The Cramer Family

Great article by Orson Scott Card on Creation and Evolution

WorldWatch - January 8, 2006 - Creation and Evolution in the Schools - The Ornery American

Real science never has to resort to credentialism. If someone with no credentials at all raises a legitimate question, it is not an answer to point out how uneducated or unqualified the questioner is. In fact, it is pretty much an admission that you don’t have an answer, so you want the questioner to go away.

I understand that it’s impossible to plan for every instance of use for your software. And I appreciate the fact that Microsoft wants to help people to avoid phishing scams.

But calling your own website a ‘Suspicious Site’ = woopsie.

Got a kick out of this. From the bluehouse.wordpress.com:

Random Thoughts

This FoxTrot cartoon has a binary math puzzle as an Easter Egg.

read more | digg story

The binary numbers and their decimal equivalents:

01011001 89

01001111 79

01010101 85

01001110 78

01000101 69

01010010 82

01000100 68

He then goes on to show an example in c# to find the answer. In the name of ultimate nerdery here’s the java code to get this to print


public class FoxTrot {
 public static void main(String[] args) {
  char[] c = new char[] { 89, 79, 85, 78, 69, 82, 68 };
  System.out.println(c);
 }
}


If that is just too geeky for you then go to the next page for the answer
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My cousin works at Microsoft and was able to get me on the Windows Vista beta. I’ve gone and installed the 5270 build on our home computer and I’m really excited to give it a run through.

In my few minutes of playing with it I’m very pleased with the new interface. Aero looks great. All the people that claim that Microsoft is just copying Apple have a point. There is definitely an Apple-esque vibe going on, but if you are familiar with Windows you should be able to navigate well. It’s small little details that make the experience.

The Flip-3D switching thing is really cool. You have live previews of all your open windows that you can cycle through very quickly. I haven’t tried to install any games or anything, but overall I’m very pleased with the new look.

Now to convince Tammy to let me get a new computer with Vista Media Center. (and lose my 40lbs so I can get an XBOX 360 as an extender)

Finally, someone who really knows what is coming out of Apple today

Guy #1: Hey do you have a sec?

Guy#2: Sure, let’s carry on a loud conversation right here outside this cubicle, he won’t care

Guy#3(Me): **Losing hearing from having to turn up earphones louder and louder ;)**

It’s just the season for beta openings. I got an invite to the Newsvine beta this morning. It looks to be a very interesting application. Very clean look and super useful. The social aspect of submitting stories could lead to some interesting comparisons with Digg. Now they just need a podcast/vidcast with drunken hosts!

I’ve been invited to take part in the alpha testing of Measure Map. A very slickly (is that a word) designed stat tracking app aimed at blogs. Of course, I’m not a 6 figure blogger, or even a popular blogger at that, but it will be cool to see my visitor number go from 1 to 2.

This will also be a good chance to play around with a well designed app. Maybe I can get some ideas for future projects.

Update: Someone else got an invite today too and has a much more thought out first impression.

Happy New Year!

So far it’s been the best one yet. I have so many different side projects that I’m looking at. I just need to pick one and get it done. Wouldn’t that be something? I’m starting to be like my dad. Tons of different ideas, never really getting any of them finished. But really, where does someone find the time for that unless they quit their day job? I mean I want to work on stuff, but the family is way more important.

What to do?

Big pimpin baby! The boys got some nice duds from Grandma for Christmas. They both really warmed up to the idea of sporting them for the camera.