My Top 10 Places to Visit in the next 20 Years!

1. Switzerland

2. Fiji

3. Korea

4. Japan

5. Hawaii

6. New Zealand

7. Italy

8. China

9. Paris

10. Spain

InfoSec - Protecting digital information in a world where cyber-security is on center-stage.

https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/2o1il1/i_am_mikko_hypponen_a_computer_security_expert/

I began reading the above Reddit AMA of Mikko Hypponen, and am fascinated. Cyber security has been an issue for a long time, but I believe began a trend of growth after the attacks of 9/11. Throughout the past decade, cyber threats have grown from external as well as internal sources. Within the past few years, the NSA scandal precipitated by whistle-blower Edward Snowden has blown the cover off the top- our information is likely insecure. From our emails, bank information, phone calls, online behavior, search trends, likes and dislikes, much of our information is highly sought-after by criminals and legitimate companies alike.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/12/02/us-sony-cybersecurity-malware-idUSKCN0JF3FE20141202

In a world of growing integration with technology, protecting individual privacy and securing information is an issue of great importance. The power of viruses like Stuxnet or CyberLocker make it clear that the tangible effects of compromised systems and information can balloon out of control unless we do something about it. Thankfully necessity is a powerful driving force, and plenty of for-profit, non-profit, and government organizations exist to stem the dangerous tide of malicious interests.

It's a growing industry, I'm certain. With recent innovations like Bitcoin, Google Wallet, NFC technologies, and Apple Pay, the interaction we have with the world is becoming more technology saturated. Within the next few decades, where will we go? The world definitely seems like an exciting place to explore, and I'm determined to find out where I belong.

Textbooks; want to get them cheaper? Here's a service that'll help you find your price.

It's that time of year again, as the Fall semester is beginning to draw to a close. I'm starting to look into textbooks.

A year ago, I came across a website called "isbns" that can search up books by their ISBN or title/author (just enter it in), and it aggregates or compiles results from a vast number of sellers. These include Amazon, eBay, and Half, Abebooks, etc. It allows you to sort through the results by price, and you can filter them between New, Used, or Rentals. Seriously- it's great. For those getting ready for the 2015 Spring Semester, this might just become your new best-friend for a while..

Link to the site below:
http://www.isbns.gs/

Mind-Massage Pictures (Week 1)

What's up with the title? Well, I'm beginning a weekly post of cool and interesting images I've compiled from my web-surfing. These pictures or wallpapers are chosen because they've invoked a particular emotion/feeling, inspired me, or transported my imagination somewhere:

All images belong to their respective owners. I take no credit for them.

Toyota and "Muda"

Something for future engineers who plan to work in an industrial setting to add to their memory bank. Toyota is respected around the globe for their mindset and ability to reduce waste and improve efficiency. I'm curious as to how can we integrate this concept to our daily lives, however small-scale it would be.

Here is the Wikipedia link:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muda_(Japanese_term)

Arduino

Anyone with even a small amount of tech experience may have heard of something called Arduino. It's a family of microcontrollers that can be programmed using C or C++.

Pictured: An early version of the Arduino board.

Sounds like mumbo-jumbo? It's basically hardware, or a board, that can be programmed with a computer to accomplish a variety of tasks, depending on what is attached to the board. If we attach LEDs to the board, we can program the board to flash the lights in patterns that we've pre-determined. Sound boring? What if we made a clock out of that? Or attached a LCD display to display text? What if we attached a small speaker to play a music file every time a button is pressed or an event occurs? The possibilities are starting to seem endless.

I was reminded that such a thing existed last week by a classmate in my Digital Logic Design class. I decided it was a good idea for my career (and hobby-life, which has recently dulled) to explore into it.

The boards themselves are very cheap (part of the orignal purpose of the Arduino designers to make them accessible). Electronic parts and components are usually not super expensive either. I'm currently deciding whether or not to spring for the below starting kit:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/151183574145

I'll update this post if I do indeed purchase the kit (or get it as a Christmas gift. Hint hint.)

(Reader's thoughts are welcome.)

Back!

It's Sunday, and I've decided to get my act together and finally start working on this thing.

What can I put on here that's actually meaningful for myself and for anyone who visits this blog? I've mulled this thought over for the past hour, and decided that the best thing to do is to start a journey.

A journey where I compile my thoughts, decisions, notable achievements, uninteresting achievements, everything and anything that can help me paint a better picture of myself. My past, present, and future self.

Along the way you may find things that interest you. If so, follow along with me. Let's go.