That’s the way to stay connected even when you stuck in the traffic jam in Moscow downtown. There is always some free wifi network around, just, for better coverage, you gotta leave your car a while.
Apr 21, 2009
English Russia » Connected
Apr 21, 2009
A Fun Fact!
Fun fact: in the old days of Macs, when the faster 68020 processor came on the market, it was put in the new Mac II. When the the 68030 processor was later introduced, Apple dictated that an “X” be added to the end of the model number. So the Mac II became the 68030 Mac IIx. Well, that naming scheme worked fine until Apple decided to upgrade the SE to a 68030. I guess Apple didn’t want to try and explain the Macintosh SEx.
via weaselsnake: The Mac SE/30: Adored by Spies and Psychopathic Geniuses Alike!.
Apr 21, 2009
How To Nail An Interview
What is it that certain people say or do during a job interview that makes them stand out? Why do some people struggle to find work, while others land a job in no time? I wanted to know, and the only way to find out was to experience the interview from the other side of the table. If I could be the one asking the interview questions, not answering, I could see first hand what made candidates stand out. I could then take that knowledge and cater my behavior in any future interview to give myself the best chance of getting hired.
Apr 20, 2009
Windows 2000 Source Code
Several days ago, two files containing Microsoft source code began circulating on the Internet. One contains a majority of the NT4 source code: this is not discussed here. The other contains a fraction of the Windows 2000 source code, reportedly about 15% of the total. This includes some networking code including winsock and inet; as well as some shell code. Some other familiar items include the event log, and some of the default screensavers.
There has been some speculation that while the bulk of the source is genuine, some of the comments have been tampered with to embarrass Microsoft. This is difficult to disprove, but I find it implausible. The embarrassing comments occur on thousands of lines, in realistic places. Furthermore, if someone had done that, it would have been easy to make the comments far more incriminating.
In the struggle to meet deadlines, I think pretty much all programmers have put in comments they might later regret, including swearwords and acerbic comments about other code or requirements. Also, any conscientious coder will put in prominent comments warning others about the trickier parts of the code. Comments like “UGLY TERRIBLE HACK” tend to indicate good code rather than bad: in bad code ugly terrible hacks are considered par for the course. It would therefore be both hypocritical and meaningless to go through the comments looking for embarrassments. But also fun, so let’s go.
via We Are Morons: a quick look at the Win2k source || kuro5hin.org.
Apr 19, 2009
15 Links: The Browser Clear Out Edition
It’s that time again – my browser desperately needs a clear out, so here we go…
- Weebly
Their tagline is “Create a free website and blog.” I don’t know how well it works, but it seems to be a nice version of either Tumblr, or WordPress.com – except not purely related to blogging. Sure, do it. Whatever.
- Wikipedia’s List Of People Who Have Mysteriously Disappeared
This is pretty freaky, actually – it’s not like we know for _sure_ that those people pre the 1800 actually did disappear under mysterious circumstances. Only two entries in 2008, however – some Russian who could have been the victim of a political murder plot, as well as a Florida resident who has recently been taken off medication. Mysterious? You be the judge.
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Trailers
If the trailers are that good, then you know the movie will be. Hopefully it isn’t too long, though – last time my sister and I went, the queues were massive. The movie is out July 17th, so strap yourselves in – July seems to be gearing up for a ripper of a month.
- 30 Exceptional CSS Navigation Techniques
Another smashing post from Six Revisions (not to be confused with Six Apart, mind you), this article will not only tell you how to achieve stunning navigation, it’ll also tell you how to do them using CSS – which is, of course, completely awesome.
- Gizmodo explains the difference between $100 and $100, 000 speakers
An interesting read, if a little long. Wait, I think that’s been said before – in that case, it’s a great read, however, it’s a little long. Filled with information, though – so read it anyway, and hopefully you’ll have learned something by the time you get to the end.
- 12 Gauge Shot Glasses
Yeah, you read that right. 12 Gauge. Shot glasses. Not shotgun, but shot *glasses*. What could be more awesome (or stupid, if you’re so inclined) than alcohol and shotguns?
- Tweetlite flashes tweets in morse code
To be compltely honest, I don’t quite understand the point of this one. It’s actually quite pointless, unless you really love Twitter and your morse code. Well, whatever brings in the green, yeah?
- Cosmic Nitro
From the guy who developed Galcon for the iPhone [iTMS Link], comes his latest creation, Cosmic Nitro. It’s basically a pretty rehash of the “space-invaders” like genre, similar to Missile Command, where you have to defend your city from waves of incoming stuff (including toxic waste, comets, asteroids, aliens, etc). It’s not bad – and at $1.19, it’s probably worth it. [iTMS link]
- iTypeFastr
From the dark side of jailbroken iPhones, comes a custom keyboard. Unlike other keyboards for the iPhone, this keyboard comes with a custom layout. No, it’s not dvorak, (someone make this, please), but it does change the size of the keys to reflect an updated QWERTY layout. It makes the most-frequently used keys larger (so they’re easier to press), all without making any of the other keys smaller by using up all the available keyboard space. Again, your mile may vary – I haven’t personally tested this cos I can type fine on the standard iPhone keyboard anyway.
