TO:
President - David M. Cullinane, CPP, CISSP
Vice President of Membership - Ronald E. Helsley, CISSP
Vice President of Marketing - Anne Rogers, CISSP, PMP
ISSA Membership Services

FROM:
Eric Wallace, non-member


In the course of over a year, my feelings towards the Information Systems Security Association (ISSA) went from disinterested, to annoyed, to frustrated. Tonight, while opening my mail, they skipped right up to furious. Let me explain: it's not complicated, and perhaps now that I'm posting this publically someone will listen and respond.

As someone who's worked in the IT field for a handful of years and had some focus on information security, I was interested in finding out more about the ISSA when I heard that a new chapter was opening up here in Maine. So I applied online for the temporary, free membership, and then attended a couple meetings, after which I realized the group did not fit me. I let the temporary ISSA membership expire, and assumed that would be the end of it. It wasn't.

The latest news from the people in the U.S. government who're paid to protect her citizens should frighten us as much as 9/11:

• The TSA Lied
• RFID Passports

If you're confused about the reports of the crooked election in Zimbabwe, you obviously haven't heard the truth about Robert Mugabe. He's a twisted, selfish man—who talks the talk of one who's rescuing his country from the oppressive white colonialists like previous PM, Ian Smith—but actually hurts them in so much the same way. To get the story in one read, you must pick up the December '03 issue of the Atlantic Monthly and find Samantha Power's article entitled "How to Kill a Country". This is worthwhile reading for any socially-conscious human being today.

Do you really think we should encourage shaving in public places—on the street, on the subway, while driving...? Even if your shaver is blasting the latest Britney songs over its pretty white earplugs?

For once, an advert worth watching! A backup company hired John Cleese to make a riotous 5-minute video for the "Institute for Backup Trauma" that's sure to spread thru the IT community like wildfire.

Just started reading Douglas Copeland's novel microserfs tonight, and I'm loving it. Both hilarious and occasionally poignant, it's right up my alley. Here are a couple quotes I appreciated on the subject of food...

For a moment there on this morning's drive into work, I thought I'd missed some important news about the war in the Middle East. (After all, as Billy Bragg says, it's all about the price of oil.)

I passed a Royal Oil Company truck which displayed one of those flip-down signs with today's pricing showing ".00⁹ per gallon". Wow, one cent per gallon, sign me up! At that price we could afford to turn up our heat past 62° again! (I'm not making this up.)

Man, I've been telling myself I'm gonna buy a better plunger next time I'm at a hardware store. But what I really need is a new toilet.

The above link is a must-read; much funnier than any of the crap I write here.

You think packaging is confusing? Try SMS.

As you regular readers probably know, a good part of my job responsibilities now includes Microsoft SMS. So I've been collecting knowledge and links and tips & tricks, and someday it will all make it onto this website here for y'all. I promise.

My wife and I are slowly acquiring the art of understanding wine descriptions without laughing at them, and beginning to find some sense in the label like "hints of walnut, apricot and oxen musk." (I said some, not a lot!)

Last night my buddy Keith and I had the chance to sit in on the Portland Symphony Orchestra's dress rehearsal of a selection of Beethoven, including a fabulous Violin Concerto featuring soloist Stephanie Chase. Our friend Christina is a violist in the Bangor Symphony and often subs in Portland, too... and she would've got Ains & I tickets for tonight, but they're nearly sold out—for good reason! So we had to settle for the rehearsal, and at that Ains couldn't go, so I called Keith...

By now you're wondering what my first paragraph had to do with the second, yes? Or what the title I've given this post has to do with anything? (So am I!—Er, no, really...) Hang on, it's coming.