Viruses, Malware, Trojans, and all kinds of nasty critters

 

I've spent a great deal of my life understanding computers, and one thing that has never changed is that there are rodents out there who enjoy causing pain and suffering through computer viciousness. Back in the beginning the main ones were viruses and trojan horses (time-delayed viruses essentially). There were a number of other things (like "worms") but they dropped out of the dictionary because nobody understood them anyway. Sadly, people are still doing it and are getting vastly better and more devious than ever before.

 

Sony suffered a major attack this past week, when a group called *G.O.P* (not the political party) stole 5 movies and threw them out to the Internet. Then there was Stuxnet which the United States intelligence community deployed into the Iraq manufacturing sector and destroyed a bunch of equipment. Now the FBI has issued a severe warning about destructive malware. The supposedly invulnerable "Blackphone" has already been successfully hacked.

 

So, what can be done? First, don't click on any web advertisements (unless you are sure they are what they appear to be). Second, arm your computer with some form of anti-virus (Malware Bytes & Spybot are free, but there are many other fine one to purchase). Third, be aware that threats are out there and be cautious. Fourth, do not click on any emailed links unless you absolutely trust the email's sender (even then, examine the link's address and make sure it goes where it says it does). It's ridiculously easy to spoof a link, so err on the side of caution.

 

I hope these tips help you out. There are lots more things to do, but awareness is where it all starts. If you want to know more, Microsoft has an excellent site: http://www.microsoft.com/security/pc-security/protect-pc.aspx.

 

- M

Roleplaying games

I've played computer roleplaying games since the days of Akalabeth (look it up for a laugh!) and Zork, right on up to the newest and greatest online and single player extravaganzas. I've played pen and paper roleplaying, and thoroughly enjoyed bringing up a character and watching them gain power and skills. The greatest joy to me is defining a new character and disappearing into the role. Maybe that's how actors feel when they step into their movie roles? Probably.

 

The joy of roleplaying extends far beyond fantasy or science fiction. Therapists use role playing to foster understanding, while scientists use role playing to seek new theories. It's a useful exercise. Mostly it's used for games though, since taking on a fantasy role is loads of fun. Just imagine being a dragonrider, or shooting balls of flame from your hands, or maybe taking a trip to Pluto in your own personal spaceship.

 

My thoughts run to virtual reality. There are plenty of science fiction stories that explore the addictive effects of using virtual reality long-term. But, there are also lots of stories where virtual reality is a useful tool. I hope we get to try it out in the next few years, especially with the new Oculus Rift device showing real promise. Right now the entry point into virtual reality is just too expensive, but it will continue coming down. I can hardly wait to grip my imaginary staff in hand and ride the eagles with Gandolf!

 

- M

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is a uniquely American holiday, but giving thanks most certainly isn't. Anyone, wherever you are in the world, may stop to give thanks for the many blessings in their lives. Go right ahead and celebrate with us! And, if you like, chow down on some nice roasted turkey while you're at it. The important thing is to give thanks.

 

Special days make a big difference in our lives: birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, and even completely made up days (Valentine's day is a popular one to point at). Regardless, we measure our lives by such celebrations, and we wouldn't if they didn't matter. When we take time out of our busy lives to make something special, we elevate that thing to new meaning. And with new meaning comes responsibility to share that meaning. We do it joyfully for the most part, and it's neat to see children learning the process and passing it on to another generation.

 

We are planning our normal time of good food and better company. I think this time we'll try having ham for the main course, and doing a turkey the next day. Of course, we'll have all the side dishes like mashed potatoes and salad and dinner rolls. This also marks the time of year when I start thinking about making a specialty candy called "divinity." It's a marvelous candy that's like taking a bit out of a sweet and fluffy cloud. It's great stuff, but I can't make it while there's humidity and so this time of year is great for it.

 

Happy Thanksgiving all, and may your days be blessed with good food and great company!

 

- M

Computer generated imagery.

Since computers were invented, they have been used to display mathematical formulae. I remember getting my first computer--a little palm sized sucker that had a whopping 3kb of memory, and could store something on the order of 100 lines of computer code. It was a fancy calculator really, but it did print out a really neat visualization of a wormhole. Then came the personal computers--Apple II+ and the TI-80s and IBMs. It was a great time to watch graphics grow more and more impressive. I especially remember two pictures created by Silicon Graphics workstations... one of a billiard table with amazingly rendered balls (they even made a special process to put scuffs and dirt on the surfaces) and another of a wet mountain road. Such simple pictures are nothing these days, but were incredibly impressive back then.

