I'm for Ubiquitous Encryption. Are You? →

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We believe that the greater public good is a secure communications infrastructure protected by ubiquitous encryption at the device, server and enterprise level without building in means for government monitoring.

I'm a strong supporter in encryption especially in light of the OPM hacks and United Airlines hacks.

Finally, and most significantly, if the United States can demand that companies make available a duplicate key, other nations such as China will insist on the same. There will be no principled basis to resist that legal demand. The result will be to expose business, political and personal communications to a wide spectrum of governmental access regimes with varying degrees of due process.

The perfect point.

Vanity Fair on Clayton Cubitt's Hysterical Literature

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Triggered by this month's Vanity Fair, writer Toni Bently detail's her Hysterical Literature experience.

Once seated I raised myself up bit by bit, hiking my long skirt all the way up until it pooled gently around my waist. The edges of the table were hung with heavy fabric fastened to the top of the desk creating a kind of small cave under the table: Katie’s workspace. “What’s it like under there?” I ask her. She pauses: “Dark. And hot.”

One final adjustment: I need to be seated with my derriere as close to the front edge of the chair as possible, not centered back in the seat where one normally would sit. I found a perfect balance by pressing my waist into the edge of the table, and, with my legs extended and elongated quite far forward and apart, I was firmly wedged, though it was certainly not how I had ever read Henry James before.

Below is the first in a series of videos by Clayton Cubitt Hysterical Literature. Session One features adult film star Stoya and her "Thoughts on her Session" here

Head ups. The video might be NSFW.

PSA: PhotoBulk is 30% off!

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Right now PhotoBulk but Eltima Software is on sale for $6.99 down from $9.99 on the Mac App Store and it's probably some of the best money that I've spent on any app on my Mac. If you like editing and adding watermarks to your photos, check this awesomeness out! Other features include: Resizing, bulk renaming, optimzing and renaming, it also supports JPGs, GIFs, PNGs, BMPs and TIFF. Of course this wonderful app is available on Windows too. There's also a free version available at the Eltima website. Cheers!

iOS 9 and Apple Maps →

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I mapped my way to several familiar destinations to gauge whether the trains and routes Maps suggested were the quickest and most efficient ways to end up at my destination, and they were. Bonus time-saving feature: Apple Maps shows you where subway entrances are in flyover mode, which is incredibly useful. Grand Central Terminal has several entrances, but if you don’t know where the closest one is, you could end up walking several blocks out of the way. Now entrances are helpfully marked “Entrances” (so simple, so necessary) in Maps.

photo courtesy of Macworld

photo courtesy of Macworld

If there's one thing I'm excited about iOS 9 this year, it's the HUGE improvment to Apple Maps. Now how about you start unbundling all these app updates from their respective OS updates so we can see a steady upgrade / bug fix over the months instead of waiting a year? Or better yet, installing a operating system update just for app bug fixes. Thanks!

Chinese Lurked Around United Airlines System for Over a Year →

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Additionally, in April the Federal Aviation Administration called out United for what it labeled “systemic” problems in the system the airline uses to qualify and schedule its pilots.

As a result, these new revelations of Chinese hacking only reinforce and magnify the “screwed-up United” storyline. It’s not at all clear what the hackers have done, or can do with the more than a year’s worth of data they quite likely pirated from United. Nor is it known if – or which – other airlines also have been targeted by the Chinese.

But the fact that United only found out from U.S. government investigators in April that the Chinese had been playing around inside their supposedly sophisticated and well-guarded systems for more than a year adds to the perception that United’s management is failing to manage the basics.

It's not looking great at one of the U.S. major airlines. I hope all my friends at United are doing well and have some type of backup. Other than the massive retirees, the advice of attrition and expansion is looking better at Blue. :) In lieu of all these high end hacker attacks, our systems and firewalls should be gearing up for a cyberwar.

Pilot Shortage Caused by Extremely Low Wages & Legacy Airlines' Greed →

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The nation's big airlines want you to know that there's a dreadful pilot shortage and they apologize profusely if their commuter-carrier partners cancel flights to your hometown airport due to the debilitating shortfall. The nation's big airlines don't want you to know that their commuter carriers, which operate half of all the nation's commercial flights, often pay pilots so little that it's often financially wiser to drive a truck or flip fast-food burgers than fly a plane.

This was the only article that I read that truly understood the bigger picture. Many other articles state that the voting no by and large by the pilot unions for not only better pay but work rules led to this in time but none of them detail the fact that some of those contracts were in fact largely concessionary. Just yesterday, The Dallas Morning News pointed out that the U.S. airlines scored their first $5 BILLION dollar quarter!

By the way, my previous employer, ExpressJet Airlines formerly known as Atlantic Southeast Airlines and owned by SkyWest Inc who also owns and operates SkyWest Airlines, is hiring. JetBlue will also be opening their pilot application in the VERY near future. So stay tuned!

Here's a formal picture in my Captain uniform at ASA / XJT when I volunteered in pilot recruitment that is still used today =) 

 

Thanks for the Birthday Wishes!

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To celebrate my birthday this year, my wife got together an excellent soju paired karaoke birthday dinner, followed by an amazing cake and drinks on Sunday. Then on Monday, I prepared and cooked 6 bacon wrapped filet mignons for a family dinner and along with leftover cake.  Then last night, on my real birthday, I prepared some awesome hamburger patties and had them protein style. 

