(Dark) Cloud (Computing) On The Horizon

In the last few weeks I’ve been trying to get a handle on The Cloud (not the company, but the computing services approach) and the ramifications of the almost inevitable rise of this way of doing … well, everything. When you get past the mists of the new acronyms (SaaS, PaaS, IaaS for example) what looms is a “disruptive” technology, and it’s going to be a huge game-changer as far as I can see…  [See Updates at bottom]

A Step In The Right Direction

One thing has been clear to me for a long time: obesity and super-obesity have many different causes, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution that will “fix” those who suffer from these conditions (and I do mean suffer – except for Sumo wrestlers and the occasional actor preparing for a role, no-one genuinely chooses to be super-obese).

One of those causes has, for me, been self-evident. It’s an abnormally low normal body temperature. Finally, it looks as though research is beginning to provide evidence-based support for that idea.

Random Thoughts On The Universe And Time Travel

Part 1: Wherever We Look, The Universe Is Expanding Away From Us

The Gravity of Biological Evolution: Episode 2

Read Episode 1 first before you read this episode. It makes better sense.

Q: When Is Internet Explorer Not Internet Explorer?

A: When Microsoft says it isn’t…

St John’s Wort: A Diary

In my youth (age 16 to mid 20s) I experienced three periods of clinical depression. The longest lasted more than two years, the shortest about 18 months. I never received any treatment or medical management during these periods, and I can’t say whether that was a good or bad idea. I survived but as a result I have a strong appreciation for what it’s like to be clinically depressed, and a concomitant empathy for those going through the hell it can entail. [Updated; see end of article]

Big Brother, Inc.

In 1949 the English novelist and journalist Eric Arthur Blair wrote a novel that has had a considerable impact on society’s perception of government. The novel was called Nineteen Eighty-Four, and Blair’s pen name is well-known: George Orwell.

Don’t Ask For Help!

On March 1st (my birthday, as it happens) Microsoft published a security advisory about yet another vulnerability within their products. This time it concerns Windows 2000, Windows XP SP3, Windows Server 2003 and Internet Explorer. But their attitude about it is – to my mind – all wrong.

Freedom Without Accountability Is Oppression

Some years ago a very stupid and nasty-minded troll (a female computer science student in the UK – taking a master’s degree, as it turned out) was posting garbage into pet-related newsgroups that were frequented by children. Among other things, she advocated pouring hot wax into an animal’s ears in order to “cure” it of ear mites.

IQ: It’s Not What You Think It Is

I read an interesting article today about IQ (Intelligence Quotient). It seems that people with a high IQ (>120) are just as capable of making poor judgement calls as those without. So, high IQ !≡ Smart.

The Dorabella Cipher: Analysis 1

The Dorabella Cipher: Intro presented some basic information on the cipher and my introduction to it. This post will cover the initial analysis that I undertook, so that you essentially follow in my footsteps.

Plagiarism/Infection Follow-On

Following on from recent posts about plagiarism and the risk of viral infection when you try to investigate possible acts of the same, here’s another episode in the same saga.

Useful Tools: LeakTest from GRC

This is a very simple and IME effective free tool available from Steve Gibson of Gibson Research (GRC). Steve’s the guy behind SpinRite and he has some very useful resources on his site. Well worth the visit, IMHO.

Déjà Plagié

OK, I’ll admit it, I was trying to be a smartass and find a way to create a sequence of déjà vu, déjà lu, déjà bu… with a final entry that had something to do with plagiarism and ends in -u. It didn’t work out, obviously, but there’s a cautionary tale to follow anyway.

Not Just Crossing The Line…

…but erasing it altogether. Staff at Pennsylvania’s Lower Merion School District did something absolutely unforgiveable recently, and they should not be allowed to get away with it.

The Wayback Machine

More properly known as the Internet Archive, it’s a very useful resource.

The Gravity of Biological Evolution: Episode 1

In the years prior to my Coming To America, I’d heard odd rumblings about evolution (the biological kind) being a problem for some Americans, but it wasn’t until I came to marry, live and work here fifteen years ago that the full enormity of the problem became apparent to me.

The Dorabella Cipher: Intro

In July 1897 the composer Edward Elgar (later knighted) and his wife, Alice, spent a few days visiting friends in Wolverhampton – the Reverend Alfred Penny, his second wife, Mary, and their daughter from Alfred’s first marriage, Dora (his first wife died in Melanesia where the Pennys had been engaged in missionary work). EDIT: This turns out to be untrue – Alfred’s first wife, Dora Margaret Heale, died six days after giving birth to Dora at the vicarage in Swindon, Staffordshire, UK and was buried February 17, 1874 at St John the Evangelist in the same town. She was just 22 years old. Alfred left to be a missionary in 1875 and doesn’t appear to have returned for 13 years.

Of Inkwells And Mangles

I had reason to make a trip down Memory Lane recently, during a discussion with my wife over whether I am now to be considered “old”. She says No, I say Are You Kidding? I’ve Been An AARP Subscriber For Years Now.

A Petition Worth Signing…

… IMHO.

From time to time I get email requests to sign petitions for this or that worthy cause, and generally I do. In this case, though, I think it’s worthwhile for everyone to consider signing this petition, partly in the name of freedom of speech but mostly because we deserve to be protected from those who peddle quack remedies.

