to achieve. Check out Kevin’s full Sundance 2011 speech.

14:14 The auction!

21:15 talking about exhibitor partners

Here is a brief edited clip.

[HT Jay]

 

Retracted story: To delete or not? – Autism-vaccine scare scandal

An insightful article from PBS Idea Lab, “Salon.com Retracts Vaccination Story, But Shouldn’t Delete It” about the Autism-Vaccine Scare.

[HT Craig]

Ricky Gervais and David Bowie

For those who don’t know much about Ricky Gervais‘ style of edgy comedy, he actually co-wrote Extras and got David Bowie to sing a song to laugh at his character in the show.

I love Ricky‘s comedy. But if you want to hop on the bandwagon to hate him because of his recent Golden Globes performance, I recommend you rent or borrow from library his original “The Office” and “Extras” to watch first.

Other clips

Also check out UK Guardian, “Ricky Gervais: America can’t decide whether he’s funny, cruel or just British – Baffled Americans react badly to the comedian’s bitchy quips about the stars at the Golden Globes ceremony“

And this Economist article. Yes, even Economist has something to say.

“Ricky Gervais and the British way“
Jan 18th 2011, 23:35 by J.G. | LONDON

“THANKS to its host, this year’s Golden Globes, Hollywood’s annual warm-up for the yet more soporific bombast of the Oscars, was uncharacteristically watchable. Ricky Gervais, the British comedian who made his name on BBC television with “The Office”, was presenting the show for the second year running. Last time, he was sporadically provocative. This year, he was, at least by non-British standards (something I’ll return to), incendiary.

Embarrassed conference interpreters at President Obama and President Hu Press Conference

Have you watched President Obama and President Hu Press Conference (2011, Jan 19) and listened to the interpreters’ English or Mandarin? I have and I feel embarrassed for some of the “professional” conference interpreters working that day.

You see, I think people working at that level (interpreting the words of presidents) should be the best qualified people available. Because misunderstanding can have immediate and sometimes serious consequences.

If you have some working understanding of English and Mandarin, you would have realized that some of the interpreters’ English and Mandarin just sounded horrible and almost laughable.

I don’t know the conference interpreters and the protocols (e.g. if both countries were responsible of hiring and providing their own conference interpreters). I just think some of the conference interpreters that day should feel seriously embarrassed. And they should take some refresher courses to greatly improve their English or Mandarin before they work again and commit any more mistakes.

I do wonder if all the conference interpreters that day were International Association of Conference Interpreters (AIIC) members. If they were all registered members, then I have to question the AIIC admission standard.

Check out the press conference and see for yourself.

P.S. I hope I am not too harsh on the conference interpreters but I refuse to think they were the “best” available conference interpreters.

Feb 3, 2011 2:29pm MST Update: I guess a personal note may help here. I am  a Canadian and am used to fluent translation between French and English. For example, I am listening to the English translation of “Meeting No. 54 INDU – Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology” right now. And the translated English is fluent and flawless!

Samsung’s non-existing printer support: Do you have hours to waste?

Background & The SamSung SCX-4828FN Printer

After the sudden death of a HP printer and the horrible HP customer service experiences, I thought it was time to try a new brand of printers and forget HP. Seeing Korean brands are making some good products (TV, monitors, etc), I decided to try a SamSung SCX-4828FN.

For its C$250 price, the Samsung design seems nice and the construction seems solid. And I haven’t seen many bad reviews online (more on this later).

Software and Samsung customer service

* The printer driver software installed without reporting any problem or error (more on this later). And the test page printed ok.

Note: The printer manual CD, unfortunately, is defective and unreadable by the computer (running Windows XP) and Samsung has not included a paper-copy printer manual as a backup.

* Unfortunately, the initial “successful” installation had actually caused at least two hidden problems.

The first problem was discovered right away. The default page alignment for the word processing program was changed, leaving the content of the bottom fifth of each page to be printed on an additional page.

The second problem was more serious and discovered the next day. The printer installation actually caused a critical accounting software to fail to execute and caused it to report an error saying, “XML support not detected. [...]“

Having never dealt with Samsung printer/technical support, I assumed when the reps were told of these problems, they would be helpful and knowledgeable enough to identify the solutions in minutes. Wrong! The first level support was unhelpful and, to be blunt, clueless. The rep repeated the claim that the printer installation could not have caused these problems. Huh? These programs worked fine before the printer software installation and now they failed afterwards, and the Samsung rep didn’t even have the courtesy to accept and acknowledge their problems!?

The next day, another first level support still insisted it wasn’t Samsung’s problems. And then I was told there was a really really long wait for the second level support reps. No second level support ever called back even after hours of waiting. In passing, I heard that only 5 (yes, just FIVE) reps were working to serve the 1-800-726-7864 Samsung technical help line for all of US *and* Canada! *&^%!!, no wonder there was such a long wait for the second level support rep! Assuming these reps actually know something!

