I’m sure most of the eyes reading this are probably not of the female persuasion more or less a woman in some sort of software developer role. But regardless, I was in my office bored and found myself staring at my Computer Engineer Barbie. I love it. It was a gift from my boyfriend, and it shows even Barbie can be a geek. However, I have a few issues with the toy. Stick with me.

Back in Feb. 2010 Mattel released 126th “I Can Be” Barbie with the career of a Computer Engineer. This Barbie came into existence due to it winning the popular vote from a poll by Mattel, whereas the winner of the girls vote created the “I Can Be” News Anchor Barbie. I realize this may be old news, but the little girl inside me jumped for joy to see a Barbie that was more like me in regards to my career choice (w00t! a geeky version of my beloved childhood toy!). Finally, something stepping outside the bounds of traditional, typical career options for girls. Although, I applaud Mattel for making such a toy, I wonder how realistic the toy actually is.

First of all, something I find unsettling is I’ve seen pictures of the boxed Barbie titled “Computer Software Engineer,” however on Mattel’s website, she is called a “Computer Engineer.” Yes, there is definitely overlap between the two careers, but typically both careers do very different tasks at the end of the day. Computer Engineers combine Electrical Engineering and Computer Science to develop hardware design of computer systems or write firmware for embedded software, all very low level trains of thought. Whereas the “Computer” Software Engineer as they call it, is all mostly high level dealing with the design and implementation of software. So which is she? Does she design microprocessors for a chipset or write code for the latest app she is designing? What will it mean to the little girl who sees it on the shelf? Since the general public probably doesn’t actually know the difference between the two (or perhaps much about technology), the toys purpose remains ambiguous. Meaning it will probably be uncertain to the girls who buy them. I completely agree kids today are becoming more technologically savvy then back ten years ago. But that doesn’t mean that they understand what it takes to make the iPod in their pocket.

Second, what is she wearing? I know the Society of Women Engineers partnered with Mattel for the Barbie’s outfit, but what geek girl runs around in a shirt covered in binary, floppy disks, glitter capris, and a Bluetooth head piece in her ear? Granted I know that this is Barbie we’re talking about. It’s not like everything she wears is realistic (which is what makes her so much fun). It’s almost like the outfit reiterates the stereotype that women in technology don’t have much sense in fashion. That they run around in unfeminine outfits and pony-tails. Yes, these women do exist and I’m not saying that they can’t have their own sense of style. But rather why would you make this Barbie look less appealing compared to, say, Anchor Barbie covered in a cute, frilly, pink outfit. If I were 8-years-old, I would have thought the Anchor Barbie was far prettier than the CE Barbie (hence the fact that the Anchor Barbie was the girls vote). The outfit isn’t exactly an enticing proponent for a career in technology (although the pink laptop is a plus).

Overall, this toy is still a step forward showing girls there are so many other career options besides the traditional ones that are they are aware of (or that Barbie is known for). Regardless of my gripes (nitpicky though they may be) I hope that it will inspire little girls to learn more about Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, or technology in general since these industries aren’t exactly well represented by the female realm.

Corrie Jones is a Bay Area software engineer who enjoys working with anything to do with software and technology. When not busy being a code monkey at work, Corrie enjoys practicing yoga, exploring and shopping with friends, painting, playing video games, music, and traveling. If you want to see more about Corrie, go here.

If you’ve ever been to Comic Con, you’ll probably already know exactly what I’m about to say. WHOA! Crazy! This year, 2011, marked my very first Comic Con. I’ve been to many anime conventions, tech expos, and geek cons in the past, but nothing compares to the San Diego Comic Con. If you haven’t been to it yet, this convention that takes place in San Diego every summer, brings together the best in comics, sci-fi, fantasy, games, anime, tv, and movies. This year was quoted at about 125,000 attendees. The con-goers were able to meet their favorite actors and artists, find rare collectibles on the show floor, dress up in cosplay, and watch some great panels on their favorite topics.

I went to Comic Con for my other podcast, Bite Club Show, an audio podcast for anyone who likes vampires, werewolves, zombies, and wine. Over the course of the weekend I got to explore some very new territory.