The New German

I hadn’t noticed that Google have created their own version of the Babel Fish site, until today.

Build Your Own Music

Along with Paul Neave’s site, I’d forgotten about this little gem:

Paul Neave’s Flash Earth

There’s just so much good stuff on the Web that it’s easy to forget some of it…

Musical Rail Fence: Intro

It’s what I believe to be an undiscovered – or unnoticed – variant of the Rail Fence encryption method.

HAL Is Not Always The Problem…

Not 2001 A Space Odyssey HAL, but HAL.DLL, one of Microsoft’s little darlings…

Footprints

As time goes by our “footprint” in this universe (well, on this Earth) may actually be getting stronger thanks to the Internet.

One Of Those Days…

… when Sith happens. Not as in Revenge of the Sith, but as in a big steaming pile of Sith…

Sleeping In A Bubble

I subscribe to Universe Today and occasionally I come across some small gems. Well, they’re gems to me. To you they might be lumps of coal…

So Long And Thanks For All The Pancakes

Back in 2002 I entered a competition specifically aimed at technical writers. Yes, I know that’s years ago – shut up and let me finish.

Popeye May Have Been Onto Something…

… He knew that Olive Oyl was good for him.

Flying Car? This Time It’s Genuine

For decades we’ve been expecting the Flying Car. Paul Moller’s M400 looked quite promising, but never seemed to quite get off the ground (as it were).

But things changed a little while ago.

New Kind of Fusion Machine?

The Register reports on a new kind of “inside-out” hover magnet type fusion reactor that’s being tested at MIT. The video clip looks really cool. By which I mean hot.

It’s Dumb Stuff At The Top, Too

New Scientist published an article entitled “Hints of intelligence in dumb drop of oil.” An online version is available here. (They gave it a different title online.)

SCAFU, Not SNAFU…

That’s Supreme Court, not Situation Normal.

How could anyone with a brain make such a decision as did the SCotUS recently, when it ruled on Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission? I disagree with the take that other bloggers (such as Ed Brayton) have on the ruling – I think many may have missed the key issue.

The MTA Is Just Begging To Fail

I’d often read that Los Angeles was a terrible place to try and use public transport. I’d never had occasion to use it until now, at which point I began to see why no-one has a good word to say about it.

The Romans in Britain

One of my (many and varied) interests just got a tad more interesting today.

In the course of conducting more research into one of my storylines (Nex), I uncovered snippets of information about one of the features related to the factual (rather than speculative) basis for the story.

Avoiding Web Sites…

… that you don’t like.  [See UPDATE at the end of this post]

Every PC has a facility within it that can stop your browser from taking you to sites you’d rather not visit (such as those hosting porn, scams, unwanted advertizing, whatever). It’s called the “hosts” file and once you understand how it works, it’s a fairly easy way to exert more control over your browsing experience.

Another Day Lost

Grrr. I put my head down for what was supposed to be a brief nap, and ended up sleeping almost the entire day. Not sure why I’m so tired – stress, maybe. In the last 24 hours I’ve managed to sleep for 21 of them. Ouch.

At Long Last: A Visitor

We do manage to get some wildlife a-visitin’ us up here on the lofty third floor. (The vast majority of buildings in this neck of the woods don’t rise above three floors because they become unstable in earthquakes…)

Water. Water, Everywhere…

But not a drop to drink. Well, get showered with, maybe.

The Wars at NBC

I have to weigh in on the current fiasco over the Tonight Show in the US.

Here’s what I wrote on TMZ‘s site (under the handle The Old Curmudgeon):

177. As I recall, five years ago NBC were concerned over rumors that Conan was being wooed by Fox. Their announcement of Jay’s “retirement” followed by the appointment of Conan to fill some pretty big shoes (too big, as it turns out), set the stage.

And The Rain It Raineth…

The storms are now rolling in, and bringing some severe weather with them.

Here’s Another Example

As I’m writing the previous post, I lean forward to look a little more closely at something on the screen, and then I lean back (and I don’t mean the bacon).

First Meanderings…

OK. So here’s the thing. I tend to do stuff bass ackwards. Start something without a clue as to what I’m doing or plan to do.

This applies really only to writing. No, really. The rest of my life, I tend to try and keep as organised/organized as possible.

Well, maybe it applies to some other stuff. But look, I am trying. My wife says I’m very trying…

So I’m still working things out, trying to decide exactly what it is I’m going to do.

Birth…

I’ve lost count of how many blogs I’ve started and then had them peter out, usually in the space of a day. But I’ve decided that 2010 is going to be different. Maybe.

About Brainfarts…

I have to be honest and say that right now I don’t have the faintest idea what this blog is going to be “about”. I’m not even sure I know what I’m “about”.

So bear with me while I try to work it out. This could take a while…

One thing’s for certain: I’m nothing special. Wait. Does that make me special by not being special? Dang.

I’m certainly not Everyman – I don’t think so, anyway – but equally I’m no expert at anything. Shoot. Does that mean I’m an expert at not being an expert? A brain could go nuts thinking about these highly important things…

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The blogs I link to in the sidebar are those I enjoy reading and try to access at least daily, if at all possible. There are other blogs, but these are the cream of the crop for me.