for_sv's blog

jest for pun

March'04 BlogThoughts

March 30, 2004

When the CEO is the brand but falls from grace

Horace Smith and D. B. Wesson did it when they engraved their initials onto a pistol in 1852. Henry Ford did it, as did Mary Kay Ash, Michael Bloomberg, Donald Trump and Michael Dell.

Knowledge@Wharton examines how companies can save their skins even when the founder falls into disgrace.

Google Goodies

Check what's new from Google and more (Sets, Deskbar ...)

March 29, 2004

just me

Some Computer Bug Types

:Bohr bug: /bohr buhg/ n. [from quantum physics] A repeatable {bug}; one that manifests reliably under a possibly unknown but well-defined set of conditions. Antonym of {heisenbug}; see also {mandelbug}, {schröedinbug}.

:heisenbug: /hi:'zen-buhg/ n. [from Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle in quantum physics] A bug that disappears or alters its behavior when one attempts to probe or isolate it. (This usage is not even particularly fanciful; the use of a debugger sometimes alters a program's operating environment significantly enough that buggy code, such as that which relies on the values of uninitialized memory, behaves quite differently.) Antonym of {Bohr bug}; see also {mandelbug}, {schröedinbug}. In C, nine out of ten heisenbugs result from uninitialized auto variables, {fandango on core} phenomena (esp. lossage related to corruption of the malloc {arena}) or errors that {smash the stack}.

:mandelbug: /man'del-buhg/ n. [from the Mandelbrot set] A bug whose underlying causes are so complex and obscure as to make its behavior appear chaotic or even non-deterministic. This term implies that the speaker thinks it is a {Bohr bug}, rather than a {heisenbug}. See also {schröedinbug}.

:schröedinbug: /shroh'din-buhg/ n. [MIT: from the Schröedinger's Cat thought-experiment in quantum physics] A design or implementation bug in a program that doesn't manifest until someone reading source or using the program in an unusual way notices that it never should have worked, at which point the program promptly stops working for everybody until fixed. Though (like {bit rot}) this sounds impossible, it happens; some programs have harbored latent schröedinbugs for years. Compare {heisenbug}, {Bohr bug}, {mandelbug}.

from: The New Hacker's Dictionary

March 28, 2004

Scamsters beat wheel of fortune

It could have been a scene straight out of a James Bond film. The glamorous blonde; the gilded Edwardian elegance of one of the world's most exclusive, private-member gambling dens; a finely-tuned roulette wheel; wealthy playboys littering the London Ritz Hotel's discreet Salle Privee or inner sanctum; a cocktail naughtily called 'The Ritz Rascal'. And the most audacious, high-tech, million-pound sting operation in the history of gambling.

China Bans Typepad Sites

It looks like China has banned access to typepad sites. There was some posts in the user forums on this, but it seems to be official now. Glutter has more information.

Digital paper makes device debut

Soon you could be reading a book printed on electronic paper.

Unicode

Detailed listing for unicode characters, many languages, in bound PDF format.

Convert old cassettes to MP3

With PlusDeck 2 you can easily archive old cassette tapes into digital media files for playback on your PC.

March 27, 2004

Shoelace

Ian's Shoelace Site

Around the age of four or five, children learn to tie their shoes. A process of trial and error, the mission is fraught with knotty problems dealing with undeveloped motor coordination. Once we've learned the trick though, there's a wealth of lacing and knotting maneuvers just waiting to be tied up. That's where Ian comes in. On his site he demonstrates a wide variety of knots and ways to lace your shoes. You'll learn about the knot he developed, which he claims is the world's fastest. But he doesn't stop there, leading you on a step-by-step tour of other knots including the two loop knot and the standard knot. If you want to dazzle your friends with your laces, try some of his lacing tutorials such as the very decorative bi-colour or the comfortable bow tie. While the subject matter may seem mundane, Ian's obvious enthusiasm for knots and laces makes this site an absolute kick.

Handbook Of Knots

March 26, 2004

The Roman Empire

Two thousand years ago, the world was ruled by Rome, and Rome was in turmoil. From the chaos of civil war, the Roman Empire would rise even stronger to embrace hundreds of cultures, and till the soil from which western civilization would grow. From Republic to Empire, the legend of Augustus to the timeline of the Roman history it is all here. Check the Air dates.

