Why Good Programmers Are Lazy and Dumb:
Lazy, because only lazy programmers will want to write the kind of tools that might replace them in the end.
Second (and I will elaborate a bit more on this because I find the concept to be less known than the first) a good programmer must be dumb. Why? Because if he’s smart, and he knows he is smart, he will:
a) stop learning
b) stop being critical towards his own work
Sunday, August 28, 2005
Friday, August 26, 2005
P.S. From Barfy
P.S. It's so hot, I feel nauseous (according to the dictionary that means "inclined to vomit", which I am).
Tomorrow's question... why does the heat accentuate your fat rolls? Some how the wet and stickiness that heat brings reminds me what a lard ass I am. Gross! Heat is not compatible with self esteem unless you are skinny maybe?
Tomorrow's question... why does the heat accentuate your fat rolls? Some how the wet and stickiness that heat brings reminds me what a lard ass I am. Gross! Heat is not compatible with self esteem unless you are skinny maybe?
H O T
We have been on vacation and it was 96 today. We are only good until about 80 degrees. At almost midnight, it has only dropped to 84. This leads me to several questions:
1. How do people in hot climates keep from killing each other? The heat makes me crabby. Really crabby. I remember an apartment complex down the block getting painted a bright orange. I swear it was the same orange proven to incite violence in prisons (baby blue works best for keeping it down). Shortly thereafter, we had a heatwave. The kind of heat where the air is still and it's just too hot to move anywhere but the freezer section at the grocery store. That was the only time in the five years I lived in that neighborhood, that we had a murder on our street. It was some guy in the aggression-orange apartment buildings... he stabbed his wife to death. I'm not making any excuses for an obvious total psycho. However, I couldn't help but wonder at the time if the other factors contributed a little.
2. A friend pointed out that Bush spends his presidential vacation near Waco, Texas - which is REALLY hot in August. I wondered if it affected his decision making abilities, but decided no, because he must be used to the heat. I do wonder however, if any of the staffers he has in tow make different recommendations in heat.
3. This is a completely ignorant, stupid suggestion, but do hot areas have issues they wouldn't have in cold environments? Isn't the Middle East hot? Maybe they need to hold peace talks somewhere a lot more comfortable. "Iceland Peace Accords" isn't taken yet. The domain is still available! You could hold it in winter and let people leave the tables with the understanding that they would have to wait outside until they felt like talking again. Iceland is so cold, they don't have insects (or at least they are scarce).
It's feeling cooler now. Going to get some sleep.
1. How do people in hot climates keep from killing each other? The heat makes me crabby. Really crabby. I remember an apartment complex down the block getting painted a bright orange. I swear it was the same orange proven to incite violence in prisons (baby blue works best for keeping it down). Shortly thereafter, we had a heatwave. The kind of heat where the air is still and it's just too hot to move anywhere but the freezer section at the grocery store. That was the only time in the five years I lived in that neighborhood, that we had a murder on our street. It was some guy in the aggression-orange apartment buildings... he stabbed his wife to death. I'm not making any excuses for an obvious total psycho. However, I couldn't help but wonder at the time if the other factors contributed a little.
2. A friend pointed out that Bush spends his presidential vacation near Waco, Texas - which is REALLY hot in August. I wondered if it affected his decision making abilities, but decided no, because he must be used to the heat. I do wonder however, if any of the staffers he has in tow make different recommendations in heat.
3. This is a completely ignorant, stupid suggestion, but do hot areas have issues they wouldn't have in cold environments? Isn't the Middle East hot? Maybe they need to hold peace talks somewhere a lot more comfortable. "Iceland Peace Accords" isn't taken yet. The domain is still available! You could hold it in winter and let people leave the tables with the understanding that they would have to wait outside until they felt like talking again. Iceland is so cold, they don't have insects (or at least they are scarce).
It's feeling cooler now. Going to get some sleep.
Sunday, August 21, 2005
Not Hopeful
Sunday morning should be relaxing and full of hope. I really hate Sunday morning. I really hate hating it.
Saturday, August 20, 2005
SLOOOOOOOOOOWWWWW
My internet pipe and water pressure have been slow for about eight days now. That sounds like something a paranoid schitzophrenic would blog about. I'm not alleging any conspiracy or involvement with aliens or satellites. Things are slow though and it's getting irritating!
A Quiz for Everything
Yes, there is a quiz for just about everything.
Is Your Boss a Psychopath?
