Things From Vegas

A fast preface – I didn’t take many photos, I never do.

I don’t see the point of photographing things I know are online, and prettier, than I can take.

Here’s what I did document.

You can take beers for a walk on the streets here.

I stayed at the Paris.  It’s a sister property to the Rio (where DefCon was held), which means I had a shuttle available to me, to move back and forth.

The people were great there, and I’m not going to diss the place, but will tell you: you get what you pay for.

If possible, you want to stay at a Wynn property, to my eye they’re the only ones that have been maintained as a Vegas casino should be. This comes from years of eyes, this had to have been my tenth trip to Vegas.

I don’t even really like the place, I just seem to always end up there, much like how I end up at Jays games. I was at another Jays game just last week actually. That’ll be a fun post.

Here’s the front steps of Ceaser’s, a former Wynn hotel.

I read once that Steve Wynn is so exacting, he used to have the white parking line painted crisp white every    single    day.

Was this place ever cool, even opening day? Doubtful.

$10 says these branded slot machines were part of the movie marketing plan from day one.

For goodness sake do not get sucked into the giantism slot machine, worst odds of all.

Video poker has some of the best odds, maybe THE best.

I have in my head a video to make about video poker, while doubling down and testing the green screen studio I’m going to build.

I find many life lessons are parallel with video poker strategy.

If you ever would like to give me a gift of jewellery, this is my favourite.

I am easily satisfied by the very best.

Top left is sunlight in a casino, very rare, bottom left is the dinner I took myself to on the last night, to celebrate success.

I’ve said it before – it’s important to mark your successes and wins, to stamp them.

That was my cab driver after said dinner. When I got into the car he exclaimed, “I drove you to the Rio earlier!?!”.

We freaked out, what are the chances of that!  So we documented it with this photo and some awkward posing.

I’ll leave you with this, taken on my last day.

It’s not possible to be happier with life than I am here.

 

 

Inside DefCon19

Quite proud of this video.

I’m 98% sure this was the only footage in the *world* of inside this year’s DefCon – the world’s largest hacker conference.

Which happened all together far too fast for my liking. I realize it’s trite to say it, but…. did that just actually happen? That’s how I’m feeling.

Here’s the full video of the snippet you see at the end. This was looped on a giant screen in the rotunda.

Inside DefCon19

Come along for a tour inside DefCon19 at the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas.

Quite proud of this video.

I’m 98% sure this is the only footage in the *world* of inside this year’s DefCon19 – the world’s largest hacker conference.

Which happened all together far too fast for my liking. I realize it’s trite to say it, but…. did that just actually happen? That’s how I’m feeling.

Here’s the full video of the snippet you see at the end. This was looped on a giant screen in the rotunda.

Get Ready for Some Amazing Interviews

You’ll likely recognize these guys!

For those not living full time in nerd-land: these are some of the rock stars of the online security world.

(listed in no particular order, to be clear)

Dave Kennedy aka ReL1K – Founder of DerbyCon, author of ‘Metasploit: A Penetration Testers Guide’, and hugger.

Johnny Long – founder of Hackers For Charity, one of the world’s best Social Engineers, and likely does more good than you.

Paul Asadoorian – co-host of the popular PaulDotCom Security Weekly podcast series, and happy recipient of a t-shirt.

Larry Pesce – co-host of the popular PaulDotCom Security Weekly podcast series, and only person I’ve ever met with an RFID implant.

Babak Javadi – US head of Toool – The Open Organisation of Lockpickers, and good human (missing is Barry, who really shoulda been in this ; )