Nicky's Journal

Employment Verification Email I sent to my 2 prior employers

Hello,

Could you please help me get in contact with the correct person? I am applying for a Canadian Permanent Residency Visa. As part of this process, I need letters from my prior employers. The Canadian government does not accept third party employment verification.

The letter needs to meet the below criteria:
Written on company letterhead,
Include the name, title and signature of the immediate supervisor or personnel officer at the company
Show the company's full address, telephone and fax numbers, e-mail and website addresses
Be stamped with the company's official seal (if applicable)

All of the following information must be included:
The specific period of your employment with the company (dates)
The positions you have held during the period of employment. For each position it must include:
Specific dates you held the position
Job title
Job status
Main responsibilities and duties
Total annual salary plus benefits
Number of hours worked per week

The Canadian government will not accept letters from third-party employment verification companies unless they meet all the criteria.

I need two copies of the letter. Please e-mail (or snail mail) the letter to:

XXX

And

YYY


For reference, I worked in (line of business)
(dates)
40 hours/week
(role dates, iterate)

Thank you,
Name

What my day was like. Woke up, headed down to see @IHackedWhat up chattering at a panel and giving information about the particular challenge.

I wandered the room. Then wandered the hall and other villages. Then came back to see hte panel. Sitting there I then confirmed I was not active, snafu, something with the way I sat? Went to bathroom and activated and confirmed signal.

Vegas times below.

2:45pm contest went live on twitter

I came back chatted with friends and then was checking out each table asking questions, I honestly am interested in CTFs but also know not great signal from device.

Wandered through the wall of sheep, caught up with friends in hallway, wandered back in again, and out again.

3:15 PM - Got ID’d as “are you the fox” twice verbally, but they could not say which *type* of fox, so I said sorry doesn’t count.

3:30pm - Then while on phone texting I did get activated. I waited. No one claimed. Waited. Then went back to wandering.

4:00PM - Finally after wandering more got activated and IDd and then we headed up to the table for points. The contestant who found me was totally doing a search pattern and got like 4-5’ from me before activating and IDing me.

Why did we want to know:

Article by pentestpartners over exaggerated the risk of IOD devices.
IOD has been trying to get specific data and details around the actual threat model/risk so they can be prioritized correctly. The entire project is about finding and assessing vulnerabilities and getting device and app makes to fix/improve security. So obviously best to concentrate on the worst/most impact first.

Personal background:

Using a bluetooth headset and bluetooth toys I can say my headset works across the apartment and the toys barely work nightstand to corner of bed.

Wireless CTF Contest Context:

Fox and Hound is a standard CTF game and standard terminology. Read more here if you are unfamiliar. Note the idea is to use your devices to find a specific device. They might be stationary (in flowerpot) or mobile (on people). Usually something like a radbeacon or a tile.

Although one furry volunteered to be a fox, they are NOT related. @InternetOfDongs did sass it was a “fox tail” as the person/device being hunted is a fox, and this is a “tail” oriented (he was thinking the plus with actual tails because i want one and we talk about it). It can be taken other ways and did seem to rub people the wrong way, sorry about that,

Concerns expressed online:

Word choice

As noted above, OK maybe should not have used the word tail as it bothered some people. Sorry.

Boundaries/Consent

This was optional, those contestants uncomfortable with activating the device did not need to as there were many challenges and many different foxes. I am pretty sure some teams never even considered/wanted to participate in this specific challenge and so did not.

Me, as the fox, only participated because I was OK with it.

Participants (contestants, fox) all knew what the device was, what would happen when activated and could choose to participate or not.

Possible activation of similar device on non contestant/victim.

Likelihood of someone having the exact same device (which was specified in the challenge), active, at DEF CON convention space without knowing it was a risk (from contest or non contest attendees) was low.

In addition known attenuation and decrease of range also limited any attacks to close proximity (which is what we were trying to establish, the exact range).

Targeting people / Promoting predatory behavior against attendees

As stated contest goal is more about hunting devices not people. This was one tiny part of a much larger contest and I feel it is/was unlikely to have altered or influenced anyone's feelings.

We definitely thought about “who” would be willing in gender neutral way. Male would have been just as possible as fox. Douches would still have found alternate ways to be douches to women and make them unwelcome in the space.

Tuesday August 7

Slept in

Website said my talk was this day

Went and got lunch and confirmed talk was the next day

Hung out with friends, tweaked presentation

Skipped Risky Biz Diana happy hour

Went for a bit to the BSides Speaker Reception, got a mini drone (gave to friend allan who had a kidlet to share it with)
Then headed to Frankie's Tiki Bar to say happy birthday to Pancakes

Got to talk with Amanda for a bit which was nice

August 5

Showered and oatmeal in room

parking $20

made it to yoga, yea!

