We Japanese book review

We Japanese: Being descriptions of many of the customs, manners, ceremonies, festivals, arts and crafts of the Japanese, besides numerous other subjects  is probably one of the best treasuries of old Japan out there and affordable as well. Prepared by the Fujiya hotel at Hakone it consists of a whole collection of one or two pages descriptions of customs, folk tales and more. These vignettes were originally prepared and printed on the menu cards by the hotel for the sake of both the local and foreign visitor. These became so popular that were gathered in three volumes.

By the looks of it, the flagship 1950 edition combines all three previous volumes. Most of the entries are illustrated with drawings, but some b&w photos are also included. The info is current to 1950, but some of it dates back to at least 1934 which makes the book a time capsule of sorts. As an object it is traditionally bound and enclosed in an unfolding case which shuts with a bone (faux?, real?) pin. There appear to be at least three different designs for the cover which is texturized. Each page is folded double.

The descriptions and stories are concise, insightful, frequently delighting. Since these only are a page or two, they allow reading at odd times. An index is included, but does not cover absolutely all, so some digging is still needed to find all there is to know about some particular topic.

We Japanese came on my radar it after reading Ryokan by Fahr Becker (also recommended) which borrows from it on a dozen or so occasions.

Despite its relative rarity, it surprises me how low it can be bought for. I got mine for around $20, but I've seen it as low as $12. I say one should grab a copy even if for a gift. This kind of value offers are not easy to come by.

Mega bee!

When I was about five, I remember once seeing  giant bee. My dad was taking out the car from the driveway and there it was on the steps going down. It was about 3 inches long, and although it had at least two bands, yellow and black, I couldn't see any of its wings. Of course, I was startled by such large animal and couldn't take a close look at it. My brother and I asked our dad about it and he told us that that would be a queen bee. We climbed into the car and probably one of the tires went over it.

Now, a bee cannot get that big, queen or not, so I do not know what I saw then. I'm sure I saw something nonetheless. It would have been a great prize for a natural history museum and it wouldn't have been that difficult to capture it too: a large bucket and on to the phones. I've asked both my father and brother about it since then, but they don't seem to remember anything of the sort.

However some present day analysis is warranted. According to http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_big_do_bumble_bees_get?#slide=2  not a bee, but a bumble bee can effectively grow to be such large. I've never seen anything like that since on the field or on the media, or heard talk of humongous bees, but I must label this childhood mystery of mine as solved.

The Information by Gleick book review

Nowadays we take information technology for granted. Computers and communication work, for the most part, as they should. But under all this, there is a fascinating story to be told. James Gleick, in his book The Information: A History, A Theory, A Flood, describes all this and more with starry-eyed infectious wonder.

Actually, as the title implies, this is more like three books in one. Starts with the very notion of communication, language both spoken & written, and the meaning of meaning. One is magically transported from era to era as in a time machine to look at what happened and wander around each period . From the jungles of Africa, to Greece, to the lexicographer's desk, to Babbage's workshop, to Shannon's farmfield and more. Gleick conducts the guided tour explaining all and never losing the thread despite the must-see detours. It is very accessible and I believe it could inspire some children to follow in the steps of great men in the field.

With Shannon and Turing, Gleick passes from the history into the theory or more like the immediate history of the theory. This part cranks up the abstraction, but still to a manageable level for the most part. It warrants a careful read to not miss the details. At this point, of particular interest are the first cybernetics summits where the towering figures of the day try to make sense of it all for the first time. It feels like the Philadelphia Continental Congresses all over again.

Information within biology is not forgotten. Two chapters also are devoted to Richard Dawkins' ideas on the selfish gene and the meme and how these two work. Finally, complexity, information and randomness are tied together.

The final part, the deluge, is dealt in the final two chapters. These address the usual suspects, namely wikipedia, namespace and your email inbox. Being an overview, don't expect solutions to your possible information overload.

Colvin, in his book Talent is Overrated, says that an asset of great performers in any field is that they have an ever expanding mental model on which to hang new knowledge. The contents and structure of The Information can be your ready-made model for many wide areas: no need to start from scratch.  From language, to logic, to math, to biology, to computers, to the information. If you ever wanted to have a systematic feel for these areas, this is your ticket.

Totally recommended for those who have a programming, mathematics or linguistics background but just as well for those who just like nonfiction for its own sake.

The only caveat with this book is the psychodelic cover design of the paperback edition.

5 stars

Logic Books: what to read and what to avoid

Not so long ago I tried to get head first into Aristotle's Organon starting backwards with the Topics  and, oh, it is so tough.

I blame his style for being so convoluted. It is still chock full of goodies, but much effort is needed to  unearth the gems. I decided that what was needed to get the info was either : a) sterling willpower and pen & paper; b) a guided tour;  or  c) the indirect route. I chose the latter by retaking symbolic logic, the same I should have learned from high school. Looking around, I found some books that I wanted to mention.

