Category Archives: Security

Energy, Security

Hot Lawns

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Just read an amusing article in the Guardian about using your lawn to heat your home, based on the concept of heat pumps.

With fossil fuels becoming alarmingly expensive, this environmentally friendly and low-cost alternative to gas central heating is finally coming into its own in the UK. It is incrediblyeffective, capable of achieving 400% efficiency – giving out more energy (typically 3 to 4 kilowatts) than the householder puts in to run it (typically 1KW). By comparison, an average gas boiler works at 90% efficiency at best.

According to Professor David Reay, of Heriot-Watt University, an expert on heat pumps, little can be said against them. Variants that extract heat from outside air perform less well in cold weather, just when the heat is needed most.

I thought the close of the article was insightful:

So if heat pumps are such a great idea, why haven’t they caught on before? “Gas has been cheap, and the British are capital-averse,” sighs Tony Bowen [president of the Heat Pumps Association, the UK trade body]. “As a nation, we are bad at investing in low long-term running costs.”

It goes far beyond the nation…but it is good to see the UK seeking less dependence on oil as well as more distributed/resiliant sources of energy.

Security

InfoSec a hot US political topic in 2006

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According to the Electronic Privacy Information Center, nine US bills are pending that are related to information/data/privacy security:

  1. HR. 3140 Consumer Data Security and Notification Act (Bean)
  2. S. 1789 Personal Data Privacy and Security Act (Specter)
  3. S. 751 Notification of Risk to Personal Data Act (Feinstein)
  4. HR. 1069 Notification of Risk to Personal Data Act (Bean)
  5. S. 500 Information Protection and Security Act (Nelson)
  6. S. 768 Comprehensive Identity Theft Prevention Act (Schumer)
  7. S. 1336 Consumer Identity Protection Act (Pryor)
  8. S. 1408 Identity Theft Protection Act (Smith)
  9. HR. 1745 Social Security Number Privacy and Identity Theft Prevention Act (Shaw)
Energy, History, Poetry, Security

Fiberlight

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Himawari LightI think this is brilliant (pun intended). It reminds me of the concept of armored spaces that protect the inhabitants while retaining visual/light capabilities, but this adds in a component of also powering itself. Plain glass windows have been ok, but they clearly have drawbacks (ok, sometimes the puns just jump out). In this case the UV is blocked by walls, while a solar panel collects energy and glass fibers distribute the light. So, fiberlight (plus video) should provide a radical reduction in risks while maintaining many benefits from windows.

Wonder what Milton would have said about this fine use of talent to produce technology that might protect those who speak out in favor of a republic and against the supreme executive (e.g. he feared he “lost his light” because of writings like “the Tenure of Kings and Magistrates” and his support of Cromwell)…

When I Consider How My Light Is Spent
by John Milton (1608-1674)

    When I consider how my light is spent
     Ere half my days in this dark world and wide,
     And that one talent which is death to hide
     Lodged with me useless, though my soul more bent
To serve therewith my Maker, and present
     My true account, lest he returning chide,
     "Doth God exact day-labour, light denied?"
     I fondly ask. But Patience, to prevent
That murmur, soon replies: "God doth not need
     Either man's work or his own gifts: who best
     Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. His state
Is kingly; thousands at his bidding speed
     And post o'er land and ocean without rest:
     They also serve who only stand and wait."
Security

Alito described as threat to liberty

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Senator Feinstein had some pretty clear warnings about the appointment of Alito, in her Judiciary Committee statement today. Apparently she feels the best thing for America is to vote against his nomination to the bench:

I listened carefully to the testimony of many legal specialists, including professors in constitutional law. I listened to Professor Tribe. And something he said really struck me.

This is what he said: ‘The court will cut back on Roe v. Wade step by step, not just to the point where, as the moderate American center has it, abortion is cautiously restricted, but to the point where the fundamental underlying right to liberty becomes a hollow shell.’

And then I began to think about all of the things the fundamental right to liberty in this country encompasses such as: end of life decisions, privacy of medical records, privacy from unwarranted government intrusion.

On February 6 we begin the discussion and hearings on an interpretation of the use of force resolution to countenance something that none of us ever thought it would countenance – a threat to this liberty interest.

And I came to the conclusion that the fundamental right to liberty is at issue with this nominee.

It has nothing to do with his qualifications and his credentials. But it does have something to do with how far we are willing to see this Court move to the right and out of the mainstream of legal thinking in this great country.

And I, for one, really believe that there comes a time when you just have to stand up, particularly when you know that the majority of people think as you do.

And I truly believe that. I really believe the majority of people in America believe that a woman should have certain rights of privacy, modified the state, but a certain right to privacy. And if you know that this person is not going to respect those rights, but holds to a different theory, then you have to stand up.

And so all of this is in answer to Senator Kyl, because this is a hard vote. But it is a vote that is made with the belief that legal thinking and personal views, especially at times of crisis, at times of conflict, and at times of controversy do mean something. And those of us that don’t agree with the view have to stand up and vote no.

And so I am one of those.