I couldn't be happier and more thankful! I've usually been gone on a trip the past few years celebrating on the road but this was the best! Thirty three was spectacular and thirty four is going to be that much more special! Thanks everyone for all the special birthday wishes and greetings throughout Facebook and twitter. 

Got some cool and thoughtful birthday gifts this year and I'll be posting pictures along with reviews. Here's one of my favorites from my two of daughter's godmothers: A medicine bottle of Dark Horse's Cold Brew and a bag o beans. I encourage and invite you to come over for a Hario V60 pourover, Espro Press, Aeropress, or even a Blue Bottle / Joey Roth collab Moka Pot. My daughter's wonderful third godmother also gave me an awesome present but that photo I'm saving for a review of Ballast Point *hint* =) Thanks again ladies and to everyone else. You will get thanked here sooner or later. 


I'm Actually Excited About Windows 10 →

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Happy and engaged" is one of those talking points you hear a lot from Microsoft. Myerson used it nine times in our hour together. But behind the PR-approved phrasing is a simple truth: it’s been a long time since Windows users have been either, and Microsoft needs to fix that. It’s as good a North Star as any, especially when your product development cycle is founded on taking user feedback seriously. If Microsoft can make people love Windows again, then the rest — developers and apps — is easy.

Head on over to The Verge's awesome piece on the story behind Microsoft's Windows 10 and tell me it doesn't get you a little excited.

It's been over a decade since I've used a Windows PC in an everyday setting, but I'm admitting here and now, I'll be looking up some Lenovo notebook options loaded with Windows 10 this fall. Maybe even an Alienware or Razer laptop as long as SkyLake gets into the mix already. Or even Intel's latest storage technology. That would be awesome! Now, about those bug fixes.

The MPAA is Evil →

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In other words, Jim Hood and the MPAA were out and out planning a coordinated media attack on Google using the editorial properties that supposedly claim to have editorial independence from the business side. Notice that with the WSJ piece, they flat out admit that the editorial will be based on the ideas that "we" have developed. If you work for the WSJ, your editorial independence just got shot down. Remember when CBS stepped in and interfered editorially with CNET for giving an award to Dish at the same time that CBS was in a legal fight over that same device? That resulted in reporters quitting.

The evil is within our theaters, entertainment and the media that we have helped create. They use their profits to further their agenda but I admit, that what most people do. Don't be swayed by the false news, advertising and those that have been bought out. Congrats to those that have taken a stand. Shame on everyone else working for these shameful media companies.

Nike's New Converse Chuck Taylor IIs

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Some of you may or may not know, but back when Converse filed for bankruptcy in 2003, Nike swooped in (pun NOT intended) and bought them out. Over twelve years has passed without major change but next Tuesday, July 28th (my birthday), Nike / Converse is changing it up a bit! Adding foam comfort via their latest Lunarlon technology, super soft micro-suede liner, padded non-slip tongue, premium canvas and even an embroiled logo, you can spend $70 for the low tops or $75 for the hitops only suggesting a higher price for $15 overall from their old counterparts.

I'm intrigued and to tell you the truth, this might be my first pair ever! I do miss the racing stripe, and I usually gravitate towards the Jack Purcells so I don't know. I'm sure we'll see multiple iterations of the Chuck IIs and their new shoe tech trickle to other shoes within Converse's portfolio. Are you going to pick up a pair? 


Traveling is Greater than Possessions →

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The instant gratification that comes along with the hefty price tags on new clothes, trendy sneakers and expensive jewelry is satisfying enough to be considered an actual addiction.

But it’s crucial for us to remember the importance of investing in our life experiences even more so than splurging on the next big thing from our favorite designer; it’s true that money can’t buy you happiness.

In fact, it seems the happiest people in this world have found a way to distance themselves from shopping addictions and unnecessary spending.

I'll admit, it's been pretty awesome flying as much as I do. The benefits along with an amazing travel partner help out too. ^_^

Verizon Adds Over 800k 4G Smartphone Users →

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Customer defections, also known as churn in the telecommunications industry, for Verizon's wireless postpaid business dipped to 0.90 percent versus the 0.99 percent estimated by FactSet.

Verizon said it added 842,000 4G smartphones to its postpaid customer base in the quarter.

Does this number include those that were already non smartphone subscribers? Just wait until Apple releases the iPhone 6S / Plus S next quarter. I'm betting that all those iPhone 5 & iPhone 5S users will upgrade. 

Gustin's Brushed Back Superlight #206

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#206 BRUSHED BACK SUPERLIGHT $89

A super light denim from Japan with a hugely brushed back that has an almost fleece-like feel. We haven't seen anything like it before and it's bound to be one of the most comfortable pairs of raw denim you'll find.

Gustin jeans made from sanforized raw selvage denim from one of the finest mills in Japan. Our super light denim is always a crowd pleaser. It's nice to have a pair of raw denim that you can wear very comfortably in the warmer months. This one may be the ultimate pair. It starts with an incredibly dark blue-black indigo warp. It's the darkest super light denim we've run. There is nice show through on the white weft which helps give it a classic denim look and serves as nice contrast to the dark warp. At at extra light weight of 9.8 ounces, it's butter soft. It gets better. The back of the fabric is highly brushed. It literally feels like fleece to the touch, which should make this denim absolutely supple when on. We've never found denim with a feel quite like this. If you want go-to super light denim with a rare feel, this is your winner.

Just got these in today and you can bet I'll be wearing the crap out of this pair while on reserve in NYC! Check out a pair of Gustin's today!