When I first arrived at Comic Con on my first Virgin America flight, (which was awesome, by the way!) it was way too late to do much other than pass out in my hotel room. Thursday morning, I joined my friend Eileen to get our badges and get in line for Hall H, the largest room reserved for movies and television show panels. After getting my press badge and Comic Con bag (I totally social engineered someone into trading with me so I could get the Batman Arkham City bag), we met in line and stood for only an hour to

get into the Twilight Breaking Dawn panel. The panel wasn’t as exciting as what I was expecting. There weren’t that many screaming teenagers when the three main characters walked on stage. The actors got a chance to answer some viewer questions and we saw some footage from the new movie.

After the panel, we escaped and I found my way to the exhibitor room. I was able to get my hands on a rare Tokidoki vinyl figure, some other odds and ends from exhibitors, Simone Legno’s autograph (Tokidoki creator), and I met Richard Hatch (Apollo and Tom Zarek from BSG). I met up with the girls from Bite Club Show afterwards for the Live Diggnation show at the House of Blues. The show seemed a little mellow to me, but perhaps it is because of my sore feet and upset stomach from eating candy all day.

Friday consisted of Ballroom 20. That’s it. We stood in line for 2 1/2 hours to get into Ballroom 20, where we watched 6 panels: Torchwood: Miracle Day, Walking Dead, Big Bang Theory, Eureka, Warehouse 13, and True Blood. All of the panels were fun to watch, although I will admit I don’t watch all of those shows. Eileen, Stephanie, and I specifically wanted to see True Blood, so we sat in Ballroom 20 for almost 8 hours with almost nothing to eat. By the time the True Blood cast entered the stage, we were 9 rows back and got some great photos and memories! Although we were sitting in a room all day, it was still exhausting. We dragged our feet to dinner later that night at a nice little Italian place in the Gaslamp district, had some wine and food, then went to a couple of bars for drinks.

I left on Saturday night, after a fun day of picking up swag, checking out the exhibit hall once more, and watching a few more panels. I wanted to see the Vampire Diaries panel, so we went back to Ballroom 20 for that. Surprisingly, we were only in line for 2 hours and we got in! Eileen wanted to stay to watch the Fringe panel. Feeling lazy from the convention, Stephanie and I stuck around to watch as well, although we had no clue what they were talking about!

So all in all I learned some important things from my weekend away, some of which Stephanie also mentions on her page:

1. Bring comfy stuff. Good walking shoes, pants, and shirts. You probably wouldn’t need a jacket. Check the weather before coming.
2. Portability. Bring a decent bag. The Comic Con bag makes a cool keepsake for dirty laundry or to take toys home, but it’s way too big for the convention center, and too tall for my short legs.
3. Please, for the love of whomever you worship, bring soap and deodorant. Strange wafts of smelly armpits is really gross at conventions.
4. Food. Con food is expensive. A 20 oz soda cost $4.00 USD in the con center. Save some money and put it towards a sandwich and a good breakfast. Bring tons of water and keep the candy to a minimum. Your body will thank you! And if you are in a hurry to get from one side of the hall to another during peak lunch hours, you’ll stay a happy camper because you can be on the move and eating at the same time.
5. If you get a good seat, keep it. Ballrooms and Halls fill up fast. Get in line SUPER early and be ready to spend a few hours there. If you want to see one panel at 11 and another at 5pm, you better plan on staying in that room all day.
6. If you don’t have a good seat, ninja one! After every panel, Eileen, Stephanie, or I immediately got up and swooped in on the first 3 seats we could find. By the end of the day Friday we were in the 9th row. We started around 100 back. Comic Con does not empty halls between each panel.
7. Bathroom tickets. It’s kind of like leaving class with a hall pass. You have to leave out a specific door, get a ticket, and come back during that same panel with your ticket. Or else you’re screwed.
8. Some panels give out free swag. If you want to get swag for your favorite shows, stick around during the panel and they’ll give out a ticket. Take the ticket to the fulfillment room and you get something. It can be something awesome (HBO gave out bags for True Blood and Game of Thrones) or crappy (a luggage tag from Fringe). If you like the show, it’s worth it. If you don’t, give your ticket to someone that wants it. Save yourself the walk.
9. Time yourself and plan ahead! You can’t do everything. I had to miss out on a few panels and autograph signings. I regret I didn’t get to spend as much time in the exhibit hall as I wanted to. I could spend a whole day in there.
10. Treat your body well. Get a good night of rest. Don’t party all night and get trashed. You’ll regret it the next day!

