May 11, 2010
History of Programming
In spite of its lack of popularity, LISP (now "Lisp" or sometimes "Arc") remains an influential language in "key algorithmic techniques such as recursion and condescension"
- from One Div Zero: A Brief, Incomplete, and Mostly Wrong History of Programming Languages via Boing Boing
Posted by Michael at 07:14 PM
March 03, 2010
Marriage experts
Why is the center for disease control the authority for the statistically significant attributes of marriage?
Marriages last longer than living together? - Yahoo! News
Posted by Michael at 05:33 AM
May 22, 2008
10 Litres of heaven
I'm just finishing a bottle of La Meurtrière while listening to a boring conference call that is no longer so annoying. I can recommend without hesitation the Brasserie des Murailles
Posted by Michael at 05:20 PM | Comments (0)
June 21, 2007
American GDP, in context
From boing boing comes this.Wonderful!
Posted by Michael at 02:27 PM | Comments (0)
February 16, 2007
Reality = Porn
The insightful Ron Jeremy says:
"To me, porn and reality TV are similar. I don't mind being in them, I just can't stand watching them."
Too right, Ron.
From Porn star seeks fame with clothes on
Posted by Michael at 09:49 AM | Comments (0)
January 04, 2007
Serial Dining
A look at the Serial Diners Rules tells my there are good reasons to consider moving back to Toronto.
Posted by Michael at 11:05 AM | Comments (0)
May 06, 2005
Tough Love
"If only a womb were this safe, attractive and reasonably priced!"
-- MissPoppy.com | - Unborn Baby Ornament - US Troop Model
Posted by Michael at 02:54 PM | Comments (0)
January 31, 2005
Whiny Voyeurs
Uh, hunh... Yahoo! News - The Master of His Domain....
Key Quote: She alerted her husband, and the couple observed Clark from their darkened bedroom for 10 or 15 minutes -- also using binoculars and a telescope -- before summoning the police,
Sorry? They watched the guy with binoculars and a telescope? For a quarter of an hour? Why are these two invasive perverts not in jail?
Maybe they were trying to decide if the guy had a dangerous weapon...
Posted by Michael at 10:41 AM | Comments (0)
January 17, 2005
right to dance
Key quote: I, as a woman, have the innate ability to tap dance.
greenfairydotcom: Back brush step, heel drop
Posted by Michael at 03:18 PM | Comments (0)
January 10, 2005
marriage prospects
Hey, I like those odds...
For boys, there is a 35% increase in the likelihood of marriage for each 16-point rise in IQ. For girls, there is a 40% drop for each 16-point increase.
-- Times Online - Sunday Times
Posted by Michael at 11:03 PM | Comments (0)
November 12, 2004
Orgasmatron
Key quote: "She said it was difficult to part with the orgasmatron when the study ended."
ABC News: Doctor Discovers the 'Orgasmatron'
Of course the obvious question is -- who gets the remote?
Posted by Michael at 02:52 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
November 10, 2004
orthotetrachidecahedrons
"Word describing the shape of the bubbles in beer foam."
good to know.
-- from Interesting English Language Trivia via greenfairy.com
Posted by Michael at 03:17 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
November 03, 2004
Kosher Kitchen
You have to understand the "gramma of mechanical indirectness"
Posted by Michael at 09:37 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 05, 2004
5.1 headphones
I've put off looking into 5.1 headphones because I've never bothered to buy and install a 5.1 sound card. These guys, however, have the obvious solution -- build the sound card into the headphones. Finally, laptop 5.1 sound when I'm watching films on long flights...
ExtremeMhz.com-Ezonics 5.1 Surround Sound Headphones Review
Posted by Michael at 08:22 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Mr. Grip
How to fix a stripped screw... Kevin Kelly -- Cool Tools
Posted by Michael at 10:48 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
September 23, 2004
Melancholia
Who better to create a statue representing Melancholy than a sculptor named Angst? This statue is in the Parc des Granges in Geneva, Switzerland.
