Saturday Stew: Security and Brains, Broadway and Water

[cahwyguy]

It’s Saturday. Pesach is over (well, if you observe 7 days it is over). Time for a nice hearty bowl of news chum stew:

• Cybersecurity. Leading off are two cybersecurity related articles. The first is a nice summary of an event we went to recently at CSUN. This event brought back CSUN alumni working in cybersecurity to talk to students. It is nice to see CSUN encouraging students in this field. And they are needed: here’s another article that talks about how Los Angeles can control all of its LED streetlights remotely. Now, put two and two together: that’s right — the streetlights are an easy system to hack, and can cause significant problems if they were to all go out at a particular time.
• Brains. Two articles related to brains. The first relates to a brain-eating amoeba. This always scares me as I use a neti-pot, and that’s one way they enter (I’ll note they are usually fresh-water, however, and I always salt my water). The second relates to the benefits of crafting, computers, and friends to fight dementia. We’re good there.
• Broadway. Two Broadway related pieces. The first is about how George Takei is using indiegogo to help fund his new musical, Allegiance. The second is an article from a NYMF musical I supported on how the team is taking on many more roles as they self-produce. Gee, just like 99 seat theatre.
• Golden Girls. I was going to post about how the effort to get a Golden Girls Lego set needed your help. But nevermind. They’ve moved on to the next phase: Lego is considering their idea.
• Northridge News. Here’s an interesting article on the redevelopment of the former Rydell Cadillac site. Alas, it might affect Gary’s Optics next door.
• Water Problems. You’re probably well aware of our drought here in California. Here’s a great summary of the problem and why it is so hard to fix.
• Writing it Down. Appropos of nothing other than my finding it interesting: the history of the pencil.
• Vegas Food. So I don’t forget on an upcoming visit: 38 restaurants to visit in Vegas.

Finally, a memory. There have been a number of significant deaths this week — probably the most notable is Stan Freberg, who I mentioned in a previous post. One other sparked a memory: Bill Griffiths, owner of Los Angeles Roller Derby in the 1960s and 1970s. I remember this era well — my grandmother loved to watch Roller Derby, and we even went down to the Olympic Auditorium once to see a match. So when I read of his passing, I thought of my grandmother Hortense. Good memory.

This entry was originally posted on Observations Along The Road (on cahighways.org) as this entry by cahwyguy. Although you can comment on DW, please make comments on original post at the Wordpress blog using the link below; you can sign in with your LJ, FB, or a myriad of other accounts. There are currently comments on the Wordpress blog. PS: If you see share buttons above, note that they do not work outside of the Wordpress blog.

(Click Here to Comment)