January 2010
39 posts
December 2009
45 posts
“You don’t want to be Tesla. He was one of the greatest inventors,
but...”
– Google’s Larry Page
from the list of quotes gathered by Paul Graham
WatchMore on the making of Prodigy - Smack My Bitch Up (earlier here)
“The irony, …, is that the more advanced the automated system, the more...”
– Lisanne Bainbridge in Automated to Death on sophisticated automated systems that require less skill and involvement while operating normally, but demand expert and fast response when encountering unexpected situations (typically overwhelming the operator, who is unprepared as a result of extensive...
The Advanced Placement Juggernaut →
A discussion about the AP courses offered in most high schools around the US.
I took AP English Literature and Calculus AB.
In the literature course, Mr. Cocchiarelli was a man whose authority in the subject was further reinforced by his unusual character. He was so demanding and strict, but yet so encouraging, that I finally realized how to find beauty, insight, elegance and more in...
“…here’s possibly the most interesting thing about him: He considers the...”
– Sarah Lacy on Wences Casares
Musically's A to Z of music startups of 2009 →
Comprehensive!
The Georgian version of the events
is documented in this film created by a Georgian production firm. The film also comments on War 08.08.08 and disputes the arguments, timing and version of the events presented. This one seems to only be out in Russian. Hard to figure out the real story even given these two films.
Хроники Грузинского Августа - Алания ТВ (Chronicles of the Georgian August - Alania TV), click to view:
Part...
WatchWar 08.08.08 on Vimeo
The Psychology of Being Scammed →
Great paper on the psychological principles con artists use, by Paul Wilson of the British show The Real Hustle and Frank Stajano. (via Bruce)
The Inevitable Minefield of Music Subscription
Playing around with the new mog.com subscription offering (via a free 1 month trial, kindly given by David Hyman) reminded me of the problem that time and again turns me (and I’d bet a ton of other people) off from music subscription services.
Working with music on the web I absolutely love them and want them to be the future. Even services like the now-defunct MTV Urge, which had...
“The reason a person is critical of a thing is because he is passionate about...”
– Alex Payne is fantastically on-point regarding feedback, criticism and passion. I do this all the time, but always wonder a bit if I am being weird or inappropriate.
I ask blunt questions about people’s work, projects, companies. Friends, and new people I meet. Startups, naturally, lend...
Closing my dhs.org account
About 9 years ago, when I first got my hands on a 384Kbps DSL (SDSL, even!) line, after playing around with Napster, I started to run a linux web server from my room off a 486, pretty much just like you’d expect.
Another thing I did then is register a dhs.org dynamic hostname to point to my server, in case the IP address changed (it didn’t, actually). I went with dhs.org because it...
For those who like 8.8.8.8 but don't like Google
I recommend 4.2.2.2 (and its brother, 4.2.2.4). They have been around since at least 2000 and serve fine DNS responses to all inquiring.
Works well on the east coast, operated for/by Verizon (rdns to: vnsc-bak.sys.gtei.net., gtei.net is owned by Verizon).
Footnote: This is about the new Google Public DNS.
Watchimlucas:
Wish I could talk all pretty like that @fascinated guy…
Music Discovery Panel - Boston Music Hack Day from Paul Lamere on Vimeo.
More info on the panel