Posted by Michael at 04:52 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
September 17, 2004
Standards
Key quote:
Why don't you use CSS layout, "XHTML-strict", duck assholes... etc.
Because I do not give a shit.
hear, hear.
-- from SLOWER.NET: FAQ
Posted by Michael at 01:41 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
September 15, 2004
Lockless in Seattle
Geez, I used to use a Kryptonite as well. Ack!
-- Kryptonite Evolution 2000 U- Lock hacked by a Bic pen - Engadget - www.engadget.com
Posted by Michael at 09:25 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 27, 2004
Audible.com double booking
I've been a member of audible.com since 2001, when they started. I still have the 32Meg Diamond Rio I bought at the time to listen to books on the move. Wonderful idea, great technology -- I'm still a huge fan of audio books. My relationship with Audible, however, is coming to an end. Here's why.
I'm already well aware that their monthly membership program entitles you to two titles a month, and that you must choose the titles within that month. This is clearly spelled out in the membership application, and I have little sympathy for those who don't realise that the reduced price they pay for books isn't an infinite-expiry coupon. In any case, Audible will credit a previous month onto a subsequent month for any user the first time they forget to use their credits.
What I was not aware of was that audible has a different book catalog for members and non-members of their Listener programs. Their ad copy indicates you can choose any book(s) you like for your monthly credit.
Not true.
If you search for Audible books as a visitor, you'll find a huge number of titles available. As soon as you're a member, however, the number of titles drop dramatically -- and the ones that are missing appear to be the expensive ones.
The specific example I've run into is the series of books by Patrick O'Brien, which have been recorded in unabridged format by Patrick Tull. Search for any of these on audible.com as a visitor and you'll find them. Log in, and suddenly they don't exist.
Foul, Audible, foul.
Posted by Michael at 09:58 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 24, 2004
custom parts
Custom full-metal parts based on your CAD design, delivered in 30 days by mail. Oh, yeah!
Posted by Michael at 04:53 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 11, 2004
Not a chinese menu
I've always been fond of those NY restaurants that seem to be able to offer hundreds of odd items in a comfortable environment. My favourite when I worked there was the Pot Belly Stove, a place in the village that offered a wild range that included Guiness+Milk, squash soup and baked sausages (my favourite weekend breakfast in winter).
Their menu pales in comparison to this one, however.
Posted by Michael at 02:51 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 10, 2004
Antique Roadshow
My daughter saw a typewrite in a book this weekend, and asked me what it was for. I spent a few minutes going over the mechanics and purpose, and although she understood what it was for she clearly thought it a very odd way of going about the printing process.
Looks like she's not the only one who regards typewriters as strange and foreign, either: click
Posted by Michael at 11:17 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Entrepreneurial Spirits
Good luck to them, I'm delighted that the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in the US of A.
Key quote:
"using their collective engineering, marketing and beer-drinking knowledge"
-- from Yahoo! News - Trio Dreams Up Idea to Keep Kegs Cold
Posted by Michael at 11:13 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 02, 2004
The measure of a man
The condoms produced are uniformly 52 millimetres wide across the shaft when laid flat, a common size for Asia, compared to 58 millimetres in Europe and 60 millimetres in Africa.
Reuters | Latest Financial News / Full News Coverage
Posted by Michael at 11:48 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 29, 2004
Skin Bags
- Material : synthetic human skin
- Colour : available in all shades of human skin colour
- b l a c k , a s i a n , p i n k w h i t e , m i x e d
And, you can get it tattooed as well!
Posted by Michael at 04:40 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 20, 2004
Professional Ogling
Rossi is accused of bringing discredit on the department by using the camera system "in an unauthorized manner to follow and focus in on female airport patrons without permission and without training."
Sure, I can understand that. Ogling is too important to be left to amateurs.
Posted by Michael at 09:37 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 16, 2004
Gee, that sucks.
Posted by Michael at 12:13 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Career Counselling
He added: "It's not suicide, it's martyrdom. I would become a martyr and go to my God. It's better than being a singer or a footballer. It's better than anything."
