C http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_Ritchie

LISP http://techcrunch.com/2011/10/24/creator-of-lisp-john-mccarthy-dead-at-84/

http://www.nfcrumors.com/08-17-2011/is-the-htc-incredible-s-the-next-google-wallet-enabled-nfc-phone-it-just-passed-through-the-fcc/

The first thing that struck me was how many good resources are available for learning Microsoft’s PKI. Back in 2000 when I first installed a Microsoft CA (Certificate Authority) there didn’t seem to be enough detailed information and over the past eleven years I have only had infrequent occasions to use the software. At this point I want to recommend Brian Komar’s book Windows Server 2008 PKI and Certificate Security (I got the Kindle version for about $39). I also wanted to mention Vadim Podans’ white paper on PKI and using the Quest AD Commandlets to managed. You can download the white paper here and you can get the latest version of the AD CMDLETS here.

I also wanted to give a special thanks to Chen and John from SafeNet for hooking me up with SafeNet middle-ware tools (above) and smart cards that I used for to prep for the session. The software was both intuitive and easy to deploy.

1. Purpose Built for Active Directory -Unlike other solutions, ActiveRoles was purpose built for Active Directory while other solutions were built to manage the Windows NT account database.  Because solutions originally built for Windows NT could only be retrofitted to perform AD management they are not able to take advantage of core AD features many of which are discussed in this brief.
    
2. Integrated and timely support for key Microsoft platforms -Active Directory, Exchange, ADLDS SharePoint, ADSI and PowerShell are critical platform components that must be supported. While other products may take years to support the latest versions of these products, ActiveRoles typically supports them on the day they are released or at a maximum of 60 days post release.
    
3. Compatibility with Active Directory’s Security Model – The Active Directory permission model is based on a set of Access Control Lists that link directory rights to delegate trustees allowing the delegated admin to exercise those rights to perform some task in AD. Unlike ActiveRoles Server, most solutions require the use of a proprietary permission that have little or no understandable correlation to AD rights they grant. When the ActiveRoles service starts, the service creates a virtualized version of the AD rights used in the ACLs and then extends the list with several virtual permissions. To the person administrating security in ActiveRoles they seen an almost identically list of rights with the same look and feel of the native AD rights. ActiveRoles Server also has the added advantage of combining these rights into Roles for clarity and accuracy of security assignment and easy delegation of administration. A side benefit of compatibility with the Active Directory Security Model is the vast knowledge available on how AD permissions work and which permissions are required to perform specific tasks.
    
4. Compatibility with Active Directory Service Connection Points – A standard Active Directory service known as Service Connection Points (SCPs) allow applications to inform Active Directory of the applications presence in the enterprise. It is important to note that SCPs require no agents, customer configuration or changes to Active Directory. When the ActiveRoles Service executes it registers an SCP so that any console or web UI can locate the service instantly.
    
5. Compatibility with Active Directory’s DirSync service – A standard Active Directory services known as DirSync allow applications to instantly see what changes are happening within AD. This is the same service Domain Controllers use to exchange change information to determine what items need to be replicated. . It is important to note that the DirSync service requires no agents, customer configuration or changes to Active Directory. The ActiveRoles service listens to the DirSync service for changes made directly to Active Directory that may require ActiveRoles to perform some action such as enforce a group’s membership or send a change notification.
    
6. Virtual Unified Schema – Unlike other solutions that use a fixed schema and won’t recognize schema extensions, ActiveRoles uses a virtual unified schema built from the schemas of the domains being managed. When the ActiveRoles service starts it reads the schema of each domain being managed and adds that schema the ActiveRoles unified virtual schema. This unified virtual schema also includes any schema extensions that may be present in a particular domain so that applications that require data be populated during user provisioning or cleared during user deprovisoning can be supported. ActiveRoles also adds a set of virtual attributes to allow for more granular delegation over attributes or to allow other data not stored in AD to be associated with an object.
    
7. Real-time vs. Cached Data -To avoid the chance that two administrators open an AD object and view different information the retrieval of AD data must be done without caching of the data. Unlike many solutions that either load object data into a cache or into a separate database before an administrator accesses the object,  the ActiveRoles service retrieves the data in real-time.
    
8. Security Integrated Workflow -The role based delegation of administration provided by ActiveRoles Server not only allows the customer to control what AD operations each administrator, help desk admin or end user can perform it also provides the security context for change approval and workflow. By integrating a workflow engine and workflow editor directly into ActiveRoles, the customer avoids the need to configure and maintain multiple products and maintain multiple delegation models.
    
9. Unified Storage -Unlike other solutions that may require both Microsoft SQL and Microsoft AD LDS or Microsoft Access, ActiveRoles requires only Microsoft SQL Server for operation. Both ActiveRoles Configuration and reporting utilize Microsoft SQL Server. Less moving parts make ActiveRoles is simpler to deploy and maintain.
    
