Because of this article that chimerically posted, I’m sitting here listening to classical while I.. um… pretend to relax. Due to my slanderous ways (and by that I mean I slander time and procrastinate) I’m on the final stretch of my classes and have a research paper to write, group projects to complete, and finals to study for. All while playing the part of the good bus driver and devoted husband. I really wish I could just stop time for a few moments to take a breath. It makes me wonder if I would stop if I was in the metro mentioned in the article.

Anyway, since it’s been so long since I’ve actually written anything substantive, I’ll spare a moment to try and bring my world into focus. School has been going well, however, I’m sure it would be better if it weren’t for all the addictive time-wasters I enjoy so much. World of Warcraft being the chief villain, yet 24, Heroes, Naruto and Bleach being close seconds. I’m sure everyone needs moments to get away, but I always feel the pressure when I take those moments. This weekend was one such moment. Tina and I went to D.C. for the Cherry Blossom festival. We were able to meet some of Tina’s friends and spent the day exploring D.C. with them. It was actually quite enjoyable despite the cold weather and erratic D.C. people. The next day Tina and I explored a little more on our own. Since we were shown the metro, we were able to park at the pentagon and take it everywhere we needed (with a lot of walking on the side.) We saw Arlington Cemetery with the tour of Robert E. Lee’s house, went by the Lincoln Memorial, and stopped at the Vietnam Memorial wall. The rest of the day was spent going through the Smithsonian’s art exhibits and walking the Capitol Mall. D.C. has some really rich history and some awesome museums there.

So now I sit writing this and getting further behind on my paper… which I was supposed to do this weekend. 😉 It’s pretty interesting to me though, so I don’t mind writing it as much. The topic is Biometric Identification using Video Sources. For those less techy people out there, biometric identification is a form of identification that is based on WHAT you are, instead of what you know or have. Examples include fingerprints, iris/retina scanners, etc. The problem with most biometric scanners is they require a willing ‘victim,’ per se. You have to put your fingerprint on the scanner or your face in front of the camera. When using video, the other person doesn’t even have to know they’re being identified. Ways this is accomplished include gait (unique patterns in the way you walk), Infrared facial scans that match blood vessels in your face much like a fingerprint, and the various facial/body comparison scans which can be fooled with a good disguise. All things you’ll probably hear about in the future… both by the government saying it’s the next best way to find terrorists, and by the privacy activist groups who are so scared that Big Brother will know exactly when they went to the store to buy that gallon of milk.

In my point of view, you have to afford some liberties in order to obtain security. If you’re doing something you shouldn’t be doing, consider this a helping hand to put you on the straight and narrow.

Well, I guess I’ll either get back to my paper or get some sleep so I can get a fresh start on it in the morning. While this isn’t much of an update on my whereabouts, I hope it’s long enough to put you at ease that I am, in fact, not dead and am still doing fairly well.

I wish everyone the best and hope you had a rewarding easter.

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Filed under: Uncategorized - @ April 10, 2007 12:45 am

Tags: classical, sakura festival, school