- Tweetie for Mac
The excellent @chartier takes a look at Tweetie for Mac, from the guy who made the iPhone app of the same name. It’s damn slick – the interface is as good as any, and besides – it’s nice to see Cocoa-based Twitter apps (AIR sucks, btw). You can tell it is a beta, though – there are certainly features missing, and the current feature-set seems a little lightweight for my liking. It’s not as featured as Twhirl is, for instance. It is being released on Monday, so keep your eyes on teh (sic) interwebs (sic).
- LED-equipped Speakers Will Enhance Raves
Damn straight they will – check those suckers out!
- Apple market share shows negative growth
Oh great. I’ll pin this one on the Global Financial Crisis, then – thanks to the PC market crashing haphazardly around the US (see what I did there?), Apple’s market share has also taken a tumble as a result. Sure – it’s not right to pay $500 for a logo, but it’s so much more than just the brand, you know?
- Pirate Bay Trial Verdict
Short version: guilty. One year jail time. $3.2 million in fines.
- ToneMatrix Tone Maker
This is actually awesome. Experiment, and tell me what you think.
And lastly, we have:
- Apple WWDC developer videos
The interview from Cultured Code was the only one I actually watched, but I’m sure they’re all excellent. It’s especially interesting to see if they actually went through all the steps in the video, or if they were putting on a show for Apple… I’m sure it’s the former, though. Those Germans know how to do things right.
And we’re done for another week. Cya, and as usual, comments below. Doing links (esp with “Smart Links”) in WordPress actually sucks. Next time, I might just be a lazy blogger and put in the links – none of this fancy <a href=”link here”>some text here</a> crap. Pfft. Screw that.
Apr 17, 2009
I see what you did there!
Collection of lulz I just found. Enjoy.
First up – we have the lolcat previously used in my “The Internet Is Serious Business” post over at freshbytes, only he’s been shopped. Still funny.
Cute, but still lulz.
Apr 17, 2009
Gif me your best smile!
Bonus is guy sez “‘s smilin for fagz”
Translated version of http://www.monsieurlam.com/2009/03/20/gif-me-your-best-smile/.
Thanks to Google Translate.
Apr 17, 2009
Legally get Windows 7 for free (or at a discount)
With many people wondering what the Windows 7 pricing will be and whether it will cost less, the same, or more than Vista, there are some ways you can legally get Windows 7 at a discount or even for free when the final version is ready later this year.
via Students: How to get Windows 7 legally at a discount or free.
Students only, I’m afraid. Keyword is legally here, people.
Summary of options:
- New computer. Well, duh.
- MSDNAA. Well, duh.
- Microsoft Dreamspark – your school has to be on the list, though.
- Don’t bother – you’re not in the US, Canada or Europe are you?
Apr 16, 2009
tweenbots | kacie kinzer
Tweenbots are human-dependent robots that navigate the city with the help of pedestrians they encounter. Rolling at a constant speed, in a straight line, Tweenbots have a destination displayed on a flag, and rely on people they meet to read this flag and to aim them in the right direction to reach their goal.
Awwwww. That’s a cute overload…
Apr 16, 2009
Total Recall: The Woman Who Can’t Forget
It’s a Monday afternoon in November, and I’m driving down Ventura Boulevard with Jill Price, the woman who can’t forget. Price, who is 43, has spent most of her life here in Los Angeles, and she remembers everything. In the space of two minutes, she tells me about the former motel lodge with a bear in front, the Courtyard hotel that used to be a Hilton, and a bowling alley—since replaced by a Marshalls—where a Nicolas Cage film was shot. All this comes pouring out so fast, I wonder aloud whether Price has had too much coffee. She laughs, says no, pulls slightly at her blond hair, and starts up again.
[...]The most remarkable moment comes when Sawyer asks Price when Princess Grace died. She immediately answers, “September 14, 1982—that was the first day I started 12th grade.” For once, it seems that the memory lady has blown it. Sawyer laughs nervously and tries gently to right her guest: “September 10, 1982.” Price misunderstands, thinking she’s being prompted to identify another event—the possibility that she’s being corrected apparently doesn’t occur to her. No, Sawyer says, she has made a mistake; according to the book that 20/20′s producers were using as a source, Princess Grace died on September 10. Price stands her ground, and not 60 seconds later, a producer breaks in: “The book is wrong.” Price is right after all!
via Total Recall: The Woman Who Can’t Forget.
An excellent read. This is like New Scientist on crack – which is completely fine by me.