Bill Brenner

Our Secret Online Lives

by Bill Brenner March 12, 2012 Communication Skills

A new problem is emerging as we delve deeper into the online world: Armed with Twitter and Facebook, we’re creating secret double lives without always realizing it. Mood music: I’ve watched friends’ marriages and careers come under strain because of this. It’s a bigger problem in relationships, especially if there’s flirting and deep connecting going on between you and someone who is not you’re significant other. I’m starting to see where I could fall into…  [Read More]

Sumo Wrestler With An Itch For Life

by Bill Brenner March 11, 2012 Lighthearted

This is one of many photos I took for a slideshow during the recent RSA Conference. For obvious reasons, I didn’t put it in the final slide deck. But this is a personal blog, so what the hell… I actually liked this guy. He always had that smile on whenever I passed his booth. A smile like that is contagious. The slideshow, for CSO, was of the more interesting scenes from the RSA exhibit floor. You…  [Read More]

When Difficult Kids Turn Out Alright

by Bill Brenner March 9, 2012 Children's issues

Readers know by now that Erin and I have a big challenge — helping our second child manage ADHD. He’s often difficult. Fair enough. I was a difficult child, too. Duncan is actually tame compared to the 8-year-old me. He’s never filled up my gas tank with a garden hose. He’s never lit his plastic toys on fire, nearly burning down the house in the process. He’s never stolen money from his Dad’s wallet. He doesn’t bring home…  [Read More]

Shame, Denial After Fatal Haverhill House Fire

by Bill Brenner March 8, 2012 Political discourse

A fatal house fire isn’t usually a topic for this blog. But the way people are behaving after such a tragedy in Haverhill, Mass., is a shameful case study in denial and lack of personal responsibility — human conditions that can damage us and those we love. Mood music: The son of the victim is lashing out at firefighters, saying their training should have been enough for them to get his mom out in time. Firefighters…  [Read More]

Depressed? Try These Remedies (Or Don’t)

by Bill Brenner March 7, 2012 Depression

I noticed on Facebook this morning that one of my friends is still fighting a persistent bout of depression. She said something about staring at her clenched fist for nearly ten minutes. Mood music: We’ve compared notes on our depressed moments in the past, and since I dealt with a lot of depression in December and January (give or take a month. Winter’s a bitch) I thought I’d share some observations. –The extra darkness of…  [Read More]

#LulzSec Lesson: Narcissism Will Get You Every Time

by Bill Brenner March 6, 2012 Communication Skills

In my job as an information security scribe, I find case studies in mental distortion almost daily. Today’s news about LulzSec’s ringleader is no exception. Mood music: This morning we’re following the story of how leaders of the hacker group LulzSec  were rounded up this morning, with law enforcement acting on information apparently supplied by the group’s alleged leader — Hector Xavier Monsegur, nickname “Sabu.” What strikes me is how much this guy appears to have craved attention….  [Read More]

Beyond Boing Boing: Xeni Jardin Inspires Me

by Bill Brenner March 5, 2012 Courage

I’m a long-time reader of the Boing Boing site and have always been particularly fond of the work of editor Xeni Jardin. Her openness in talking about her breast cancer makes me appreciate her all the more. Jardin’s greatest strength as a writer has always been her ability to focus on the human side of technology, and she was doing just that in early December when she live tweeted her first mammogram. She poked fun at…  [Read More]

The Hypocrisy Of This Contraception Debate

by Bill Brenner March 3, 2012 Faith

Updated March 14 with this example of outrage from the Arizona legislature. I don’t get why the Republican Party is bogging itself down in this contraception debate. In pandering to the religious groups, they’re ignoring the economic woes people care about most. That’s especially silly because the economy if an issue that’s big trouble for President Obama. Would it not be wise to stick to the issue your opponent is weakest on? That’s my big…  [Read More]

Obama Killed Andrew Breitbart? You People Are Stupid

by Bill Brenner March 1, 2012 Communication Skills

Many of us are shocked this morning to hear that Internet publishing giant Andrew Breitbart is dead. He’s had plenty of haters over the years because of his conservative zeal. But when folks start suggesting he was murdered by the “liberal,” “socialist” President Obama, I find myself contemplating the idea that the human race may not be smart enough to survive. Also revolting is that some people are celebrating his death because they simply don’t…  [Read More]

Airport Observations

by Bill Brenner March 1, 2012 For travelers

When traveling, I enjoy people watching — especially in airports. Some observations from the Virgin America terminal in San Francisco… Mood music: –The TSA lady who frisked the young woman with two kids in tow seemed to be enjoying herself a bit much. The mom stared stoically into space while her kids got a first-class education on freedom and privacy in America. –The line at the Peet’s Coffee stand is about a quarter mile, and…  [Read More]

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