Recent aerial data - TerraServer.

Looking for aerial views, and of course Google and Bing and others have great offerings, street view, and so on, but often looking for things that are new/current in the past months:

- images of new building going up

- progress on a civic project

- natural disaster effects

Stumbled across TerraServer.

http://www.terraserver.com/view.asp

The imagery drop down tells you the resolution, and when the image was taken. For example, look at 120 Kingston Street in Boston, and compare most recent data to a few months/years ago.  http://www.terraserver.com/view.asp?cx=-71.05925380000002&cy=42.3523836&proj=4326&mpp=0.5&sdrt=jax

Minimal portable PC – USB3, HDMI, 10G Ethernet, 5V (internal battery), 10G RAM, 100G SSD, Under 1kg, Under 15W.

Had previously sought a minimal PC.

http://albertputnam.blogspot.com/2010/12/small-portable-brick-computer-without.html

Still looking.

And, okay, will take an integrated display if one is forced into the package. This is almost a reality with the Microsoft Surface and related tablets. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surface_Pro_2

USB3 but sadly no devoted Ethernet... but via USB3 is possible.

CuBox is close but not USB3 (yet?). And not yet well Windows supported. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CuBox

But it is very much within technical reach to meet the specs. Staying rather firm about no WiFi, Bluetooth, nor other wireless. Want the assurance of physically disconnecting those interfaces. See separate blog on WiFi tracking.

http://albertputnam.blogspot.com/2013/11/wifi-tracking-any-rf-tracking.html

Basically run full latest modern OSes with all I/O (except network and video and those “could” be USB3 too – if the OSes could accept the USB3 devices at boot).  To repeat:

- Ethernet (up to Gigabit speeds – maybe 10G)

- USB 3

- HDMI

- 6hr+ battery. No fan.

- Form factor of small brick like book/tablet. Under one kg.

- Power over Ethernet (PoE) 802.3af, or power from a USB outlet.

- 8+G Memory, 100+G SSD, i7 based?

WiFi tracking – any RF tracking

Points and counterpoints on WiFi (or Bluetooth or NF) tracking (aka locating, aka harvesting – depending on what data you collect).

Washington Post – WiFi tracking basics

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2013/10/19/how-stores-use-your-phones-wifi-to-track-your-shopping-habits/

Schneier context

https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2013/11/close-in_survei.html

Google WiFi harvesting

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9226418/Why_Google_should_be_allowed_to_harvest_your_Wi_Fi_data

Other Wifi harvesting

http://www.storyleak.com/wi-fi-trashcans-tracking-your-smartphone-data/

WiFi locating

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wi-Fi_positioning_system

Apple iBeacon

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9242393/Why_Apple_s_indoor_GPS_plan_is_brilliant

And an independent

http://arstechnica.com/security/2013/08/diy-stalker-boxes-spy-on-wi-fi-users-cheaply-and-with-maximum-creep-value/

  

All very technically straightforward. Even somewhat legally straightforward. But somewhat questionable morally.

Moral question aside, it would be nice to be able to turn off endpoint WiFi, Bluetooth and other RF signals with assurance. For me that always points to being able to physically remove the radio (on USB) or its power source (radio power has a physical switch) or an RF cap over antenna port if one is not worried about the radio energy drain. And switch should be instant (under a second on and off) at any time (even if not logged in or authenticated). Basically points to USB dongles.

Firefighters - Melrose

My wife and our two small children did a Melrose firehouse visit a few weekends back. http://www.melrose-firefighters.org/

The fire fighters were great. Gave a good presentation. Let the kids climb a bit.

Memories from childhood were there: Call 911 (911 was not universal in my childhood), Get safely to a nearby assembly point. Also remember “stop, drop, and roll”, avoid standing up in a smoke filled room, and test doors for heat before exiting. Smoke detectors seem to have largely prevented those problems.

A few things we had not thought of…

When one is leaving/assembling turn the porch light on. Make your house stand out from the others nearby so that the first responders have an extra few seconds.

The real kicker:

The firefighters did a demo of how they put on their gear. At first this seemed like entertainment. But the demo was about getting the little ones to realize that there is a person under all that protective gear – a person who is there to help. The little ones got more apprehensive as the gear was donned, and warning beeps started coming from radios and breathing gear, and the fire fighter started to look increasingly inhuman. It took some encouragement to get them to come up for a high five and/or a photo. The point being made was to not run away from the firefighter. The firefighters made special note to enjoin the kids to not hide when there was a fire – especially from the first responders.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firefighter

Moving Storage - Melrose, Malden, Medford

Had very positive experience with recent storage and move. Happened to rent a new larger warehouse space and was in no way dissatisfied with previous storage spots. Would use again and recommend to others:

http://www.melrosestoragefacility.com/

If you need close to Melrose (and the Malden Orange Line MBTA) and you are flexible about climate control (though it was fine for what it was where I stored in old carriage house space) then this is your space. Bob, Julie, Pedro and others are great. Family feel.

http://www.cubesmart.com/massachusetts-self-storage/medford-self-storage/180.html

If you want climate control, good access hours and close to Malden/Medford (and the Wellington Orange Line MBTA) then this is great. Staff always friendly and helpful.

Have had nothing but good luck with BCb movers in Malden.

http://bcbmoving.com/

BCb did an apartment to home move for me two years ago, and just recently moved me from the above spaces to new warehouse space.

• Four fellows and two trucks (with the owner and a spare truck on backup).
• Very quick, efficient and straightforward.
• Great upfront statement of work and responsibilities.
• Easy going, helpful…

Not sure what else I can say *grin*. If they have a slot available, BCb is a great pick.

Friends of Malden River Festival 2013 - Saturday September 21

Friends of Malden River Festival 2013 - Saturday September 21
http://malden.patch.com/groups/events/p/4th-annual-malden-river-festival
http://tri-cap.org/2013/08/26/fourth-annual-malden-river-festival-september-21-2013-11-am-3-pm-at-200-rivers-edge-drive/

And there is more along the Mystic banks.
http://www.assemblyrow.com/events/
http://www.yelp.com/events/somerville-6th-annual-riverfest-at-assembly-row-in-somerville

About the Malden River itself...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malden_River

Open Hardware Summit 2013 at MIT

Open Hardware Summit 2013 at MIT.
http://2013.oshwa.org/
http://2013.oshwa.org/schedule/
http://2013.oshwa.org/archives/

OHS people.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eben_Moglen
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addie_Wagenknecht
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limor_Fried