Smarter Stuff

Why I Won't Be Buying An iPhone (yet)

Many of the omissions (e.g. no cut-and-paste functionality) are correctable with updated software.  But you can't get around the EDGE network connection, which appears to be abysmal.

A usable Internet connection is, to me at least, the primary reason to own this phone, and it appears to fall down badly there.

Another 12-18 months should see this corrected with a new hardware release and more carriers.  EV-DO Rev. A works really well on my laptop, and I'm not ready to trade down.

Random thoughts on managing

• When you are a manager, the people you hire (and the way they perform) reflects on you.
  • It only took me 30 years to come up with that one.
• The mark of a good engineering organization is its ability to deliver products of sufficient quality on time and within budget.
  • fast    (time)
  • cheap   (budget)
  • good    (quality)

Half & Half

You Are 50% Left Brained, 50% Right Brained

The left side of your brain controls verbal ability, attention to detail, and reasoning. Left brained people are good at communication and persuading others. If you're left brained, you are likely good at math and logic. Your left brain prefers dogs, reading, and quiet. The right side of your brain is all about creativity and flexibility. Daring and intuitive, right brained people see the world in their unique way. If you're right brained, you likely have a talent for creative writing and art. Your right brain prefers day dreaming, philosophy, and sports.

Are You Right or Left Brained?

And therein lies the problem. <grin>

Lowell George

YouTube has some real gems, including these of Little Feat from 1975 when Lowell George was still alive:

• Rock 'n' Roll Doctor (BBC)
• Fat Man in the Bathtub (BBC)
• Cold Cold Cold (Live onstage in Holland)
• All That You Dream  (Rockpalast)

Addictive: Boomshine

Boomshine is a simple-to-play twelve-level Flash game that is addictive.

Use your cursor to place an initial explosion in a field of bouncing balls.  The balls explode when they touch the original explosion.  The secret is setting up a chain reaction that takes out at least the requisite number of balls. 

The theoretical maximum score is 390 (the sum of the number of balls on each level: 5 + 10 + 15 + 20 + 25 + 30 + 35 + 40 + 45 + 50 + 55 + 60), but for some unknown reason I see high scores above this.  The minimum score to complete all 12 levels is 223.

The Most Expensive Things At Amazon.com

By category: http://www.lafferty.ca/2007/03/22/the-most-expensive-things-at-amazon/

Very funny.  My favorite was the life-size Grim Reaper on Horseback under "Kids and Baby."

Tech Talk, February 2007: Being There

My February, 2007 Tech Talk column, Being There, is now available online.  It talks about Cisco's new Telepresence system and the important of face-to-face communication.

Tech Talk, January 2007: The Start of Another Year

What would the New Year be without a New Year's column?  With that, I give you The Start of Another Year, my Tech Talk column for January, 2007.

Tech Talk, December 2006: Disaster Recovery

My December, 2006 Tech Talk column, Disaster Recovery, is now available online.

Teaching Methodology

This is brilliant - insert a lie into every lecture and challenge your students to recognize it.  The "questioning stance" this creates in the student is priceless.