Does Tacoma have a "Field Office"

Everyone at works thinks I had a job interview today. So I wore slacks, dress shoes and a shirt.. and Ok I had a sports coat on for a little while... but I was wearing my UW lapel pin, doesn't that count for something?

I guess not.

However, I did not have a job interview today, alas. I had what I termed "residual school." As most of you know, I completed my Master's Degree in June, and today I got to present on my final project from my concentration (Information Assurance and Cyber Security). That presentation took place at the FBI Field Office in Downtown Seattle, an unassuming building as you walk past, an empty lobby (well there is a metal detector in the lobby) some american flags and an armed guard behind thick bulletproof glass. But otherwise unassuming.

The group was made up of Information Security Professionals from across the region (most from the Seattle Area) and there were about 40 or so people. It was a lot of fun and we had some very compelling conversation about the work my class did. The Cybercrime Special Agent agreed that we tackled an extremely difficult subject and that they wished something along the lines of what we tried to do existed... and needs to exist.

I don't know if it's a way to make money, but we also came to agree that there eshould probably be a government agency for this kind of thing. I wonder if they'd have a field office in Tacoma.

Escher in my very own backyard

This weekend was an interesting one in the realm of home projects, but first a little background.

When we were looking at houses a few months ago and we walked into the backyard of our current house, I squinted through the trees and said, "Hey I thinks that's [so-and-so]'s house!"

Turns out it is, and they have a young lad a few years older than my boy. They've since become best buddies. The issue is this very steep hill between our yard and theirs.

So, I was out doing some yard work one day and asked the neighbor behind if he knew where the property line was, which he indicated by spraying his garden hose in the general direction of a little peak of cement. "Pretty sure that's the corner" he said. "OK"

So this weekend, I went back on said hill with a shovel and dug me some stairs... then on Sunday I dug me some stairs and I have a feeling for the next several days will involve digging the stairs some more... I feel like I've stepped into an Escher Painting. But so far I am happy with how things are progressing and the physical labor is good for me... or so I keep telling myself.

When distance is an issue

It was a long hour train ride home knowing that what awaited at the other end was a police report and probably a lot of fingerprint dust... oh and the ongoing discovery of the little things that I know longer have. Like my nice watch... and my XBox.

HAL 9000: Sounder Conductor

It's probably been more than a year since Sound Transit began using the automated conductor to make announcements aboard the train. Those of us who have ridden the train for a while have dubbed the automated computer voice "HAL".

What we've been learning lately is that HAL has a much more extensive vocabulary than the standard announcements. Usually we are greated in the morning and afternoon with such gems like:

• The train to Seattle will depart in [five] minutes.
• Doors Closing

It's beautiful, it really is. Especially with a dramatic pause between each word.

So what have been some of the new things HAL has been telling us? Well, it's only in Tacoma and I'm pretty sure only on the 6:45 AM departure:

• Never take shortcuts across the tracks
• Riders without valid fare are subject to citation and fines
• Please, don't take chances
• Please remain calm
• Thank you, and have a safe day

Thanks HAL! He has more, but this is the wisdom he imparted on us today, I'll let you know when we learn more.

This happens everytime

I have good intentions... really I do.

I have started a "blog" for the third time now, there are remnants of one on livejournal and another on MySpace, but really they aren't much more than what is listed here. (Not that anyone reads it)

I would like to make an interesting blog that my friends come and read, but I just don't know what to share, which any of them would tell you is odd coming from me as when I have a conversation I can't seem to stop talking, or take over the conversation. God forbid I try and tell you something simple without giving you the fully detailed backstory first. I usually forget what my original point was by then.

Anyway, I've read a bunch more James Bond which I intend to talk about, and even saw a Movie!!! Well, it was a DVD borrowed from a friend, but even that is rare these days.

I also just returned from a vacation.. "Staycation?" doubt it I drove about 600 miles each way.

More on those later.