No Conditional Access Policies (CAP) -> Conditional Access Evaluation (CAE)

Something very interesting I learned, if you don't have any conditional access policies defined in an Azure Tenant, Continual Access Evaluation (CAE) is enabled by default even it apears disabled.
The only way to avoid that is to create a dummy policy (even report only), as even setting up CAE policies and scoping will be ignored, in this configuration.

"If there are no conditional access policies configured in your tenant. CAE is already enabled for all users in your tenant and there are no additional actions you need to take. This is enabled even if your tenant has no Azure AD premium subscription."

Continual Access Evaluation was placed in Public Preview in September of 2020 Reference: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/azure-active-directory-identity/continuous-access-evaluation-in-azure-ad-is-now-in-public/ba-p/1751704

Book: Robert E. Howard's - Conan the Cimmerian Barbarian

Robert E. Howard's Conan the Cimmerian Barbarian: The Complete Weird Tales Omnibus by Robert E. Howard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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Ramblings

Well, this turned out quite the post after playing around with Statista.com and looking at the COVID-19/Influenza numbers. First of all it's great it's just numbers no agenda as far as I can tell, which is a rarity these days. A couple of odd things I noticed, Belgium despite the lockdown, has a relatively high number of deaths per Captia, as do the next couple of countries, with Sweden as the non-lockdown country coming in at #6:
https://www.statista.com/statistics/1111779/coronavirus-death-rate-europe-by-country/

Based on this, I don't think we have data to support that a lockdown is effective in spreading the virus, but also not what the economic impact is due to it. Switching to the US, and comparing that to the Influenza numbers, which I didn't realize were almost as high in the 50s, 60s and 70s and then came down again. But even in the 90s there are numbers significantly higher then the current COVID-19 numbers for the U.S. https://www.statista.com/statistics/184574/deaths-by-influenza-and-pneumonia-in-the-us-since-1950/

Is there nothing to worry about, certainly, but not just COVID, but the regular flu as well, among other things. Is that downplaying the novel virus? I think we're downplaying the other viruses because they aren't in "fashion" or "new". My questions is why do we have a single track mind, and now everything focuses on the "Coronavirus" to the detriment of everything else. What if we tracked influenza deaths, and had it on the news as much as COVID19, with a browser showing you the numbers first, would we not drive flu vaccinations up to prevent them? If we tracked suicides the same way, and raise awareness, would we not safe some of those who were desperate enough to wanting to end their lives? Many life choices would improve live expectancy, from drinking, smoking, eating/exercising, corresponding to Drunk Drivers, Lung Cancer, Heart Attacks, etc ... so many causes, many much more preventable, but as a society we've "chosen" this to be the focus of our attention. Leading Causes of Death per Captia. https://www.statista.com/statistics/248622/rates-of-leading-causes-of-death-in-the-us/

Yet, we only track COVID19 and cower in fear, instead of coming out to help one another (there are examples to the contrary and I applaud them). It's not just the length of life, it's also quality of life. Slave holders of old had all reasons to keep their "property" alive to maximize their investment, but most didn't care much for the quality of their lives.

I've been reading a book, called Overdiagnosed, written in 2011, which does make that point: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8343437-overdiagnosed

There is a balance, and we tend to overdo it, if left to our own devices and are guided by fear. The "cure(s)" result in side effects, which need another cure, instead of looking at the big picture, and in the end we make ourselves sicker.

We need to improve health care, make it available and affordable to all, as a human right/service, in any country that has the means to do that. Health care shouldn't be for profit and have the funding of the common, as the "marketplace" isn't a solution when you are fighting an illness. There are other areas of society that would fall into that category, you don't want to pay the highest bidder for policing or fire fighter/rescue ...

We need to control and regulate, what's in our medicine and food, that the common man wouldn't even be aware of s/he is exposed, and research the long term impact. On the other hand we need to allow people the freedom to live their lives meaning fully, and come to an agreement on where ones freedoms ends, and the next ones begins. Regulating the distance people keep from each other (with consent to clarify), where they go, and what clothing items or personal protection they wear, should really be ones personal freedom, as much as what to read, watch ... and what to belief or not to belief (yes that's aimed at my religious friends).

Maybe there should be an increased share of cost for the individual to the common total cost, based on our life choices, just like an insurance company would do, but only on those choices - not any pre-existing conditions. Be that Drinking, Smoking, Wearing/Not Wearing a mask, driving a big SUV increasing pollution, ...

Do good and reduce your "debt" to society, help your neighbor, care for the sick and elderly, teach the children, be kind and supportive to someone in need, protect the weak and disenfranchised. Let's throw crime in too, steal from others, and work to repay not punish, kill someone and give (maybe an organ) to safe a life.

By now, I suspect, I've offend people on both sides, and I can say the left hates me as much as the right. Leaders really don't need to be popular, they need to do the right thing, even if it's not popular, that's the problem with democracy. Maybe a system of government based on merit would be better, with checks and balances, to keep everyone honest and not abuse the system, and opportunities for all to participate, with the skills and knowledge they have (sounds a bit like the old Chinese system). Merit, could be the new "currency" in a future society (that's where I get the Trekkies on my side).

We need an "Architect" as leader, who isn't an expect but see the big picture, surrounded by trustworthy people who are experts and have expertise and knowledge, to provide input into that big picture. King Arthur, is the mythological equivalent, maybe an Artifical Intelligence the futuristic counterpart, to bring in Camelot 2.0. The leaders we want, are the ones, who actually don't want to be leaders, just like the best Heroes are the reluctant ones. We need King Arthur, any of the Greats, Alfred, Alexander, Ashoka or Peter; Maria Theresa or Joseph II to thrown in some Austrians, or Pericles or Socrates, not Biden or Trump (or Kurz).

So here it is vote for me as your reluctant architect (and future world dictator), who everyone will despise, it will be the last vote you ever need. All your actions will be tracked via a mandatory handy phone app or your in home smart electronics, so don't think you can avoid "voting" for me either ;-).

Book: BitCoin Standard

The Bitcoin Standard: The Decentralized Alternative to Central Banking by Saifedean Ammous
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Author certainly has a political agenda, which is somewhat contrary to my own liberal views, and he can be a bit condescending, but I think we all need to listen to the ones we don't necessarily agree with to understand where they are coming from. And personally he has made a number of good points, that maybe obvious to someone with an economics background, but weren't to me. Certainly I can't say I agree with all the points being made, and at times he brushes counter arguments aside a bit to easily with arguments such as "... if one would do that they would harm themselves as they have invested in bitcoin ...", which by itself isn't enough. It's not like that stopped counterfeiters from making fake money because it would harm the value of the currency they are duplicating. Overall a good book and highly recommended, and I might have to invest in bitcoin myself

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Book: 101 Fun Games To Play with Friends, Family & Children

Games: 101 Fun Games To Play With Friends, Family & Children by Ace McCloud
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Even this book was only one hour, and it was an hour to long. It was rambling about games pretty much everyone one knows, and little to no detail in case you don't. I was struggling through it, while I no problem completing most courses within a week, this took me three months. That says it all.

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Book: Of Dice and Men

Of Dice and Men: The Story of Dungeons & Dragons and the People Who Play It by David M. Ewalt
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed a good bit of it, especially the history of TSR, but somehow was expecting a bit more still.
As the author said up front, maybe I failed my gather information check ;-)

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Book: Make it Stick

Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning by Peter C. Brown
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

We'll see how much of it will actually stick ;-)

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