Myke Predko's Blog

Don't Mess with Dad...

2004-06-06T00:40:00.000-04:00

I don't know how serious this EBay item is - but it's pretty funny.

Personally, I would have second thoughts about taking on a 6'3" thirteen year old with a drinking problem.

History in the making

2004-05-27T14:02:00.000-04:00

Singapore lifts its 12 year ban on chewing gum.

The only catch? According to the article "About 19 medicinal and dental gum products including Nicorettes and Wrigley's will become available to those with proper documentation."

Simpsons Phanatics

2004-05-27T13:27:00.000-04:00

From the Too Much Time on Their Hands Dept:

Here is a an accurate Map of the Simpson's home of "Springfield". It is so accurate that it is listed in the Harvard Map Archive.

If something seems amiss, remember that during the garbage crisis, they moved the town.

On the same theme, in the town of Springfield, Nevada, there is a duplicate of the Simpson's home.

Stuff Left out of "The Da Vinci Code" - Possible Spoiler

2004-05-20T09:55:00.000-04:00

If you have read "The Da Vinci" code, you might want to read this CNN Blurb.

If you haven't read it, then you are hopelessly out of touch with the rest of society.

Home Test for Parallel Universe

2004-05-14T10:11:00.000-04:00

Curious to find out if there's a mirror image?

Click Here to see a simple test that you can perform to see if we actually exist in a multiverse.

Don't get drunk in Barcelona

2004-05-13T09:39:00.004-04:00

This USA Today writer isn't nearly as clever nor funny as he thinks he is, but he does write about the interesting Baja Beach Club in Barcelona which will happily insert an RFID tag into you to help you to pay your bills.

Wouldn't a better solution be to make up some bracelets with RFID tags and hand them out when people check in? No bracelet, no drink...

Don't get drunk in Barcelona

2004-05-13T09:39:00.002-04:00

Don't get drunk in Barcelona

2004-05-13T09:39:00.001-04:00

Don't get drunk in Barcelona

2004-05-13T09:39:00.000-04:00

CNN Article of the Day #1 - Redefining Human Limits

2004-05-04T14:51:00.000-04:00

Interesting article on how some people can seemingly do the impossible.

I'm not sure that there are lessons here for the rest of us, but it's always interesting to read about somebody who can dive (without any equipment) over 500 feet deep or swim in the antartic wearing nothing but a bathing suit.

CNN Article of the Day #2 - Yeep

2004-05-04T14:49:00.000-04:00

Interesting article on the training firemen and other EMS personnel must receive to handle hybrid vehicles.

I've been driving a Toyota Prius for two years now...

Must remember to tell them that after an accident to only approach the car with rubber gloves and boots and if they must cut, only do the roof.

CNN News Items for the day

2004-04-28T09:40:00.000-04:00

A couple of interesting/weird news pieces from the CNN web site:

1. If Australia ever decides to do their own version of "Lassie", here is the star.

2. When I first read this, I wondered how serious it was. When I retire, I want to go to work on Nevada's anti-avalanche program.

3. Two Miami DJs have been fined $4,000 for making a crank call to Fidel Castro. Their response? To pay the fine in pennies.

For the man who has everything (literally)...

2004-04-27T14:27:00.000-04:00

The home circumcision kit:

http://www.gmcds.co.kr/

Remember: Everyone easily can do circumcision, Comfortable and safe
operation with no incision, suture, blood and slight pain!

"The Ultimate Luxury Item?"

2004-04-26T14:39:00.000-04:00

I've been around - I just haven't seen too much that I would consider linking to in the blog until I saw...

This.

Definitely out there.

Ever Feel the Need to Boss Around a Chicken?

2004-04-13T14:39:00.000-04:00

Then Burger King has what you need here.

Interesting Flash Game

2004-04-13T14:31:00.000-04:00

I would have done a lot better and if I had read the instructions and realized that the large number bricks start at the bottom when you are playing This.

Yuck!

