First Contact Media, Old and New

Wow. It has been a long time since I posted anything. Without making any promises, I hope to start remedying that a bit.

Last week, basically by accident, I was exposed to a couple of really interesting pieces of media exploring concepts of first contact between humans and aliens. First, I went to see Arrival, which was great. Independent of that film, I'm a longtime fan of the Serial Podcast, and of the Slate Serial Spoiler Special, which led me to subscribe to the Panoply Media RSS feed. For a while, Panoply was putting out a lot of varied material, but that feed has slowed to a trickle. So, when I saw something new and different a few weeks ago, I decided to check it out. It's called LifeAfter (stylized as "lif-e.af/ter"), and you can check out the Teaser, Episode 1, Episode 2, and Episode 3.

LifeAfter is a production of GE Podcast Theater (in association with Panoply Media). I'd never heard of GE Podcast Theater, though I find it interesting to see that we've returned to the golden age of radio and the early days of television, when a single company would sponsor an entire program (typically with advertisements written into the content of fiction programs). I ended up discovering that LifeAfter is actually GE Podcast Theater's second offering: I missed The Message (RSS) in 2015. I listened to the entire run of The Message on Friday (it's just under two hours in total duration). You can listen, too - and in case you're too lazy to look it up, here are the direct links!

Introducing The Message

Episode 1

Episode 2

Episode 3

Episode 4

Episode 5

Episode 6

Episode 7

Episode 8

I don't know if there was any "cross-pollination" between The Message and Arrival, but I found the plotlines to be very similar. For film buffs, the obvious examples of inspiration for both are Independence Day (1996) and Contact (1997). However, specific elements of The Message reminded me of a book I read in 2006: The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell. Easily one of the best, most thought-provoking books I've ever read, and one I appreciated enough to give to my mother-in-law. I'll spare everyone any spoilers, but if you've enjoyed The Message and/or Arrival, or just enjoy original science fiction that's not a retread of Star Trek, The Sparrow is definitely worth the investment of your time. (I heard the sequel didn't meet the same high benchmark, but I didn't read it, so I can't say that for a fact.) You can even get it on your Kindle, which wasn't even a thing when I read it!

Operation Cassandra, Phase 2: Data Consolidation

Phase 2 of Operation Cassandra is the consolidation of my own personal data, and the archiving of additional data that I'm pulling from various sources. For the last few years, I've had a lot of data spread across several different assets. I want to get those assets mostly consolidated - with multiple devices at play, it will be difficult to keep them that way for more than a few minutes - to make future use a bit easier. Here are the steps I've established:

1. Consolidate all files into new file structure - As I mentioned above, this basically involves taking all of my files and sorting them into a deliberately structured hierarchy to make them easier to use. As some of them may eventually go online, it will make it easier to enforce the appropriate access controls as well.
2-4. List and clear KFHHG downloads; Determine KFHHG document load; Set KFHHG document load - I've previously mentioned my Kindle Fire Hitchhiker's Guide. Organization of what went onto it, and what came off, has been sort of ad hoc. I want to be more organized about it, so I'm going to figure out what files I've loaded onto it, and clear those files; figure out what stuff I need on there either permanently, or in phases; and set that load. I technically have two of them, so the lists may look a bit different, but it will be an improvement.
5. Dhofar archive - From time to time, I've mentioned my obsession with the Dhofar Rebellion, an obscure conflict that took place in southwestern Oman during the 1960's and '70's. I want to archive the bulk of what's available online, plus all of the work that I've done myself.
6. OGHAP archive - I may have mentioned that I'm writing a book about the First World War. I want to neatly archive all of the materials I've used.
7. History Education Resource Archive (HERA) - When I was in college, I assembled and peddled an archive of public domain history sources, mainly primary source materials, and focused primarily upon ancient history. I'd like to get it a little bit more streamlined (possibly converted into plaintext) and expand it to include some additional sources and topics.
8. Linguistic Asset Resource Archive (LARA) (language archive) - I've collected a lot of foreign language materials over the years, mostly Arabic and a little bit of Latin. I want to get it better organized.
9. Database of Historically Acquired Risk Management Assets (DHARMA) - I've collected a lot of security risk management materials over the years. Between 2009 and 2012, I put a lot of that material together as archives focused on information security and anti-terrorism. I want to consolidate those archives into one, and then expand it to cover additional security risk management categories.
10. Strategic Analysis Resource Archive (SARA) - Not surprisingly, I've collected a lot of stuff related to strategy, military operations, and military history over the years.
11. Figure out BitLocker - The days of "I don't really need encryption" are pretty much over, so I'm hoping to figure out how BitLocker works without locking myself out of any of my own files. So, that should be fun, right?

