March 17, 2003
What to do
I'm trying to decide what to do about school. I got back another exam result today. I did so-so...not great but hey I didn't fail (so I can retake the exam lots and lots and lots of times until I get a good grade).
But, I think Dresden isn't for me.
Some time ago I asked Doug for advice. He gave me a real gem, words to think about these days.
I've been washing back and forth upon this for a long time, trying to figure out what to do with my life after Syracuse. Japan seemed like the coolest option, Dresden was a second bet. It doesn't seem to be agreeing with me so much. So, I'm going to apply for some PhD programs while staying in Dresden for a little bit longer, maybe another semester or two (might as well learn a few things while I'm waiting on my grad applications). In the meantime, advice from my nerdy friends is appreciated. Where to go? What's good?
My particular interests these days include artifical intelligence, natural language processing, operating system/software security, and of course formal methods. I'm always becoming more interested in legal aspects of security, and these ridiculous laws being passed and patents being approved lately, as well. I have a few places in mind (which I won't mention for fear of tainting the advice), but what has good programs in not only these highly technical areas but also at least offers a few courses on intellectual property/computer policy? The latter bit is what I'm really not sure about. I don't think I want to go to into computer policy like Doug, but talking the talk and maybe contributing a few cents to improve life in the US would be worthwhile to me...
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Further back...
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Previous Trips...
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Hiking Mount Whitney, 2007 
Spring Break in West Virginia, 2005
New Year's in Paris, 2003-2004
Coming to America, 2003
Protesting in Berlin, 2003
Prague Bier-Tour, 2002
Dresden, 2002
Recent Reading
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Stealing the Network
I first bumped into the Stealing the Network series when reading the exploits of Joe Grand, one of the book's many hacker authors.
The 'Stealing the ...' series of books follows a rather disparate group of computer hackers as they help a former NSA spook (many of them unwittingly) gather the money he needs to retire.
The stories themselves are not fantastic fiction. The writing is uneven and choppy, the characters are stereotypical and not very well thought-out. What is fascinating about this book series is the technical accuracy of the exploits (at some points *too* accurate, with screen shots and step-by-step instructions).
It's a great series to read if you're a system administrator, or just getting into the wonderful field of computer security.
Rated 
by reid
on March 06, 2011
by reid
on March 06, 2011
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Close to the Machine
Ellen Ullman is one of those authors that somehow avoided my radar. Until now...
Close to the Machine is less a book than a collection of loosely related personal anecdotes from Ellen's time as a very rare thing -- a successful female bisexual independent computer programming consultant.
In the course of her work and relationship life, she learns hard lessons about programming, running a business, being lonely, and loving the wrong people. I found it particularly poignant being a crypto-nerd with difficult times in relationships and a more-or-less NDA'd, secret work life.
This book is a must-read for anyone into running their own business, programming, or anyone dating a person that is a business-a-holic or programmer.
Rated 
by reid
on November 23, 2009
by reid
on November 23, 2009
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The Long Trip Home
I had the joy of dining with the author in Florida. We went to a little Brazilian BBQ where he spoke with our waitstaff in (what I can only assume was) flawless Portugese.
Brian Wyllie spent 1969-1971 living in Brazil working for the Peace Corps. His recent book outlines his trip back to the United States via Bolivia, Peru, and the Carribean chain, by way of bus, train, and sailboat. The format comes spattered with observations from the modern day, and makes me think, "this must be what John McPhee's journal looks like."
The trip sounded like a fantastic one, but I was left wanting more detail...where did the gun (being snuck through customs in a variety of places, no doubt) come from? And how did Geneve's hair smell? Alas, we'll have to wait for another book to find the answers.
Rated by reid
on April 16, 2009
by reid
on April 16, 2009
MIT, Princeton (which has some available material on intellectual property and legal policy), maybe Stanford. Cornell might also have some stuff. They have a lot of high tech programs, and a respected law school.
Most others are second rate.
Posted by: on March 19, 2003 01:16 AM-Dad