(What follows refers mostly to college level intro logic)

Sherlock's Logic

This is divided into two parts. The first one is a detective story involving a murder and the Templars. The story itself is good and a quick read. The second part introduces concepts of symbolic logic, one at a time, matching each with a chapter from the preceding story. Explanations are very condensed, which requires the reader to really exert herself to grasp each concept. In general, it is a survey of logic all right, but leaves out great many unexplored areas, has too few exercises (and those without answers), is unsystematic, steep,  and in the end, unsatisfying.

Introduction to Symbolic Logic by Karl J Smith

If you are on the run and need only a refresher, this is the book for you. Concepts are quickly explained and exercises for each chapter, with answers at the end of the book provided.

Schaum's Outlines: Logic 2nd by Nolt

Nolt's is just like Smith's but on steroids. You know the series. I came to this one for the solved exercises (which once you get to them are like meh), but stayed for the concise explanations which shine. This one covers the whole spectrum and a bit more. Inexpensive and readily available.

Logic: a Modular Approach by Facione & Scherer

Now we enter into those of textbook calibre. This one starts from naught and begins building from there, first with language and then with the usual logic programme. Each concept is clearly delineated and referenced to previous ones. As said the system is built upon itself through modules which correspond to subchapters in the usual sense. There are 46 modules in total. A fair amount of exercises are also to be found at the end of each module with answers to about half of the problems. Four cumulative tests are also included. This is an old book (the Disco font on the cover betrays its age), but still feels current and can still be purchased new. Compared to Copi's, this book is easier (yet not dumbed down) and its content more thoroughly explained. It unfortunately has also some long stretches of mind-numbing expositions. Its biggest faults however are that it only has a couple of modules on inductive reasoning and doesn't get into predicate calculus.

Introduction to Logic by Copi & Cohen

This appears to be the standard on logic textbooks. Notwithstanding, it is unnecessarily dense.   Answers to just 1 out of 5 exercises. I would skip this one altogether since, despite its many editions, it still needs moderate to heavy streamlining. It is also expensive.

Symbolic Logic by Copi

Tough and stingy with explanations, yet it is well worth a look to affirm and expand the basics.  Definitely not a first course. The hardest exercises are to be found here though this one too has too few solutions. Peter Suber and someone else on the net have solutions up to chapter 5.

Symbolic Logic: A First Course by Gary M. Hardegree

This one is the best on translation to symbolic (formalization) I've seen bar none. Goes up to polyadic predicate. It doesn't rush things and looks at every nook and cranny without losing the thread. Can take a while to make through the relevant chapters, but you end with the feeling of really knowing the stuff. Dozens of exercises are also provided with answers. Regrettably, identity is not covered.

Logic: Analysing and Appraising Arguments by Gensler

This one is an extensive attempt but is relatively light on explanations. Of all the books mentioned it is the only one which takes a look at modal logic in some length though. It has been superseded by a newer book by the same author. 

A Concise Introduction to Logic by Hurley

As with the first Copi, this is an inexplicably expensive book.  This one also carries about the same usual logic topics. Includes predicate logic calculus. Of all, this one felt best at expounding inductive logic and probably the best overall. Once more, answers to just a few exercises.

Logic by Paul Tomassi

In this one the author tries to make intro logic accessible to students who struggle with it once and for all. I'm not sure he succeeds in this, but the book might come in handy as a backup as it goes deeper than the rest on some philosophical aspects. As of late, the more I look at it, the more I like it.

Logic With Trees by Howson

A showcase of the Truth-Trees. The author takes a deep look into them which has the unfortunate effect of placing the book beyond the scope of first time delvers. Unless you really have to know about the inner-workings of Trees, you are better off with Tomassi's book or with Nolt's which look at their immediate, mechanical aspect in a more practical, concise manner. Howson's book could serve as a first course, but it wouldn't be my first choice, nor my second, nor my third, etc. Some solved exercises. Can be skipped safely.

First Course in Mathematical Logic by Suppes

This one too starts from the ground up, but shifts the focus from language to mathematical expressions. The author appears to be going somewhere with the focus on number expressions, but its the same logic from the other books with just different symbols. Worth a look if you're math oriented, have interest in logic in general or if it's the only one you can lay your hands on. If language or philosophy, however, is your interest, you might be better served  by one of the others. While strong on propositional,  for predicate it shrinks from Existential Instantiation/Elimination rules entirely. Note that set theory is also not covered. No answers to the exercises. Wah! Oh wait, Frederick Binford has those.

Lógica Clásica de Primer Orden by Falguera

The most dense of the ones here, idiosyncratic, out of print and in another language. All the same, it has great many substitution rules with proofs for predicate logic. Also has a couple hundreds of exercises with solutions on an accompanying booklet.

In closing, here's something completely different:

Logicomix by Doxiadis et al.

This is one is a graphic novel based on Bertrand Russell's search of Truth & certainty in logic. An easy read, places many of the concepts in their historical context and serves as a good appetizer for Gleick's The Information of which we'll talk next week.

Gunpowder tea review

I've been looking for an alternative to the Japanese standard green tea sencha for a while now. Sencha is fine, but to me it leans a bit to too much to the bitter-astringent side. My previous attempt with the Longjing didn't pan out, so I went for a less ambitious grade of green and see how that would turn up. I set my sights on the gunpowder after hearing about it for a while and thanks to a final push by Pettigrew's guide, bought it.