2004-04-13T14:16:00.000-04:00

This is Disgusting...

Internet Simulator/Trainer

2004-04-02T09:58:00.000-05:00

This Application gives you the opportunity to develop the skills you need to access the Internet.

Looking for Something Challenging, Disgusting and Ultimately Enlightening?

2004-03-30T14:57:00.000-05:00

Then click Here.

Note that this is NOT for the easily grossed out - although it is a lot easier to take with the sound turned off.

Words of Unwisdome: Some Dan Quayle Quotes

2004-03-29T17:55:00.000-05:00

I ran across a few of Dan Quayle's lesser known quotes that are actually quite hilarious (instead of the most oft quoted statement What a waste it is to lose one's mind. Or not to have a mind is being very wasteful. How true that is. delivered to the United Negro College Fund).

Here are the best ones:

Quite frankly, teachers are the only profession that teach our children.
We are not ready for any unforeseen event that may or may not occur.
My friends, no matter how rough the road may be, we can and we will never, never surrender to what is right.
People are not homeless if they're sleeping in the streets of their own hometowns.
The global importance of the Middle East is that it keeps the Far East and the Near East from encroaching on each other.
Bank failures are caused by depositors who don't deposit enough money to cover losses due to mismanagement.
Space is almost infinite. As a matter of fact, we think it is infinite.
If we do not succeed, then we run the risk of failure.

My eyes get all watery when I see something like This

2004-03-29T13:37:00.000-05:00

All I've got to say is that I'm glad Buddist Monks are peace-loving.

Otherwise, we don't have any way to put them down.

Unreasonably tough Flash Game Here

2004-03-29T11:08:00.000-05:00

Kind of the old "Lunar Lander" game, but really tough.

OpenOffice - Microsoft is worried

2004-03-25T17:16:00.000-05:00

I've been using OpenOffice for about a half a book now and I have to say I like it. The graphics program is a bit better than PowerPoint, the "Writer" (MS Write clone) works a bit differently, and "Calc" (Excel) macros work differently but overall for the price (free) it's pretty good and is something that would keep me from buying MS Office with my next PC.

Strangely enough, Microsoft is worried about OpenOffice and try to slam it Here. I can't believe that MS claims Office offers more protection against viruses - Everynight I run MacAfee and Adaware what Outlook, Explorer and Office let in.

Open Source is a lot more attractive than you might think.

Julius Schwartz 1915-2004

2004-03-23T12:04:00.000-05:00

In February of this year, the comics world lost one of the great forces in comics and probably the person who has had the most influence (even more than Stan Lee) on the Genre. I grew up when "Julie Schwartz" was leading Superman and Batman, and preparing them for what they are today.

He lived by one simple law:

Take something you love, tell people about it, bring together people who share your love and help make it better. Ultimately, you'll have more of whatever you love for yourself and for the world.

Getcher Poop Straight Here

2004-03-22T22:10:00.000-05:00

With one of the most fractious US Presidential elections about to take place, it might be a good idea to check Here periodically to make sure you know who's being honest and who's, uh, shading the truth.

Basically the Most Tasteless Game of All Time

2004-03-22T10:58:00.000-05:00

If you are in any way sensitive, don't click HERE.

If you do play it, make sure you don't squander your "Smart Bombs".

University of Georgia, Building the Future

2004-03-22T09:59:00.000-05:00

The Smoking Gun, the site that keeps everybody honest has posted one of the 20 point exams from the Physical Education course taught by Jim Harrick Jr.

I knew 14 out of 20, good enough for a b-!

Courtney Love's Record Deal Math

2004-03-20T12:19:00.000-05:00

I'm not a big fan of Courney Love, Hole, Nirvana or Kurt Cobain, but Love has an interesting article on how Record Labels Do The Math for signed artists. Reading through the math is interesting...

It's a broken system and clearly somebody needs to fix it.

Heavy Duty Swearing...

2004-03-19T13:59:00.000-05:00

Do not click Here if you don't think gratuitous swearing is funny.