Colosseum

Colosseum: A Gladiator's Story

In an era when escapist pleasures were few and far between, bloodthirsty Romans flocked to this infamous "Arena of Death." Gladiators were the agile emissaries of spectacle and gore -- and their blood sport represented the Empire's dominance over all. In order for the lethal show to go on, orchestrating the stage, the vicious animals, and the starring cast was crucial. This Discovery Channel special takes you above and below the entertainment and killing that kept Romans agog and gladiators gainfully employed. Tour the animal elevators, the Gates of Life and Death, and the nosebleed section for a sense of what gladiators saw before victory or ultimate defeat. Then learn about the rise and fall of the formidable Colosseum, its indoor sea battles, and countless victims. Are you not entertained? Atleast the Romans were.

March 25, 2004

Check this out

This is really great!

More about the artist, photos.

Java Desktop crashes during Sun's CEO keynote at CTIA

Java Desktop crashes during Sun's CEO keynote at CTIA

Scott McNealy, CEO of Sun Microsystems, was delivering a keynote speech to a full room at CTIA Wireless 2004 when his Linux machine, running Sun's Java Desktop unexpectedly became completely frozen.

He had to reset the machine and they quickly switched to a pre-recorded standby video presentation. In the words of our on-the-floor journalist covering the event for LXer, "it was embarrassing."

He did not disclose which distribution he was running, as the talk was primarily centered around Java and their thin client architecture, with an emphasis on Sun but brief mentions of open source.
Story on Lxer

Did I hear someone say that Linux is uncrashable???

March 24, 2004

Tikka to dye for

Mmmmm. Chicken Tikka, one of the country's favourite foods could be slowly poisoning diners who love its distinctive red hue and spicy, creamy taste. Turns out those “colors not found in nature” that it sometime sports may be unhealthy as well as unnatural.

An oldie but a goodie …

RETIRED PEOPLE:
Working people frequently ask retired people what they do to make their days interesting. Thought you'd might like to see what happened to me last week.

I went to the store the other day. I was only in there for about 5 minutes. When I came out there was a city cop writing out a parking ticket. I went up to him and said "Come on, buddy, how about giving a guy a break?" He ignored me and continued writing the ticket.

I called him a Nazi. He glared at me and started writing another ticket for having worn tires. So I called him a piece of horse shit. He finished the second ticket and put it on the windshield with the first. Then he started writing a third ticket.

This went on for about 20 minutes.. the more I abused him, the more tickets he wrote. I didn't give a shit. My car was parked around the corner. I try to have a little fun each day. It's important at my age.

Outsourcing Report Blames Schools

A new report by a U.S. high-tech trade group says companies aren't shipping jobs overseas because of cheap labor. No, they're doing it because American schools don't teach enough math and science.

March 23, 2004

To Itemize Or Not To Itemize

Well, get out those pencils and papers. The deadline for filing your federal income tax return is now just weeks away now.

Like others before me who walked the one-way bridge to the next Blogging level, I have crossed from Blogger to MT. As of now MT (Movable Types) looks like Blogging Nirvana.

In http://mblog.com/forsv/ you will find the same look which you and other readers loved , but with new subtle and ingenious goodies, like tool preview when you hover your mouse, comments, trackbacks, categories, a calendar with post count, and much more.

From my point of view it allows small file uploads, and the sending of SMS/MMS/WAP to send posts. -- if that means anything to you.

Now, my friends, you can write your comments and exchange ideas with like-minded members of my vast and devoted fan club!

Emergence: The Connected Lives of Ants, Brains, Cities, and Software by Steven Johnson (Author) Amazon.com's Best of 2001 An individual ant, like an individual neuron, is just about as dumb as can be. Connect enough of them together properly, though, and you get spontaneous intelligence. Web pundit Steven Johnson explains what we know about this phenomenon with a rare lucidity in Emergence: The Connected Lives of Ants, Brains, Cities, and Software. Starting with the weird behavior of the semi-colonial organisms we call slime molds, Johnson details the development of increasingly complex and familiar behavior among simple components: cells, insects, and software developers all find their place in greater schemes.

- A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK
- A VOICE LITERARY SUPPLEMENT TOP 25 FAVORITE BOOKS OF THE YEAR
- AN ESQUIRE MAGAZINE BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR

When it comes to traffic congestion, ants prefer the no-nonsense approach.

New York currently maintains over 300,000 streetlights within its 5 boroughs, but is seeking a new streetlight design for the city.

Recently Digital Media (formerly Streaming Magazine) published the Media Moguls of the ever competitive industry. These are the people who significantly advance digital media through business or technological achievements.

And to me one name in there meant the whole list. Dr. Andrew Economos, Founder/Chairman of RCS. What Microsoft's Windows did to PC-World, RCS's Selector did to Radio-World. Dr. Economos developed the first music-scheduling software, Selector which revolutionized the radio industry forever. Today RCS is the world's leading provider of broadcast software. The company also provides broadcasters and webcasters tools and expertise to increase their revenue stream. RCS develops real-time audio recognition technology and creates strategic audio programming content for Internet and corporate sites. Congratulations Sir!