-- BBC NEWS | Middle East | Boy bomber speaks about mission
Wanted: Career counsellors to work in Nablus....
Posted by Michael at 09:52 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 13, 2004
Hot stuff
Posted by Michael at 06:25 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 09, 2004
Government Work
"It is already like a government job," he said, "but with goats."
Posted by Michael at 12:11 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 08, 2004
You think the man/woman thing is complex?
Try being a member of a species with 36,000 genders...Giant Fungus
Posted by Michael at 12:21 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 05, 2004
Smack Time
Nothing wrong with a little light smacking...
Posted by Michael at 10:12 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Making Friends, all over again...
"including conducting interviews in communities where terrorists might seek refuge"
That's nice. I'm sure the asian, arab and african communities will be glad to know that airport-style harassment is also available dor-to-door...
The New York Times > Washington > Fears of Attack at Conventions Drive New Plans
Posted by Michael at 10:00 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 28, 2004
Sperm counts and cell phones
"sperm counts in women remained at normal levels"
-- from Spermwatch: The Cell Phone Threat
Posted by Michael at 05:32 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 17, 2004
Ikea
Like at least one other major world religion, Ikea began in a shed.
-- Guardian Unlimited | The Guardian | The miracle of Älmhult (part one)
Posted by Michael at 09:31 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 16, 2004
Nobody Here
Another great use of tech, in a lighter vein... NobodyHere
Posted by Michael at 09:27 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Travel beyond
I'm always delighted to find someone using the technology in a new and involving way -- you'll never be able to leave the 99 rooms
-- via ongoing
Posted by Michael at 09:18 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Silence is golden
Absolutely brilliant.
Got an iPod mini? Got the FM transmitter? Great. Now, when the jerk next to you is cranking his tunes, broadcast silence...
-- from How-To Tuesday: Make your own Pirate Radio Station with an iPod - Engadget - www.engadget.com
Posted by Michael at 09:07 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
May 19, 2004
Fun with tech
Now, here's a guy who's having fun at school.
Posted by Michael at 10:10 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
April 27, 2004
Invention (and layout!)
Every now and then, I find someone on the web who displays a true talent for invention and creativity -- who is able to communicate without shouting. This is one such person.
Posted by Michael at 09:25 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
April 26, 2004
Poutine
Finally, an acknowledgement of Canada's greates contribution to world cuisine...
Posted by Michael at 01:58 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 26, 2004
Oh yeah, 'apalling'
"It's appalling," said Representative Bob Goodlatte, a Virginia Republican. "It cannot be allowed to stand that another nation can impose its values on the U.S. and make it a trade issue."
Gosh, yes. No nation should be imposing values like that, gosh, that would be just awful.
Of course, it's not a nation, it's the World Trade Organisation. Ignoring such a broad-spectrum group would be as ridiculous as ignoring, say, the United Nations.
-- from NY Times, U.S. Online Gambling Policy Violates Law, W.T.O. Rules (reg required)
Posted by Michael at 12:58 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 22, 2004
Modern Government
"Mr. Khan's son, Mir Wais Sadeq, the minister of civil aviation for the central government, was killed as he led an advance on the headquarters of a government commander whom he blamed for the assault on his father, said Herat's deputy intelligence chief, Abdul Wahid Tawakali. "
Hmm, I'm trying to imagine reading a local news account in which our minister for civil aviation is described as leading an attack on a commander in the military.
I can't do it, and it doesn't help if I try to imagine that the reason is that he suspects the commander of being involved in an assassination attempt on the member of parliamentwarlord.
-- from the NY Times, Official Killed as Strife Grows in Afghanistan
Posted by Michael at 02:28 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 27, 2004
Submission
I really can't imagine what it must be like living in the states these days, but judging by the reaction of the managers and workers in this story there must be quite a culture of fear and submission to authority. Sad, really.