Work continues. More to come.

Operation Cassandra, Phase 1: Computing Equipment

I've made some progress on Operation Cassandra. The original plan was to embark upon the various phases of the operation in sequential order, but that's kind of fallen apart. Still, the phases help to keep the tasks somewhat organized.

The first phase is squaring away my existing computing equipment. In addition to two legacy Dell laptops, I've had a number of additional bits and pieces laying around, and those needed some attention. The plan has been as follows:

1. Check the functionality of an old laptop hard drive - After an old Rocketfish hard drive enclosure bit the dust, I bought an Inateck USB 3.0 2.5 Inch & 3.5 Inch Aluminum Hard Disk Drive External Enclosure to check the functionality of an old laptop hard drive. It didn't work, but I may give it another go at a later date.
2. Check the functionality of an old desktop hard drive - I used the same Inateck hard drive enclosure to test this hard drive, which is still functional.
3. Check the functionality of an old desktop hard drive - This was a different hard drive from my mother's old desktop computer. Not only was it still functional, but I was amazed to find that it had no malware on it.
4. Clear files and defragment both laptops - I've basically cleared the files, which feeds into Phase 2, but I haven't defragged them yet. 5. Optimize black laptop for OSGEOINT and podcasting use - After Operation Irene, my open source geospatial intelligence laptop sort of became my primary workstation. I want to clear some of the stuff that's accumulated (a lot of it has already been cleared) and optimize it for Phase 4 (Raspberry Pi GSS) and Phase 5 (Geospatial Information Systems) work, as well as podcasting.
6. Optimize green laptop for use as file server - I saw an article (Turn an Old Computer into a Networked Backup, Streaming, or Torrenting Machine with NAS4Free). Once I'm able to get a fresh laptop, I'd like to try my hand at turning my second laptop into a Network Area Storage.

Work continues. More to come.

Orcadian OSGEOINT Exercises

In late 2011 and early 2012, I found myself stuck in a back office in an unnamed Middle Eastern country, bored out of my skull due to a dearth of assignments, but nonetheless required to put in long days at a desk. I ended up spending some of that time acquainting myself with websites pertaining to Orkney. Based on some of those discoveries, I decided to try to combine satellite imagery with available ground photography to identify the location of the Howar Farm on North Ronaldsay. I used one descriptive line...

"Walk along North Ronaldsay's prettiest beach, Nouster Bay, to Howar farm[.] From the Pier or the Bird Observatory it's 30 minutes brisk walk along the sandy bay. Longer if you dawdle to enjoy it."

... and two photos (the headers to this page and this page) as my guides. Below is a montage combining those two images with two aerial images.

The inset, zoomed out image shows the vantage points of the two ground images using white and grey chevrons, the grey chevron being replicated on the lower image. Aside from that, the colored arrows correlate the various elements of each photo for comparison. Here are a few things to note:

Note the two skylights in the barn denoted by the green arrows, and the difference in height between the differently colored roofs of that building.

Note the skylight/vent in both images denoted by the grey arrow.

Note the point at which the out building denoted by the beige arrows narrows.

Note the greenhouse, which appears transparent from above, denoted by the purple arrows.

I went through a similar process to identify The Ruah at the Green Farm on Eday, but they've since updated their website, so I can't take you through that process as well. All that said, it's been really great practice in open source imagery analysis.

Operation Cassandra

A couple of years ago, I blogged about Operation Irene, my effort to turn an old laptop into an "open source geospatial intelligence platform". This post is sort of like that... Sort of.

Let's review.

I worked a variety of jobs between 2006 and 2012, and really wanted to get into some sort of foreign policy analysis gig, but couldn't seem to break through. Between 2010 and 2012, I saved a ton of money (assisted in large part by a contracting gig in the Persian Gulf) and then spent fifteen months getting my master's degree in Scotland, where I graduated with distinction with an MSc in Strategic Studies (of the International Relations variety). (That's Scottish for "at the top of my class".) Despite this, and some other sweet credentials, it took me ten months of job applications and five interviews, tops, to get hired into basically the same job I was doing in 2010. I relocated to my current digs with the intent of eventually transferring or getting hired into something more commensurate with my background.

