Write your own epitaph or crowd-source memories after you are gone

People seem to be talking about putting social media accounts in your Last Will and Testament for a little while now and while I have not gone looking for cool things about afterlife events when I saw this linked from an article that spoke about QR code malware I thought hmmm.

If I did want that perhaps I need to start aggregating my life to one spot in advance ...

Given my Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity background I think I might need to provide different data because I don't think QR codes will be in vogue when I'm gone and I'm not certain a URL will be valuable then either.

So just like updating tape technologies I might need to look at a fund to conduct data transformation and also headstone rejuvenation for the new access methods but I think it is a funny idea to toy with.

Would the site need to be open to publishing from friends and colleagues? Don't worry I won't be calling it WikiDavia

Ball Camera - Captures Panoramic Views

Recently I have been taken by photography but almost lost interest by forcing myself to post a photo every day what a physiological disaster. Taking a picture everyday because you have too rather than because you want to not good.

Often we I was thinking about what to take I was drawn by the idea of Panoramas and went to some lengths to prepare for stitching a larger shot if the whim took me so essentially I thought this might be a nice photo and then took about 8 more shots around the periphery to ensure I'd be able to get the bigger picture.

Today I found a link to something marvellous the Ball Camera

Now just to find out where I can get one and for how much would make a cool addition to a travelling kit.

Dreaming of Cabins and Houses in the Bush

While I watch “The Renovators” finale tonight I have been dreaming about property but maybe not renovating one.

Since our dear friend “Suzi” moved out to the country I had dreamed of buying the place across the road from her (looks that sold recently) and really I don’t think I want to buy an established property with a house …

This is my daydream today how about we buy a couple of hundred acres in the country say out near Suzi

and somewhere in the middle near a Dam like this one put the main house and I kind of like this one:

I’m a little bit in love with space for my stuff, shade and being tucked in so I’d want a plantation on at least one side of the property maybe a native gum forest. With this idea comes the risk of fire so I need a funky retreat for me to do stuff maybe perched a little high so a middle aged persons tree house but cooler… I thinking this one:

Notice the Steel Shutters all around … Good for those I’m busy go away days but also keeps the Burglars and Bush Fires away. This could even be out on a perimeter of the property and maintain a high degree of safety and security.

Of course I’m looking for my space and I think Libby should have hers too. I’m pretty interested a third building that is designed to be a writers retreat:

If we were to “Line” the undersides of the Patios I think we could get a degree of Fire Protection and Security here too

You would think I’m finished by now too but no I’m not and these are cool because I could use a tractor to move the next buildings around the property for Privacy, Scenery change or more importantly fighting kids…

I used to want to live in mum and dads garage because I was a man now and wanted my own space. I like these because they are “portable” ish and make great guest cabins too so we might need 3 or 4 in a clear spot and orientate them so they all get a view. I might make the interior a little less Spartan but I really like the idea and so would Libby because visitors can retreat away from the house:

Yes I understand they look like Shipping Containers with cooler roofs, BUT look Cool Wheels

Of course these are just day dreams and I have not seen floor plans, I’m also not entirely sure I want to give my houses grease and oil changes.

If I have stirred your interest all the structures are Architecturally Designed by Olson Kundig Architects and the Pictures are from their Web Site

I’m still kind of Interested in pricing in case my dreams could come true in the next few years.

Password Creation Key Material - If you HAVE to used known passwords

I was reading my RSS Feeds today and saw a post from Wayne Small over at SBS FAQ talking about Passwords and how people store them.
He spoke about a Password Card from Savernova which gives you the beginning of a secure password system. It won’t protect you from a KeyLogger but it might protect a password to a password, which is what I might use it for…
I already use KeyPass for storing and generating my high value credentials so I can just copy and paste into Application and Web Dialogs well ones I don’t already have Single Sign on for (but that is another post)
KeyPass allows me to use a Password to open the Encrypted Password Safe AND I’m Pretty PARANOID (They still might be out to get me) so I store the App and Data on an IronKey that is pretty much always with me. Oh yeah the IronKey is Decrypted with a Password
Now at work I use a Smartcard to login and our user Attributes are set to Require Smartcard so there is no worries about a Password or is there? My SmartCard Pin is an 8 Character Password DAMN
So to login to my Internet Banking I need a 24 Character Password I stored in KeyPass so here goes…
I am tempted to make lots of the passwords the same to make them easy to remember but I work in an Identity Management, Authentication and Security Team hmmm maybe not. Now If I did maybe they might be @BettyisPretty after someone I follow on Twitter (Because that Twitter ID makes me Smile)
Today I looked at Wayne's Card and thought NOT Strong Enough and set about making my own
Here is how I did it:

• Create a Constant in Excel and call it Characters


• Insert the Characters in your Password Policy: 0123456789abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ!@#$%^&*[]{}-+


