Comments for Lab 6: I actually follow a fair number of internet security related blogs - the most useful being http://isc.sans.org/diary.html as that often acts as an early warning system for new internet security issues. This is the first blog I've ever created myself, although I do use Facebook and LinkedIn to keep up to date on friends and colleagues. Like any web page, a blog takes a fair amount of work to keep up to date. While I review postings in Facebook just about every day, I only checked my blog once or twice a week. I suspect part of the reason is my security background makes me reluctant to share too much personal information. Having a facebook account is bad enough!

It was fun creating a podcast and I'm very happy to finally find out how to publish a snippet of my music. However, listening to podcasts, like reading blogs, on a regular basis can be a real time drag. I do use rss feeds to summarize web sites I'm interested in and use that to try and zero in on topics of immediate interest.

Now, the impact of bloggers and blogging on society? I'm not a fan of stream of consciousness blogging. I've "turned off" a number of "friends" on Facebook because I really, really don't care about what they had for breakfast. This unfortunately means I miss the truly interesting things that happen in their lives. I missed the marriage of one of my old friends because I had turned her spiel off. I'm having a hard time understanding why people want to share so much of their lives. Useful blogging, on the other hand, is changing the way business is being done. I will often link to live blogs for current events, like space shuttle launches. During the last presidential election, it was more timely to watch the New York Times voting blog than to watch the talking heads on CNN.

I collect musically inspired Christmas ornaments so my sister brought me back this very unique sousaphone ornament from New Orleans this week.

One down, 3 to go

Sea Symphony went fabulously well Saturday night. We got a rave review from the Mercury News. Imagine a community orchestra being compared to the Berlin Philharmonic!

Next up, concert Saturday night with Palo Alto Philharmonic, then Sunday a gig at Fort Mason in San Francisco with Mission Chamber Orchestra, and Monday night I'll be playing in a sing-along Messiah with Mission Chamber Orchestra and San Jose Symphonic Choir!