Washington DC got a huge snowfall during ShmooCon weekend. Reports vary on the amount, but it did snow constantly for well over 24 hours. On Saturday morning, the snow was knee deep in the streets. There were guys walking the streets with snow shovels, looking to earn a few bucks for extricating cars, and residents taking their dogs for walks. Dogs always seem to love the snow, and the opportunity to meet their neighbors – I saw lots of wagging tails! Wish I had gotten pictures of that canine happiness!

I did take pictures from my hotel and my walk over the bridge. You can click on the pictures for a larger version and a description.

I’m a professor at a midwest university – more details when I actually get this blog up and off the ground with graphics and all that. In the interim, here’s an assignment I am giving my students. I have to cancel classes because I will be at Shmoocon and Labs. Comments appreciated. And feel free to steal bits. If I get great papers, I will post them here, too.

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Contemporary security research can be presented either in scholarly journals or informal public presentations. Defcon is the most famous example of the latter, but Shmoocon is another, and it has the advantage of providing an official method of on the spot peer review (see a discussion of the latest evolution here) as well as a good combination of serious research and sophomoric humor.

Classes are cancelled for Wed and Thurs 3 & 4 Feb, because I will be attending ShmooCon in person. However, you still have an assignment. Fortunately for those who could not get a ticket, the shmoo talks will be streamed live. Details will be available immediately prior to the start of the con on Friday 5 Feb.

The assignment -

1) Immediately, if not sooner, go to the ShmooCon schedule, review the presentation list, and pick 3 possibilities for talks that you are interested in.

2) Friday morning, check here and find out the streaming details. As soon as possible thereafter, test your system to make sure you are able to receive the stream. If not, make alternate arrangements; technical difficulties are no excuse unless they are on ShmooCon’s end, and I will be there, so I will know.

3) Do some background research on the speaker for your talk. You need to report not just the info in the Shmoocon talk bio, but be able to put the talk in the context of the speaker’s other presentations, recent and otherwise, if any. Google is your friend. Maltego may be, too. If you don’t know what Maltego is, Google can be your friend for that, too.

4) At the appointed time, watch/listen to the talk(s) you chose. Pay attention and take notes. Look up anything that strikes your curiousity and take notes on that, too.

5) Write a 3 page paper on one of the talks you chose. Include background on the author(s) and put the talk in the context of his/her/their oeuvre (this part should constitute 1 page max). Also, describe the substance of the talk, the audience reaction and Q&A (and shmooball response if any). And to the best of your ability, discuss the ramifications of the presentation material to the greater security world. (Please, no BS necessary; I know you are not experienced security researchers. Just do your best. Playing it safe will not be rewarded – think!).

4) Your paper is due at the beginning of class on the second class day of the week on the week of 8 Feb 2010. The usual restrictions apply – complete sentences, good English grammar, punctuation, etc. When in doubt, use APA5; I will. Be prepared to discuss in class on Wed/Thurs 10/11 Feb.

Good luck!