Mouse’s Tank

Forum on Risks to the Public in Computers and Related Systems

Under this catchy name, the Association for Computing Machinery provides a summary, about twice weekly, of news items having to do with various collision points between us humans and our silicon creations. The Forum covers a pretty wide gamut, including surveillance, possibly counter-productive legislation to improve encryption at ATMs, Personal Electronic Devices on Commercial Aircraft, zapping RFIDs (those new anti-theft devices on consumer products), 'Smart' highway systems collecting too much information on our comings and goings, and problems with electronic voting machines. Concerns are raised not only about design and function, but also about legal

There's a table of contents for each year's Archives, and the archives are also searchable. There are between 80 and 90 issues each year; I found it hard to stop browsing through them: Car computer systems at risk for viruses, 'Insane' Quebec Govt Online PAC ID system, Partisan e-mail censorship masquerading as spam filtering during the run-up to the 2004 election, and on...Paypal risks to buyers, Encryption Illegal in Minnesota... I had to search out CNN's report on this one, I couldn't believe it--yes, according to CNN "A Minnesota appeals court has ruled that the presence of encryption software on a computer may be viewed as evidence of criminal intent". It's not quite as bad as it sounded--the presence of encryption software is not prima facie evidence, doesn't make the case all by itself, but it helped to demolish claims of innocence after child porn was found on a guy's computer.

Finally, one entry of particular interest is from Peter Neumann, the moderator of RISK. Around the program's 20th anniversary in 2005, he suggested that the organization might want to consider some way of conveying to the public the potential for harm from the computerized systems that we all use with such nonchalance. Public-interest radio spots were suggested, since one member of the team has the relevant expertise, but this would require some funding. My search of subsequent issues didn't turn up anything more on this yet.

Would you buy a used car from this gargoyle?

Have we become monsters?

What’s with the profusion of distorted human forms in TV ads these days? Here’s what I recall seeing, in commercials over the past 2 months: men with the snouts of pigs (transformed not by Circe, not by malevolent cartoonists, but by the common cold); in a single commercial: dwarfs, giants (these two not resembling ordinary humans suffering dwarfism or gigantism, but much exaggerated), plus a unicorn and a flying tinkerbelle-type fairy; men working outdoors puffing out clouds of black when they speak; a human face embedded in the upper part of a giant half of a red onion, cut side facing us, with the onion almost as big as a person’s whole body would be; a distorted malevolent human face in a grey wind-cloud body. And I feel as if there have been more that I have tried successfully to forget.

The ones that really gave me the creeps were the men breathing out black clouds—that was really eerie and ominous. Almost “normal” but not quite, like the legendary Windigo, with his feet on backward.

Notable fact: I cannot remember a single one of the advertisers here. And if I did...guess how friendly I’d be feeling toward their product.

Does anybody agree with me or is this a generally appealing approach?

I’m inured to the ugly creatures dreamed up to embody evils from which the advertisers with to protect us, like those acid-yellow critters that want to get underneath your toenails and live (imagine, there they are, having picnics and Little League games and everything), and the personified bathroom germs, but when it is something human but unnaturally distorted, that sets some very ancient hackles to rising. Why on earth would this win customers?

Remedy for poison oak & poison ivy

The most common allergy in the US, I am told, is that to urushiol, the active ingredient in oils from these two plants. I’ve got a severe allergic reaction and have gotten it from the fur of pets and other peoples’ jackets, as well as from personal contact. There’s a preventative that has worked so-so for me, Teknu; you wash your skin, clothing, boots, whatever, with it after exposure.

But the most effective thing I have ever found with regard to poison oak is Neutrogena Body Clear Body Scrub, a skin-scrub that is designed for use against acne. I haven’t used it to prevent outbreak after exposure, but to reduce the swelling and itching once I’m broken out. DO NOT scrub hard, and don’t use very hot water, just luke-warm. Rub the stuff on liberally (gently!) and then let it sit on your skin for two or three minutes. Longer may be better, can’t hurt. Then rinse it off with luke-warm water and towel dry gently.

The active ingredient here is salicylic acid, which has a drying effect on the skin and on the poison oak blisters. It has lessened the itching and also the length of time the breakout lasts. For me it has worked very well; calamine lotion and other things that are promoted for use against poison-oak rash have helped little or not at all. (Rash, they call it! a mild term for this, with its intolerable itching, swelling, oozing!)

Salicylic acid is related to aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) I suppose, and both are derived from willow bark. So if you had to you might try crushed aspirin made into a paste with water, or boil up some willow bark and make a poultice.

[Standard disclaimer: neither I nor anyone associated with me has any financial interest in any product mentioned here. I am growing a bunch of willows for a windbreak, easiest plants in the world to grow, but I have no plans to strip their bark for sale.]

Give nesting birds a soft handout

Ever tried providing nesting material for the birds who come to your feeder? I’ve seen birds picking up bits of the soft tan fur left on the ground after I brush our mastiff, but when I tried putting collected fur in an old net bag that onions came in, the fur mostly just got wet and matted up; same thing with dryer lint.

But here’s something that looks like it will work well—I just put mine out,and will post the results as soon as the birds discover it. The “Woolie”, from Nature’s Blessings Sheep Co. in No. Calif. is a big mass of soft wool, in a net bag with a string to hang it by. The natural oils in the wool repel moisture, both while it is hanging and when it has been put inside a nest, so it stays dry and won’t mat up. The wool has been cleaned and carded and is various natural colors, mostly off-white but some brown and tan. I see on their web page that they also have wool in a gourd with holes in it, for a different look. When most of the wool has gone I wouldn’t be surprised if some bird tried to nest inside the gourd; or you can refill it. I found this at a local Wild Birds Unlimited store for $8.95, and expect it will last a couple of seasons. I hung it near the bird feeder where we can watch the birds cling to the side while they pluck out beakfuls of wool. Probably some of the wool will fall to the ground, just as the seed from the feeder does, so ground birds can get some if they want.

Never put out anything that can wrap around feet or legs, like string, frayed cloth pieces, etc. This is also important if you should pick up an injured bird: keep the bird warm until it can fly or until you take it to a rehabilitation center, but in lining the bottom of the box don't use old towels with holes or hanging strings. A bird can even lose a leg, if a fine string wraps tightly around it (cutting off circulation) and is not removed.

[Standard disclaimer: neither I nor anyone associated with me has any financial interest in any product mentioned here.]