2014-12-31

go see!

It was just another wild idea. Together with a friend I made several long rail journeys through Sweden. We were in our twenties and found train-riding to be the ultimate pastime. Solving philosophical problems with a soul-mate, a cup of tea in the restaurant car and this lovely land of ours passing by outside the window. It was just for a winter, then we went different ways but the idea was already forming in my head: go see Sweden! There's so much to enjoy, it's a huge country with very distinct seasons. Take a year, spend some money, do it right.

Eighteen years went by and my idea lay deep in the pile of dreams-never-to-be but somehow I couldn't let go. Finally in October 2003 the time was right. I was on a three-week trip through France and Italy and I was bored stiff. Having the Mediterranean glittering outside the first-class-compartment and a ticket for Sicily in my wallet was just fine, the train-tour had cost a small fortune but I was homesick.

By the time of Christmas I made the decision. I had been saving vacation time without any particular purpose. Now here was my purpose. On New Years Eve I went to Stockholm Central Station and purchased a twelve-month first-class rail-pass. The time had come to go see Sweden 2004.

(edited, previously posted 2005-03-03)

2014-12-15

security without trust

The effect of investing in security depends on the actual level of security achieved in the system. It also depends on the degree of trust from my stakeholders.

Imagine a system with perfect security which - for whatever reason - isn't trusted by those who should depend on it. Their distrust might appear totally irrational to us. That doesn't matter. It's not our call. Our effort is a failure.

Putting all our money into "actual" security and ignoring the need for assurance is a recipe for failure.
20240205