Monday, January 14, 2008
New Yorker Article on Google
The New Yorker article The Annals of Communications: The Search Party is pretty good.
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Laser HDTV
Laser TVs are something we've imagined and anticipated for some time. Now, here's an HDTV version. Maybe there were standard laser TVs in the past that I've just missed.
If this is what I think it is, a TV raster image created with scanned lasers, then I think it has important implications for applications. I was going to suggest what some of those implications were but the more I thought about it just now, the more I realized maybe it's not as straightforward as I thought. More thinking required. 8-/
If this is what I think it is, a TV raster image created with scanned lasers, then I think it has important implications for applications. I was going to suggest what some of those implications were but the more I thought about it just now, the more I realized maybe it's not as straightforward as I thought. More thinking required. 8-/
Monday, January 07, 2008
Friday, January 04, 2008
Thursday, January 03, 2008
Python Videos by Jeff Rush
I've only watched this first video, but I found it to be an outstanding first look and code walk through of a simple Python script. It's from a series of videos by Jeff Rush which seem to be quite well done. Check it out and note how powerful a simple Python program can be. The presentation is very well done.
He does use a couple of advanced features:
He does use a couple of advanced features:
- Compiled regular expressions
- A list comprehension
Monday, December 31, 2007
Your U.N.C.L.E. on DVD!!!!!
Outstanding news!! Time Life now has the first season of The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1964--65) on DVD!
The first season includes the Project Strigas Affair, which featured guest stars William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy!
Friday, December 14, 2007
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
Spam Trap
Fascinating! From Slashdot, an article on a new type of spam detection in
Abaca's new filtering techology that bases detection on a computed reputation of recipients rather than email content or the sender.
Abaca's new filtering techology that bases detection on a computed reputation of recipients rather than email content or the sender.
Monday, December 03, 2007
Python Differences
Okay, here's a list of things that are different in Python that one may as well get used to. I think that most of these weren't immediately obvious to me, rather, I had to pick up on them after a bit of time.
Everything is by reference
All variable assignments are by reference, i.e., they copy the address and never copy the values. If a and b are arrays, a = b, does not copy the array as in Perl. Now a is a reference to the same array as b. Of course for scalar values, this does copy the value so to state things more precisely (i.e., correctly): Every variable is a scalar which is a simple scalar value or a reference to anything more complex than a scalar.
When you do want to make copies of something like an array, you need to import copy and use that module.
Learn the way of the %
Gone are the days of simple print statements and simple comma separated lists in print statements. Python brings us back to the days of printf for everything.
The format is something like '%, %s!' % ('Hello', 'World') or 'The answer is: %d' % x. Okay, granted no printf-like function is required, but % is an infix operator. (That in itself is an interesting departure for a language that uses functions and methods for a lot of operations). I didn't realize this at first, but simply plan to use this feature all the time! That means any time you deal with building strings. However, you can use the + to concatenate strings.
This is a side-effect of Python not having an indicator on variables such as $var in Perl. You can't simply say print "Hello $place!" in Python, because there's no $ to say that place is a variable, so you have to say print 'Hello %s!' % place. If you try print 'Hello ', place, '!' it won't be quite what you expect because Python adds an annoying space for every comma in a print statement.
Does this meet Python's goal of being “clean?” Hmm...
The main point here is that I had to make the shift from thinking % was a way to do things to realizing it is the way.
Quoting
The first thing you realize is that, because there are no variables like $var, there's no real difference between single and double quotes. The typical reason for using one is that you want to have literal instances of the other inside. For example, "Now here's a string." or 'Add the word "please" to your request.'
Then, later you realize that symbols like \n really are interpreted in both types of quotes and, in fact, you have to use the raw indication by prepending a letter r, r'print this \n literally.', to not interpret special symbols.
Everything has to be initialized
I can't complain about this one, but there's no automatic initialization of anything. The Pyton dict is the equivalent of a Perl hash. In Python, you can't access an element of a dict unless it's been initialized, even if to the value None (which is Python's equivalent to NULL or undef). This means that, in what should be a relatively simple loop, you always have to test for existence and add a clause to initialize if necessary.
Similarly, you can't use a simple variable before initialzing it.
The end result is that Python always forces you to be rather serious about programming and doesn't allow the same ability to dash of a useful expression the way Perl does. It's a philosophical difference that I can't argue about either way, however I do miss the latter sometimes. Well, okay, one doesn't really miss the latter, one simply switches back to Perl.
Everything is by reference
All variable assignments are by reference, i.e., they copy the address and never copy the values. If a and b are arrays, a = b, does not copy the array as in Perl. Now a is a reference to the same array as b. Of course for scalar values, this does copy the value so to state things more precisely (i.e., correctly): Every variable is a scalar which is a simple scalar value or a reference to anything more complex than a scalar.
When you do want to make copies of something like an array, you need to import copy and use that module.
Learn the way of the %
Gone are the days of simple print statements and simple comma separated lists in print statements. Python brings us back to the days of printf for everything.
The format is something like '%, %s!' % ('Hello', 'World') or 'The answer is: %d' % x. Okay, granted no printf-like function is required, but % is an infix operator. (That in itself is an interesting departure for a language that uses functions and methods for a lot of operations). I didn't realize this at first, but simply plan to use this feature all the time! That means any time you deal with building strings. However, you can use the + to concatenate strings.
