Schneier’s Law

Something fun about cryptography. Enjoy.

“Schneier’s Law”

by Bruce Schneier on Friday, April 15, 2011 at 12:45pm

Back in 1998, I wrote:

Anyone, from the most clueless amateur to the best cryptographer, can create an algorithm that he himself can’t break.

In 2004, Cory Doctorow called this Schneier’s law:

…what I think of as Schneier’s Law: “any person can invent a security system so clever that she or he can’t think of how to break it.”

Prime Minister Stephen Harper, this is not appropriate behaviour

Again, as I wrote before, I am not a fan of Ms. Helena Guergis (Wikipedia) but Prime Minister Stephen Harper has now been proven to step out of line and his and PMO’s inappropriate behaviour cannot be ignored.

Here is audio excerpt of Ms. Guergis eloquently defending herself on April 15th CBC Power and Politics.

Check out the full 25 minutes PnP podcast here.

Elections Canada rejects Tory effort to annul votes at University of Guelph

* From Canadian Press, “Elections Canada rejects Tory effort to annul votes at University of Guelph”

“The Conservative party’s lawyer was caught in campaign cross-fire Friday as Prime Minister Stephen Harper faced charges on two fronts of disregarding the most fundamental rights of Canadians.

Arthur Hamilton was a key figure in two separate controversies that dogged Harper on the campaign trail:

— A Tory attempt to nullify some 700 ballots cast by University of Guelph students.
— A tearful accusation by ex-Tory Helena Guergis that Harper turfed her from cabinet and ruined her reputation on the basis of unsubstantiated allegations.

In the first case, it was Hamilton who wrote chief electoral officer Marc Mayrand, complaining about irregularities in the Guelph campus vote and demanding that the ballots not be included in the official vote count for the riding.

Mayrand rejected his arguments Friday, concluding that the votes are valid even though the special ballot process used was not properly authorized.

It was also Hamilton who last year passed on to the RCMP the most salacious allegations against Guergis, including drug use and consorting with prostitutes. According to a transcript of his police interview — obtained and released Friday by Guergis — Hamilton acknowledged that he could not verify the allegations and knew of no one who could.

The RCMP ultimately concluded there was no evidence to support charges against Guergis, who’s now running as an Independent in her riding of Simcoe-Grey.”

* “Conservatives want to dump Guelph U student votes – On campus vote has not been challenged in past”

Stephen Harper ignores due process and justice in Helena Guergis case

I am not be a big fan of Ms. Helena Guergis (Wikipedia) but how her reputation was smeared and damaged by Prime Minister Stephen Harper is pure and simply wrong! I am shocked and ashamed of Harper and PMO’s total disregard of due process and justice, and covering things up by smearing of Ms. Guergis’ name.

Have a watch of Helena Guergis’s statement (via CBC News). Have a listen to CBC Power & Politics April 15th podcast after Helena Guergis’ press conference.

See CBC News “Harper ‘tossed me under a bus’: Guergis”

“During the news conference, Guergis accused staff in Harper’s communications office of running a “destructive campaign” against her and perpetrating “false allegations” that damaged her reputation.

“Not only was it made to seem I was guilty of conduct that has never been disclosed to me — going against the very core of what our principles of justice are built on — the Prime Minister’s Office still made it seem as though I was guilty of something even after I had been proven innocent,” Guergis said.

“This of course is the worst kind of politics, the kind that Canadians abhor,” she said.”

Toronto Star, “Guergis slams PMO for ‘concerted effort to perpetrate lies’”

To me, the following nine words said by Andy Beaudoin, Ms. Guergis’ campaign manager, summarize what made me angry most.

“Guilty until proven innocent. Guilty after being proven innocent!”

As proud Canadians, we have to keep our elected political leaders honest, regardless of which party we support.

I will try to add more to this entry later.

Video of Final Cut Pro X Intro at SuperMeet (NAB 2011)

MacRumors (with extensive 50+ minutes video clip), “Video of Final Cut Pro X Introduction Now Available” [HT @joshjanssen]

Here are the video clips (very clear 720p video available). Clip 1 and clip 2. [HT Les Machineurs for the vids]

RIM co-CEO Mike Lazaridis in spotlight after BBC PlayBook interview

Some facts and news first and then my comment. Here is a video of RIM CEO calls a halt to BBC Click interview

Here is a link to BBC source video and info text,

“The BBC’s technology correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones spoke to Mike Lazaridis, the co-chief executive of Research In Motion (RIM), the Canadian firm behind Blackberry.
After questioning him about RIM’s new Playbook tablet, he asked a question for BBC Click about RIM’s problems in India and the Middle East, where governments want to gain greater access to the tight security system used for Blackberry’s business users.
Mr Lazaridis responded by saying the question was unfair, and that the interview was over. A more complete cut of the interview will be broadcast on the television edition of BBC Click later in April.”