Otherwise, go for it.

Looking for some examples?

2004-03-19T13:35:00.000-05:00

Have some final writing to do? Britain's National Archives has put up a number of famous people's final will and testaments. Most of these wills cost 4 pounds.

William Shakespear's will will give you some insight into the mind that caused you so much grief in high school (Note: Shakespear's will is in PDF format and is free to download).

Book Pointer - Len Deighton's "Blitzkrieg"

2004-03-19T13:30:00.000-05:00

If you're looking for a good read, you might want to look at Len Deighton's Blitzkrieg: From the Rise of Hitler to the Fall of Denmark I.E. Dunkirk which is a good read explaining Hitler's rise to power in Germany along with Germany's development of fast tank warefare which changed the face of Europe in just a few months.

The book will give you a better understanding of Hitler along with many of his generals as well as the amazing mistakes that can be made during war time.

Married with Children Season 2 Available on DVD!

2004-03-19T13:20:00.000-05:00

C'mon, admit it, you watched Married with Children - well now you can order the 2nd Season on DVD (the 1st Season has been available for some time now).

Classic episodes include:

Girls Just Want to Have Fun - Marcia looses her wedding ring down a stripper's pants
You Better Watch Out - My favourite Christmas episode; a Skydiving Santa lands in the Bundy's back yard
Earth Angel - Bud brings home a friend
The Great Escape - The Bundy's move into the shoe store while their house is fumigated
Just Married ... With Children - The game show episode

All the episodes are great (as are all the ones before Jefferson).

Debunking the Mars Rabbit

2004-03-19T13:14:00.000-05:00

Professional/Real Astronomer Philip Plait has spent some time debunking Richard Hoagland's claims about advanced life on Mars along with NASA and other government organizations covering up. Earlier, I put a link to Hoagland's page dedicated to showing the rabbit on Mars.

Interesting reading.

Despite new advances, I think I'll keep my Kyocera

2004-03-19T09:52:00.000-05:00

Great news from the 3GSM World Congress.

The "Ventrio-Phone" sounds like it could be fun, but no way would allow a "Prophy-Lectric" handset near my boys...

Intelligence Tests are one thing...

2004-03-18T12:19:00.000-05:00

But to really find out how powerful your mind is, click Here.

Apparently, I know you will.

On Line Railway Tycoon

2004-03-17T12:48:00.000-05:00

Here's a fun game for those of you that like railways.

UPDATE: WARNING: Play at your own risk - this is very addictive.

Dangerous Chemical Update

2004-03-16T12:56:00.000-05:00

I know this has been hitting the 'Net over the past few days, but it's pretty funny, especially when you realize how many people have been fooled by it (most recently Aliso Viejo California).

Of course it takes focus away from a truly dangerous product, made from an element that was the basis for a poisonous gas used during the First World War as well as a metal that spontaneously combusts when exposed to oxygen.

Amazing...

2004-03-16T12:37:00.000-05:00

Postage Stamp Sized Disk Drive?

I remember working on the ones that were literally the size of a clothes washer.

Strictly for Learning about Text to Speech Interfaces

2004-03-10T12:37:00.000-05:00

http://www.naturalvoices.att.com/demos/ is only for testing out how a text to speech translator works. It is not for:

Obscenities
Impersonating a Doctor for when you want a day off
Expressing your feelings to your Significant Other

It is pretty funny when you put in quotes from Homer Simpson (such as "Lisa! In our house we obey the laws of thermodynamics").

Chernobyl - 18 Years Later

2004-03-07T20:04:00.000-05:00

A young Ukrainian woman (anybody know her name?) compiled this series of photographs of a motorcycle trip through the Chernobyl region of the Ukraine.

Very sad.

Remember how much fun it is to pop bubble wrap?

2004-03-05T22:02:00.000-05:00

Knock Yourself out Here

Addictive Timewaster...

2004-03-05T13:01:00.000-05:00

Put all the reds to the right or the blues to the left...