This is a side-effect of Python not having an indicator on variables such as $var in Perl. You can't simply say print "Hello $place!" in Python, because there's no $ to say that place is a variable, so you have to say print 'Hello %s!' % place. If you try print 'Hello ', place, '!' it won't be quite what you expect because Python adds an annoying space for every comma in a print statement.
Does this meet Python's goal of being “clean?” Hmm...
The main point here is that I had to make the shift from thinking % was a way to do things to realizing it is the way.
Quoting
The first thing you realize is that, because there are no variables like $var, there's no real difference between single and double quotes. The typical reason for using one is that you want to have literal instances of the other inside. For example, "Now here's a string." or 'Add the word "please" to your request.'
Then, later you realize that symbols like \n really are interpreted in both types of quotes and, in fact, you have to use the raw indication by prepending a letter r, r'print this \n literally.', to not interpret special symbols.
Everything has to be initialized
I can't complain about this one, but there's no automatic initialization of anything. The Pyton dict is the equivalent of a Perl hash. In Python, you can't access an element of a dict unless it's been initialized, even if to the value None (which is Python's equivalent to NULL or undef). This means that, in what should be a relatively simple loop, you always have to test for existence and add a clause to initialize if necessary.
Similarly, you can't use a simple variable before initialzing it.
The end result is that Python always forces you to be rather serious about programming and doesn't allow the same ability to dash of a useful expression the way Perl does. It's a philosophical difference that I can't argue about either way, however I do miss the latter sometimes. Well, okay, one doesn't really miss the latter, one simply switches back to Perl.
Saturday, December 01, 2007
Colleges Outsourcing Email to Gmail, MS
This Slashdot article on college oursourcing to Gmail and MS Live hits the topic spot on and covers it well. It's a highly-recommended read!
I have a couple of comments.
Worrying about privacy in the realm of email is nuts. People just don't get what email is. It's probably already crossed the Internet in the clear! For real ways to address these issues see my discussion of alternative email ideas.
Too late! I've already forgotten the second comment.
I have a couple of comments.
Worrying about privacy in the realm of email is nuts. People just don't get what email is. It's probably already crossed the Internet in the clear! For real ways to address these issues see my discussion of alternative email ideas.
Too late! I've already forgotten the second comment.
Blackberry Curve
Okay I have a Blackberry Curve 8320 and I'm now fully on the bandwagon. Blast it all…
P.S. I use the downloaded Gmail client for email.
P.S. I use the downloaded Gmail client for email.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Andy Rubin Interview
Here's a ZDnet interview with Andy Rubin. The answers tend to be short and press-release-like, but it does cover much of the Android announcement at that level.
Monday, November 12, 2007
More Android!
As promised, the Android SDK has been announced. Check out the site and watch the videos there.
Now you can write the next, great app for our phones!
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Friday, November 09, 2007
UNIX Dictionary
Alas, /usr/dict/words is no longer generally available on UNIX (or at least Linux) systems! However, I found this copy on-line FWIW.
/usr/dict/words
/usr/dict/words
Electric Arc Videos
Here are some cool electric arc videos. The second in this first series is one of my favorites. When an actual arc forms, it's a column of plasma. Since plasma is (very) hot gas it generally rises which eventually breaks the column, i.e., the arc.
Arc Videos
This is what started me on the path of arc videos. Someone sent a video of these tesla coils playing the Super Mario theme music. This isn't the one I saw but these are the same coils, I think.
Super Mario Tesla Coils
Arc Videos
This is what started me on the path of arc videos. Someone sent a video of these tesla coils playing the Super Mario theme music. This isn't the one I saw but these are the same coils, I think.
Super Mario Tesla Coils
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
I Saw Comet 17P/Holmes!
So tonight I got out of the car and was looking at the stars. It was pretty clear. As I was gazing at Perseus I remembered that the comet, 17P/Holmes, which has recently become significantly bright, was maybe in that area.
There it was!
I went inside and got the 7x50 binoculars which still conveniently had their tripod mount, so I grabbed the camera tripod, too.
The comet is quite bright and quite round. It's the nicest comet I've seen in quite a while! Go out and take a look if you haven't seen it.
(Surprise! Wikipedia has the best coverage of the comet that I've found so far. They have exceeded Sky and Telescope. I don't know why S&T doesn't have their traditional finder chart and published ephemerides. Ah well. S&T does have an interactive sky chart but now you haves to register to use it.)
Wikipedia
Spaceweather (Amazing!) also this main page.
Ephemeris from Harvard CFA
A Blog
Denver
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Android: The Phone
TA DA!
These sources are pretty much reliable.
Here are interesting reporting and various opionions. They may or may not be on target.
These sources are pretty much reliable.
Here are interesting reporting and various opionions. They may or may not be on target.
Sunday, November 04, 2007
Massive Pile Up on CA Highway
There was a massive accident pile-up on a California Highway reported via AP and Breitbart…
Also, witnesses said…
Okay, here's the punchline near the end of the story. Ready?
FRESNO, Calif. (AP) - More than 100 cars and trucks crashed on a fog-shrouded freeway Saturday, killing at least two people and injuring dozens more, the California Highway Patrol said.
Also, witnesses said…
“There was probably 2-foot visibility in the fog when I got here. It was really bad,” said Mike Bowman, a spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. “It looked like chaos. Cars were backed up on top of each other.”
Okay, here's the punchline near the end of the story. Ready?
The freeway's northbound lanes were shut down indefinitely as investigators worked to determine the cause of the crash. Traffic backed up for miles south of the wreckage.
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