Link – Page 9 – Made by Mikal

Proposition 82

Post author:mikal
Post published:May 9, 2006
Post category:Link

California has this strange direct funding system, where the electorate can mandate a given amount of funding for a specific line item, and not involve the politicians in the future decision making. Wikipedia doesn't have an article on proposition 82 yet (I might make one...), but here is an example of a previous proposition. Proposition 82 proposes free preschool education for all California kids (these guys have the noon82.com site as well as the yeson82.com site). It does have opposition though. It's strange living somewhere where I get no say in the political process, and where I don't feel obligated to live with the long term effects of any given change. So, I say give me the free stuff!

Interesting: Vote on other sites with your links

Post author:mikal
Post published:May 7, 2006
Post category:Link

I find the vote links proposal quite interesting. I wonder if anyone has adopted it?

Buy Toshiba!

Post author:mikal
Post published:May 6, 2006
Post category:Link

It certainly seems to be working out for the best for Rory: When I fired up the machine for the first time to make sure he did everything right and it wouldn't explode in my face, I couldn't help but notice that I wasn't getting any WiFi signal. I told him what was wrong. He said he didn't even see a WiFi card in there when he was repairing. That didn't surprise me since, at least from what I saw, he tried to fix my computer by repeatedly body-slamming it on the ground and bitch-slapping it. Hard to see the details that way.

Interesting quote

Post author:mikal
Post published:May 5, 2006
Post category:Link

A complex system that works is invariably found to have evolved from a simple system that worked...A complex system designed from scratch never works and cannot be patched up to make it work. You have to start over, beginning with a working simple system. John Gall via Marc on the O'Reilly radar.

State of the computing book market

Post author:mikal
Post published:May 3, 2006
Post category:Link

Tim O'Reilly's examination of the state of the book market: comes in three parts. It makes some interesting points. Gary Cornell has started a response which is also worth a read.

Lego Mindstorms NXT and open source

Post author:mikal
Post published:May 2, 2006
Post category:Link

I had a gander at the Mindstorms NXT at the Maker Faire and it looked cool. It looks cooler now that it's firmware is being open sourced.

Steven Colbert, will you marry me?

Post author:mikal
Post published:May 1, 2006
Post category:Link

I love you so much. Oh, but my wife says I am taken.

In case of Viking invaders

Post author:mikal
Post published:April 30, 2006
Post category:Link

Please ensure you complete the correct paperwork if NASA Ames is invaded by Vikings. That is all.

Nuclear accidents

Post author:mikal
Post published:April 27, 2006
Post category:Link

Civilian nuclear accidents, and military accidents are covered well on Wikipedia I see.

Tangential research to my own

Post author:mikal
Post published:April 26, 2006
Post category:Link

This research is tangentially related to the PhD I have take a year off. It's also pretty important if you plan on putting any pictures you take online anonymously.