Have some fun Here.

Free guest appearance on Jerry Springer goes to...

2004-03-05T12:46:00.000-05:00

Alison Innes.

Good luck with your new baby and husband.

Important! People travelling to Ohio...

2004-03-05T12:42:00.000-05:00

Don't eat the salad

A Presciption to Save NASA

2004-03-04T14:44:00.000-05:00

Constance Adams has the following thought provoking article on what are the problems at NASA and what can be done to fix them. Ms. Adams spent seven years working for NASA working on the team that developed the inflatable TransHab module, so she is reasonably well versed in NASA's corporate culture. Interesting read.

Stupid Burglar

2004-03-04T14:11:00.000-05:00

CNN.com has the inept Brazilian B&E artist that shot himself in the foot during his crime and ended up leaving a trail of blood that the police could follow.

Rabbits on Mars - Conspiracy Theory

2004-03-03T10:07:00.000-05:00

Interesting article on WeirdLoad in which an interesting object (resembling a rabbit or ram's skull) was noticed on Mars and run over by the Opportunity robot.

You can decide, was this some kind of extra-terrestrial life, or a piece of debris from the robot's landing?

Neat Hack

2004-02-26T10:39:00.000-05:00

Design News has a regular series called "Gadget Freak" which can be interesting (like cooking hotdogs by lightning). The most recent project is an all-in-one wristwatch; which contains barameter, altimeter and temperature sensor in one small package and with an alphanumeric display.

The only problem with the project that I can see is that it doesn't tell the time!

Just Call Me "Grant Ray"

2004-02-25T21:17:00.000-05:00

Everyone knows that the most difficult decision that you will have to make when you become a porn star is coming up with the right name. Fortunately, Jason DeFillipo has eliminated this area of stress by providing you with the My Porn Name generator.

The name chosen for me is pretty lame, which means I'll have to get by on my physical attributes. Fortunately, I'm "up" to the challenge.

What did SCO Buy?

2004-02-25T10:16:00.000-05:00

At work, I develop test software under Linux, so the SCO lawsuit vs IBM (and TBD) is of great interest to me. David Berlind of Ziff-Davis.net has a nice article: What did SCO buy - UNIX or the Brooklyn Bridge. It explains the issues quite nicely and gets to the heart of the matter; what does SCO actually own?

In Search of Stupidity

2004-02-24T14:03:00.000-05:00

If you're l=Looking for a good review of the high-tech marketing and development mistakes of the past 20 years then take a gander at Rick Chapman's In Search of Stupidity. Nice review of various implosions as well as a good analysis of the dot com collapse with a few sage like words about software development.

Recommended for Geeks.

Not my kind of party...

2004-02-24T13:57:00.000-05:00

Play catshock, a wacky birthday party in which you can identify which children are about to be electrocuted. Great fun from Hydro Quebec.

Nanotechnology: Replicating the Snowflake in the Fab

2004-02-24T13:28:00.000-05:00

ElectronicNews has a fascinating article on where chip fabrication is currently at (experimental devices at 6 nm!) and how close "Nanotechnology" actually is. The big issue is how to cost effectively manufacture nanomachines, with nature's example of a snowflake self assembling being used as a potential model.

So, How Smart Are You?

2004-02-23T13:26:00.000-05:00

I know Escape from the Crimson Room has been going around the Internet for a few days now, but I just discovered it.

To solve it, make sure you click all the way around the different walls of the room and wait for all animations to finish.

Good Luck!

Lincoln Child's "Utopia"

2004-02-19T00:01:00.000-05:00

I'm sick as a dog right now, so with the downtime, I've just read Lincoln Child's Utopia - a thriller that takes place inside the ultimate amusement park. Dr. Andrew Warne, renegade roboticist has been called to the park to find out why his creations are not working as programmed. As he investigates what's going on, something sinister rears its ugly head.

The book's worth reading, something a bit better than what I consider an "Airport Book". I always like Lincoln Child and Douglas Preston's books (especially after Relic).