Tried to get coffee but they couldn't break large bills.

class "What’s Your Game Plan?: Turn Your Lesson or Training into a Game"
it was fun - it was about how to teach things using games
http://www.joebisz.com/whatsyourgameplan/

Tried to get book from twitter tweet, was not there

Ship $40

Took call - hotel thought I was supposed to check out that day! luckily was easy to extend to the next day, oopse.

Brunch - Spoke & Steele $41
banana french toast, 2 mimosa
hipster, meh

Book $6 (went back for the one not there)

Pure Steam $40 pathfinder setting

teeturtle $102
-foxy nerd pin
-bunny skull socks
-porg shirt
-it was supposed to be books > people but was it's too early, contacted support
-sarcasm

Boba green tea milkshake (with coconut ice cream) $9

European Wax Center $93

Five Below $15 charger, snacks, tshirt

TGIFridays for dinner (23$)

$389, overbudget

August 3, 2018

Woke up and decided too tired for yoga, so slept in and skipped it :(

Oatmeal in the room again

Drove to convention area

Parking $15

Then bustle class, leaned specifics, and now have a silver bustle.

Rough directions
Fabric 60"?
Cut into straight top, folded waist, notch in back where gets tied, and curving corners

Down center do chalk line with marking 6", then every 8" after 5-6 times

Mid way at top of each sure do a line slightly slanted (ending approx where curve starts) marking 7", then every 8" 5-6 times same as center

Next pin ribbon straight at waist with marking 6" and every 2", and 2 7" and every 2" for the sides

Pin the marking below the first Mark on the skirt with the first Mark on the ribbon.

Do center first then sides

Thread waist from sides, meeting and tying in back

Bustle!

You can then if you like it do snaps or ties or sew

Some people use elastic

Then I got lunch at a wine bar called tastings $27 3 samples of wine, and a goat cheese fig pizza

Then burlesque 101

I do not have rhythms, nor Grace, nor smooth or sexy movement. Sigh. Why did I do this to myself.

Then I stopped by the outdoor food truck area and got a really nice cupcake (almond) dressed like a pokeball and a red bull. It was not too sweet. Almond flavored. $9 "the flying cupcake"

Now hero lab online seminar. Poor guys requested a projector and didn't get one until late, but it was a good demo!
http://wolflair.com/hlo

Next I went to Yard House for dinner with Hacks4Pancakes $40 it was a great time, <3

Then I headed to my tiara class - it went long and I was so tired, but it came out nice

$92 in budget

August 1, 2018

Gencon travel day

Lyft Airport - 23.25 (incl tip)

Two checked bags instead of one (one free with credit card) $35 and i was not ovre weight! (49.5)

Thwarted from getting a mani pedi at express spa as no one was there :( Lady in line with me had even called the day before to verify start time

Breakfast airport - 29.82
-Avacado Toast & egg
-Moscow mule (they sadly lacked hendricks and mimosas)

Enterprise rental car

Check into hotel

Get Gel Mani Pedi @ Jax Nail & Spa $65

parking $5

Get badge - line con was long

Get groceries @ target $10
-4 oatmeal
-1 gallon water

Get book at half price books (10)
-the graveyard book

Dinner at applebees while reading my book $30
-brisket tacos
-sangria

back to the hotel for a shower then sleep

$210, $110 over budget

From - Finding your fit at grace hopper

"Just because you can do the job doesn't mean you should"

A job needs to be at least balance of things you like and things you don't like.

1. skills break them into
a. Love (you hyper focus)
b. Hate (procrastinate)
c. Learn (interest)

Love:
-Research
-Organization
-Documentation /flow
-Detail oriented
-Persistent / tenacious
-Preserverence
-Multi tasking
-Open/honest
-Passion (cursing)
-collaboration
-team building
-Direct

Hate:
-Patience
-Grammar, spelling
-Clear, concise message communication
-Repetition
-Finances
-Giving individual feedback
-Filter / secrecy
-Clean language
-Politics (office)
-Shades of grey (I like black and white)

2. Strengths (how you do skills)

Big5

Myers-briggs
-INTJ

worktraits

strengthsfinder
1.restorative
2.responsibility
3.input
4.consistency
5.learner

What motivates you? What makes you happy?
-Puzzle solving
-Organizing
-Documenting
-Seeing results / feedback (for example, getting the server back online, or getting the -code to production and monitoring customer feedback)

What makes you stressed? What makes you anxious?
-Lack of process
-Lack of control

What makes you relaxed?


