Andy Ruina explains how bicycles balance

This clip is interesting.  It demonstrates bicycle stability theory by constructing a bike that does not have any angular momentum, yet one that balances by itself when in motion.



Andy Ruina explains how bicycles balance - YouTube

Pre digital, the least flattering thing to say these days

Do you know that feeling going to the doctor; that feeling that your time is being wasted. Seth Godin does:

Pre digital

Also, the ridiculousness of filling out paper forms, in the same visit, with the same information, in my awful scrawl that is readable by no one.  I've personally failed to receive a medical phone call because of this.

I for one look forward to more "digital" medical care.  

This is not a headline from the Onion: New Windows promises setup in just 11 clicks

This is not a headline from the Onion:

Microsoft streamlining Windows 8 install process, promises setup in just 11 clicks -- Engadget

I find it amusing when a company's very best effort and marketing looks to me like a colossal failure.

I read a story, attributed to a MS employee, that the minimal remote control for a TV required 30-odd buttons; 0-9, on, left, right, up, down, volume up, volume down, mute ... etc up to 30-odd. That would be one way to approach the problem, but not one that I prefer. The Apple remote for the AppleTV has only 4 arrows and a select button and manages to perform all those functions and more.

xkcd: Wisdom of the Ancients

xkcd: Wisdom of the Ancients

Wow, just wow ...

I just had one of *those* moments with computers. You know, when you see them do something that you've never seen before, maybe never even imagined.

Some past examples:

Google

Quicktime VR

Google Earth

Here's one more

http://northstudio360.yb.nl/nimmobay/embed/YBPlayerLite.swf?c=config_embed

(be sure to click and drag in the movie).

[ Edit: This link seem to be broken at this time ... will try to find a good link ]

Can you restore your work?

Most people know that they should "backup".  And most folks have either a regular or irregularly timed set of backups.   You've probably heard (or maybe had your own) horror stories of the results of insufficient backup.

However, it's not "backup" that you need, it is *RESTORATION*.  Full, complete restoration of a running system.  In the business this is referred to as "disaster recovery" or "continuity of business".  I find that this is almost always sorely lacking in reality.

The way to know if you've can recover is to, well, do a restoration.  So try this out as a test:  go recover your work (or your running website) from 5 days ago, and from 25 days ago.  If this seems too difficult, for any reason, (common reasons might be: don't have extra machines, too much time, interferes with running website) then you actually have a problem.  Consider solving that problem today before you find yourself in a disaster scenario.

The Chevy Volt: the new Pinto?

The new Pinto?

Maybe, maybe not.  Certainly there is a lot of energy in the batteries of any electric/hybrid car, as well as a lot of energy in a tank of gas.  

The critical question is which form of energy storage is liable to release itself dangerously in a crash.  Seems like a good area of research.

Zynga To Employees: Surrender Pre-IPO Shares Or You're Fired - Slashdot

This strikes me as beyond slimy. Zynga To Employees: Surrender Pre-IPO Shares Or You're Fired - Slashdot

Disclosure: I don't have stock of any kind in my current gig. I have had in the past.

How's this for an analogy:

Evil Game Company: We decided to lower your salary; last year's salary to be specific. Write us a check for $50000. 

Employee: No, I don't agree to that. 

Evil Game Company: You are fired.

Seem about the same to me. Of course I understand that in legal terms there is a difference. In the real scenario, the $50000 grand is not vested, which means that its value is destroyed when the employee is fired.

Aside from the obvious nuclear bomb this has dropped on Zynga's employee attraction potential, I think this may be damaging to Z in another way. They may lose any current employees with a backbone.

EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM TEST FAILS

Funny, here is a lesson that programmers and others involved in making software products have learned long, long ago. The only way to know if your system works is to test it.

EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM TEST FAILS

And to test it under actual conditions.

I invest a significant chunk of my project time building and maintaining a build/deploy system that I use both for production instances of our product as well as test and development instances of our product. This assure us that production == development == test.

The best explanation of why the Moon appears larger on the horizon...

Comes from a comic?!   Lunar Erratum | Sci-ence! A Skeptical Comic and Blog.

Why does the Moon appear so large on the horizon?  Follow the link for the answer

xkcd: The General Problem

I'm not sure if this is funny to non-programmers ... but it sure demonstrates how we think.


xkcd: The General Problem

The End of an Era: Internet Explorer Drops Below 50 Percent of Web Usage

Worth of celebration.

The End of an Era: Internet Explorer Drops Below 50 Percent of Web Usage

Anyone that programs websites will appreciate this (as IE has created many headaches). Also, having a diversity of browsers is good for consumers. The competition results in better browsers, and provides alternatives when one browser has a bug or won't support certain websites.