Gray Code Generator

2004-02-16T23:16:00.000-05:00

I've always been fascinated with the notion of Gray Codes (binary codes in which one value changes to the next by only one bit) and when I have needed them, I have usually ended up working them out by hand.

In thinking about a way of automating the process, I came up with the following O(n**2) algorithm:


    for (i = 1; i < #Bits; i++)         //  Loop Around for Each Code

        if (1 == i)                     //   - Trivial Initial Case

        {

            GrayCode[0] = 0;  GrayCode[1] = 1;

        } else {                        //  Copy Previous Codes with New MSB Set

            for (j = (1 << (i - 1)), k = (( 1 << (i - 1)) - 1); j < (1 << i); j++, k--)

                GrayCode[j] = (1 << (i - 1)) + GrayCode[k];

        }  //  fi

which takes advantage of the property of Gray codes in which when a new, more significant bit is set, by reversing the previous bits' sequence, you end up with a Gray code. If you are so inclined, then you might want to rewrite this as a recursive program (which isn't too hard).

In case you're wondering why I would be concerned if an algorithm is Order n-squared, I should point out that I'm half way through Jon Bentley's Programming Pearls.

Tasteless (excuse the pun)

2004-02-16T17:34:00.000-05:00

...But pretty funny.

Don't click Here for the Chinese food song if you are easily offended (you are warned).

King Kong: Don't Mess with the Monkey

2004-02-15T17:03:00.000-05:00

The (volunteer produced!) Prequel to the upcoming King Kong remake is available for download. This is a legal download, made available by the producers.

You can download the trailer here.

The entire movie is available:

Here - HQ DIVX (137 MB)
Here - Normal AVI (85 MB)

But, I suspect that it will be later next week when you finally get the files. Might I suggest using Bit Torrent and downloading:

Here - HQ DIVX (137 MB) Torrent File
Here - Normal AVI (85 MB) Torrent File

I was able to download the movie at 100 kbps (cable modem) using a torrent file.

If you use Bit Torrent, please leave the file active for a while so other people have more bandwidth to faster download the file.

It looks like its going to be a fun movie this summer.

Happy Valentine's Day

2004-02-14T21:28:00.000-05:00

Long day with not too much accomplished other than working on child-proofing the house for the new baby. Putting up a baby-gate, a section of wall disintegrated leaving me with trying to fill it with joint compound and a plastic wall anchor to see if this will hold. We should know if it works in a few days.

It is however, St. Valentine's day and for those of you without a special someone, how about a CyberBabe.

Have a great day.

Cheer yourself up

2004-02-13T13:35:00.000-05:00

It's the middle of February - Friday the 13th, to be exact - so why don't you cheer yourself up by making a snowflake?

Dubya - did he Serve?

2004-02-12T15:19:00.000-05:00

In an effort to prove that President Bush actually fulfilled his military service, the White House has released...

1st Lt. George Bush's Dental Records from 1973, a scan of which is shown on thesmokinggun.com.

I don't want to get too involved with politics on this blog, but this is just too ridiculous to believe. I mean, the guy was an officer and a pilot, couldn't they produce something like his flight log or a report that he wrote during this time to prove he actually showed up to work?

Sigh, I guess it's safe to say that after Bush leaves office, his library will be one of the less interesting ones.

The (alleged) Microsoft Intelligence Question

2004-02-12T15:02:00.000-05:00

Taken directly from the email that's circulating around the office:

"U2" has a concert that starts in 17 minutes and they must all cross a bridge to get there. All four men begin on the same side of the bridge.

You must help them across to the other side. It is night.

There is one flashlight. A maximum of two people can cross at one time. Any party who crosses, either 1 or 2 people, must have the flashlight with them. The flashlight must be walked back and forth, it cannot be thrown, etc. Each band member walks at a different speed.