3. Environment (not all about perks) people, place, peripheral (for her, commute) what is important to you

Just because the environment is perfect, doesn't mean the job is

People
-I want to be with a team who cares about their product / work quality
-I want to be near friends and family

Place
-I want 4 seasons
-I want Northeast (near family)

Peripheral
-I want somewhere I can afford a place large enough for me and my 2 cats and rabbit
-I want a short commute or one I can use public transit
-I prefer a later work day, but could deal with not
-I prefer casual dress but can do light business casual (slacks and cute tops)
-I need occasional work flexibility so that I can spend holidays with family, and occasionally goto Information Security conferences far away without needing to use vacation (Rosh hashanah, passover, hanukkah, defcon, shmoocon).
-Work-life balance, I am a work-a-holic if the environment enables it
-A company that treats employees well, as people

10Q

https://www.doyou10q.com/

#8

Q
Is there something (a person, a cause, an idea) that you want to investigate more fully in the coming year?

A
no, but i would like to get into BLE listening with the ubertooth i bought ages ago.

#9

Q
What is a fear that you have and how has it limited you? How do you plan on letting it go or overcoming it in the coming year?

A
The normal ones
change
failure
being alone
unknown
now add being unhealthy all the time, and getting fat and ugly

i doubt i'll ever overcome them

http://amazonv.dreamwidth.org/tag/10q

10Q
#3
https://www.doyou10q.com/

Q
Think about a major milestone that happened with your family this past year. How has this affected you?

A
I honestly can not think of anything?

http://amazonv.dreamwidth.org/tag/10q

10Q
#1
https://www.doyou10q.com/

Q
Describe a significant experience that has happened in the past year. How did it affect you? Are you grateful? Relieved? Resentful? Inspired?

A
OLT Event, I got to see friends in Philly which was great.

I visited, on my own, Australia! new zealand! That literally has been a goal of mine for many years. See the name AmazonV, think Xena. It was good, but the pain of the flight was terrible. I didn't get to do as much as I wanted, but it was still cool. I am glad I did it, too bad I couldn't have stayed longer.

Health- I was deemed pre diabetic, had an endless (still have) headache, arthritis, joint pain and other things resulting in many doctor visits. I also now semi regularly goto the gym and practice yoga. talk about things I never thought I would do. The flight joint pain sparked the flurry of specialists.

I visited friends in texas which was great. so spread out.

I maintained both my partners, although lots of kerfluffles.

I went back to williamsburg for the first time in a long time, with Y&M and my primary. It made me think of poppy.

Primary had surgery, and apparently just pops awake after and feels fine. I watched him a bit and drove him. later in the year he had to return the favor for me. Why won't they remove my uterus?

i spent me and one of my partners birthday's in vegas, interesting to see it off season.

I hosted a fancy dinner party with silver and china, i enjoy such things and was glad it went well.

we went to my primary's friends wedding, he was in the wedding. I got to see his hometown, meet some of his friends and family, and goto universal and disney!

we has hackers on a farm 2 HOF2 - not as busy as 1, but it was a good time. except we forgot to put a thing under the pig. thanks to mary and matt for being firefighters it worked out.

I tried meditation, i really. it's not for me.

I tried 21 days of gratitude, I did it. I am still a cranky bitch.

I tried to step back, i did stop running classes and munches but still saddled with hackerspace and still overly busy. I am a failure at no.

I visited both the VA RF (primary and metamour), and MI RF (other partner and friends). <3 faires.

My tea is now in the hotel roanoke! and alexander black house. Still considering closing though due to the amount of work to benefit. I got slapped with way past due taxes (litter, $10/year) I had NEVER heard of. ugh. stress.

I got to attend the 25th year of defcon, it's gotten so big ... i just want to see friends

I went to my first ever Dragoncon with my primary. it was very fun, but too many people too crazy, not going back. such awesome costumes! jim butcher was awesome in person, so was alex kingston, karen gillian. i learned tricks for sewing with patterns (buter paper, adjustments, curvey sewing collective), played mage for the first time and got in some shadowrun. I also went to the EFF IOT sex toy talk as well as a tea duel, my first ever. it was silly and fun.

I am exhausted and depressed and waiting for the next year to be over and for me to hopefully be medically straightened out.

http://amazonv.dreamwidth.org/tag/10q