At this point, I was so displeased with Samsung’s technical support that I tweeted, ”Samsung has no printer support. Better to avoid Samsung printers. Reps know nothing.” This is just NOT the way I hope to see happening when I try a “new” brand of printers.

Fortunately for me, I was able to find someone knowledgeable to help correct the accounting software problem broken by the beeping Samsung software/driver installer. The wordprocessing software’s default is still messed up but I’ve found a work around.

As I politely told the Samsung customer service representatives, I was displeased with the service I got. But I am much more disappointed with Samsung as a brand. The fact that Samsung has such ineffective printer support lead me to tweet/vent my anger and frustration.

Concluding Thoughts about Samsung printers and Samsung technical support

If you have or work in a small to mid size office, why would you want to consider Samsung printers and risk seeing some of your critical office softwares crashing and failing to startup after installing Samsung printers?

Maybe if your company has a team/department of dedicated IT support technicians, and you don’t mind solving extra problems caused by Samsung and with no help from Samsung. Do you feel that lucky?

P.S. In hindsight, maybe I should have paid more attention to a 10/29/2010 customer’s critique, “Samsung technical support is terrible!“ and anticipated the clueless Samsung technical support.

P.P.S. Samsung Canada has responded to my tweet. I will update this entry if there are further worthy development to report.

***

Jan 24, 2011 9:17am Update: A few days later, a Samsung 3rd level tech support finally called back. The rep was nice though. Will see if he can help.

iPhone 4 users screwed

Torstar “Apple tightening the screws on iPhone 4“

“Apple stores are replacing screws on iPhone 4s brought for servicing with tamper-proof screws to prevent anyone else from opening the device.

Kyle Wiens, chief executive of iFixit, a prominent Apple repair and parts supplier, said the purpose of the new screws is to keep people out of the iPhone and prevent them from replacing the battery. He said he noticed in November that screws were being switched.

“If you took your car in for service and they welded your hood shut, you wouldn’t be very happy”,” he said, comparing it to shutting owners out of their iPhones.”

iFixit, “Apple’s Diabolical Plan to Screw Your iPhone“

iFixit, “Apple’s Latest ‘Innovation’ Is Turning Planned Obsolescence Into Planned Failure“

****

Also check out this insightful article about lithium-ion polymer batteries, “Zen and the Art of Battery Life“.

Ricky Gervais – The funny business with Golden Globes

I love frank and engaging interviews and Piers Morgan had a great chat with Ricky Gervais, one of my favourite comedian, especially after Ricky’s Golden Globes performance. In case you missed Ricky’s performance, here is his Golden Globes 2011 – Opening Monologue and maybe you can see what some of the fuzz was about. The night got better or worst depending on who you talked to.

When was the last time a host got so much attention to Golden Globes a week after the show? I agree with Seattle Pi, Bring back Ricky! Also check out Ricky’s blog for his takes on things.

* Hollywood Reporter, “VIDEO: Ricky Gervais Funny, Revealing, Joyfully Unrepentant on Piers Morgan’s Show – Great hour of talk; Morgan less cocky, more likable and Gervais thoughtful.”

* CNN (with video clips), “Ricky Gervais offers no apologies for Golden Globes jokes”

* Seattle Pi, “Bring back Ricky!“

* Gawker.tv, “Ricky Gervais’ Targets Come to His Defense” (with video clips)

* UK Press Association, “Cruel? I was doing my job: Gervais”

* Hollywood Reporter, “Ricky Gervais: If I’d Been Too Nice at Golden Globes, It Would Have Been ‘Nauseating’”

* ABC News, “Ricky Gervais: The Couldn’t-Care-Less Comedian – On ‘Piers Morgan Tonight,’ Ricky Gervais Refused to Apologize for Golden Globe Remarks”

* By the way, I think the following exchange between Ricky and Piers Morgan was very revealing of Ricky as a person. Hollywood Reporter, “Ricky Gervais: It’s the ‘Right Thing’ for Steve Carell to Leave ‘The Office’” Here is an excerpt (emphasis added).

“”I sent him an email saying I think you’re doing the right thing,” Gervais — who serves as an executive producer on the NBC hit after originating the ditzy boss role in the U.K. version — said on Piers Morgan Tonight Thursday. [...]

“As a producer, I was expected to try and stop him because he’s a big part of it,” continued Gervais. “[But] you know, it can survive. Whether it should or not, I don’t know. I’m just an adviser and he’s done an amazing job. He’s done his time. It sounds like a prison sentence, doesn’t it?”"

The Graham Norton Show

The Graham Norton Show is pretty neat to watch. Check out the following clips from two different episodes. You can find the rest of the clips for the two shows online.