(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Category Archives: Photos
The Cave Tree
I just think this is such an amazing tree (at work).
It’s like a cave.
You go in through the overhanging branches.
And there is a whole seating area with tables, chairs, benches underneath the shade of this lovely tree.
It’s like the tree was created for giving shade to people.
What miraculous creations G-d has made for us.
Shabbat Shalom and Happy Memorial Day Weekend!
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
@National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence
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)
Israel – Day 2 – Tel Aviv Downtown
(Source Photos: Andy Blumenthal)
Israel – Day 1 – Tel Aviv and Jaffa Beach
(Source Photos: Andy Blumenthal, except first incredible one Minna Blumenthal)
My Fun Socks
Just wanted to share some of my new fun socks.
You don’t always have to take yourself so serious.
It’s okay to let go and just be you.
From Dragon Ball Z to Super Mario, I feel so empowered!
Hope you do too. 😉
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Blood Libels Unabated
Please see my new article in The Times of Israel, called “The Jews Control It.”
Unfortunately, the anti-Semites continue their refrain of “The Jews control the world” from Wall Street to Main Street to K Street.
But what they are completely missing are the true secrets of Jewish creativity and thought.
I hope you will read the article to learn about Jewish values and our faith. 😉
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
A Three-Party System
Yeah, these signs say a lot about our two-party system of government.
“Republican: Because everyone can’t be on welfare.”
“Democrat: Because everyone can’t be greedy.”
Sort of the age old story of competing interests.
Certainly also a good dose of Fear vs. Greed.
And where the rich get richer and the poor get welfare.
It’s good to have the 2 extremes of the political thinking spectrum, because it shows us perhaps where the middle is.
Neither extreme is good, but rather it’s a balancing act.
We can’t have more than 50% of the wealth owned by the top 1% of the people.
And we can’t have everyone on entitlements where no one is working, innovating, and producing.
Yes of course, some people will have more than others and some people will need help.
There needs to be motivation to “get ahead” and there must be a social safety net for when bad things happen.
This is life.
But the to extent that we can have the most people in respectable jobs earning a reasonable (true living) wage and that there is equitable prosperity to go around for everyone–this is ideal.
Really 2-parties is not enough, because extremes tend to get more extreme–this is the momentum of polarization and politicization until the extremes tear us apart.
Instead we need a strong centrist party (or parties)–that can not only play to, but also execute the middle of the road approach.
It’s not all or nothing, but rather compromise to a logical and reasonable solution on every issue.
No, we don’t want to get rid of ICE, and we don’t want open borders.
No we don’t want entitlements that bankrupt the nation, and we don’t want people down on their luck going needy.
No, we don’t want women who have been raped or incested or otherwise can’t raise their children being forced to have them, and we don’t want babies being murdered in the late stages of pregnancy.
No we don’t want to blow up the planet, and we don’t want our enemies besting us.
We don’t want pollution in our air, water, and streets, and we don’t want to strangle the economy with endless and mindless regulation.
And on and on.
It’s high time to move to the center where common sense reigns.
It overdue to have a legitimate 3+ party system that talks real solutions to the people. 😉
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Trendy – Shoes and Bag In One
I thought this was a very creative ladies bag.
It combines two things that many love–shoes and bags!
No, you’re not putting your shoes in the bag.
And you’re definitely not wearing your bag on your feet (that’s another blog on innovation).
In this case, the shoes (and legs) are the design on the bag itself and make up the shoulder straps to carry it.
Creative and fun thinking, right?
Also, I like the design of bold colors of the red and white sneakers and the blue jeans on the black bag.
This is both functional and cool, and I like the trend of “mixing it up.”
The straps are the legs and shoes–pretty smart! 😉
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Two-Faced Monsters
One of the scariest things with people are when they are two-faced.
And no, we’re not talking about people making funny faces or googly eyes.
My father use to joke:
“If that person was two-faced, they would never use that face {the one they are wearing now}!”
But many people really do have two-faces (and sometimes more).
– The seeming friend, but backstabber if they get the chance.
– The “goodie two-shoes,” but what a real mischievous side to them.
– The “nice boy/girl,” but what an unbelievable mean streak.
– The calm, quiet person, but what an explosive temper they really have.
– The person who it seems “would never hurt a fly,” but what an abuser and bully they are.
This is not about multiple personality disorder, but rather people who either are truly this AND that, or who “fake it to make it.”
Many people do have multiple “normal” sides to their personality (like hardworking, but playful).
However, others more malevolently, use a cover up (and it’s not mascara) to hide their inner bad natures/behaviors and demons.
These are the people that are really scary dudes (and dudettes).
You see one thing on the surface (superficially), but beneath it is a type of molten lava ready to explode and do very bad things.
Sure, everyone alternates between good and bad days, happy and sad, more loving or less, etc.
But when people are fundamentally insincere phonies who are deceiving others until they can but strike and do bad things to them, then they are not just two-faced, but seriously f*cked up!
This is all part of the fight in this world of good over evil–it goes on everyday with the monsters out there that are allowed to roam free and prey on others–perhaps some of afraid or even others are covering for them.
How long can they keep up their heinous act?
Often way too long, until those good people of faith and conscience ask when will they be unmasked and held accountable–when will justice prevail. 😉
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
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