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Here are my DEF CON notes from the sessions that I attended in 2018 for DEF CON 26:
Please fell free to do what you want with these notes. I go to sessions so you don't have to.
Here some quick links to notes from previous years: 25 (2017), 24 (2016), 23 (2015), 22 (2014), 21 (2013), 20 (2012), 19 (2011), & 18 (2010).
I plan on attending DEF CON 27. Follow along real-time on Twitter @technewsradio.
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Thrown For A Curve (Update)
See July update for my first report on my recent lower back injury with sciatica down my left leg. Things are improving, but I'm still having numbness on my left foot and periodic spasms & tightening on my calf and glute muscles. A review of my MRI with an orthopedic surgeon opened up the possibility of future surgery but that is still TBD.
Technology
I was able to move to Windows 10 on a new Dell tablet at work before the end of June 2018 deadline. All in all it is working great, and I like having Type-C connectors on my work tablet and my personal HP Chromebook 13G1. For instance the same power adapter can be used on both.
Thankful For
Our July camping trip to San Elijo State Beach was awesome, and I did my first Sprint Triathlon (400m swim, 15-km bike, and 5-km run). I really enjoyed the sprint triathlon format even with my "physical recovery" slowing me down. I'm already planning to do another one in September.
Future
I completed another Vital Smarts' 1-day Getting Things Done (GTD) class in July. I currently only have material available for two more classes — one in August, and then one in September.
DEFCON is coming up in August. That should be fun.
We have another San Elijo State Beach camping trip planned for August.
Tips
I've been using some cream with Arnica on my sore muscles. It is really good.
Quote I'm Thinking About
"The enemy often tries to make us attempt and start many projects so that we will be overwhelmed with too many tasks, and therefore achieve nothing and leave everything unfinished. Sometimes he even suggests the wish to undertake some excellent work that he foresees we will never accomplish. This is to distract us from the prosecution of some less excellent work that we would have easily completed. He does not care how many plans and beginnings we make, provided nothing is finished." – St. Francis de Sales
The 34th CHVRCHES Fan Podcast was recorded on Saturday, July 7, 2018 and published on Sunday, July 8, 2018. This issue covers the following topics (full show notes):
Please consider donating to the The Girls Home. [Lauren Mayberry, Justin Long, Rachel Collingwood]
The music sampled in this podcast included:
You can also check out the podcast's "Retro 80s Synth" Playlist on Google Play Music & Spotify
You can get a complete PDF of the detailed show notes by clicking here.
Feedback options: leave a comment on this post, email, or @chvrchespodcast.
Listen! (Size: 17.2-MB, Time: 12m28s)
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Thrown For A Curve
On the morning of June 5th I tried to sit down in my office chair before going to work, and suffered some major lower back pain and sciatica down my left leg. In an instant, I was pretty much in deep pain and immobile. Luckily my son Conrad was able immediately take me in to see my doctor, and I was given some medication to ease the pain, relax the muscles, and hopefully heal the back pain area. I am slowly recovering, but I am still experiencing some tingling in my left foot, so I have an MRI being scheduled and physical therapy planned for early July. I pretty much can't run (which is a big transition for me), however I can swim, walk/hike, and ride a bike so that is better than being on bed rest for sure. Currently most of my exercise is being supplemented with 45 minutes of daily stretches and strength training.
Technology
I was able to move to Windows 10 on a new Dell tablet at work before the end of June 2018 deadline. All in all it is working great, and I like having Type-C connectors on my work tablet and my personal HP Chromebook 13G1. For instance, the same power adapter can be used on both.
Thankful For
My 5oth birthday party was great. I had it at one of my favorite breweries — Burning Beard.
I am thankful that I have improved as much as I have, and I need to realize how much my current mobility is when compared to June 5th.
I wasn't able to finish the MBSE class in early June because of my back injury, but the 2nd course at the end of June was good. I passed, so I'll be completing my certification in Systems Engineering (Level 2) soon.
Future
I am offering three more Vital Smarts' 1-day Getting Things Done (GTD) classes at work — one in July, one in August, and then one in September.
DEFCON is coming up in August. That should be fun.
We also have a camping trip to San Elijo State Beach planned for the end of July.
Tips
One of things that made it possible for me to sleep during the first two weeks of back pain & sciatica was a TENS machine that I got on Amazon last year to help with healing an Achilles injury I had. I am now a super big fan of the TENS devices.
I am pretty excited to share my Retro 80's Synth playlist (also on Spotify) that I started as part of www.chvrchespodcast.com. It is especially cool when fans of the podcast say they are enjoying the playlist.
Quote I'm Thinking About
"Your word is pure magic, and misuse of your word is black magic.” – Don Miguel Ruiz
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Technology
I took one of my Wyze cameras on travel in May to Washington, DC with me to watch over all my gear in my hotel room while I was at out of the room. It worked out well. No issues.
