Ramblings & ephemera
From Paul Graham’s "Great Hackers":
… In programming, as in many fields, the hard part isn’t solving problems, but deciding what problems to solve. …
What do hackers want? Like all craftsmen, hackers like good tools. In fact, that’s an understatement. Good hackers find it [...]
Posted on September 30th, 2005 by Scott Granneman
Filed under: Commonplace Book, Technology | Comments Off
From Lady Augusta Gregory’s "XVIII. The Only Son of Aoife", from Cúchullin of Muirthemne (1902).
THE time Cúchulainn came back from Alban, after he had learned the use of arms under Scathach, he left Aoife, the queen he had overcome in battle, with child.
And when he was leaving her, he [...]
Posted on September 30th, 2005 by Scott Granneman
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From “William Caxton“, at The Science Show:
More than 500 years later a copy of Caxton’s first edition of Chaucer became the most expensive book ever sold, knocked down at auction in the 1990s for 4.6 million pounds. But in the 15th Century, the obvious appeal of the newly printed books lay in their value for [...]
Posted on September 29th, 2005 by Scott Granneman
Filed under: Commonplace Book, Technology, Wash U: Tech in Changing Society, history | Comments Off
From “William Caxton“, at The Science Show:
In 1474, his History of Troy, his own book, became the first book to be printed in English and two years later he brought his press to England setting up shop near the Chapter House in the precinct of Westminster Abbey, where parliament met. Caxton had an eye for [...]
Posted on September 29th, 2005 by Scott Granneman
Filed under: Commonplace Book, Technology, history | Comments Off
From “The Invention of Modern Gas Warfare“, at Ockham’s Razor:
[Dr. Fritz] Haber [inventor of modern gas warfare] was a very patriotic German and so when the war began he looked for ways to assist the military effort. His first major critic was his childhood sweetheart and wife, Clara. She was a talented chemist herself. She [...]
Posted on September 29th, 2005 by Scott Granneman
Filed under: Commonplace Book, history | Comments Off
From “The Invention of Modern Gas Warfare“, at Ockham’s Razor:
One of Haber’s [Dr. Fritz Haber, inventor of gas warfare] victims was a British soldier named Fred Cayley. He was gassed in 1917. He had poor health for the rest of his life and he had to visit a doctor every week until his death in [...]
Posted on September 29th, 2005 by Scott Granneman
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From Ask Yahoo!’s “Why does scratching an itch make it stop?”
So why does scratching seem to help, at least temporarily? … the general theory is that scratching provides a “counterirritation” that distracts the brain from the original itch.
Related posts
What in our brains invest memories with emotion?
Walking dead man
The difficulties in [...]
Posted on September 28th, 2005 by Scott Granneman
Filed under: science | Comments Off
From The Plague in Britain, on The Science Show:
Outside London, the disease spread wherever the plague flea travelled, and it is thought to have reached the village of Eyam in Derbyshire that September of 1665 in a box of tailor’s samples and old clothing sent to Edward Cooper, a village trader. … by mid-summer 1666 [...]
Posted on September 28th, 2005 by Scott Granneman
Filed under: Commonplace Book, history, security | Comments Off
From “John Dalton - The Father of Chemistry“, on The Science Show:
[Dalton] had the usual Quaker concern with integrity. When a good student of his needed a note to say he had attended every lecture, although he had missed one, Dalton is reported as saying, ‘If thou wilt come tomorrow, I will give the lecture [...]
Posted on September 28th, 2005 by Scott Granneman
Filed under: Commonplace Book | Comments Off
From “John Dalton - The Father of Chemistry“, on The Science Show:
In an age when science was often the hobby of the wealthy, Dalton made his living by private tutoring and lecture tours. Two famous French scientists came to visit him and were astonished to find him humbly teaching a small boy to read. It [...]
Posted on September 28th, 2005 by Scott Granneman
Filed under: Commonplace Book, On Writing | Comments Off
From “John Dalton - The Father of Chemistry“, on The Science Show:
In Kendal[, England, around 1781], Dalton started to keep a metrological journal, he made his own thermometers, barometers and other instruments. He kept this journal for the next 57 years and is an acknowledged pioneer of this science. The journal contained 200,000 observations; it [...]
Posted on September 28th, 2005 by Scott Granneman
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From Robert X. Cringely’s “Patently Absurd: Patent Reform Legislation in Congress Amounts to Little More Than a ‘Get Out of Jail Free’ Card for Microsoft“:
There are several forms of intellectual property protected by U.S. law. Among these are patents, trademarks, and copyrights. The goal of all three forms of protection is to encourage hard work [...]
Posted on September 28th, 2005 by Scott Granneman
Filed under: Commonplace Book, Technology, Wash U: Tech in Changing Society | Comments Off
From Cory Doctorow’s transcript of Danny O’Brien’s “Life Hacks Live” speech:
Technically Inexperienced People (TIPpies) are NEVER in a flow state. If you try to help people who are battling their computers, they’re never concentrating on their task, never in flow.
Related posts
No related posts.
Posted on September 28th, 2005 by Scott Granneman
Filed under: Technology | Comments Off
From "Bold Bets", in Maxim (June 2005: 104):
Amarillo Slim Preston bet tennis pro Bobby Riggs $10,000 that he could beat him at game of ping-pong, with one condition: Slim got to choose the paddles. Slim showed up with two skillets - he had been practicing on the sly - and promptly waxed Riggs 21-8.
Related posts
No [...]
Posted on September 28th, 2005 by Scott Granneman
Filed under: Commonplace Book, True Stories | Comments Off
From Cory Doctorow’s transcript of Danny O’Brien’s “Life Hacks Live” speech:
“… before commercials, my co-presenter Dave Green would turn to the camera and say, ‘And now, a few short films about capitalism.’”
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Posted on September 28th, 2005 by Scott Granneman
Filed under: Commonplace Book, politics | Comments Off
Headed off to the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. Since we're about to rock, please salute us.
Just had dinner at Maria's, an Italian restaurant. Not bad. Worked all day on the book. Now for a coffee shop & more work on that darn book!
NY Jets signed Bret Favre, so little bro Gus (Jets Equipment Director) has had one hell of a busy morning. Phone 1st rang at 5:45, poor guy.
Wonderful, huge Spanish dinner with Gus & 9 of his co-workers. Standing outside his hotel waiting for a cab on a gorgeous Cleveland night.
Just landed in Cleveland (which rocks, I hear) to visit my little brother Gus. He's here with the NY Jets for a game. I'm here to see him.
Bookmarked a link: Webvet.com - Pet News, Information, and Education
Alright, it's official - I'm gonna be the papa to a baby boy. Currently named Finn, but we'll see. :)
Added a product to their wishlist:
Bookmarked 5 links
Chapter 10 (Google Contacts) is hereby done. Now on (back!) to chapter 9. (Hey, sometimes jumping around helps keep things fresh!)