The IT limits of story breadcrumbs

[YetAnotherBloodyCheek]

Hello everyone,

I love everything about chapter 39, it is really a nice example of great storytelling. Nevertheless, I feel ambivalent about how Michael's group gather the information and even found handwritten notes. In addition, Raydon Labs does not seem to be a top notch reference for a biotech firm, Michael mentioned storage boards and white boards in Doc Roberts room. Personally, I would not have expected the room to look like this and it does not make it easier for me that Doc Roberts is able to pull off z-day whilst being so careless about his notes.

First of all, Raydon Labs security standards appear to have been quite lax when all that is between an intruder and Raydon's biotech knowledge is a padlock and so mechanical devices. With regards to other enterprises, I would have expected substantial more security measures, e.g. like this (http://www.sdsbio.co.jp/english/privacy/) policy or like this (http://www.teselagen.com/security) one. Baseline: each and every information has to be encrypted. A printer, an USB device or external computational device may provide a potential security thread.

Furthermore - and to a lesser intent, Dr Roberts does not seem to rely on computer aided chemistry tools which are around for quite some years, cf. here (http://www.globalspec.com/ds/2955/areaspec/industry_biotechnology).

And now, well, my question is - as desirable as it seems to have a satisfying explanation for z-day, just how big is the chance to gather the necessary information in a world that relies heavily on IT structures and data exchange? Would there be enough breadcrumb trails left to reconstruct what led to the outbreak?

Please do not regard this thread as criticism. I just fell compelled to write it. :)

YABC

[Grognaurd]

I do not think we have seen anything that merits security so far at this facility. Some random notes. Some prescription drugs and some For Research Use Only recombinant proteins. This might only be the tip of the ice burg and Raydon Labs may be much darker, but for now it is more closely related to a cosmetics lab than world ender.

[Unit]

I've said it before on other threads but your awesome analysts confirms it that much more... I don't believe Raydon Labs has anything to do with the outbreak. I believe it is just some sort of pharma company and this building may be more of a distribution center than anything. I think Ink and the good Doc Roberts were related (perhaps father and son) and Ink remembers that he can find some chemicals he needs at Dad's old work and sends some troops out to retrieve them. I think that is as far as Raydon goes.

[Unit]

But I agree, even then a pharma company would manage pretty much everything online except probably shipping manifests and physical inventory count sheets and such.

[YetAnotherBloodyCheek]

I do not think we have seen anything that merits security so far at this facility. Some random notes. Some prescription drugs and some For Research Use Only recombinant proteins. This might only be the tip of the ice burg and Raydon Labs may be much darker, but for now it is more closely related to a cosmetics lab than world ender.

Yes, that is what I am saying. RL does not seem to be the source of the pandemic. I am just having a hard time believing it.

http://camerafraud.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/austin_powers_mike_myers_as_dr_evil2.jpg

[YetAnotherBloodyCheek]

I've said it before on other threads but your awesome analysts confirms it that much more... I don't believe Raydon Labs has anything to do with the outbreak. I believe it is just some sort of pharma company and this building may be more of a distribution center than anything. I think Ink and the good Doc Roberts were related (perhaps father and son) and Ink remembers that he can find some chemicals he needs at Dad's old work and sends some troops out to retrieve them. I think that is as far as Raydon goes.


But I agree, even then a pharma company would manage pretty much everything online except probably shipping manifests and physical inventory count sheets and such.

I concur, too.

[YetAnotherBloodyCheek]

BTW, there has been a pretty advanced IT system where very illegal chemical substances could be purchased: Silk Road (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silk_Road_(marketplace)) a.k.a. the Ebay of drugs. And guess what, the person who run it used the pseudonym "Dread Pirate Roberts".

[skankyfish]

You've put your finger on it! I had a subconscious feeling that Radon is a bit player, not a leading part, and I think this is why. I feel like whatever they used to do was fairly mundane, low-security, low-tech stuff.

Unless it's just dramatic license.....? The anticipation is killing me, and I've a horrible feeling Chapter 40's going to go somewhere else entirely (Burt & Riley?) and leave us hanging for another 5 weeks.

[Gnex]

I do not think we have seen anything that merits security so far at this facility. Some random notes. Some prescription drugs and some For Research Use Only recombinant proteins. This might only be the tip of the ice burg and Raydon Labs may be much darker, but for now it is more closely related to a cosmetics lab than world ender.

Maybe that is the whole story in a nut shell....... cosmetics companys are taking over the world....... maybe all the zombies just put on a little too much makeup one morning and thats what caused them to turn!!!! :D

[LiamKerrington]

Maybe that is the whole story in a nut shell....... cosmetics companys are taking over the world....... maybe all the zombies just put on a little too much makeup one morning and thats what caused them to turn!!!! :D

Not too far fetched ... LG started as a cosmetics company ... And look where they are ... They have become kind of a global player in electronics ... What's next?

[Duffusmonkey]

Gordon Freeman broke into the deepest levels of Black Mesa with only a crowbar. Black Mesa was a Top secret Government lab and Raydon labs is just making steroids for professional athletes.

AND Michael's team had a bolt cutter.

I bet you are feeling a little silly about your argument now.

[Red Shirt]

Not too far fetched ... LG started as a cosmetics company ... And look where they are ... They have become kind of a global player in electronics
...pretty much everything actually... They are one of the largest corporations in the world now. They have their "fingers" in every pie you could imagine. A fair percentage of the autos coming out of Asia all have LG parts in them. Lego uses ABS manufactured by the LG petrochemical division. They got so big in fact, that their marking division was able to take the financial division and spin that off as a service too.

[YetAnotherBloodyCheek]

Gordon Freeman broke into the deepest levels of Black Mesa with only a crowbar. Black Mesa was a Top secret Government lab and Raydon labs is just making steroids for professional athletes.

AND Michael's team had a bolt cutter.

I bet you are feeling a little silly about your argument now.

It is all about security, man. :)

http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/security.png

I am getting old - I have never played Half-Life.

[Eviebae]

...pretty much everything actually... They are one of the largest corporations in the world now. They have their "fingers" in every pie you could imagine. A fair percentage of the autos coming out of Asia all have LG parts in them. Lego uses ABS manufactured by the LG petrochemical division. They got so big in fact, that their marking division was able to take the financial division and spin that off as a service too.

First I was going to step up onto my soapbox and talk about how in Japan at least, Corporations make all sorts of different things--like how the wall heater/AC unit in our dining room is a Mitsubishi and Sony makes biological sensors. Then I thought, I wonder how the outbreak would have happened in areas with very different cultures--like Japan?