10. Embedded Extensibility - Because no off the shelf product will meet every need a customer may have the ability for the solution to be extended easily and in a maintainable way. In addition to both an external ADSI and PowerShell interface, ActiveRoles provides an embedded script editor, script library directly in the product so that the system can run a script in response to some event such as when a user performs an operation in Active Directory.

http://content.techrepublic.com.com/2346-13416_11-489795.html?tag=nl.e099.dl101208&tag=nl.e099

I walked out to my car and climbed in the driver’s seat. Next to me was a younger couple and the guy had a box that was strangely similar in size to mine, but I quickly forgot about that and decided to concentrate on using my keys to cut though the tape on my box. Inside that dirty brown box was a smaller white box that held my new droid incredible. I quickly opened the smaller box carefully lifted the phone out and and without regard to the instructions I pushed the power button; nothing happened. Realizing my mistake I quickly rummaged through the box to find the battery that they never would have shipped pre-installed in the phone.

After fumbling around figuring out how to open the phone and inserting the bright red battery (very cool btw)  - I closed the phone, held my breath and pushed the ON button. I now know it was at that moment my mobile life changed for good.  I wasn’t sure about the best way to “migrate” from Windows Mobile so I decided to just use the device for a phone until I came up with a plan to switch over my email. That plan lasted less than 2 hours before I made the leap and started having my email directed to my Incredible – and out of the box it is working extremely well.

I have been using my HTC Incredible relentlessly for the past week and while I am still getting used to some aspects of the phone I would not hesitate to recomend  this phone to anyone considering it – the phone is more than incredible – it is awesome.

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9171999/Lights_out_on_incandescent_bulb_production_at_Toshiba

Thanksgiving fell on a Thursday November 27th this year and because I was leaving the country for two weeks that same weekend after I decided to work a little late on Wednesday. At some point I concluded that I was ready for my trip so I headed home to begin my three day holiday before leaving. On my way home I decided that I should have a little spending money with me as I would be traveling and feel more comfortable doing so with cash in my pocket. The bank I use is less than a two minute drive from my home and so I decided that I would set a way-point and use their drive through cash machine.

When I drove up to the cash machine I tried to lower my window and it was only then that I remembered it stopped working more than a week earlier. My forgetfulness can only be attributed to the cold weather we have had making lowering the window unnecessary for some time. With some embarrassment I continued through the cash machine lane then making a sharp right turn toward home. I’m not sure if it was the previous embarrassment or the thought of getting home that pushed me to accelerate past the now obvious police car on my right, but stupidly accelerate I did. Then as the officer approached my Window I raised my voice a little and with great embarrassment told him the window was broken.

“No problem.” he said and opened the driver’s door. “I stopped you because we have a lot of complaints about speeders on this road.” I admitted that I have probably been one of those who have complained and continued about my situation at the cash machine hoping my temporary insanity plea would help.

I was surprised that my explanations seem to have a impact on the officer who having gathered the necessary papers was now walking back to his car to verify them and (I assumed) write the ticket. From previous experience I expected this to take no more than ten minutes. After fifteen minutes I started to wonder if there was something else going on and when a second and third police car arrived and I was certain.

After what seemed like twenty minutes the officer again opened my driver’s door and said, “Mr. Bobel, I have some good news for you. I am going to give you a written warning for speeding so you are not getting a ticket from me today.” He continued, “Now I have some bad news for you – I have a warrant for your arrest.”

I was speechless.

I am sure seeing my face go white also had an impact on the officer and he quickly continued “Did you get a ticket in 1994 for an expired car registration?”. My reaction to his question must have only confirmed his assumption that I was just some poor schmuck, not Al Capone, and I genuinely did not know about the ticket.

“Now I will give you a little more good news – if would not sleep well tonight if I took you to jail for a fifteen year old ticket on the start of the thanksgiving holiday. You will certainly have a lot to be thankful for this thanksgiving.” he said smiling. I was incredibly thankful. The officer went on to explain that clerk told him that the 15 year old ticket could still be paid after which the arrest warrant would be cancelled. The officer then provided me with a business card on which my case number and contact details for payment were written. As he turned to walk back to his patrol car he stopped and turned back and mentioned had known he someone who had a past due ticket that cost $3000 to resolve and that he wasn’t positive that the $140 written on his card included late fees or interest. I thanked him again and drove home.

Thursday, Thanksgiving day, I was up at 7:00am and on the road by 7:30am to pay my debt to society.  The previous night my father begrudgingly agreed to drive me down to the court avoiding the chance I get pulled over again and sent to the slammer for the weekend. Fortunately, he knew exactly where to go since only weeks before he also had to resolve an unpaid parking ticket and in fact he had taken my children with him to show them the finer workings of the Columbus court system. As it was a holiday there was absolutely no wait required and so my $140 fine was paid resolving the entire matter.

One question lingered – why no after 15 years. My guess is that the city needs money and so when an officer has the time they make a call to have older records searched. Thank goodness the officer I met used good judgment and discretion for the best possible outcome and I am truly thankful.