For extra fun, check out the site's list of the Top Ten Bosses from Hell
One mentioned is Armand Hammer, whose name really is heard in my brain as Arm & Hammer, the baking soda brand. He sounds like a major douche bag, yet he was the benefactor of the UCLA Armand Hammer Museum (food poisoning hit me while trying to view the collection... that was no fun). Getty, a far greater patron of the arts, also a douche bag. I read that Getty didn't even return home when his young son died and merely noted it in his journal "a very sad day" along with the stock prices he followed. In my book some cool museums don't make up for either's misdeeds.
Is Your Boss a Psychopath?
For extra fun, check out the site's list of the Top Ten Bosses from Hell
One mentioned is Armand Hammer, whose name really is heard in my brain as Arm & Hammer, the baking soda brand. He sounds like a major douche bag, yet he was the benefactor of the UCLA Armand Hammer Museum (food poisoning hit me while trying to view the collection... that was no fun). Getty, a far greater patron of the arts, also a douche bag. I read that Getty didn't even return home when his young son died and merely noted it in his journal "a very sad day" along with the stock prices he followed. In my book some cool museums don't make up for either's misdeeds.
Across the Universe
Trying to decipher some words in "Across the Universe", I found out the line repeated several times that didn't sound like english, wasn't:
Jai guru deva om.
Maybe I'm the last person in the western world to know that it was a shout out to John Lennon's Guru Dev. Is there anything that is not in Wikipedia!? Well, I'm not. There is no entry for 'baglady'.
Jai guru deva om.
Maybe I'm the last person in the western world to know that it was a shout out to John Lennon's Guru Dev. Is there anything that is not in Wikipedia!? Well, I'm not. There is no entry for 'baglady'.
Thursday, August 18, 2005
A Different Kind of 404 Error
I'd never heard of the Moroccan POW's just released:
The last Moroccan prisoners of war held by a group fighting for independence in Western Sahara have been released.
The 404 men, detained in southern Algeria for almost 20 years, will be reunited with their families in Morocco later on Thursday, the Red Cross says.
I guess there is more to worry about in the world than any one of us could keep track of. However, doesn't it seem wrong that CNN had a front page headline today that Jude Law and his ex-fiance were seen together?!
The last Moroccan prisoners of war held by a group fighting for independence in Western Sahara have been released.
The 404 men, detained in southern Algeria for almost 20 years, will be reunited with their families in Morocco later on Thursday, the Red Cross says.
I guess there is more to worry about in the world than any one of us could keep track of. However, doesn't it seem wrong that CNN had a front page headline today that Jude Law and his ex-fiance were seen together?!
The God Shot
I started listening to the Coffee Geek podcast. Tonight I heard of something I'm not familiar with: the god shot. These coffee people are hardcore and aren't kidding (LOL). Does the Pope (or did the previous Il Papa) really bless coffee:
But what exactly is the God Shot? The answer comes naturally to me, so naturally, that I can't actually put it in words with ease, but I do know instinctively what it is. One thing it's not: it is not meant to be a slam against God, or the breaking of one of the Ten Commandments (Thou shalt not...). It is a homage to God in a way because when someone talks about a God Shot, it is something so special, so unique, so perfect, it's almost as if God Himself has blessed it. And since a long ago Pope proclaimed that God blesses and approves of coffee, it is only natural it could extend to the perfect espresso: the God Shot.
But what exactly is the God Shot? The answer comes naturally to me, so naturally, that I can't actually put it in words with ease, but I do know instinctively what it is. One thing it's not: it is not meant to be a slam against God, or the breaking of one of the Ten Commandments (Thou shalt not...). It is a homage to God in a way because when someone talks about a God Shot, it is something so special, so unique, so perfect, it's almost as if God Himself has blessed it. And since a long ago Pope proclaimed that God blesses and approves of coffee, it is only natural it could extend to the perfect espresso: the God Shot.
