Category Archives: Computers

How Does One Even Make an URL Like This?

Posted on April 24, 2015 by

I receive emails with journal tables of contents, including Emerging Infectious Disease. Here’s the url of an article provided in the article: https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJlbWFpbCI6ImZlbGRnYXJkQG5jYmkubmxtLm5paC5nb3YiLCJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoiMTE3Iiwic3Vic2NyaWJlcl9pZCI6IjM4ODkyOTQ3NSIsImxpbmtfaWQiOiIyNzIwMTc0MiIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpkaWdlc3QiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vd3d3bmMuY2RjLmdvdi9laWQvYXJ0aWNsZS8yMS81LzE0LTExODRfYXJ0aWNsZSIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAxNTA0MjIuNDQzMzQzMzEifQ.y4oyeNbi_BwsWvqOtT6jNTmangPf1yPHG49FNMfZqtQ It resolves to this: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/21/5/14-1184_article Not clear to me why the first version is needed, or how … Continue reading →

Posted in Computers, Internet, Publishing | 6 Comments

Whatever Firefox Did to Kill Flash, It Is Awesome

Posted on December 15, 2014 by

One of the banes of the internet is all of the crap that loads in the background: all those damn Flash-driven ads. I’m not sure exactly what’s going on, but the most recent version of Firefox seems to kill most … Continue reading →

Posted in Bidness, Computers | 3 Comments

How Many Hertz Do These Computers Clock In At?

Posted on April 11, 2014 by

Some old school computers, observed at the MIT Museum, Cambridge MA: For surveyors: Some Mickey Mouse:

Posted in Computers | 6 Comments

Dear Tim Cook, Whatever You Do, Don’t Listen to Carl Icahn

Posted on August 18, 2013 by

By way of Matthew Yglesias, we learn that corporate raider Carl Icahn wants Apple to spend more of its cash reserve on buying back stock. I’ve been a long-term Apple shareholder and I think this is a dreadful idea. For … Continue reading →

Posted in Bidness, Computers, Fucking Morons | 3 Comments

The First Computer Bug

Posted on May 4, 2013 by

I had forgotten the origin of the term ‘computer bug.’ Here it is:

Posted in Computers | 1 Comment

1980s Video Sprite or Chimu Culture Hanging?

Posted on September 5, 2012 by

You decide: The Museum of Fine Arts tells me that this is from the north coast of Peru and was made between 1000–1476 by the Chimu Culture. I think it’s an homage to 1980s video graphics object-oriented programing code.

Posted in Computers, Museums etc.

With ‘Progressive’ Wisdom Like This, Our Economy Is Doomed: Thoughts on Apple’s Future, and Development Versus Production

Posted on October 17, 2011 by

Progressive wunderkinder Matthew Yglesias demonstrates he doesn’t have a clue as to what it takes to actually manufacture a consumer good: What I think is interesting, however, is a scenario that we can be completely confident won’t be next for … Continue reading →

Posted in Computers, Engineering, Jobs | 3 Comments