What I'd do with a quantum computer...
It would take a thousand-fold increase from today’s computing power, but here’s what I’d like to see - compile-ahead development.
You know how in Firefox and some better text editors, as you type in a search, it automatically jumps ahead to the next match? When you see what you want, you simply stop typing.
Well, I’d like to see a compiler that is constantly compiling your program as you type it in. Maybe it could even run your unit tests for you. Most of the time you were typing, you’d see a red status indicator, because your program isn’t even syntactically correct while you’re still typing a line. But as soon as the program becomes compilable again (in many cases, after each line) - bam - it would be. Any errors would be waiting in another window/monitor for you to correct (or ignore, if you were expecting errors prior to completing another module).
Read more...Nobody around here had the new Boards of Canada album (well, Tower Records did, but I’m not paying $18 for it). So I ordered it off Amazon and was resigned to not getting to hear it until the package arrived.
When I completed checkout, what do I see on the page? “Now available in your Digital Locker: A stream of Boards of Canada - the Campfire Headphase.” My jaw dropped. I had thought this whole Digital Locker thing was silly, until that moment.
Sure, it’s a crappy 64K stream that only plays in Windows Media Player, but I’m in bliss right now listening to it. This is a really good album, and it’s gonna be even better on CD. Thanks, Amazon.
Read more...Now I see why it’s customary to give two weeks’ notice before leaving a company; it takes you that long just to say good bye.
First I had to draft a resignation letter. (That wasn’t complicated. For legal reasons, sites on the subject actually advise you to keep it to a simple statement that you’re leaving.) Then I had to go tell my boss. (He congratulated me. John is a nice guy and a good sport.) Then I had to sit through a call while his boss made a half-assed attempt to get me to stay. (No counteroffer was made; the company’s in no position to right now.) Then I had to go around to the cubes of everyone I’ve worked with on our grossly overstaffed projects, and smile and nod through “let’s trade e-mails” and “let’s do lunch before you go” and so forth. (There are a few people I geniunely intend to keep in touch with, though.) THEN I had to go to my original department, and do it all over again. I still have to find my old boss to let her know, otherwise the first she’ll hear of it will be my announcement during a project meeting tomorrow.
Google’s opening an office in the Valley. Maybe next I’ll get hired on there, and remain happily until retirement, so that I never have to go through this again.
Read more...Yeeeehaw!
I’ll elaborate later. :)
Read more...First I was laid up for a week with strep throat. And now I think I’m catching Lenny’s cold. (If it’s not the strep reoccurring.)
I am very, very tired of being sick.
Read more...Diana, Jay, and Lenny
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Diana, Jay, and Lenny,
originally uploaded by gefyn. </div>Diana’s been watching America’s Next Top Model. She wanted me to show her “fierce”. Lenny looks appropriately concerned.
Diana, Jay, and Lenny
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Diana, Jay, and Lenny,
originally uploaded by gefyn. </div>Us. Taken at arm’s-length by Diana.
Diana
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Diana,
originally uploaded by nephariuz. </div>Near the campground at Allthing 2005.
Diana and Lenny
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Diana and Lenny,
originally uploaded by nephariuz. </div>Near the campground at Allthing 2005. Diana’s pose was intentional, but I don’t think Lenny’s was.
Jay's Rock
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Jay’s Rock,
originally uploaded by nephariuz. </div>I’m sure this balancing rock on a dirt road on the northern shore of Lake Powell has another, official name, but I’m betting not many people know it. We dubbed it Jay’s Rock, because I scrambled out of the car and across the brushy sand to get to it for this photo.