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Repeat Play
At the risk of exposing my loserness and bad taste in music, here is a list of songs that over the past years I've listened to on repeat play. I wonder if others do this? Sometimes I can't get enough of a song. Here are some examples:
* Not Myself - John Mayer
* The Blower's Daughter - Damien Rice
* Love Song for No One - John Mayer (more John Mayer, so I'll just not list it... you get the idea ;)
* You And I Both - Jason Mraz
* Debra - Beck
* Guess I'm Doing Fine - Beck
* Yellow - Coldplay
* Easy Way to Cry - David Gray
* Maybe You'll Be There - Diana Krall
* A Case of You - Diana Krall (cover of Joni Mitchell song)
* Alison - Elvis Costello
* As Hard As It Gets - Fine Young Cannibals
* Maybe I - Five for Fighting
* Better Together - Jack Johnson
* Last Goodbye - Jeff Buckley
* Just Like Honey - Jesus & Mary Chain
* Wherever You Are - Mary Chapin Carpenter
* Meanwhile Rick James - Cake
* Hard Headed Woman - Cat Stevens
* For a While (Jasper Steverlinck's version)
* Haunt You Every Day - Weezer
* Not Myself - John Mayer
* The Blower's Daughter - Damien Rice
* Love Song for No One - John Mayer (more John Mayer, so I'll just not list it... you get the idea ;)
* You And I Both - Jason Mraz
* Debra - Beck
* Guess I'm Doing Fine - Beck
* Yellow - Coldplay
* Easy Way to Cry - David Gray
* Maybe You'll Be There - Diana Krall
* A Case of You - Diana Krall (cover of Joni Mitchell song)
* Alison - Elvis Costello
* As Hard As It Gets - Fine Young Cannibals
* Maybe I - Five for Fighting
* Better Together - Jack Johnson
* Last Goodbye - Jeff Buckley
* Just Like Honey - Jesus & Mary Chain
* Wherever You Are - Mary Chapin Carpenter
* Meanwhile Rick James - Cake
* Hard Headed Woman - Cat Stevens
* For a While (Jasper Steverlinck's version)
* Haunt You Every Day - Weezer
Bein' Green
The Kermit the Frog song "Bein' Green" has been in my head for over a day. My favorite excepts:
It's not easy being green
It seems to blend in with so many other much more ordinary things
And sometimes people pass you over
Because you're not standing out like flashy sparkles in the water
Or stars in the sky
But green's the color of Spring
And green can be cool and friendly-like
Green can be big like an ocean
Or important like a mountain
Or tall like a tree
But when green is all there is to be
It kind of makes you wonder why
Why wonder, wonder why?
I have this weird secret agent property where people often forget meeting me. It's not me changing my hair color too much or alternating between masks and mime outfits. I'm just kind of a euphemistic green. It can be really handy when you don't want to talk to someone you're about to run into. Sometimes it causes me to be rude. I assume someone won't remember me and I'll just feel lame when I confirm this, so I won't greet them. Now and then they do remember and I look snobby ;).
It's not easy being green
It seems to blend in with so many other much more ordinary things
And sometimes people pass you over
Because you're not standing out like flashy sparkles in the water
Or stars in the sky
But green's the color of Spring
And green can be cool and friendly-like
Green can be big like an ocean
Or important like a mountain
Or tall like a tree
But when green is all there is to be
It kind of makes you wonder why
Why wonder, wonder why?
I have this weird secret agent property where people often forget meeting me. It's not me changing my hair color too much or alternating between masks and mime outfits. I'm just kind of a euphemistic green. It can be really handy when you don't want to talk to someone you're about to run into. Sometimes it causes me to be rude. I assume someone won't remember me and I'll just feel lame when I confirm this, so I won't greet them. Now and then they do remember and I look snobby ;).
Woman Gets Bill Addressed to "Bitch Dog" :O
Think people in customer service are powerless to your ranting or abuse? Maybe not, depending on how badly their billing software tracks changes to customer profiles. From the ABC article:
... But when she got her August bill from Comcast she had no trouble understanding she'd made somebody mad. It was addressed to "Bitch Dog."
"I was like you got to be freaking kidding me," said Govan, 25. "I was so mad I couldn't even cuss."
In another case, Peoples Energy customer Jefferoy Barnes started getting letters addressed to "Jeffery Scrotum Bag Barnes."
... But when she got her August bill from Comcast she had no trouble understanding she'd made somebody mad. It was addressed to "Bitch Dog."
"I was like you got to be freaking kidding me," said Govan, 25. "I was so mad I couldn't even cuss."
In another case, Peoples Energy customer Jefferoy Barnes started getting letters addressed to "Jeffery Scrotum Bag Barnes."
I Hate Silverfish!
Perhaps the worst thing about moving closer to the ocean was moving in with silverfish. I friggin' hate these things:
Wikipedia was right when they said that, "they are known to cause emotional distress to bug haters."
Someone please expand the article and let me know how to get rid of them! I am a clean person, honest! It's not my fault.
Wikipedia was right when they said that, "they are known to cause emotional distress to bug haters."
Someone please expand the article and let me know how to get rid of them! I am a clean person, honest! It's not my fault.
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
Viking Ship Made Of Ice Cream Sticks
This reminds me of Mr. Green Eyes with his viking ancestry and his love of ice cream :).
