Archive for October, 2006

I started to learn to program with BASIC. Then I learned C. Now I have a class that requires me to use Java. Java is all about Objects. I find myself struggling to grasp the concept. Just when I think I have it then I find something else that I’m not quite getting. I am working on a simulation program demonstrating preemptive multitasking on a single CPU system. No matter what I do I can’t seem to get rid of redundant methods in two of my classes. There has to be a good way to take care of this problem, but everything I can think of just adds complexity to the program, which is what I’m trying to avoid. Maybe I’ll post again with a solution, if I ever find one, that is.

FineTooth is the fastest and easiest solution for converting paper documents into easily searchable digital information. With their Contract Management Software you have instant access to information no matter where and how the hard-copies are stored. The really interesting part is that their software can read through narrative contracts and automatically index bullet-points, milestones, and dates. This is in the same field of computational linguistics that I’m interested in. It’s amazing that their software can understand these complex documents well enough to pull out this information. We’re getting closer and closer to a robot that can interact with you like C-3PO can. This is exciting stuff!

Krissy and I went out with Kevin and Vicki to take advantage of Olive Garden’s Neverending Pasta Bowls. It’s not a bad deal at $7.95 per person. I was looking forward to it all day, so I made a point not to snack at all after lunch. I still couldn’t finish my first bowl. I think part of it is because they give you soup and bread sticks before the pasta ever comes. On top of that I got two sausages for an extra two dollars. No one at the table finished all of their first bowl of pasta. I figure that their secret must be that no one can eat more than two servings anyway, so we’ll call it “neverending” and people will get all excited about all you can eat pasta. I bet they make a lot of money even though they don’t charge very much. I mean, how much does pasta really cost anyway?

I would do it again, though. It’s good food. I’d rather have neverending soup bowls, though. Their Zuppa Toscana is amazing!

There is a new blog for those who want to advertise on blogs or wish to have advertising added to their blogs. It is by a company mentioned in a previous post called PayPerPost.com. They allow blogs with lighter traffic to make money the way the big blogs do while getting the word out on some brand new things from smaller companies. Check it out if you are interested.

Those most likely to pirate music are between the ages of 13 and 17. That same age group shares something else in common. They can’t get a credit card on their own. Why is this important? You need a credit card to purchase music online. You can’t buy MP3s at the music store. Kids don’t want to buy CDs. I think if there were an easy way for kids to buy music online then they would do it, but only if it were easy to buy individual tracks. This won’t stop music piracy, but if they could get a song easier and faster by buying it and they already knew they liked it, then they would buy it. I think kids just want to try out music without getting burned. Everyone has bought at least one CD that you thought you would like and after trying it twice you just couldn’t stand it. Is there a solution to this problem?

Jason Calacanis, also known as the Web 2.0 Copycat, is complaining again about an idea that he probably wished he had come up with himself. After copying digg.com and paying digg’s top submitters to start the clone site for Netscape, he is now taking jabs at PayPerPost.com, a company allowing blog advertising revenue to be earned by smaller blogs so that smaller companies can get their products out there. I don’t know why he hates the idea so much, but it seems to be quite popular with advertisers as well as bloggers. I say more power to you PayPerPost.com! Maybe Mr. Calacanis is just upset that he hasn’t figured out a way to rip it off yet.

Krissy and I got home last night after being away for five days house- and babysitting. When we sat down and checked the Freevo there were nine shows recorded ready to be watched! We only got through two and a half of them before Krissy fell asleep. Having things automated is great. I told Krissy “That’s what you get when you marry a computer science major!”

I wish I had a dollar for every time I’ve needed to lug a computer monitor out from its usual location and sit it on the floor, plug it into the wall and a headless computer. I have a 700MHz Pentium 3 in the living room hooked up to the television working as a media hub. I also have a slower machine working as a print/scanner server and web server. Every so often something goes screwy and I can’t log into one of them over the network. I have thought time and time again that what I really need is a way to hook these boxes up to my laptop and use the keyboard, touchpad, and LCD screen to control and get feedback from the headless systems. I have thought about this but never realized that this was really possible. Well, as it turns out, it is possible!

Epiphan Systems, Inc. must have run into a lot of people with the same wish I had. Maybe they had wished they could use something similar internally, I don’t know. Whatever the reason and however they came up with the idea, here it is! The KVM2USB hooks up to a laptop’s USB port. It has three connectors on the other side: VGA, PS/2 Mouse, and PS/2 Keyboard. Now you can service any machine that is usually not controlled with a keyboard and standard display without a bulky monitor and separate keyboard and mouse. Normally you wouldn’t be able to carry all of the things you need by yourself in one trip, but now you can. Maybe some day they will have an official version that works on laptops running Linux, but you can get a binary only driver that will allow it. Take a look at the KVM2USB Technical Specifications.

This really has the potential to become the tool of choice for the system repair technician.

I’ve finally made the decision that I’m going to sell my Gamecube. The sooner the better, I figure, as far as getting money for it goes. I am saving up to buy the Wii as soon as it comes out. I will try to have enough money by then for at least one extra controller and nunchaku and at least one extra game. The way I see it that’s about $325. I am already up to $110 allocated for the Wii. Nintendo appears to have the upper hand with their next console release. The anticipation of the Wii is incredible. I’ve been evangelizing it like crazy and everyone I talk to about it seems really excited. It will be interesting to see if Nintendo can push this one into the mainstream and shake off their kiddie image.

I just love trivia games. My brain is like a sponge soaking up useless little bits of information. I have enjoyed watching Jeopardy ever since I can remember. I always look forward to playing Trivial Pursuit at parties. I love watching documentaries and increasing my knowledge. Learning is fun, even if most public school curricula don’t teach children that. Now I’ve found a fun resource for unusual trivia. The Aviva Trivia Blog includes such varied information as 10 Things I Didn’t Know About Jukeboxes, Weird Jobs, and Useless Facts About Shaving.

I will be checking this site regularly to see what other weird trivia they come up with. Take a look and let me know what you think! Do you have any weird trivia that most people don’t know about? Let’s see what you’ve got in the comments.