Passwords

Have you given a thought to how important passwords have become to our lives? With many corporations requiring new passwords every thirty days or so in addition to passwords for e-mail accounts, online shopping or financial institutions to name but a few examples it makes you wonder how much simpler it was back in the days of a sentry asking "Halt who goes there?"

In actual fact nothing has really changed. You are still being asked "Halt who goes there?" It's me, it's me you respond to which you are asked "Password." The only difference is of course the sentry is some unknown electronic chip buried in a server that probably says Intell inside.

If we have difficulty keeping up with all of our passwords it makes you wonder if the so called super computer that accepts the connection from that most famous of briefcases which carries the secret codes that could destroy all of our happiness some sunny has a built in "Have you forgotten your password?"

I seriously hope it has one that says "Excuse me but have you given this some serious consideration?"

If we assume for a farcical but scary minute that it does have a "Have you forgotten your password" then what happens if some idiot says oops no I have forgotten it and gets access by entering the then President's mothers maiden name? Scarry stuff indeed.

What is more scarry is reality. The code or password is probably picked by a computer using some random number theory of mathematics. The only problem with any random set of letters and numbers is that on one given day they become non-random. Proof? Simple every time someone wins a lottery they just happened at random to pick an identical set of numbers that were also picked at random by a machine. Sure it may take a few weeks or even a few months but eventually the law of probability over rules the law of random numbers.

So as you type in your password today or tonight just keep in mind that one day some idiot will indeed select the correct set of passwords and have the codes. Why do I call them an idiot because only an idiot or a very evil person would even try and I am sure that both have indeed tried more times than we realize so as you put your head on the pillow tonight please remember to thank God that today when someone was asked by the super computer "Halt who goes there?" they did not know the password.

As for the next time they are asked? Well I leave it to you to calculate the date and the time when the law of probability will yet again be proven correct . . . even Google does not have that answer . . . I hope?

Who does? The bible. You will find it in Mathew chapter 6 verse 34.

Lexus LS460

The new Lexus LS460 has lots of hype about being able to park itself but little is said about the small print on their web site stating that the wheel/tire combination will get substantially less than 15,000 miles per year of tire wear or about the fact that the wing mirrors create wind noise that penetrates the cab under certain driving conditions at around 60 MPH. So as you park between the champagne glasses that have replaced the traffic cones blocking access to your favorite Starbucks ask yourself why would a car with such a price tag not have "quiet mirrors"?

In addition please keep in mind that all that cheap plastic skirting at the rear and at the front of the vehicle were the inspiration of some Japanese designer watching Americans having "flashy kits" applied to their car on pimp my ride. Yes I am old enough to remember when a bumper was a bumper. Nothing nicer than a shiny chrome bumper that it took two men to bolt in place to make you feel safe in lower speed accidents. Crack that plastic and watch your insurance agent cry . . .

Lets take a look at the competition. BMW 7 Series well you can rule that out with that silly mouse sitting between the seats and the Nav screen is set too high as it catches your peripheral vision all of the time. Anyone want to guess how much it will cost after the warranty runs out to replace or repair the I-drive? Mercedes too it would appear were visited by the stick a mouse in your car salesman. Hello folks cars are for driving. Speaking for myself I think a mouse between the seats is a safety hazard. I am only glad that the mouse salesman had not reached Japan by the time the LS460 design was finalized. You must however give credit to BMW for being the stylist who invented the "incorporate an aggressive look in your trunk" effect which the LS460 among others has copied.

OK so the new LS460 drive train is as smooth as silk and the car corners well at high speed (I hope the salesman who let me drive it alone it not reading this) and it accelerates smoothly all the way up to --- in 11 seconds. The problem I have with this car is that I hate the fact that after driving it I ordered one. Now I feel that every time I climb in my current car she is whispering to me do you still love me? People still remark on her beauty. Many lust for her affection offering to buy her from me. What is a man to do? She has been so faithful and completely dependable. I drove her across six states and back in three days lately in complete comfort covering over 2,000 miles in the process. How do I say baby you know your daddy just made a new big sister well she wants your garage?

I can just hear her now. I have a V8 and I have bucket leather seats and I have carried you safely anywhere you wanted to go for years and this is all the thanks I get? OK so the gold on my L is a little worn but that's from all the times you left me out in the sun and the rain and what is that white stuff that comes here occasionally . . . Oh and you don't even drink coffee so just where are you planning to take her that you haven't taken me?

Of all the cars I have had and I have been blessed to have had many luxury automobiles none delights me as much as the one I currently have. At 176,000+ miles she performs better than some of the rentals I get from Avis and Hertz with low digit mileage. Some may call it passion others may call it love. The devious people at Lexus call it brand loyalty. My compliments to the workers in Japan who built my SC400 and their attention to quality. I am sure that you laid down a tradition that my LS460 will follow.