Thursday, August 11, 2005
Fired for "Sharting"
Simply Fired is holding a contest for the biggest loser story about getting fired. I vote for this guy who got fired for "sharting". Here's a tidbit:
As I abruptly got up to head to the restroom for a little post-shart clean up duty, Mr. Nazi Manager Guy stopped the meeting and said "sit back down". I told him I just needed to visit the restroom for a quick second. He said "either sit back down or you can just keep walking!".
or this one (also about poop sorry). Best quote:
"Now son. You can't be dropping Scooby snacks wherever you please..."
As I abruptly got up to head to the restroom for a little post-shart clean up duty, Mr. Nazi Manager Guy stopped the meeting and said "sit back down". I told him I just needed to visit the restroom for a quick second. He said "either sit back down or you can just keep walking!".
or this one (also about poop sorry). Best quote:
"Now son. You can't be dropping Scooby snacks wherever you please..."
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
Topping the Banana Slug
UC Santa Cruz had the silliest school mascot all nailed down with the banana slug - or so I thought. Evergreen College's mascot is the geoduck, a burrowing clam. It looks more like a snale to me or maybe just something pornographic. "Is that a geoduck's protruding siphon in your pants or are you just glad to see me?"
Still Biting
Yep, something is still biting me. I can only effectively kill insects if I'm defending someone smaller who's afraid. I can't seem to kill bugs for myself. I'm now on the couch where I see a lot less mess. I can see more half done projects like the felt Christmas tree that I started two years ago and some embroidery for my grandma that I wanted to have done two months ago.
Getting Stuff Done
I'm glad no one can see the kitchen table I'm writing from. It's a mess of half done projects. A birdhouse I need to sand and varnish, a Harry Potter audio book we started, unread magazines (I get at least 7 or at least did before I lost track as one or two were Christmas presents), double prints and unsent cards, things to add to the calendar or RSVP for and me. No spiders lurking tonight. Looking around I see the article on how to ripen fruit that I want to save (bananas are magical fruit, not beans(!) because of the ethylene gas they emit). All of this and I managed to find energy to put flowers on the table, but not to clean any of this stuff off. This whole corner of the house is a project. On the floor and in my deluded sense, out of sight, I have a teacup and pez display that needs to be hung somewhere... probably my next house ;).
Catching up on Lifehacker today, I read a bunch of compelling things about being organized and productive. The one that most interested me was Dave Pollard's The Nine Reasons We Don't Do What We Should
Catching up on Lifehacker today, I read a bunch of compelling things about being organized and productive. The one that most interested me was Dave Pollard's The Nine Reasons We Don't Do What We Should
I'm Being Bitten...
by something under the table. I keep itching in a new spot. I'm up to three bites. I don't think I have anything interesting enough to say to warrant giving this insect anymore time on the grosse deutsche Frau legs it thinks of as gyros sticks.
Flowers and David Gray
Looking back through time
You know it's clear that I've been blind
I've been a fool
To open up my heart
To all that jealousy, that bitterness, that ridicule
You know I'm seeing it so clear
I've been afraid
To show you how I really feel
Admit to some of those bad mistakes I've made
If you want it
Come and get it
For crying out loud
The love that I was
Giving you was
Never in doubt
- from Babylon
St. Amour
I have the dashboard widget that reports French Saint Days. Today (well six minutes ago) was St. Amour's Day.
There is apparently a programmer somewhere who created a saint's day for himself:
There is apparently a programmer somewhere who created a saint's day for himself:
Sunday, August 07, 2005
Saturday, August 06, 2005
Night
Time for bed or at least off.