• Create a Matrix of Cells I used the same one as the Card from Wayne's post and added some I didn’t think I needed to miss


• Copy the Random Selection Formula to each Cell: =MID(Characters,INT(RAND()*LEN(Characters))+1,1)


• Put a Border around it like Map Co-ordinates and you are good to go


• Print


• Laminate and


• Insert into your Smart Card Holder

This is not the Matrix I’m using and it changes with each open anyway so make sure you print a spare and save it SECURELY (against Loss not Compromise)
In my Scenario I might use the following to Comply with the ISM (Govt Security Guidance) Complexity Recommendations
Smartcard Pin – I5 Diagonal Down 7 Chars = iR5p7xh
IronKey Password – D9 Horizontal 8 Chars = “&0yfmgk
KeyPass Password – L3 Vertical 8 Chars = V-deJp#3

Password Creation Key Material

I was reading my RSS Feeds today and saw a post from Wayne Small over at SBS FAQ talking about Passwords and how people store them.
He spoke about a Password Card from Savernova which gives you the beginning of a secure password system. It won’t protect you from a KeyLogger but it might protect a password to a password, which is what I might use it for…
I already use KeyPass for storing and generating my high value credentials so I can just copy and paste into Application and Web Dialogs well ones I don’t already have Single Sign on for (but that is another post)
KeyPass allows me to use a Password to open the Encrypted Password Safe AND I’m Pretty PARANOID (They still might be out to get me) so I store the App and Data on an IronKey that is pretty much always with me. Oh yeah the IronKey is Decrypted with a Password
Now at work I use a Smartcard to login and our user Attributes are set to Require Smartcard so there is no worries about a Password or is there? My SmartCard Pin is an 8 Character Password DAMN
So to login to my Internet Banking I need a 24 Character Password I stored in KeyPass so here goes…
I am tempted to make lots of the passwords the same to make them easy to remember but I work in an Identity Management, Authentication and Security Team hmmm maybe not. Now If I did maybe they might be @BettyisPretty after someone I follow on Twitter (Because that Twitter ID makes me Smile)
Today I looked at Wayne's Card and thought NOT Strong Enough and set about making my own
Here is how I did it:

• Create a Constant in Excel and call it Characters
• Insert the Characters in your Password Policy: 0123456789abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ!@#$%^&*[]{}-+
• Create a Matrix of Cells I used the same one as the Card from Wayne's post and added some I didn’t think I needed to miss
• Copy the Random Selection Formula to each Cell: =MID(Characters,INT(RAND()*LEN(Characters))+1,1)
• Put a Border around it like Map Co-ordinates and you are good to go
• Print
• Laminate and
• Insert into your Smart Card Holder

This is not the Matrix I’m using and it changes with each open anyway so make sure you print a spare and save it SECURELY (against Loss not Compromise)
In my Scenario I might use the following to Comply with the ISM (Govt Security Guidance) Complexity Recommendations
Smartcard Pin – I5 Diagonal Down 7 Chars = iR5p7xh
IronKey Password – D9 Horizontal 8 Chars = “&0yfmgk
KeyPass Password – L3 Vertical 8 Chars = V-deJp#3

Good Result for Manly Fans

I haven’t been very interested in the NRL since the Super League distraction and I often wonder how many others are like me totally disinterested except for when the team you followed as a child makes it into the finals and then takes out the Premiership

Well today is that day and I’m pleased as punch that the boys were able to win today.

Perhaps it makes all the times I heard other kids in Primary School follow me around chanting..

Manly-Warringah Fultons a stinka, Branighans a poser first in line, Eadies a fairy all the rest are hairy

All worth it :)

Those were the days when kids were mouth pieces of their fathers and nobody really took things so seriously, when we all collected Footy cards and chewed the Bubble Gum it came with at school without fear of choking on it

I’m no Environmentalist but ….

Last night I bought some land to help protect it forever and it came with a title. Yep an actual title …

Lord David Lawrence Mackie of Glencoe

As the owner of a Scottish estate, you will have the full rights to style yourself as a Laird (Lord) or Lady. This is the same wherever you live in the world. You do not need to live in the UK or be a British citizen

So why did I go with Lord and not Laird? because when ever I wear this T-Shirt I need to explain it and it turns out “As Yoda said to Luke” is not explanation enough. SERIOUSLY??

If I decided to use my title I don’t want to be saying “It is like a Lord, but the Scottish variation” why do that all the time when Lord was an option.

Don’t worry I probably won’t ever seriously use Lord David but it add some fun to a way of maybe offsetting some of my carbon and maybe giving Lady Elizabeth and I a reason to go to Scotland sometime in the future.

I wonder if there are similar schemes elsewhere in the world? Let me get back to you.

In the mean time have a look over at Highland Titles to learn more about the project and even join the fun.

I’m thinking I’ll buy a little bit more land in Glencoe when my dear friends have their first baby.