Here is CBC News report of the story of Mike walking off the BBC interview, “RIM co-CEO in spotlight as PlayBook launches” (emphasis added),

“Research in Motion Ltd. faces extra attention as its BlackBerry PlayBook tablet launches, the result of a public tantrum this week by the Canadian company’s co-CEO.

Mike Lazaridis made headlines after he abruptly ended a video interview with the BBC, calling a reporter’s questions “unfair.” The video was posted on the BBC’s dot.Rory technology blog just a day before the PlayBook’s launch party Thursday in New York City.”

My comments:

* Walking off an interview can sometimes create worst reactions than to stay clam and try to address a question (whether you see it as fair or not). Sometimes walking out of a harassing interview is the only way but I don’t see the BBC interview as one of those.

* RIM’s email/messaging (potential) security issues and problems is a very complex topic. Making matter worst is that it involve users’ legitimate security needs (imagine users being human rights and democracy fighters in China) and differentiating countries’ legitimate vs made-up/illegitimate “national securities concerns”.

* Security and encryption technologies are a bit out of my expertises but I recommend reading security expert Bruce Schneier’s Aug 3, 2010 analysis “UAE to Ban BlackBerrys“ to gain some understanding of the relevant issues.

P.S. Here is a mostly positive with some negatives review by tech writer Om Malik “BlackBerry Tablet, PlayBook, a Notable Debut”. Too bad the Playbook reviews (positive or negative) will likely be overshadowed by the BBC interview.

FAA head of Air Traffic Organization resigns

From WaPo “FAA head of air traffic resigns“,

“The head of the Air Traffic Organization at the Federal Aviation Administration resigned Thursday morning amid recent reports of several controllers sleeping on the job.

Hank Krakowski submitted his resignation Thursday morning to FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt, who said he accepted it, federal officials said.”

From CNN with video, “FAA official out amid sleeping-on-the-job cases“

Mme. Muguette Paillé becomes instant star after #elxn41 French debates

CBC News “Quebec woman becomes instant star after debates“,

“it was a 53-year-old woman questioner who seemed to have won the hearts of many viewers.

Muguette Paillé, a 53-year-old unemployed woman from Sainte-Angèle-de-Prémont in Quebec’s Maurice region, asked the leaders about job creation, particularly for older workers, during the French-language debate.

Paillé quickly became a theme in the debate, as the leaders jumped on her comments to reinforce their policy ideas.

While the leaders were using her name, others were busy setting up Facebook sites declaring her the winner of the actual debate.

Paillé laughed at all of the attention during an interview with Radio-Canada after the debate.

Asked whether she feels she got an answer to her question, Paillé said she felt the leaders showed empathy, but what she wants is a job. [...]

Paillé’s question to the leaders was: “The unemployment rate is very high in the region. Steady jobs are scarce. It is hard for someone like me — I’m 53 — to find work. So I would like to know how you intend to create jobs in Quebec, particularly in my region, and how it will help people over the age of 50 find permanent jobs.”” [NOTE: CBC Corrections and Clarifications - An earlier version of this story incorrectly used the word "employment" in Muguette Paille's question. In fact, she said the "unemployment rate" was high.
April 14, 2011 | 12:59 p.m. "

Check out the debate video (with English translation) starting at about time code 22:00.

Someone posted Mme Paillé's question in French onto YouTube.

PEACE received the Buyens-Chagoll Award at the Visions du Reel festival, Switzerland

“PEACE just received the Buyens-Chagoll Award at the Visions du Reel festival, Switzerland! The “Buyens-Chagoll” Jury recompense a work of humanist dimension focusing on stories developing values that confer meaning to the future of mankind.“

You can see my previous posted entries about PEACE.

Congrats Soda!

Meet Wen Tao, Missing Along with Ai Weiwei on April 3, 2011

Documentary filmmaker Alison Klayman has an insightful piece in Huffington Post, “Meet Wen Tao, Missing Along with Ai Weiwei“. Here is her video putting a face to Wen Tao.