A pair must walk together at the rate of the slower man's pace:
Bono:- 1 minute to cross
Edge:- 2 minutes to cross
Adam:- 5 minutes to cross
Larry:-10 minutes to cross

For example: if Bono and Larry walk across first, 10 minutes have elapsed when they get to the other side of the bridge. If Larry then returns with the flashlight, a total of 20 minutes have passed and you have failed the mission.

Notes: There is no trick behind this. It is the simple movement of resources in the appropriate order. There are two known answers to this problem. This is based on a question Microsoft gives to all prospective employees.

Note: Microsoft expects you to answer this question in under 5 minutes!

Reportedly, one guy solved it by writing a C program, although that took him 37 minutes to develop (compiled and ran on the 1st try though). Another guy solved it in three minutes. A group of 50, at Motorola, couldn't figure it out at all.

I did it in the allotted 5 minutes, with the solution coming out in my forth permutation. Good luck, a couple of people here have been scratching their heads for a while...

Bleeeh! My knees hurt just thinking about it...

2004-02-12T13:50:00.000-05:00

Virtual knee surgery is making its rounds (excuse the pun) around work today.

While for children, I think it's a bit too graphic. Maybe the problem is its too graphic for me...

WooHoo! Simpsons on the Big Screen

2004-02-12T12:27:00.000-05:00

Fox is saying that a The Simpsons movie is going into development.

According to this Yahoo! news article, we can expect to see the finished product sometime in 2006.

The big question is, does Groening, et al need any help in reviewing the script to make sure it doesn't suck? If they do, they can email me.

WARNING: Norton Anti-Virus on Windows/XP Does NOT Work

2004-02-12T00:10:00.000-05:00

If you are considering buying Norton Internet Security, 2004 by Symantic to make your XP machine more secure - don't.

I just upgraded from Norton Anti-Virus '03 and discovered that it would hang while downloading email. In calling my ISP (Primus Canada - I have a Rogers at home cable modem along with it) and spent an hour trying to figure out the problem, I discovered that I could only download all of the email without hanging IFF I disabled Norton Internet Security first.

If you are in this boat and want to actually read your email, locate the two small icons for "Norton Antivirus" and "Norton Internet Security", right click on them and select "disable". This will disable the tools, but hey, at least you can read your email. Afterward, you might want to initiate a scan to make sure you didn't pick up anything during the email download.

More news as I get it - I sent off a pretty angry request for support to Symantic. I'm sure this is going to turn into a saga.

Test Your IQ

2004-02-11T18:11:00.000-05:00

If you're looking for a bit of a challenge, take the IQ test given here:

http://web.tickle.com/tests/uiq/

It should take about 30 Minutes and I suggest you have a paper and pencil handy. At the end of the test, you will be asked some questions and you will be given a numerical result - for only $15 (USD) more, you can get a 15 page report explaining your test results to you.

According to this test, I am good enough for Mensa - the question is, is Mensa good enough for me?

The President's Commission on Implementation of U.S. Space Policy

2004-02-11T10:16:00.000-05:00

From slashdot.org. When you have a couple of minutes, take a look at President's Commission on Implementation of U.S. Space Exploration Policy and fill in your comments here.

Personally, I'm still hoping for a second career as an asteroid miner/mono-pole smuggler.

The World of Ends

2004-02-11T10:02:00.000-05:00

From slashdot.org, World of Ends: "What the Internet Is and How to Stop Mistaking it for Something Else", an interesting article on how we should look at the Internet to avoid making the mistakes of the past.

The points to get from the article are:

The Internet isn't complicated.
The Internet isn't a thing. It's an agreement.
The Internet is stupid.
Adding value to the Internet lowers its value.
All the Internet's value grows on its edges.
Money moves to the suburbs.
The end of the world? Nah, the world of ends.
The Internet’s three virtues:
a. No one owns it
b. Everyone can use it
c. Anyone can improve it
If the Internet is so simple, why have so many been so boneheaded about it?
Some mistakes we can stop making already.

Finally on DVD...

