This is a beautiful set of nested brass weights from France.
It dates back to 1852!
The weights range from 1 gram to 500 grams.
These are weights, but also a form of art.
It is located at the NIST Museum.
There is something comforting about weights, measures, and standards.
It puts an organized construct unto our universe and creates some objective scientific reality to our world.
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
So good today to visit the NIST Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (NCCoE).
The cybersecurity solutions developed are aligned to the well-known Cybersecurity Framework (CSF).
Got to see some of the laboratories, including demonstrations for securing the Healthcare and Energy Sectors.
Interesting to hear about examples for securing hospitals records and even things like infusion pumps.
The medical devices are tricky to secure, because they are built to potentially last decades and are expensive to replace, but the underlying technology changes every couple of years.
Also, learned more about securing the energy sector and their industrial control systems.
One scary notable item mentioned was about the “big red button” for shutdown in many of these facilities, but apparently there is malware that can even interfere in this critical function.
It is imperative that as a nation we focus on critical infrastructure protection (CIP) and continuously enhancing our security.
Time is of the essence as our adversaries improve their game, we need to be urgently upping ours. 😉
(Source Photos: Andy Blumenthal)
Today, I had a wonderful opportunity to explore the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Net-Zero Energy House.
As its name implies the residential home makes as much energy as it uses.
It is run by one of NIST’s 7 laboratories, the Engineering Lab’s Energy and Environment Division.
The 2,700 square foot home is super-insulated and hyper-energy efficient.
It runs on only 12,000-13,000 Kilowatt per year compared to a typical home that guzzles 40,000 KW.
You can see the array of solar panels on the roof and there is a two-way exchange of energy to/from the grid as available/needed.
There is also solar thermal water heater.
The home simulates a family of 4 living there cooking, bathing, watching TV, etc.
There are 600 sensors inside the house that monitor everything.
The garage maintains the computers and controls for the research.
Overall, I was very proud to see the wonderful scientific research being done here.
It was truly impressive and good for the nation and the planet. 😉
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Tonight, we went bowling at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.
It is just to the West of the White House and is occupied by the Executive Office of the President.
It was very exciting to go there and be surrounded by all the action.
The bowling is in the basement–just 2 lanes and a lot of beat of balls and smelly shoes.
There was a weird sign that said “For trouble with bowling equipment, please call the GSA Help desk”–whose ever heard of a help desk for bowling (that really is service!)?
There were pictures of many of the presidents bowling, including Obama, Bush, and even Nixon.
It was funny that the bowling ally is called the Harry S. Truman Bowling Ally even though it is in the Eisenhower building.
I learned that AMF Bowling company donated the lanes to the Federal government.
There are also a couple of lanes in the White House as well.
Well back to my game–no gutter balls please. 😉
(Thank you National Institute of Standards and Technology and Dannielle Blumenthal for a terrific evening.)
(Source Photo: Rebecca Blumenthal)
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