Dejero Demonstrates Live HD Wireless Broadcasting Using Panasonic Toughbook at NAB Show 2011

I wish I were at NAB Show 2011 to meet the great people at Dejero Labs again and to check out their latest offerings. Take a look of this press release for more info, ”Dejero Demonstrating Live HD Wireless Broadcasting Using Panasonic Toughbook Laptop at Panasonic NAB Booth“.

P.S. Wow, if I read the press release correctly, looks like Dejero has further shrunk their Dejero LIVE transmitter down in size and pack everything into a Panasonic Toughbook CF-31! Congrats to Bogdan and team for a great job!

P.P.S. I will not be a bit surprised if Dejero wins another award this year.

China’s human rights crackdown – interactive guide to “soft detention”, “disappeared” and “missing”

China’s human rights crackdown – interactive guide, UK Guardian

“Chinese authorities have made their biggest move against dissidents and activists for years, including artist Ai Weiwei. The crackdown followed an anonymous online call for protests inspired by Middle Eastern uprisings, although it is unclear if any of those held or missing were connected to the appeal. Information is from human rights groups and inquiries by the Guardian”

Richard Branson’s Virgin America

I’ve deep admiration for Richard Branson and his Virgin Group is one of my admired companies and Lovemarks. After reading Bloomberg BusinessWeek “Will Richard Branson’s Virgin America Fly?“, I am interested to see how things will turn out at the end. Here is an excerpt,

“Virgin America does have at least part of one big asset: Branson. He is a legendary salesman with a special love of aviation—not only for the business, but for adventures like his attempted around-the-world balloon flights. To hear him talk, profits are almost secondary to his mission with Virgin America. “American carriers are all very much the same, and the people who run them do not think of the customers at all,” says Branson, sitting in the first row of one of the airline’s parked, white-and-red painted A320s. “It’s become a bus service.” As guests mingle on the tarmac under the bright Texas sky, the interior lights bathe the cabin in a deep magenta, meant to evoke dawn. “If everything is a joy, if you come onto a plane and the lighting is right, the seating is right, and the cabin crew is happy, you feel welcome,” Branson says. “It’s like you have come into somebody’s home.”

Flamenco dance performance in Calgary

Few years ago I met a very dedicated and talented Flamenco dancer/artist Fiona Malena in Calgary. You can see a brief dance performance by Fiona, in this 2009 YouTube clip.

Anyway, Fiona and a group of dancers and musicians will be a part of an upcoming Calgary performance (April 29-30, 2011).

Check the performace out. I’m sure you will have some fun.

P.S. Good luck and all the best to Fiona.

***

FLAMENCO por FLAMENCO

2 nights only!!
Friday & Saturday April 29th-30th, 2011
Doors open 8pm, $15
The Auburn, 163 9 Avenue SE (by the Calgary Tower)

Featuring singer/dancer Stephanie Pedraza from Vancouver along with many local artists including:
Michael Boyle (guitar)
David Matyas (guitar)
Alejandra Cano Tinoco (dance)
Anastassiia Moussatova (dance)
Jessica Peñalver (dance)
Fiona Malena (dance)
Oliver Miguel (saxophones)

RESERVE YOUR TICKETS TODAY!!!!!
tickets@fionamalena.com
email with your name, concert date & # of tickets to reserve your tickets

The flamenco community is invited to participate in an open bulerías/tangos jam session following the performance!
All proceeds go to our non-profit society to help with the planning and organization of future flamenco activities.

Please visit our new website! www.flamencosociety.com

Cisco shutdowns Flip Video

Today, on April 12th, 2011, Cisco shutdowns its consumer video division Flip.

 

Getting answers from Dyson Canada

I’ve been an admirer of James Dyson, the inventor/business entrepreneur (Dyson vacuums and other products), since I finished his book “Against the Odds: An Autobiography” in Dec 2003.

In Oct 2006, I even wrote a short article “Dyson sucks ! (the best vacuum cleaner by genius inventor James Dyson)” which has now been read for over 8,000 times and still receiving comments/feedback. After receiving the latest unfavourable comment, I decided to spend sometime to investigate a little by calling Dyson Canada to get some answers.

I will report on what I found from Dyson’s PR person when I get more info. Stay tune.