From the very beginning I expected it to be something radically different in its aspect. I expected gunpowder tea to be, well, powder. It is not. Gunpowder tea consists of rolled up green tea leaves into small pellets. When these expand in water they take five times as much volume than when dry, so an appropriately large steeping basket is the way to go when brewing it. At least the one I've got here, which  comes from my local provider, has some noticeable debris that come out  when the leaf uncurls. Could be particles of the same leaf, but to me it looks like dirt. Luckily, the brew itself appears to be unaffected.

The liquor is stronger than the Longjing but softer than the sencha.  Once again, the leaf is very tolerant to prolonged steeping or resteeping. A teaspoon might be enough for 32 oz of water. Speaking of water, the tea appears best-brewed when it is just rumbling than near boiling or after-boiled. Unlike all my other teas, one wants to keep on swallowing with this one; as it cools, the more pleasant it gets. Call me crazy, but I've been leaving a cup of this over the last few weeks for a middle of the night drink instead of plain water and not only does it do the job, but also still tastes quite good. This one too is non-grassy (now that I come to think of it I've had a good run avoiding those of late). 

From what I read, it is a very popular beverage in Morocco where mint is added and I can taste why. It is very refreshing, especially when it has had time to cool off. In my short experience, it is probably among the top three in this area.

Books as objects

It was perhaps the Argentinian writer Borges who better framed books as objects for me. I somewhat remember watching an interview of him describing his passion for books, saying that on some level just having the physical presence of certain tomes in his library was enough for him even if he could no longer read them, while passing his hand fondingly over the covers of the Britannica.

It was a happy discovery the invention of the codex. The format is easily portable, readable and allows easy flipping to any part which is unmatched by any other.  In fact, for all the listening and approbation of audiobooks I've made and that still will be doing, I still miss the flipping aspect. How can one search through audio?

The fondness of books can still reach unhealthy levels. Liking them is ok up to some point, but  loving them too much isn't. There's a sort of hylotheism (had to use the word for once) somewhere down there, investing passion on material objects.  Guess that my take is to appreciate  the nice volumes you already have and distract yourself away from those you've not.

Now, I don't want to act as if having the moral high ground. For my part I resist any markings, marginalia,  or annotations to books of other's or my own. Some say that's the way to really own a book. I believe that on one part it defaces their pristine beauty, even more if the tome in question is special in any sort of way, such as being a first or deluxe edition; on the other, it robs intellectual spontaneity from whoever might read next by imposing one's own, possibly wrong or shifting opinions, then and there. I also have bad handwriting. 

Now, if you're a yet-to-be-discovered Leonardo or are the author one my books you and your pen welcome to them.

If you can resist the temptation of physical books and still appreciate them, check:

• Used & Rare by Goldstone & Goldstone, which deals on second-hand books in general from a collector's standpoint

• The Man Who Loved Books Too Much by Hoover, which is on book theft and itself is a steal

• My favorite 6128 books article on the WSJ:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444868204578064483923017090.html

I diametrically stand opposite on most of the author's views, but his stance is interesting nonetheless. In a similar vein there's:

•  The Solitary Vice: Against Reading by Brottmann. Stemming from her own experience and building on that of others', the author makes a case against reading and its immediate reach. Not as bad as it sounds, but she does make some valid points. Fortunately in my view, I do pass her test on page 19. In the section titled 'Of human bondage' she touches briefly on bibliomania.

Is oneself the greatest threat to LastPass security?

I wrote this letter as a Q&A submission for the Security Now! podcast. It didn't make it into the show, but I thought about sharing it here. I think there's a valid point to my argument, but who knows? Am I right? Overly exaggerating? You tell us!

Dear Steve,

I'm currently moving away from a algorithm based password system. I have been testing out LastPass with some sites and have been more or less liking it. I'm already convinced that its technology can keep me safe from threats from without. However, I still have a cause for concern. As I see it, and as it currently stands, the greatest threat to a LastPass based security scheme is: *myself*.

Although I use good habits and have not had a problem for the last decade, I cannot completely trust myself not to bring malware to my system: I can be served a malicious banner on a trusted site, open a file from a contact that has been previously compromised, or click a link in an e-mail message while distracted ("so-and-so sent you a message!").

So, if I happen to get malware in my system, what is there to stop it from taking advantage from my LastPass sessions? As I see it, there are at least two ways in which it could harm me. The first one, taking advantage of an open LastPass session to look into my vault and grab whatever it can in one fell swoop; and secondly,  passively detecting the presence of LastPass and recording the unencrypted passwords on their way from LastPass to each webpage; key logging is surely not the only tool available for hackers. And, still a third one, if one wants to go over the top, what's to stop the malware from interacting concurrently with me on an open webpage? No doubt it can beat me on speed ("look! A banking site! Let's attempt a quick transaction").

The PPP option doesn't look as if it could help me here, because it would only protect the LastPass data when closed or from without, not when open and in use.

By the looks of it, LastPass is great with holding my passwords and populating fields quickly, but not much else. I still need some sort of second factor authentication for each site, preferably a global one.

Are these cause for concern or have the LastPass people have come with a solution for this too?