When it comes to feeling pain, some of it really is all in your head.

Stunning Photo Of Jet Breaking Sound Barrier

Please sign. Thank you for your support and please spread the word.

US residents only, sign the "Save the Hubble" petition

Planet Earth residents only, sign the "Save the Hubble"

(I signed both)

Ever-growing pictures of Saturn are coming back from the Cassini-Huygens probe, which drops into Saturn orbit in 123 days. Sweet.

The accompanying illustration depicts how 'Giant Black Hole Rips Star Apart' may have occurred. A close encounter with another star put the doomed star (orange circle) on a path that took it near a supermassive black hole. The enormous gravity of the giant black hole stretched the star until it was torn apart. Because of the momentum and energy of the accretion process, only a few percent of the disrupted star's mass (indicated by the white stream) was swallowed by the black hole, while the rest of was flung away into the surrounding galaxy. Animation explains it all so well.

Quantum cryptography has emerged from the laboratory and into the real world.

The Hubble Space Telescope Project

Hubble Image Said to Echo Van Gogh 'Starry Night'

Hubble Space Telescope

Nasa says 'no' to Hubble reprieve

In pictures: Hubble's successes

Hubble's deep view of the cosmos

Her code name was "Parlor Maid," and she was an FBI "asset" for 20 years. Her information about China eventually made its way to four American presidents. Then in April of 2003, Katrina Leung and her FBI "handler," Special Agent J.J. Smith, were arrested. The government alleged that Leung was an agent for China and that Smith had helped her. And in a stunning announcement, the government also revealed in court filings that Smith and Leung had carried on a romantic relationship for more than two decades.

In "From China with Love," FRONTLINE explores a story of secrets, risk, patriotism, and perhaps a story of love.

George W. Bush and John Kerry both spent their mid twenties in uniform. The similarities end there.

Great, as though we did not have enough nations to worry about!

They say that the Swindon Magic Roundabout — five mini-roundabouts within one larger one — works like a charm.


For me, though, even though I like traffic circles … I think I’ll simply stay on the Motorway …

more...

click the chart

If the Calendar Girls were making cars, this is what they would look like.

The car should be programmed to discover any problems under the bonnet, then send a message to the garage to let them know.

The mechanics would then contact the women directly to invite them over.

... And for women with ponytails, there is even a split in the middle of the headrest.

BURN ME UP, SCOTTY. Super-Hot Trash Zapper May Yield Hydrogen

I'VE SEEN FIRE AND I'VE SEEN RAIN. Amazonian Fires May Screw Up Entire South American Climate

SOOTHE THE SALVAGE BEAST. Ecologists Warn Against Salvage Logging.

SHAREHOLDING INDUSTRY RESPONSIBLE. Shareholders Call on Companies to Address Global Warming

LOOK FOR THE GM LABEL. Battle Over Genetically Modified Foods Rages On

CERTIFIABLY INSANE? -- Wood-Labeling Program Less Green Than It Appears

Find out all about how Google Works and Google~Guide

So they have parted ways. Which one's better?

In Internet auctions, bad spelers pay a price.

Indeed, it is.

A unit of Cinergy Corp. today will become the nation's first electric utility to offer high-speed Internet service to customers via its power lines, turning every electrical outlet in homes or offices into a Web connection.

In olden days, a glimpse of stocking
was looked on as something shocking.
Now heaven knows, anything goes. - Cole Porter

Complete Lyrics.
Music CD

Everyone loves macaws. Playful, intelligent, beautiful, they are the stars of parrot parks and zoos, and the cherished pets of devoted owners around the world. All of which makes them prime targets for poachers, who can make enormous profits from illegal sales of the birds. Thousands are smuggled from the wild each year, and many die in the process.

In the forests of South America, several species of macaw are severely endangered. But there is hope on the horizon. Dr. Charlie Munn, a wealthy American who is also a leading ornithologist and world expert on parrots, has begun a campaign to promote eco-tourism as a means of saving the birds. Employing former poachers as conservationists, and providing locals with the means to start and maintain a trade in tourism instead of smuggling, he's betting that instead of buying birds, their fans will pay to see them in the wild.

For further information on trips, or for donations and contributions, the reader may contact Dr. Charlie Munn at CharlesMunn@compuserve.com or Doug Trent at FocusTours@aol.com or (phone) 612-892-7830.

The Encyclopedia of MacAws