Transferred Influx - Daniel Suarez' next adventure

Daniel Suarez has always had my interest with the technological thrillers that he's written.  When I first was introduced to Daemon, it was an adventure that caused me to read the book in a very short period of time.

In all his books, there's always been a hint of bleeding edge technology driving the story line, with "humanity" as a topic in tow.  And this book is no exception, however Arthur C. Clarke's third law seems to apply here.

As a person reads this book, the first couple of chapters really sets up a situation where someone would have to take the information as a leap of faith.  The real story doesnt really occur until maybe 30% into the book.  This has deterred some people in the reviews, and I dont fully disagree with them.  But now that I've read the whole book, I wouldnt really change a word.

The use of "magical" science dictates the need for an explanation of the science, which means.... a dry first 1/3 of the book.  The beginning really sets the book up to be more of a sci-fi novel than a thriller, but the key to this book is the turn and the finish.

Unlike the beginning, the middle and end of the book is the rest of the roller coaster ride.  The book can, in no way, be described as anything other than a thriller.  And a fun one to boot.

So my advice to anyone who starts to read Influx, start and push through.  And you'll eventually feel drawn in, like gravity.

Enjoy the ride. :-)

Information Security Introduction

Hey Cisco, I wanted to ask you some questions about your job. I mite be interested in doing something in that industry like information security but i'm not sure yet. I talked with someone today about shadowing someone to see if I would like it and even tried to look up youtube videos but i can't find anything.

When it comes to the Information Security industry, it’s mostly about protecting corporate information.   Every corporation or government agency has information they wouldn’t like getting out.  My uncle worked for the Navy as a civilian contractor, and he talked about how some guys were getting information out through a rewritable CD that was disguised as a normal country album.  Or sometimes you want to control if people can use a USB flash drive or not on their workstations, or you can block them from going to certain sites, or even just allow specific white listed sites.

Watch all of these, then let me know how lost you get J

Funny Hackers Stories:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4oB28ksiIo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqKafI7Amd8

Information Security Career:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsUb3P8Eceg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBFB34YGK1U

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZ6xoAtdF3o

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZV7rYsTy_sY

Information Security Tools:

Wireshark : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6X5TwvGXHP0

Symantec Endpoint Protection : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vk36nLZmID0

Nexpose / Metasploit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6gRKGo3Iv8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0x_O75tRAU

Farewell Sony Vaio, nail in Windows coffin

This is the end.

Yep, that's right.  This is the end of Sony's relationship with Windows for the near future.  They quietly removed the ability to buy Vaio computers from their site.

Tech Can Be A Life Saver and also a Life Hinderer

The realization that technology has made our lives easier and harder at the same time.

I drive my car to a mechanic out in the middle of nowhere. And drop car off. I use my Nokia phone city lens to find breakfast out beyond where I can see. I walk in that direction trusting my tech. I find the breakfast place around the corner. I order my food. And except for telling my order, I speak to no... one.

I realize... Tech makes life easier by not having to rely on chance. The chance that someone will come by, the chance that the person is willing to talk to a stranger... the chance that they will know anything about the area. But I also realize it's by those chances that we could have made the best friendships and memories we've ever had.

The generations following will have less chances ...

UPDATE:
Though, you can also say... less chances of meeting a stranger and getting mugged.... lol. As future generations use technology to get around the useless questions, we have to teach them that, now more than ever, we have to focus and put more effort in interacting face to face with those we DO want in our lives.

Strangers are one source of friends, but not the only source. There's always friends of friends, classmates, etc.... Don't get rid of your tech, just know that it's not the only part of living in this world.

Transferred Ready Player One (Book Review)

Book Series: Ready Player One
Author: Ernest Cline

Once having heard this book being described as Willie Wonka meets World of Warcraft, the description seemed very attractive.  And in no way does the description not ring true.  Ernest Cline had a lot of fun writing this novel as he did marketing it.

Beyond the book, he even tied a three month "easter egg" hunt to enhance the experience of reading the book. Readers of the first edition hard cover were treated with having to find a riddle in the book, answering it led to a website. At this website they'd have to beat a video game , then repeat all steps tree times. Ultimately at the end , the winning reader won a delorean with a built in flux capacitor.

All of this ties to a novel that has the joys of an online video game adventure combined with a fun childish mystery.  At the beginning , readers will be introduced to a world where the eighties are everything and the people with the most knowledge will have the greatest advantage.

The protagonist seems too be a character that might not seem worthy of the readers cheers, but as the story picks up, they'll suddenly find themselves rooting for him out loud.

This isn't meant to be the most believable book. Its requirement of disbelief extends as far as any Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings or Percy Jackson.  But beyond that disbelief, there are some references to the eighties that might be too obscure for some younger readers.  Those readers should be prepared to read along side the Internet, just in case the occasional Google search is required.

~FZver

Transferred Kill Decision (Book Review)

Book Series: Kill Decision
Author: Daniel Suarez

Daniel Suarez continues his love for studying the bleeding edge of technology with this next book in his collection of thrillers that have yet to disappoint.  Before, with his book series Daemon and Freedom, he dipped his toes into all aspects of humanity's extension through techologies tying themselves to the Internet and even to thoughts of the outer edges of the Singularity.  Here in Kill Decision, Mr. Suarez leaves the global focus of the web and human communication, and continues through the more dangerous and scary thoughts of directed self directed killing machines.

As the title hints, the book covers the idea of the "kill decision".  The question is, who is in control of whether a person lives or dies?  In the eyes of where we are, it's in some form of human.... could be a judge, a jury, or even that moment when a soldier is pulling the trigger, fighting for his life.   But the book covers the idea of, what if the robots that we have created were given the decision?

Mr. Suarez did his due diligence, once again showing that he always has the pulse of technology under his fingers.  And with that knowledge at hand, he weaves a story that scratches an itch within the reader that lingers even after putting the book down.

The swarming technology, the robot technology, the technology brought through this book can really REALLY scare.

~F.Zver

Transferred Daemon + Freedom (Book Review)

Book Series: Daemon + Freedom
Author: Daniel Suarez

Everyone wonders what can be done with the technology at hand.  What that next massively multi player online will be that takes over the youth of the world?  What is that next technology that will have us interact with our world a little differently?  Or maybe what can be done to cheat death?

With the series, Mr. Suarez does his due diligence and gathers all the information needed to bring to life, a world where one person with enough influence, knowledge, and willpower can pull back the curtain and play with the strings tied to all the puppets of this world.  Part of the fun of enjoying this thrillride is to read and be introduced into the beautiful technology that is today's bleeding edge.

This is a grand vision, brought to us by an author who writes with a passion for the technology that he represents.  Like a prophet, he weaves a tale, a vision, or maybe a prophecy that the technology in this world can be used with a dark precision, driven by a mind who can use them like a surgeon with a scalpel.

Any reader who enjoys technology and who wants to curl up reading a thriller, 'would enjoy this series.  Even today, the technology is still being shown to the world.  All readers will continue to enjoy discovering the technology in real life, as the rest of the world catches up to Daniel Suarez vision.

~F.Zver