Will I go back? Definitely. But next year, I want to cosplay.

You can check out all of my Comic Con 2011 photos at my facebook profile!

Shannon Morse is a co-host of Hak5 on Revision3 and she is on the audio podcast Bite Club Show. You can also find her guest hosting various other internet shows now and then. When not geeking out with work, Shannon enjoys video games, anime, manga, traveling, building computers, and spending time with family and friends. Find more info about Shannon here.

Ahh, Maker Faire, I think I’m in love. You made me feel like a child again. I was able to solder my own POV board, dance with an R2-D2, play with lights and electricity, pig out on fair food, and check out all sorts of DIY goodies.
Seriously, I felt like I was in a Discovery Zone for adults. Or Burning Man.

I’ve been to several conventions, trade shows, etc. but nothing really compares to the leet sauce that makes Maker Faire what it is.

If you’ve never been to this event, Maker Faire is a time for anyone who likes hacking, modding, crafting, science, steampunk, and robots. It brings enthusiasts together into a huge indoor/outdoor venue to share and experience everything you can fit into a weekend. This playground for adults gives you the chance to learn more about all the geeky aspects of life. At the same time, it’s also an awesome excuse to get out of the house for a day or two and munch on some delicious fair food like corn dogs, snow cones, and funnel cakes (mmmm….). I was wondering why my friend was so giddy about this weekend, and I now understand it.

This Bay Area Maker Faire occured May 21 and 22 in San Mateo, and an estimated 100,000 attended. Hak5 decided to go as well to see what all the fuss was about. When we arrived, we were welcomed by a huge robotic giraffe with a funny british accent, telling us ‘that tickles’ whenever someone touched it. Along with the giraffe were Burning Man-esque mobiles made out of spare parts and man power, and mobile human-sized cupcakes.

Makers were giving rides on their bikes and steampunk cars to onlookers, and some were dressed in full steampunk regalia. It was a sight to see, and something I’ll never forget.

But I think one of my favorite parts was inside one of the buildings, where ArcAttack was hosting shows every couple of hours. Inside this building I found a techno party being held by several life-sized R2-D2′s, a forest of neon colored inflatable plant-things, and tons of nifty devices lit up with lights. All of this was amazing, but I was really in awe when I watched a few songs played by ArcAttack. ArcAttack is widely known for their creation of singing Tesla coils. This band uses instrumental loops and samples to create fun upbeat electronica indie music, mixed to the beat of the Tesla coils. To witness one of these shows will give you chills!

But alas, Maker Faire 2011 has come and gone for me. I can’t wait for the next Bay Area faire, and all the new surprises that will come with it.

Here is my photo stream on facebook for your viewing pleasure and here is a link to a Make video about Maker Faire. Look for me at 35 seconds in.

Shannon Morse is a co-host of Hak5 on Revision3 and she is on the audio podcast Bite Club Show. You can also find her guest hosting various other internet shows now and then. When not geeking out with work, Shannon enjoys video games, anime, manga, traveling, building computers, and spending time with family and friends. Find more info about Shannon here.

This segment Shannon goes walking into Haiku, the successor to the beloved BeOS.

Have you ever heard of BeOS? BeOS was this classic operating system created by Be Inc in 1991 to compete against Mac OS and Windows. The GUI was clean and uncluttered, the API was written in C++, and command line interfacing was available. But, sadly, BeOS was never meant to be. Only the big fans use it these days, but another OS took off in it’s place. This Open Source operating system was called Haiku. Lucky for us, Haiku is being maintained to this day, with the newest release recently in May 2010. Haiku was first created back in 2001, under the term OpenBeOS, but wasn’t self-hosting until 2008. Today I’m delving into the world of Haiku to give you an introduction to this easy-to-use Operating System.

Haiku can be found at http://www.haiku-os.org/.

