Laptop Security

I was reading a couple of disturbing posts (here, here and here) about how the US Department of Homeland Security can confiscate laptops, phones and PDAs at US borders without reason (or even more disturbingly like if you even look like or have the same name as a terrorist, you could end up in Guantanamo with no human rights or legal recourse). Or there's the more likely scenario of just losing an electronic item on public transport, in a bar, or even just some creep taking it whilst I'm not looking, so I decided to encrypt my laptop.

Windows Vista (Ultimate Edition only, I think) has a full disk encryption method called BitLocker which does the job. I only use XP on my system, largely because I think it has less extraneous crap on it (which isn't actually saying much) but mostly because XP does perfectly well.

So I had a look around and found the free and open-source Truecrypt had released version 5.1a in the past couple of weeks. Version 5 comes with its own system-disk and -partition encryption which can be used to protect a lost, stolen or confiscated (i.e. also stolen) laptop drive from prying eyes. It uses strong encryption, such as 256-bit Serpent, Twofish or AES. You will need a strong password, meaning 20 characters or longer (the longer the better, max 64 characters), and a mixture of upper-case, lower-case, numerals and symbols, avoiding dictionary words being embedded anywhere in the password, or the use of personal data, like your pets name, birthdate, city of birth etc.

For real security.

Marmite

Most Brits will know what Marmite is; most Americans won't, and they are missing out. Marmite is a smooth dark-brown paste, whose main ingredient is brewers yeast, which has been broken down [autolysed] with salt and heat, and the solids are removed to leave yeast extract. Yummy!

Marmite is endowed with a quite strong, and absolutely unique flavor. It can be used in many ways but is traditionally spread on buttered toast (very sparingly). Because of its strong and unique flavor, people either love it or hate it. Either way the opinion is extreme; there is no middle ground. So much so that Unilever (the company that now makes Marmite) has used it as an advertising ploy, and that the word has fallen into common usage to describe such things as can only be loved or hated. E.g. "Gran Turismo is the Marmite of driving games", being that it is addictively good fun, or hatefully difficult to stay on the track.

So what do you do if you are here in the US (either a native or, like me, a Brit in self-enforced exile) and you want to get your hands on some? If you live in a city, it can often be found in supermarkets with a decent international foods section. If that fails, then Amazon will sell you some.

Lets put Marmite to work:

Marmite Cheese Savory
You can turn this delicious, intensely flavored sandwich out in about a minute. Grater coursely 100g or 4 ounces or one cup of cheddar cheese. I like mature (sharp) cheese but if it's cheddar it works. Add 25-50g or 1-2 ounces or 1/4 to 1/2 cup of finely diced onion. Spanish onion (large sweet onion) or green onion or spring onion (scallions) are the best, the small yellow cooking onion is a bit strong for most but I like it and just use a bit less. Add about 50g or 2 ounces or a tablespoon of Mayonnaise (or as needed until the mixture binds). Hellmans ("Real Mayonnaise" as it is branded in the US) is the best but whatever you have to hand will do. Finally, add 5g or 1/5 ounce or a teaspoon of Marmite. Taste it and add a bit more if desired. If it's too strong, add more Mayonnaise and/or cheese to dilute :) Spread the mixture onto toasted bread, bagel, English muffin or other bread type device. Stuff it in your gob for a taste explosion. A sprinkle of salt or pepper to taste if you like, but it should be quite intense enough without.

For real.

Rinse Aid

You know, I am often asked why beer, despite being poured properly, doesn't maintain its head in the glass after pouring. Actually, I'm never asked that, but it's such a good question that I will answer it anyway. Rinse aid. The stuff that you put in the dishwasher that helps give a good finish on the dishes, glasses etc. What it does is it leaves a (harmless) film on the glass that serves to reduce the surface tension in any liquid placed inside. Unfortunately, the head on a beer relies on this surface tension to stop the bubbles collapsing. If you are not using rinse aid then maybe you are not cleaning all the detergent off the glass. Either way, rise the glass with clean water before using. Homebrewers may have this problem from their beer production process.

For real.

My first Blackberry post

The wonders of modern technology! Now I can blog from anywhere. The library, railway station, even from the john. I can't help thinking that Blackberry posts are going to be a bit shorter than those made at my computer, probably contain more typographical errors, abbreviation, alliteration, confusion, maybe even unruliness. Guess where I am blackberrying from? No, I am not sitting on the john, I am in fact sitting at my desk in front of the computer.

For real.

Blog

The idea of having a little spot where I can brain dump, say stupid stuff and bang on about anything I want, for all to see has always appealed. But for a couple of reasons I never created a blog. Firstly, I know that I might not keep up with it. A million sad, lonely blogs go unloved and uncared for every day. Secondly, that people may not care, and may not read it. I have decided that I might read it and my mum might read it. I have decided that even that is enough. If anybody else wants to stick their face in for a look, then whatever. Feel free. Hopefully my train of thought will contain little gems or items of amusement. But the real reason I have now got myself a blog is that when I am out and about, sometimes I have a moment free, spare and unused. Since I got one of those Blackberry things, I thought I would try and use those moments by wasting them on a stupid blog that I probably won't make four posts to, and nobody will read anyway.

For real.