CAMERON – PACE Group NAB Show 2011 press conference & keynote video clips

I found the following insightful CAMERON – PACE Group Press Conference clips and short excerpts of the Jim Cameron & Vince Pace‘s keynote at NAB Show 2011. Enjoy.

Thanks NABShow for posting these videos. Love them.

NABShow 2011 tidbits of info

Following is a collection of NAB Show 2011 info that caught my eyes so far. I will add more later.

* James Cameron and Vince Pace NAB Show 2011 Opening Keynote

* Dejero Demonstrates Live HD Wireless Broadcasting Using Panasonic Toughbook at NAB Show 2011

* Studio Daily, Sony Spotlights F65 4K Camera at NAB (Sony press release)

* Some more hints about the Next Final Cut Pro at 2011 preNAB meetup with video (starts around 3 minutes point) (also see this older news New Apple Final Cut Pro at NAB 2011)

* ThunderBolt Products Starting to Roll Out at NAB

* Apple Insider, “New MacBook Pro Thunderbolt port gets attention at NAB 2011“

* Quantel, NAB 2011 build up diary from the team in Vegas

* [via @Quantel], Ian Vertovec, DI Colorist at Light Iron, will be on the Quantel booth at #NABShow today & Tuesday at 3pm talking about “The Social Network“. (see also “Five Questions: Ian Vertovec, Colorist, Light Iron Digital”)

James Cameron and Vince Pace NAB Show 2011 Opening Keynote – Launched CAMERON – PACE Group (CPG)

Update: Check out video clips of the keynote and extensive clips of the press conference. Official NAB Show Daily news, “Cameron, Pace Keynote Sets Tone for the Show“

***

Screen capture source: NAB Show 2011

Photo source credit: @ReubenLangdon (photo)

I wish I could be at NAB Show 2011 and attending James Cameron and Vince Pace’s NAB Show 2011 Opening Keynote to see they launched CAMERON – PACE Group.

“James Cameron and Vince Pace Form New Venture to Accelerate 3D Solutions Across All Entertainment Platforms“, April 11, 2011 Official press release,

““Our goal is to banish all the perceived and actual barriers to entry that are currently holding back producers, studios and networks from embracing their 3D future,” said James Cameron, Co-Chairman of CAMERON – PACE Group. “We are dedicated to building a global brand that is synonymous with high quality 3D and spans multiple channels, from features to episodic television, and changes the boundaries of what is understood to be 3D material.”

“CPG‘s mission is to step up industry-wide efforts to help filmmakers realize 3D’s full potential as a creative and powerful storytelling medium and accelerate the growth of the next generation of 3D solutions across all platforms,” said Vince Pace, Co-Chairman and CEO of CAMERON – PACE Group. “Through our expanded reach and new generation of 3D solutions, we will deliver a variety of creative tools including SLATE2SCREEN™ 3D production services, educational workshops for industry professionals in FUSION 3D and FUSION 3D Mobile Workflow Units that support end-to-end solutions for both the live and recorded production environments. CPG will deliver CAN DO solutions.”

CAMERON – PACE Group already has an extensive list of current and upcoming projects, including “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,” [Kempton: Cool!] “Transformers: Dark of the Moon,” [Kempton: Cool!] “The Three Musketeers,” “The Invention of Hugo Cabret,” “Life of Pi,” and “47 Ronin.” For a more extensive list of CPG projects, as well as a comprehensive overview of CPG’s available products and services, please refer to, www.cameronpace.com.”

Also see news from NYT, Reuters, PC magazine, and Hollywood Reporter,

““Broadcasting is the future of 3D,” Cameron said, predicting that in as few as two years, “everything will be produced in 3D” and 2D versions will be extracted from that.”

On a personal note, the more I read about Jim (see “The Futurist: The Life and Films of James Cameron“), the more I admire him as a determined artist, filmmaker, and businessman.

***

Apr 12, 2011 Update:

* Studio Daily, “ARRI Teams with CAMERON-PACE Group on Alexa M Development“

* Guardian, “James Cameron expects 100% 3D within the next five years – All film and TV will be made in 3D soon, says Avatar director as he launches venture promoting industry take-up of technology“

Steve Jobs’ biography “iSteve: The Book of Jobs” coming in 2012

Walter Isaacson, author of Einstein: His Life and Universe (2007) and Benjamin Franklin: An American Life (2003), has been writing the biography of Apple CEO Steve Jobs since 2009. Looks like an potentially interesting book to check out.

More from CNN, TIME.