About

Project Multiplexer is Emily Dresner’s extremely exciting blog.

During the day I toil as a software architect for a big conglomco and writes huge amounts of code in the programming language of your choice: C/C++, Python, Ruby, Java. My expertise is in secure software, secure architectures and my background is mostly in cryptography and operating systems. I call myself a “X.509 cryptoweenie.”

My blog is mostly whatever is on my mind.  I blog about:

Politics: I am a left-leaning communist. Over-educated technocrats either turn out as insane progressives who wrap themselves in Go Green t-shirts or turn into Slashdot libertarians. I ended up as a left-leaning pinko. I’m pro-many things and a big supporter of free speech, gay rights, women equality and scientific freedom.

Technology: I prefer UNIX. My current Linux distribution is Ubuntu although I can be persuaded by the siren song of Fedora Core. A long time ago I said that Unix would never be on the desktop, and I was right, but I never could have predicted the rise of devices. Poor GNOME — it was never cut out to be anything more than a niche desktop windows manager. I am fascinated by the rise of the device: the TiVo, the eBook reader, the mobile devices, netbooks, the iPhone, the iPad. I am a big advocate for the onward march of the future.

Security: I love a good con. Even more I love a good scam. But what fascinates me is the way people use a combination of meatspace and the Internet to get into everything. Most security is wrong, even more is bad, and we overcompensate for the unknown. Security is my field; I occasionally have opinions.

Music: It is easier to list my dislikes (electric country) than my likes (nearly everything). I have played guitar for 15 years, but never well. I am learning to play piano. I love music. Music music music.

Knitting: I’m a knitter. I knit! It’s algorithmic.

I have composed a fair amount of music in Apple Logic 7.2 with a series of synthesizers.  My favorite is the U-HE Zebra, easily one of the best synthesizers out right now.  I am a big believer in Creative Commons, so all music, be it good, bad, or intolerable, is released under a Creative Commons license.