Feeling tired
By the fire
The long day is over
The wind is gone
Asleep at dawn
The embers burn on
With no reprise
The sun will rise
The long day is over
(Norah Jones, The Long Day is Over)
If anyone actually reads this, please don't tease me for digging Norah Jones. She's here and you're not. This is also a really cool song (and not one of her singles):
What am I to you
Tell me darling true
To me you are the sea
Vast as you can be
And deep the shade of blue
When you're feeling low
To whom else do you go
See I cry if you hurt
I'd give you my last shirt
Because I love you so
If my sky should fall
Would you even call
I've opened up my heart
I never want to part
I'm giving you the ball
When I look in your eyes
I can feel the butterflies
I will love you when you're blue
Tell me darlin true
What am I to you
Yah well if my sky should fall
Would you even call
I've opened up my heart
Never want to part
I'm giving you the ball
When I look in your eyes
I can feel the butterflies
Could you find a love in me
Could you carve me in a tree
Don't fill my heart with lies
I will you love when you're blue
Tell me darlin true
What am I to you
Feeling tired
By the fire
The long day is over
The wind is gone
Asleep at dawn
The embers burn on
With no reprise
The sun will rise
The long day is over
(Norah Jones, The Long Day is Over)
If anyone actually reads this, please don't tease me for digging Norah Jones. She's here and you're not. This is also a really cool song (and not one of her singles):
What am I to you
Tell me darling true
To me you are the sea
Vast as you can be
And deep the shade of blue
When you're feeling low
To whom else do you go
See I cry if you hurt
I'd give you my last shirt
Because I love you so
If my sky should fall
Would you even call
I've opened up my heart
I never want to part
I'm giving you the ball
When I look in your eyes
I can feel the butterflies
I will love you when you're blue
Tell me darlin true
What am I to you
Yah well if my sky should fall
Would you even call
I've opened up my heart
Never want to part
I'm giving you the ball
When I look in your eyes
I can feel the butterflies
Could you find a love in me
Could you carve me in a tree
Don't fill my heart with lies
I will you love when you're blue
Tell me darlin true
What am I to you
Looking For My Corner
My grandmother loaned my mom, who loaned to me, "The Secret Life of Bees". I'm only half way through, but really enjoying it. This week I felt like I was looking for my corner:
The first week... was a consolation, a pure relief. The world will give you that once in a while, a brief timeout; the boxing bell rings and you go to your corner, where somebody dabs mercy on your beat-up life.
The first week... was a consolation, a pure relief. The world will give you that once in a while, a brief timeout; the boxing bell rings and you go to your corner, where somebody dabs mercy on your beat-up life.
Friday, August 05, 2005
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
Podcasting is Crazier Than Blogging
Sampling different podcasts. Found one on baking, Baking with the Bard.
Yoga travel, another interesting one.
Hypnotherapy podcast... can I trust it?
Save driving for adults... just talking to someone today about that! It's what your dad needs!
and my all time fav title: The Funeral X-Perience
Yoga travel, another interesting one.
Hypnotherapy podcast... can I trust it?
Save driving for adults... just talking to someone today about that! It's what your dad needs!
and my all time fav title: The Funeral X-Perience
Monday, August 01, 2005
Cool Stuff For Single Girls To Do
Looking for ways to fill my time - here are some serious candidates...
Gourds for Home Decor
Mystic Mushrooms - I'm such a nerd... that one looks pretty good. "How do mushrooms produce?"
Kansas and Eddie Money at Rincon - Dude, just dust in the wind.
Bobby McFerrin - I have known a lot of guys who loved to do McFerrin impersonations. It's kind of scary when you're driving with them because it involves lots of slapping yourself and dual hand moves... aside from just the sheer terror it already evokes!
Judy Collins - You have not fully appreciated Judy Collins until you have read Anthony Bourdain's passage about going through the endless Moroccan desert with only a Judy Collins tape to listen to. They used Bon Jovi to lure Noriego out. They are missing the boat and could seriously be crushing insurgents with some good ol' western folk music.
Sorry, Michael McDonald has been sold out. Even the description describes him as the "Former Steely Dan keyboardist and Doobie Brothers vocalist (it's his Mighty-Mouse-on-steroids soulful huskiness we remember from their songs)..."
Gourds for Home Decor
Mystic Mushrooms - I'm such a nerd... that one looks pretty good. "How do mushrooms produce?"
Kansas and Eddie Money at Rincon - Dude, just dust in the wind.
Bobby McFerrin - I have known a lot of guys who loved to do McFerrin impersonations. It's kind of scary when you're driving with them because it involves lots of slapping yourself and dual hand moves... aside from just the sheer terror it already evokes!
Judy Collins - You have not fully appreciated Judy Collins until you have read Anthony Bourdain's passage about going through the endless Moroccan desert with only a Judy Collins tape to listen to. They used Bon Jovi to lure Noriego out. They are missing the boat and could seriously be crushing insurgents with some good ol' western folk music.
Sorry, Michael McDonald has been sold out. Even the description describes him as the "Former Steely Dan keyboardist and Doobie Brothers vocalist (it's his Mighty-Mouse-on-steroids soulful huskiness we remember from their songs)..."
Clearing My Schedule
I don't spend enough time blogging, so I've cleared my schedule tonight to really do some quality, or maybe quantity writing. I just finished another great Mma Ramotswe story by Alexander McCall Smith. Here is one of my favorite passages from the end of "The Full Cupboard of Life":
Life is perilous. At any time it could be too late. When you love another person, you must tell her, but you must also show her. You must do the thing that says to the world that you love that person. And this must never be put off, never.
Life is perilous. At any time it could be too late. When you love another person, you must tell her, but you must also show her. You must do the thing that says to the world that you love that person. And this must never be put off, never.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)