It’s key features include:

A focus on personal computing
The custom kernel designed for responsiveness
It has a fully threaded design for efficiency with multi-processor/core CPUs
Rich Object Oriented API for faster development
A database-like file system (OpenBFS) with support for indexed metadata and a unified, cohesive interface
Haiku can be downloaded to your computer or you can download it onto a USB stick. Yay portable!

To install Haiku on a flashdrive simply follow these steps. You’ll need a decent size USB flash drive, mine for example is 4 GBs. The extracted files are less than 1 GB so you’d be fine with a smaller drive.

First download the anyboot image file from the download page: http://www.haiku-os.org/get-haiku. Also, download ImageWriter from https://launchpad.net/win32-image-writer so you can write image files onto a USB. You can unzip ImageWriter to wherever you want. I created a folder called ImageWriter and unzipped it there. Once the Haiku Anyboot image file is downloaded, unzip it to wherever you want again. Rename the haiku-anyboot.image file to haiku-anyuboot.IMG so ImageWriter sees it. Open ImageWriter, select the image file haiku-anyboot.img, choose your USB stick drive (and make sure to double check it like 7 times so you don’t end up overwriting your original OS!), and click ‘Write’. It’ll take less than 5 minutes to do so, but don’t remove the USB stick during the process. When it’s done, you can restart and boot onto the USB flashdrive. If it doens’t work the first time, you may need to go into your BIOS and chance the Boot list to your USB first, instead of your original OS hard drive.

Now that I have Haiku booting onto my laptop, I can show you a little bit about the OS.

Haiku is very clean and crisp, with no crazy stuff going on. It’s very unobtrusive and easy to learn. This ‘deskbar’ up at the top is where you go to find all your applications and change any customizations you want to make. I played with a lot of the demos and applications, and it gave me a general idea of how well this OS works. A couple of neat things I found out were:
You can open up and use the terminal
Built in file converter
Sudoku demo game

Haiku is open source, so there will always be new things added to it. So if you’re bored of your current OS and want to tinker around with something new, give it a try. There are great user guides and forums at their website, as well as a slew of other information. So, enjoy!

Email me at feedback@hak5.org if you have a fun program for me to check out on a future Snubs Report. We’ll be back after a word from Darren with this week’s HakTip.”

Darren reports from Automate 2011 with a 28 foot multi-touch bar.

Darren reports from the Automate 2011 conference in Chicago checking out the mtBar from Crunchy Logistics and Imaging Source. This 28 foot rear diffused illumination multi-touch bar surface sports unlimited tracking of fingers and objects at 120 FPS. Darren gets the juicy details from Niel Dufva, Aaron Bitler and Brandon Hill from Crunchy Logistics, as well as John Berryman from Imaging Source.

In this segment Darren covers the beautification aspects of the case mod, tackling the tricky bits of cable management and accent lighting with cold cathodes.

Darren reviews some of the recent case mod feedback and looks forward to hearing your ideas for future mods.

The first part of the photo frame case mod build.

Using two Ikea RIBBA series shadow-box photo frames to display a mounted and lighted motherboard for your admiration. Technology is a beautiful thing.

Saving money on your next system build or waiting to find that perfect case but have to get online right now. See how to build a Cardboard case for your new system.

While building a new Proxmox Virtualization Cluster, Darren save some green and recycles the cardboard packaging as an acceptable case for the new servers.

Shannon checks out the Gmail drive shell extension Gmail Drive for Windows to be able to do some cloud storage via her google account and sync them to her computer.

Using the some freeware called Gmail Drive you are able to store file in your gmail account that can be accesses like a local drive on windows.

While sharing a heartwarming story about how a little plastic minifig, Darren shows of how to use the screen command especially during SSH sessions.

The Linux screen command while available for most *nix platforms, screen is an invaluable resource for anyone managing multiple SSH sessions. In this segment Darren illustrates the screen command with a story of bits and bricks.

Darren gives a basic overview of human hearing, vocals, compact disc frequency and why the maximum frequency of an 8000Hz telephone signal is only 4000Hz.

Using a nice White board and plenty of time darren shows us how much of a phone freak he is. Also you can get lost in mathematical goodness beginning with this article.