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small talk on security

small talk on security

Chapter 1:TOMOYO Linux meets PacSec

Author:Toshiharu Harada

December 12, 2007(Wed.)

vi or emacs?

After we finished all the scheduled presentations, there was a lightning talk session which is becoming popular in Japanese open source events.

Dragos called Andrea Barisani, one of Dojo's instructors ("Sensei"), Ryan McBride, a famous OpenBSD kernel hacker, and me, strange Japanese forward to the stage. We three then gathered in front of the screen. It was a kind of game. Dragos asked people to propose a question whatever they wanted to ask and we must answer to it by "just one sentence". There was a question of "vi or emacs?"

I was the first one to answer so I said, "vi, definitely. ed is OK, too". Andrea and Ryan followed with the same answer of "vi".

Then funny thing happened. We three raised our hands shouting "vi". Then some of the people in the conference room followed. So it was an unexpected and unforgettable event to me.

Party

Party was held at the first day's night. I felt it was so convenient for the attendees to have such party without changing locations so that they can participate and communicate with others without worrying possibility of being lost in this unaccustomed place.

Also, lunches were delivered to the attendee's seats so that they do not have to go out. Lunches were Japanese style ("Bento") and they were really delicious.

Party time was also fun time. It was like a home party. I found Mr. Kojima, the administrator of Japanese famous security news site "security hole memo", in the party room. We talked and took a picture. The "security pitfall memo" article of PacSec2007 can be found here (sorry in Japanese only).


This is sort of in the strictest confidence story. There is a doubt that Mr. Kojima attended to this conference to meet the narrator's of "One Point Security for November" which is a part of Microsoft Japan's program, rather than to collect news of PacSec.

Staff of PacSec

As explained earlier, all the presentation materials have been provided in both Japanese and English. In the middle of the conference, I got to know that translations work was done by the PacSec Japanese staff.

Dragos, who is the face of the PacSec, acknowledged some of the staff by their names at the second day's opening and closing speech; "Sakurai-san (Tomoyuki Sakurai) and some other staff took the efforts translating the materials by reducing their sleep. They are heroes of this conference." That message was responded with the heartwarming applause.

Translating the presentation materials which are written by the experts of each security specialties in limited period is not easy. I was impressed by the support provided by the staff. Well, I don't say the registration fee is cheap, but let me introduce that flights and accommodation fees for the invited speakers are totally expensed by the PacSec conference.

Considering the facilities, services including simultaneous translations, and the topics selected for the conference, the registration fee is not expensive at all. I would like to encourage the readers to consider joining the next conference.

Message from Dragos

I asked Akasawa-san and Takahashi-san who were the Japanese staff of the event and also employees of one of the sponsor company Sumisho Computer Systems Corporation to check the article. Here are their comments to the readers.

"PacSec started as Dragos's intention to offer a place to exchange information between Japanese and overseas security engineers. In this year, we felt we could meet that goal. We will keep working to make PacSec better and active."

I'm very glad that I could receive message for readers of this article from Dragos who is the parent of the PacSec via Takahashi-san.

In my very personal impression, Dragos reminds the famous Japanese comic character "Sanji" ("ONE PIECE" by Eiichiro Onodera) and he is a nice looking guy. I met him for the very first time at the conference. As he kept working all the time on setting projectors, adjusting microphones and various things, so it took time for me to recognize he was Dragos who is the master of the event.

It seems to me that the character of Dragos is surely the part of the PacSec. I'd like to conclude this article with the message of Dragos. That's it, folks. Hope to see you at PacSec next year!


I was particularly pleased with the talks this year.
I don't think there were any real duds... (and usually one kinda sucks)
so that was pretty rare. I'm very thankful to all the people who helped put it on,
and I hope I'll see many of you next year.

cheers,
--dr

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Toshiharu Harada, NTT DATA CORPORATION
Profile
Toshiharu Harada, NTT DATA CORPORATION
Project Manager of TOMOYO Linux project.
haradats@nttdata.co.jp


INDEX
Chapter 1:TOMOYO Linux meets PacSec
  About PacSec
  Presentation of TOMOYO Linux
vi or emacs?