The Agony and The Irony

Mutual No Gift Coupons

2006-12-14T02:48:39Z

Hi anyone who still reads this mostly dead journal!

This year, for an unlimited time, I am offering exclusive 'Mutual No Gift Coupons.' Basically, the idea is simple. I have too much junk around the house, and not enough space. I don't want to add to it this holiday, and plus I think christmas is becomming too commercial anyway. So here's the deal: you agree not to get me anything, and I agree not to get you anything, and neither of us feels cheated. It's what I really want for christmas.

Please don't be offened if you are really into the gift giving thing, I wouln't mind terribly if you want to do the gift exchange thing.

Also, please note, not takeing a coupon doesn't mean that I will definitely get you something, just that I will feel bad if you get me something and I didn't get you something.

Feel free to post this (or some reasonable variation) to your blog and start a meme. Or not. Either way is fine with me.

Books

2006-02-05T21:59:28Z

I'm trying to figure out who has what books of mine. If you have a book of mine, please drop me a note, either here or in email.

In particular, I'm looking for my copys of "Elric: The Stealer of Souls" and "Cryptonomicon"

Consider this amnesty if you feel guilty about having kept one of my books forever.

Need Recommendations

2005-10-20T20:45:21Z

Can anyone recommend a good general economics book? I'm trying to get a better understanding of how the economics of the modern world work (yes, I realize that's a huge task), and I don't even know where to start. I have a strong math and stat background, but no economics, so I have none of the jargon. Ideally, if someone reading this has taken a undergraduate level global or macro economics course, preferably with only one or two pre-reqs, and remembers the text book for that, that'd be perfect. Failing that, I'll take general suggestions.

Another pointless programming style holy war

2005-10-07T01:36:16Z

So this came up in one of my classes, and since I like watching dischord, I'll post it here and see what my assorted geek friends think on the matter:

Is it better to indent your programs using spaces or tabs, and how far should each level be indented?

Also, does this vary from language to language with you?

RSS rocks

2005-09-28T13:40:43Z

So I just downloaded and configured an RSS reader (RSS Owl), and have all my friend's journals on RSS feeds now. I love this thing. So now I'm asking for refrences to other cool or noteworthy sites that have RSS feeds. In particular, I'd like some good political news sites, and good tech sites.

Thanks in advance for your reccomendations.

Survey for the coders out there

2005-08-30T18:12:25Z

I'm too lazy to actually take time away from programming to make this an actual poll, so just post replies:

The ?: trinary operator - Cool or confusing? Do you use it? Why or why not?

Contest Conclusion

2005-05-19T12:25:40Z

And so, it brings me great pleasure to announce that our augers have read the signs and determined the winner of the Name Mark's Laptop contest to be (sound of entrails being read please): balerion with the name Falstaff. I found his reasoning impeccable, and he was the only one I had to look up a character on because I thought he got the play wrong. For reference, CS majors should not argue Shakespeare with English majors, it's really not wise. Thanks everybody for playing, see you next time, when we try to personify more of Mark's technology.

So Orwell was off by like 25 years or so

2005-05-09T12:48:22Z

National electronically readable ID cards

Warning: Politics

2005-05-03T12:37:36Z

http://electionarchive.org/ucvAnalysis/US/Exit_Polls_2004_Edison-Mitofsky.pdf

No time for commentary, just thought I'd pass that along to interested parties as I dash off to work.

New Laptop!

2005-04-29T03:58:10Z

So this is my first post from my new laptop. And with that, I'm announcing the "Name Mark's Laptop" contest.

Here are the rules:

1: All names submitted must be characters from a Shakespeare play.

2: You must name the paly the name comes from.

3: Oberon and Mercutio are already taken for my other two machines.

Entires will be collected until we have a winner.

Gmail

2005-04-28T11:39:45Z

I have a few Gmail invites...if anyone want a Gmail account, drop me a comment here or mail me (see a few posts ago for my new email address).

New Toy

2005-04-27T03:59:52Z

Powerball!

This is just way too cool. I have it in blue. Best wrist exercise gizmo I've found yet. Plus, it's surprisingly entertaining.

So I've been told I'm hard to shop for

2005-04-11T22:03:08Z

In response, I'm posting a list of suggestions for things one could get me for my birthday. Don't feel obligated.

Helsing Mangas - I have the first volume, I need the rest.

New Music - I'm getting desperate here. Pick something you think I will like, or here's a list of bands I'm looking to get into:

Yngwie Malmsteen: This guy is pretty awesome, based on the demos I downloaded. In particular, I'm looking at the "Alchemy" and "Concerto Suite for Electric Guitar and Orchestra in E Flat Minor Op. 1" albums. Here's an amazon link for them.

Steve Vai - Again, here's an amazon link.

Afro Celt Sound System

I'm also considering checking out A. C. Newman: Amazon again

Also looking for more Hawkwind, Peter Gabriel, Santana, Therion and BOC. Additionally, good folk music, tribal music, and anything in that cool tribal rock style that's popular(ish) now. I don't really know any bands there, I'm afraid.

Things not to do:
--Don't get me more t-shrits. I have more than I know what to do with.
--Also, don't get me posters unless they're really cool. I'm pretty much out of wall space.

Hope that gives people some springboards, if they wanted them.

cute

2005-04-10T23:46:33Z

My Unitarian Jihad Name is: Brother Neutron Bomb of Mild Reason.