Posted by Michael at 11:20 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 06, 2004
A welcome maturity
I read too often about the decay of civilization -- here's an article in the Washington Post that really made my day, by way of Jim Romanesko's site.
He searches for a comparison. "It's like saying, 'Mom, Dad, I'm going to take some courses in science but I'm not sure I want to be a doctor."
I like the idea of kids being more mature and relaxed than adults about such a touchy subject as sexual orientation.
Posted by Michael at 11:15 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
December 17, 2003
US plans for Arab countries
The Chicago Sun-Times has a banner ad soliciting arabic speakers for the US Army...
The logic goes like this:
- there are around 21 arab countries
- invasion rate is currently around 2 per year (chart based on this table)
- Iraq is already invaded, so 20 more countries = 10 years
Posted by Michael at 11:22 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 02, 2003
untethered conversation
You know the sort of conversation you have when the topic, right from the get-go, postulates something with no real, direct referent in reality?
OK, try that again.
You know those silly but logical conversations that are so much fun at the time? Well, here's one that also reads well...
Posted by Michael at 09:43 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 18, 2003
Is "Discontinuous" a word?
via MisterPants, an interesting diary entry...
"I'm terrible at figuring out women. I was invited the other day to have dinner with this girl I met at college. She told me to bring wine and candles. I expected a candle lit, romantic dinner, but it turns out she just wanted to stain my pants and burn me in effigy."
Posted by Michael at 06:30 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 05, 2003
Lines, broken
Hugh MacLeod. Watch him closely.
Posted by Michael at 10:27 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
November 14, 2002
Rhythm Method
OK, so on Monday Reuters (my employer) announced they were no longer in talks with Merrill regarding a US $1 billion deal proposal. This left only Thomson Financial (my ex employer) in the running for the contract.
Fair enough.
On Tuesday, AP had a story which described the same incident as a withdrawal.
Well, that sounds very responsible -- but possibly a bit messy as well.
On Wednesday, Dow Jones (my ex employer) described the same event as Thomson Financial Wins Deal With Merrill, Hurting Reuters. The article also says that Reuters didn't pull out, but was told on Monday that it had lost the bid. This information came from "People familiar with Merrill's position".
Well, sounds like experts to me.
Slanted reporting aside, I think the only thing more embarassing than early withdrawal is when your partner doesn't notice...
Posted by Michael at 12:41 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
September 24, 2002
good grief
"I have a pretty good idea why Jon Postel died at such a young age. And why Douglas Adams did. The pressure of living a creative life is enormous. When that intersects with the Internet the pressure can increase to an unsustainable level. If other people doubt that lives are at stake, I don't."
- Dave Winer
Posted by Michael at 12:01 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
September 16, 2002
a positive Krugman outlook...
The always readable Dean Allen offers a note about Harper's with which I concur heartily in Textism � Single Serving � Now Me Too
Posted by Michael at 12:50 PM | Comments (0)
August 20, 2002
IT restructuring
An excellent article regarding the IT fixit skills of Mr. Feld, my thanks to Roland for pointing this one out...
Posted by Michael at 11:49 AM | Comments (0)
August 17, 2002
Noticing Contentment
There's nothing like a visit from friends to remind you about your state of being.
The always delightful Robert and Teresa are visiting on the tail end of a multi-country cycling tour.
Blue skies with tiny clouds providing counterpoint for the gentle waves, sailboats meandering across the lake. A slow and very satisfying lunch followed by a walk along the lakeshore. Children swimming, couples falling asleep in the long grass.
Tomorrow may be another day, but I'm in no hurry.
Posted by Michael at 06:05 PM | Comments (0)
July 25, 2002
OSX - the graphical release...
Nice little bbspot article on the ongoing effort to get folks to upgrade to OSX. I wish them all the luck in the world... after all, the choice of whether to spend $$ on an OS that gives you magical expanding task bar icons should really be a no-brainer.
Heck, it's almost as flexible as Linux.
Posted by Michael at 04:51 PM | Comments (0)