 

Since those early days, computer graphics have accelerated to the point of absolute reality. Given a bit of time, modern graphics are capable of nearly perfect replication of reality. Even console gaming systems, like the PS4 or XBox One, are able to display live images that feel pretty real--they're even making the eyes seem far less fake now too. The time will come when we will finally get to the point where we won't be able to tell the difference.

 

Probably the final frontier is when movies have computer generated actors who are just as real as the real-live actors. Motion capture is highly developed now, giving us the phenomenal Gollum, as well as the Na'vi from Avatar. So, the foundation is there, and it'll only take a bit longer before we can create literally anything we can imagine. Virtual reality (still very far from being good) is the step afterward and then we'll have the Star Trek Holodecks we've all been craving! I can't wait. Pardon me while I do my happy dance...

 

- M

Lindsey Stirling, Peter Hollens, and Pentatonix

My taste in music is odd for sure, but I've really enjoyed these three groups. Lindsey Stirling is a current darling of YouTube (having chalked up well over half a Billion views!), and Peter Hollens (who does unbelievable a cappella) is an earlier collaborator with her. Pentatonix won a television competition and also do unaccompanied vocals--I especially enjoy their Daft Punk medley.. What fascinates me is how these three groups are able to succeed through the power of the Internet. They are reaching all over the world, and it's driven by people finding their videos online and supporting them. I love it!

It's fun trying to figure out how things go viral. Why do certain groups blast into stardom, while others muddle along? How is it that some books never have a following, despite being really good, yet others become sensations no matter their quality? Fads come and go, as all things do, but it doesn't stop us from guessing what's the next one. Look up the "Pet Rock" some time. That was pure genius, not because of the rock but because of the incredible instruction manual. Talk about creative use of advertising skill!

For me, I'll continue supporting new talent. My joy is watching their stars rise. Lindsey Stirling has been great fun to see go from her first shy videos to a seasoned performer who captures audiences with the wave of her violin. Check out her YouTube channel. And, while your at it, check out Peter Hollens and his wife. That's pure enjoyment right there.

- M

Goodbye is such ... a drag

I've heard the phrase, "parting is such sweet sorrow." It was written by a poetic mastermind named Shakespeare. Maybe you've heard of him. It's meant to say that yes, parting is harsh, but it's also sweet because of the care that follows. Both sweet and painful. Really, it's more than that. Life usually isn't so poetic. We don't always know we'll return or if they'll return.

Goodbye is expected, unwelcome, and a complete bummer. Still, life doesn't let us pity ourselves too long, because we get to say goodbye a lot. We learn to deal with it. Hopefully we learn to expect the opposite, which is "Hello." If we can force ourselves away from the negative and focus on the positive, then we can understand why some cultures don't even have a word for goodbye.

There is a phrase that I've heard a times, and perhaps I'll start using it now: "Until next we meet." There's hope in that statement. Hope for the future. Of course, saying, "Goodbye" can be broken down to "Good parting" and even more to "Bless your travels, and I really look forward to the next time we meet and all the good things we will do."

So, here's to the next "Hello." Until then...

- M

Oral histories, public storytelling, and epic tales.

Most of you have probably read the great old stories from long, long, long ago. Stories from like the "Iliad" or "The Odyssey" or "Beowulf." Those were originally spoken to audiences. Oral history is the ancient groundwork for all modern storytelling. The neat thing is that these histories were written down, but some are still told today. People still want to hear stories told to them, much like children want to hear their mother read out-loud bedtime stories.

Poetry isn't an easy thing for me, especially out-loud. But, public poetry has brought me to tears. At a writing conference I was babbling like a baby after a poetry recitation. It was magical, heart-warming, and intense. So, even my hard heart is softened by oral storytelling. I'm grateful. I'm inspired. And, I'm humbled.

One specific thing I hope continues to grow is epic stories. I hope people want more, ask for more, and demand more. We need more grand epics like my favorite "The Lord of the Rings" or the "The Ring Cycle" (which inspired my favorite epic), or also "Narnia" and so many others. What those stories do is to make life grand. With such stories there's hope for better things, better tomorrows, and better people. We deserve that optimism.

- M