2004-02-11T09:48:00.000-05:00

Some of the classic Abbot and Costello movies are finally available on DVD. The Best of Abbot & Costello - Volume 1 includes the following films (I brazenly cut and pasted from Amazon.com):

One Night in the Tropics (1940)
Bud and Lou get mixed up in a "Love Insurance" scheme.
Buck Privates (1941)
The duo accidentally enlists in the U.S. Army to avoid getting arrested!
In the Navy (1941)
Bud and Lou are sailors bound for duty on the high seas in this musical comedy.
Hold that Ghost (1941)
The boys inherit a haunted house formerly owned by a mobster.
Keep ‘Em Flying (1941)
Bud and Lou enlist in the Army Air Corps and get caught up in a love triangle.
Ride ‘Em Cowboy (1942)
The duo head to the Lazy S ranch to hide after Lou accidentally proposes to an Indian girl.
Pardon My Sarong (1942)
Bud and Lou travel to the South Seas where Lou is mistaken for a legendary god!
Who Done It? (1942)
The boys are suspected of murder while being targeted by the actual killer.

I'm a big A&C fan and it was a pleasant surprise to see it at Future Shop yesterday - and for a really good price as well. You can probably do better than Amazon.com if you look for it in Best Buy (or Future Shop for Canadians).

Included are trailers and production notes on two, two sided DVDs - about 10 hours of fun.

Hopefully Volume 2 will have The Time of their Lives.

50 Best Web Sites

2004-02-11T09:37:00.000-05:00

PC Magazine is shilling for their new book PC Magazine Best of the Internet by listing what they consider the top 50 HERE.

I have a hard time justifying spending money on a book listing Internet sites, but the ones listed here are pretty basic and a great place to start when you're looking for something.

So you think you're pretty good

2004-02-11T00:18:00.000-05:00

But, are you ready for the big time?

Check out The Official Rock Paper Strategy Guide - it's actually pretty funny, especially Mr. C. Urbanus' helpful tips (from the DVD) on succeeding at RPS and the need to avoid "Street RPS".

What you should do to run a space network

2004-02-10T13:08:00.000-05:00

This was taken from The 100-Million Mile Network at e-week:

Automate processes.
Encode many operations in a remote device, so it can solve its own problems.
Bulletproof your gear.
Refine systems under your direct control, like Deep Space Network antennas, to make sure they aren't the cause of an outage.
Be persistent.
Analyze any shred of communication. Build theories. Exploit small wins.
Simulate potential problems.
Test theories on duplicate devices, under your control, even if conditions aren't alike.

I would argue that NASA didn't follow these rules with Spirit and Opportunity. Personally, I believe that the programming/test failures that lead to the Spirit problem was just as bad as the one that lead to the loss of the Mars Climate Orbiter's loss (mixing metric and English units together).

This is disappointing in the post-Columbia NASA because I believe that rather than trumpeting their success in resolving this problem, they should be looking to find out how it could have happened in the first place.

Book Review - Warrior in the Shadows

2004-02-10T08:51:00.000-05:00

I just finished Marcus Wynne's "Warrior in the Shadows". An ex-CIA operative, who has taken up residence as a freelance photographer in Minneapolis/St. Paul and has gotten involved with a grisly murder investigation. This is a good example of what I call a "business traveler's book", lots of action, not too much to think about and pretty compelling storyline. It is not Hemingway and after reading it you'll probably put it down, never to pick it up again, but you will look for other books by the same author.

Read other reviews for Warrior in the Shadows at Amazon.com.

Nifty Timewaster...

2004-02-09T22:46:00.000-05:00

Here's a little something that you can occupy yourself with:

Bookmark CATAPULT

My high score is 7466.

The Start of Something New

2004-02-09T21:08:00.000-05:00

In an effort to try and keep information about me and what I'm doing more current, I've decided to create this Blog. Please feel free to comment and tell me what I can be doing better - I just ask that you put "Myke Blog" in the "Subject" line of your email to me so I can sort them out and not loose them in all the garbage that my email address picks up.