The McCumber Model

There have been many different methods proposed as a framework for information security.  One that makes the most sense to me is The McCumber Model (created by John McCumber).  The factors to consider are arranged in a cube, with each axis representing a different perspective of any information security problem and each axis having three primary components.  It ends up looking like a Rubik's cube.  27 little cubes all stacked together.

The three axes are: Desired Goals, States of Information, and Counter-measures.

By looking at things from the perspective of the intersection of the three axes, you can be sure to look at all sides of an information security issue.  Pick any of the smaller 27 cubes and think about the problem or concerns from that perspective.

The Great Totalitarian Threat of our Time

I am an open-minded and tolerant person, like most Americans.  However, there is one thing that we can’t safely tolerate.  That is tyranny or totalitarian influences that would destroy the ability to be open-minded or tolerant.

Although some Islamic groups/sects are trying to break away from militant Islam, there are far too many within the faith who either condone or celebrate terrorism committed in the name of their faith.  Since my personal experience with Islam is limited, I began to study it about three years ago.

It's never a good idea to learn about someone or something from their enemies.  (Get your information straight from the source, that’s what I say!)  I read the Qur’an.  I studied Islam in general.  I read the writings of proponents and opponents of the faith and have come to my own conclusions (mostly that the truth is very difficult to find indeed).  The Qur'an is a long read, and I know that not everyone has the time, or the patience, to read it.  Still, I recommend it.

I learned that there are three concepts of Islam that are very important to understand as an American or Westerner.  1) Islam is not fundamentally a peaceful religion that was hijacked by militant members.  The Qur'an encourages violent acts towards non-believers.  2) Instituting world-wide Shari'a Law is a religious duty for all Muslims.  To live under any other form of government is considered a sin.  3) Muslims are allowed (and in some cases encouraged) to deceive non-Muslims if it helps their religion.  This principle is called Taqiyya - a term you might want to remember.  To get a nice overview of these concepts, check out this short video on YouTube.  

A Conflict of Visions

I read a lot of books each year, but most of them are just 'popcorn'.  Light, crunchy snacks for my brain that are more relaxing to consume than educational.  The ones that are really awesome are the more difficult tomes.  Let me tell you about one of the most fantastic books I read last year: "A Conflict of Visions: Ideological Origins of Political Struggles", by Thomas Sowell.

I was first of all pleasantly surprised that the book, although about politics, did not favor one ideology over another.  If you have read political books, then you know that this is as rare as a flying dump truck!  My next surprise was in the depth and ease with with the author reduces hundreds of years of political conflict into such a simple framework.  It helped me to understand those with opposing viewpoints in ways I never thought I would.  With understanding came a softer approach on my part towards people I normally wanted to either A) punch in the face or B) simply ignore.

While professing not to be constructing a rigid dichotomy, Sowell lays out a way of distinguishing people's political perspective in a manner that holds together very well under most conditions.  He describes two visions of human nature which lead to political conflict, arguing that it is the vision of what mankind is and what he can become that drives our choices.

The two visions are the "constrained vision", in which human nature is enduring and self-centered, and the "unconstrained vision", in which human nature is malleable and perfectible.  Interestingly enough, in my own further analysis and study I have found that once someone in my acquaintance is identified by me as seeing humanity by one of these visions, that almost all of the other aspects pointed out by Sowell actually do follow in their attitudes, beliefs, and actions.

Running Compliment Book

Take a notebook.  Write something that you like about your spouse or girlfriend in it.  Then give it to her to read and say, "Your turn!"  It's a running compliment book!

Much like my last post about romance techniques where I talked about love notes, this is a method which can have a very positive impact on relationships.  I guess you could call this a huge running love letter, contained in a single notebook and you wouldn't be too far wrong.

The advantage of this romancing tool is that all prior compliments are easily accessible, creating a built-in mood lifter when it is your turn to write something nice about the other person.  A simple review of a few entries both to you and about the other person will bring a smile to your face.  All too often in life we say more critical things than we mean to - and those criticisms are remembered with much greater alacrity than anything nice we do or say.  This simple love journal can help counteract that tendency and keep that "falling-in-love" feeling alive.

Feeling neglected?  Just drop a few hints that you'd like to see an entry made in the book.  Want to make sure she knows how much you like something?  Write it down.  Steaming after a fight and want to know why you live with that so-and-so?  Take a read down memory lane to remind yourself.  This device can really raise the appreciation level that both people feel, which is a major need for some people and feels nice for everyone.  I highly recommend it!

The 3 World Peace Philosophies

When driving my kids to school the other morning, my daughter asked me why some people think that slapping a peace symbol on their car will do anything to stop war.  The car she pointed to had four or five anti-war bumper stickers on it as well as three that demanded world peace.  I explained that some people want everyone to know how strongly they feel about things - and peace is certainly something good to be wished for.

In pondering this conversation later, I realized something interesting beyond this.  The person who drives that car has a totally different philosophy about peace than I do.  After thinking about it a bit more, I realized that there are actually three different philosophies about how to achieve world peace:

1. Wishful Thinking
2. Destroying Others
3. Tit for Tat

These three ideas, either alone or as a combination of any two of them, can explain any statement or policy of seeking peace.  What's ironic is that if you had three people in a room, each subscribing to one of these different ideas, they would fight like cats and dogs as they argued how to bring about world peace!