Cyber-warfare and a different kind of vulnerability

With a combination of hacking and data flooding, Estonian networks were attacked over a series of weeks in which many report as an outcropping of the real-world ethnic tensions between the Estonian government and the Russian minority with the movement of a military memorial in April.
Accusations of Russian governmental involvement have been flying, with tracking IP addresses to the Kremlin and counters by Russia as being used as a scapegoat by outside hackers.
Estonia Computers Blitzed, Possibly by the Russians
Estonian Links Moscow to Internet Attack
Digital Fears Emerge After Data Siege in Estonia

This just re-highlights of this siege is the vulnerability of the political and financial digital infrastructures of not only Estonia, but of all nations. So now what? Yes, tech is speeding forward and a rapid clip and governmental reaction is the case, not any preemption. What would be a good way to be ready to respond to potential disruptions on the digital level? According to the news articles above, this data siege was expected and prepped for, but underestimated. Is there another way to be able to respond to the disruption on a more flexible basis?

stats and stereotypes

Straddling the cultural divide is more problematic when the roles you are asked/required to play fall closer to a dichotomy than not.
Is this all too surprising that this conflict drives people to an untimely end?
“Asian-American women ages 15-24 have the highest suicide rate of women in any race or ethnic group in that age group.”

Any recommendations?

Deciding to take a break from my doctorate was an evolving decision making process over the past year. I remember asking myself why I was so unhappy when I doing what I wanted to do and working towards the degree I wanted. And figuring out the answers to that was so simple, but so difficult; that it wasn’t want I wanted anymore. And at that point, deciding to leave was a lot easier. Maybe it was a “Eureka!” moment or me just going through a “Quarter-life crisis”. Maybe.
Theories aside, I’ve been pursuing this goal, research in the biomedical sciences, since the start of undergrad… that’s a long time…it is high time that I consider the other options available out there.
I’m still optimistic enough and idealistic enough to want to make a difference in the lives of other people and think that I still can. Now, I just have to figure out what I want to do. Any recommendations?

Taking another path –

I sent this e-mail today:

——————————————
To my friends and family –

For a number of reasons, including the fact that I’m really not sure if I want to continue doing biomedical research, I have decided to take a leave of absence from graduate school. Not immediately; I’m finishing my current project and then taking a leave of absence (or sabbatical, if you prefer to call it that). It looks like it’ll take me until mid-October to complete my project, so hopefully I’ll get to see everyone in the NYC area before my departure. For the folks in the DC Metro area and Philly, I’m moving back to Northern VA for a couple months, so I’ll be seeing y’all in the fall. And everyone else – there’s a decent chance that I’ll see you in the near future.

As for the “what now?” question, well, there’s several avenues that I’m exploring at the moment, a handful that will take me out of the US for an extended period of time and other that will keep me here. Basically, I don’t know, and won’t know for a couple of months. But I’m happier in my life with the uncertain future than the idea of continuing in the doctoral program.
I’ll be documenting what going on, with other commentary thrown in here: https://quirksalight.wordpress.com/

Cheers,

Guinness and Vodka are wary friends

Guinness is doing a promo blitz in the US to further its beers (Guinness, Harp, and Smithwicks). You sign up and drink free beer while munching on some snacks and listening to a rep telling you the history and joys of Guinness. Not too bad, though my friends and I were lucky as we were at a table where it was quite obvious that the majority of the others were not beer drinkers. 😀
Alas, in history, Russia has had a mixed relationship with the British Isles, and in suit, one should be wary of mixing the two. The same with alcohol.
I highly recommend the Russian Samovar as a great place for food and infused vodkas in Manhattan. It’s a favorite of mine. Just don’t necessarily go there after a night of Guinness.

Bike helmets are your friends…

More reason why I need to remember that:

From CNN: “Helmet saves man when truck runs over his head”

Knitting!!! I actually finished something!!!

It’s a modified pattern from One Skein. I bound off each finger in the gloves after 6 rows to make the fingerless gloves.

Blue is the new hue

My hair is now streaked with blue. Well… it’s more like green and teal now… it’s faded a bit.

There is a reason for good equipment…and good maintenance

I love my bike helmet, I love my bike seat. I need to love my brakes a whole lot more.
The reason for spending time and money on good equipment & maintenance really shows when you “eat it”.
So on Saturday, I went trail riding (ie, mountain biking) for the first time on a short, beginner, course on Long Island at Cathedral Pines.

[Image removed upon request]

It was a 6 mile loop, and a whole lotta fun!!!!! Though it got quite interesting at about mile 1, when I found out that my rear brakes were not really functional. (Bruise number 1) Upon fixing that problem with my handy dandy tool kit, I went merrily along my way, up and down, round and about the trail until about mile 5. Where gravity and momentum, coupled with my overconfidence lead to bruises 2 – 9. (mind you, I’m only counting the bruises that are larger than 1 inch in diameter)
Steep drop, right after I come around a sharp right hand turn (going quickly, of course), and not hitting the unbalanced brakes in time led my bike going in one direction, and lil’ ol’ me going in the correct direction, sans bicycle. Yup. I slid a couple feet down the trail mainly on my right side and back, with a complementary knock on the noggin. Hence why I love my helmet. 😛

The only downside to the ride was that the impact jarred a nut loose in my favorite bike seat (the cushiest thing ever!) and ripped my bag… which then required me to make some additional purchases.

Yes, I’m doing this again next week. 😀