holzman_tweed | Reflections from Black Hat and Def Con

I've about had it with "industry journals" aimed at "security professionals" on the "cutting edge" of IT, but have nothing more profound to say than "off-the-shelf computers, often running incompetent operating systems and applications, and not adapted to special envionrments, are now routinely deployed in mission-critical areas."[1] It's half way through 2005, kids, get your earth-shaking revelations into the '90s.
I've also about had it with 31337 haxor d00dz who are elite enough to dis anyone who went to Black Hat because that's corporate and "it costs so much money," but aren't 31337 enough to make enough money with their 31337 haxor 2<11z -- or anything else -- to attend Black Hat. I'm pretty sure they don't want the less stealthy corporate folks to come over to Def Con. Don't get me wrong -- I've got nothing against people who can't afford Black Hat. But lay off those of us who can. There's stuff at each that isn't at the other.
It becomes less impressive that Everclear is part of the preparation of a fruit or mixed drink once you've had alcohol that actually tastes good.
Three paragraphs of prose on a slide is just wrong.
Las Vegas gets less interesting the longer I'm here. The half-life gets shorter each time I return.
Ceaser's Palace or the Luxor. Marble hot tub next to the bed and a mirror on the ceiling, or high speed internet in the room. It'd be nice if I could have both...

[1]Name witheld to protect the banal.

I can't wait to get home tomorrow.