We all know that you make an acronym by taking the initial letters of a set of words and putting them together. So Random Access Memory becomes RAM, or the United States becomes the US. But I only found out recently that these two examples are actually different.

An acronym is when the initials of a set of words are said as a word, like ram, laser, radar, sonar, Nato, or NASA. An initialism is where a set of initials are spelled out as letters when saying them, like FBI, CIA, USA, BBC, or CD.

Acronyms and initialisms

The name given to situations where people can give mutually contradictory versions of the same event. Named after the 1950’s Japanese film Rashomon which hinges on four conflicting descriptions of the same incident. Also commonly seen on the football field.

The Rashomon effect

Two factor authentication is the neat technique of adding extra security by requiring two different types of verification. So, rather than ask you to provide two passwords — both things you could remember or find written down — if you are asked to provide a password and a code you could only have if you had a particular device, security is greatly enhanced.

The usual factors involved include asking for two from:

Hence the convenience of photo ID where you have to provide the ID and also look like the photo. Or provide a ticket and a code, or a chip and pin…

Also see: choose passwords that make you happy, and 8 character passwords.

2 factor authentication