Get yours.

Worst death ever

2005-04-04T22:04:38Z

So I think I may have just suffered the most ignoble nethack death ever. I should have taken a screen capture, but I didn't think of it. Basically, I was in a 2x4 room with the down stairs on one end and the only exit on the other, and accidentally read a scroll of earth in the middle of the room. The result was that I could only move one boulder, in one direction I could push it onto the down stairs, which was in a corner, thus cutting me off from it forever, or in the other direction, I could leave four boulders between me and the down stairs, also cutting me off from it forever (since I had not yet acquired my pickaxe). I starved to death in the aftermath of this blunder.

Cute

2005-03-31T22:24:41Z

Cute quizes. I think these two complement one another rather well.

You scored as Satanism. Your beliefs most closely resemble those of Satanism! Before you scream, do a bit of research on it. To be a Satanist, you don't actually have to believe in Satan. Satanism generally focuses upon the spiritual advancement of the self, rather than upon submission to a deity or a set of moral codes. Do some research if you immediately think of the satanic cult stereotype. Your beliefs may also resemble those of earth-based religions such as paganism.

</td>

Satanism

75%

Buddhism

58%

Islam

46%

atheism

46%

Hinduism

42%

agnosticism

38%

Paganism

33%

Judaism

33%

Christianity

25%

Which religion is the right one for you? (new version)
created with QuizFarm.com

You scored as Existentialism. Your life is guided by the concept of Existentialism: You choose the meaning and purpose of your life.

?Man is condemned to be free; because once thrown into the world, he is responsible for everything he does.?

?It is up to you to give [life] a meaning.?

--Jean-Paul Sartre

?It is man's natural sickness to believe that he possesses the Truth.?

--Blaise Pascal

More info at Arocoun's Wikipedia User Page...

</td>

Existentialism

100%

Hedonism

70%

Utilitarianism

50%

Strong Egoism

50%

Justice (Fairness)

50%

Kantianism

25%

Nihilism

20%

Apathy

15%

Divine Command

What philosophy do you follow? (v1.03)
created with QuizFarm.com

So apparently I'm an existentialist satanist. I also like that apathy beat out divine rule for me.

Morning Thought

2005-03-28T13:13:28Z

Those who set off to save the world may be in for a surprise: the world does not wish to be saved.

Pseudo-scientific clap-trap (again)

2005-03-21T00:02:48Z

NY Times Article(login required, account free)

Ok, I'll go out on a limb here, and say I'm not entirely convinced that intelligent design is wrong. I'm not convinced that it's right either. What's more, I don't really see Intelligent Design conflicting with Evolution. This is nether here nor there.

The general point I want to make here is a follow up to my earlier Pseudo-Scientific Clap-Trap posting. There is only one tried and true, proven method for evaluating an idea: compare it to other ideas about the same topic. This is what distinguishes Science from Pseudo-science.

ICON?

2005-03-17T13:33:41Z

So, Icon is in less than a month (weekend of April 8th to be specific). Anyone have an interest in going?

I'm not sure if I want to go yet, but I want to get a feel for who else would be there, so if my glorious presence is your only reason for attending . . .

Here's the website

chaos_cat @ 2005-03-15T20:00:00

2005-03-16T01:00:04Z

Your life can be taken from you. Your freedom can only be given away. Understanding this is key to my philosophy.

Also off of today's Slashdot

2005-03-09T21:15:21Z

Israli Military considers D&D a security risk

I'm really not sure I consider this a reliable the source is on this, but it did make it past the Slashdot "editors." I think my favorite quote from the article, regarding D&D players, is:

"These people have a tendency to be influenced by external factors which could cloud their judgment, a military official says.

Spoken as tho Non-D&D players do not tend to be influenced by external factors. It's pretty funny overall.

For those who think Australia is the great escape from insane government

2005-03-09T13:16:15Z

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200503/s1319012.htm

Swiped from slashdot

Cooking note

2005-03-09T05:58:54Z

So last night, kiarrith and I did the prototype experiment for Port Wine Poached Pears. It came out well, and I'll include the recipe here for record.

3 cups port wine (we just used basic Taylor)
1 cup water
6 cloves
1 tablespoon ginger (we used dried powdered)
6 peeled and cored Bartlett pears

Combine the wine, water and spices, bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Then drop the pears in, simmer for a moment, and let soak at room temp for 2 hours, chill and serve.

The recipe called for half a cup of sugar, but we skipped that, which gave the dish a tart undertone, well suited to the pears. If I were going to sweeten it, I think I'd want to use honey not sugar.

Next time I think I may want to use powdered clove as well. The ginger absorbed well into the pears, but the clove was much more noticeable in the wine than in the pears. I'll take suggestions on other seasonings that would go well with this. Recipe also suggested using white wine instead of port, but I think I'd want a totally different set of spices for that.

chaos_cat @ 2005-02-27T17:09:00

2005-02-27T22:09:04Z

I'm considering becoming a professional sociopath....seems much easier than actually trying to help people who are, as a rule, inherently self destructive.

Weird

2005-02-25T01:30:18Z

Winamp has developed an obsession with "Jupiter's Child" by Steppenwolf. I think this is the fourth time I've heard it this week.

On that note, Steppenwolf, by Hess, is an excellent book, and if you haven't read it, go do so. Now.

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