I am moving from a Windows 7 HP tablet/laptop to a Windows 10 Dell tablet at work by the end of June. A lot of stuff to do to make that transition happen.
Thankful For
Mother's Day was great and Memorial day weekend was a lot of fun around our house. We also had a good time seeing the Star War's Solo movie for Spencer's birthday. The previous week Spencer and I saw the very funny Deadpool 2 movie.
My favorite band CHVRCHES released their 3rd album "Love Is Dead." If you are a crazy fan like me then please listen to the CHVRCHES Fan Podcast.
Future
June is going to be busy: my 50th Birthday Party, a lot of high school graduation parties with friends' kids graduating, and a possible trip to DC at the end of the month. Plus I am taking two big courses in June – one on Systems Engineering (late in June) and another on Model Based Systems Engineering (early in June).
I also have three more Vital Smarts' new 1-day Getting Things Done (GTD) classes scheduled for the summer at work — one in July, one in August, and then one in September.
Tips
I really like these instant coffee packets from South Korea – Maxim Mocha Gold Mild Coffee Mix. They are great for travel, camping, and mixing it up from standard coffee. And these sugar free sweeteners are great with sparkling water plus your favorite adult alcohol like vodka — Jelly Belly Liquid Drink Mix.
Quote I'm Thinking About
"Society has arisen out of the works of peace; the essence of society is peacemaking." – Ludwig von Mises
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As we begin the era of #chv3 (CHVRCHES Album #3 – Love Is Dead), I'd like to ask that CHVRCHES Fans of this podcast download this flier, print some off, cut them into fourths, and then hand them out at shows. Your help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks! – Steve (@chvrchespodcast & @sholden)
The 33rd CHVRCHES Fan Podcast was recorded on Friday, May 11, 2018, and published on Saturday, May 12, 2018. This issue covers the following topics (full show notes):
Please consider donating to the The Girls Home. [Lauren Mayberry, Justin Long, Rachel Collingwood]
The main music segments sampled in this podcast included:
You can also check out the podcast's "Retro 80s Synth" Playlist on Google Play Music & Spotify
You can get a complete PDF of the detailed show notes by clicking here.
Feedback options: leave a comment, email, or @chvrchespodcast.
Listen! (Size: 27.7-MB, Time: 20m07s)
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Back in February 2018, I was blessed to be able to take a two-day course taught by Mike Foster at his Rescue Academy live event. I was introduced to Mike via his Fun Therapy Podcast from the Relevant magazine, and many of the stories in Season One of Fun Therapy deeply touched me.
I personally try to be pretty aware of my strengths and weaknesses, and having a caring heart for those who are hurting is one of my strengths. Showing it — putting it in action — and doing something constructive with that caring heart — is another thing. I know I could use some improvement in that area, especially in one-on-one situations.
So the big attraction for attending this event is Mike's tagline for Rescue Academy is "Helping You Help Others." That is what I wanted and needed.
What did I get out of the event? In summary, I'll share four things with you here (see my contact info below if you want more):
Mike's next class is May 17-18, 2018. I highly recommend considering attending if you want to learn how to help others and yourself.
If you have any questions, comments, thoughts, etc. then please let me know via email or connect with on Twitter (@sholden).
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Photo by Tod Seitz on Unsplash
The new Wyze camera is working out great. I've also gotten the Android app to run on my Chromebook which makes monitoring at home much easier.
Thankful For
I have completed three Vital Smarts' new 1-day Getting Things Done (GTD) at work and I'm now a Certified GTD Trainer! I have another class the first week of May. And I'm planning to deliver three more classes before the end of September.
I really enjoyed Infinity Wars. Great movie. The ending is massive.
Our trip to Disneyland was a blast.
Future
It looks like in May there is of course Mother's Day, a possible trip to Washington DC, and Memorial Day weekend.
Our church is planning to pack 100,000 meals on May 6th. This is double the 50,000 we did last year!
Tip
I really like this computer reading glasses.
Quote I'm Thinking About
"Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm." – Winston Churchill
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Mark Horstman at Manager Tools has a great weekly newsletter called "Things I Think" (subscribe here).
This past week Mark had a reference to a fellow Manager Tools listener — Robert Greiner — who posted a blog post about a great quote about management that Mark has been sharing for years from Stephen Benét's Pulitzer-Prize winning book "John Brown’s Body."
I've loved this excerpt so much that one time, I think in early 2013, that Mark actually read it outloud in a podcast. So on Feb. 18, 2013, I took that podcast and abstracted the audio of Mark reading the poem.
It's been sitting in my library for only me to enjoy. So, that ends today.
Here is Mark Horstman reading that excerpt from "John Brown’s Body."
I hope it inspires you as much as it inspires me.
Steve Holden's Blog 