two years
I realized that “Side Channels” is two years old this month. Not very exciting, is it? Well, it has gotten less of my time and attention in the past six months. A few things led to this… firstly, I was, and still am, busy. I am involved in a few research projects that I am excited about and enjoy working on. I also devote time to people around me who I like to spend time with. Secondly, I feel I don’t have anything profound to say that hasn’t already been said. You’ll notice that I try to be original whenever I can… but it is hard when everyone and their grandmother have a weblog too ;) Over time my expectations of this way of expression settled at the right place. I do not expect to have huge readership and I write whenever and of whatever I feel like. I feel comfortable with that; no pressure.
So, my dear readers, I appreciate those of you who have stuck around and loyally keep coming back for my outbursts. As a thank you*, I give you a recent picture from my trip to Edinburgh with Craigmillar Castle as the backdrop.

* Yeah, I know it might seem like I am full of myself, giving a picture of myself as a “thank-you”… but I really like this one and I couldn’t think of anything else to give ;)
January 18th, 2007 at 4:33 am
You look happy, happy and that is great!
January 19th, 2007 at 10:40 pm
When my father was at university, he once went to a lecture only to discover that no other students had turned up. The lecturer went ahead, arguing that his one student should not be denied what he had come for.
So I hope you keep on, even if the audience is small. Your blog has an atmosphere more suited to small groups, anyway.
Can we learn anything about modern security from Scottish castles?
January 20th, 2007 at 5:02 am
Happy two year anniversary!
You might not have the quantity but you have the quality.
January 22nd, 2007 at 10:17 am
Nick,
> Can we learn anything about modern security from Scottish castles?
Funny you should ask! When we visited Edinburgh Castle we were evacuated mid-way due to high winds. We jokingly wondered if the castle was so poor that it couldn’t stand it. But the real reason was the all to familiar British “Health and Safety” regulations ;)
Physical security in the form of castles is very easy to test. You provoke someone and they send their army for penetration testing. The incentives for good security are also in the right place… the outcome of a breach is that the designer is hanged, drawn and quartered!
Thank you all for your comments!
February 6th, 2007 at 6:36 pm
Mentioned on slashdot again. Did you realize tetris would make you famous?
January 20th, 2008 at 8:31 pm
[...] the Weihnachtsmarkts (Christmas Markets) in Bochum, Essen, Dortmund, and Cologne. Keeping with the tradition of the gift of my picture, below is me enjoying gluhwein (mulled wine) and a currywurst at one of [...]