Fast forward nearly two years, and that plan has yet to pan out. I haven't gotten to the point of giving up on ever doing something related to strategy, but it appears that the foreseeable future shall be spent in information technology. So, in 2016, I need to shore those skills up so that I can poise myself to either get promoted here, or else generate opportunities to leave. Truth be told, if I'm going to be locked into IT work, I don't really feel the need to shackle myself to this particular locale. I need to open up some maneuvering room.

So, what to do? Well, the magic bullet seems to be the Certified Information Systems Security Professional certification from (ISC)². I think it may require a couple of other certifications to get me up to the point of being ready to test for it - the CAP and the repeatedly aforementioned PSP, to name but two. I've decided that I need to create some opportunities for hands on experiences on my own home network in order to force some of the more complex concepts to make more sense.

And thus, operation Cassandra, which is like Operation Irene ratcheted up to eleven.

I'm still making final tweaks to the overall plan, but I have it divided into five phases. In Phase 1, I'll be getting my existing equipment sorted. That means basic maintenance on my existing (more-or-less) twin laptops, and tightening up the settings on my home networking gear. Phase 2 will involve organizing my information, to include determining and then loading a "Hitchhiker's Guide" load on my original Kindle Fire. Phase 3 will focus on getting a bit smarter about home network engineering.

The initial phases get me ready for the heavy lifting in Phases 4 and 5. Phase 4 will involve setting up a home enterprise network composed of a set of four or five Raspberry Pi 3 boards configured as servers, and accompanying peripherals. I'm tentatively planning to figure out how to build a web server, a file server, a firewall and intrusion detection system, a GIS server, and potentially something involving shortwave radio. Phase 5 will involve using that home network, and particularly that GIS server, to learn QGIS. In addition to all of the hands-on training, I'd like to accompany the whole thing with the requisite documentation involved in the National Institute of Standars and Technology's Risk Management Framework, which is the federally mandated (and industry standard) framework for establishing, authorizing, and maintaining secure information systems. When all's said and done, I'll include the documentation, via the web and file servers.

If I can pull it all off, I'll have hopefully picked up some actual skills to accompany my existing theoretical understanding of some of these technologies; produced some functional work samples; and made some progress toward some of my personal and professional goals. It'll also get me started in the GIS field, in which I may pursue some formal certifications in the next couple of years.

I have a lot of work ahead of me. I'll try to chronicle each phase for the blog as I'm able.

Culinary Adventures: Manti and Pierogis

Here's another one that doesn't exactly involve a recipe, per se, but I'm counting it as one of my two "recipes" for the month of March. On occasion, I visit a Russian grocery and buy dumplings, pierogis, and "Riga style" sour cream, which I'm pretty sure is just sour cream. Anyway, I normally boil the dumplings and pierogis, which works well enough. However, I tried my hand at lamb manti, and they ended up retaining a lot of fluid, which made them sort of messy. They also didn't quite agree with me. I looked at the actual instructions on the next package, and it claimed that I'm supposed to be steaming them. Steaming them? How am I supposed to do that?

Well, the thing is, I actually have an Oster rice cooker. I hadn't paid much attention to the steaming tray that comes with it, but as it turns out, it's as stupid easy to steam manti and pierogis in a rice cooker's steaming tray as it is to cook rice in a rice cooker - though I'll note that the steaming is a touch more messy than cooking rice. I've done it twice now, and I think I'm going to be making more trips to that Russian grocery to keep my freezer properly stocked.

I've also got some packages of gnocchi that I got from a nearby Italian grocery. As fate would have it, some dude on YouTube has suggestions for cooking gnocchi in the rice cooker, too, so I may give that a try as well. More to come on that topic!

Culinary Adventures: YouTube CrockPot Meals

I've been interested in CrockPot cooking for a long time, but I've never done much of it. Since I'm trying to cook more in 2016, I decided to scour YouTube for a few CrockPot recipes. I found two that I decided to try. First, from a blog by way of a prolific vlogger going by the moniker "She's In Her Apron", I made Honey Sesame Chicken as described in this video.


The second recipe is for Cream of Mushroom Chicken, from a YouTuber going by the name TosTinMan.


I'll be honest, neither of these recipes really lit me up. I'll admit that I didn't follow TosTinMan's advice by removing the skin from my chicken thighs before putting them in the CrockPot, but aside from that I was pretty faithful to both recipes. Neither were terrible, and other folks might have better luck, but I probably won't repeat either of them in the near future. That's actually too bad for the Honey Sesame Chicken, since I now have two bottles of sesame oil (unbeknownst to me, Lady Jaye already had one in our cupboard), and I have no clue how I'm going to use it up. Maybe I'll think of something!