Sunday, October 31, 2004
Some room with a view.
(For more info on this picture read the "Guess who's back - once again" post which follows).
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Guess who's back - once again.
Go ahead - email a friend. Cybercurmudgeon is back - joy. Been missing my witty posts - yeah right :-). Regardless, if there was a void in your life consider it filled. New (hopefully) useful, (hopefully) fun, and (definitely) grousing posts are on the way.
Why the lack of new posts? "My kinfolk said Cybercurmudgeon move away from here. They said somewhere else is the place you oughta be, so I loaded up the truck and moved to the country - hills that is" (apologies to "The Beverly Hillbillies"). Skeptical, then check out the "Some room with a view" post for a picture of the hills taken from my new home. Purty, ain't it?
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Why the lack of new posts? "My kinfolk said Cybercurmudgeon move away from here. They said somewhere else is the place you oughta be, so I loaded up the truck and moved to the country - hills that is" (apologies to "The Beverly Hillbillies"). Skeptical, then check out the "Some room with a view" post for a picture of the hills taken from my new home. Purty, ain't it?
Read more!
Thursday, October 14, 2004
Generalists vs Specialists - yet another salvo in the eternal struggle
I'm a generalist is a world of specialists. By training I acquired in depth knowledge of a few subjects and by desire or need a working knowledge of many subjects - usually enough to allow me to explore deeper if desired. When I encounter a subject in which I am relatively ignorant (sadly, it does happen :-), my diverse knowledge of various subjects usually helps me quickly obtain a working knowledge. This was an asset in my career of finding practical solutions to complex problems. I hold the opinion (based on experience) that generalists are usually better at solving problems than specialists.
Most specialists accumulate vast knowledge and experience in their chosen subject, but often at the expense of knowledge in other subjects. Considering our limited ability to accumulate knowledge (lifespan and time required no matter your level of intelligence) and the sheer volume of knowledge available in any given subject, it's an obvious tradeoff. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying generalists are better than specialists. Whether to be a generalist or a specialist both involve tradeoffs and no one would argue it is important to have specialists in various fields. For example, I would not want a general practitioner to perform an organ transplant on me versus a surgical specialist. On the other hand, the old saw about "see an internist and you need medication, see a surgeon and you need surgery" does tend to hold true.
And therein lies my point, the more specialized your knowledge base, the harder it is to find or even look for (often better) solutions that fall outside your realm of expertise. To me that was a self evident truth, but to the scientific community at large it was practically heresy, until perhaps now. Check out this Wired magazine article which discusses what Gordon Rugg calls "The Verifier Approach” and learn how this once ignored truism is slowly making its way into the mainstream, bringing with it the promise of new breakthroughs in science and technology: http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/12.09/rugg.html. Better late than never ^_^.
Read more!
Most specialists accumulate vast knowledge and experience in their chosen subject, but often at the expense of knowledge in other subjects. Considering our limited ability to accumulate knowledge (lifespan and time required no matter your level of intelligence) and the sheer volume of knowledge available in any given subject, it's an obvious tradeoff. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying generalists are better than specialists. Whether to be a generalist or a specialist both involve tradeoffs and no one would argue it is important to have specialists in various fields. For example, I would not want a general practitioner to perform an organ transplant on me versus a surgical specialist. On the other hand, the old saw about "see an internist and you need medication, see a surgeon and you need surgery" does tend to hold true.
And therein lies my point, the more specialized your knowledge base, the harder it is to find or even look for (often better) solutions that fall outside your realm of expertise. To me that was a self evident truth, but to the scientific community at large it was practically heresy, until perhaps now. Check out this Wired magazine article which discusses what Gordon Rugg calls "The Verifier Approach” and learn how this once ignored truism is slowly making its way into the mainstream, bringing with it the promise of new breakthroughs in science and technology: http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/12.09/rugg.html. Better late than never ^_^.
Read more!
Wednesday, October 13, 2004
Google Searches On Your Phone or PDA - not one but two better ways to search.
Google has two cool ways to search the web with your mobile device - a special mobile web search site and SMS (yes, I said SMS). You probably don't know about them because most mobile service providers that have a default google link use the default google search interface. The SMS service is in beta, but works well and offers a new twist on web searches, not to mention it uses no plan minutes nor requires web access.
Google's mobile web search site, http://www.google.com/wml, is specifically designed for the mobile web user. You can search the entire web or just mobile related entries. Perhaps the best feature is "Google Number Search", an option which allows you to enter your search text using a single key press for each letter. If you have "T9" or "Word" text entry on your phone it works in a similar way (if not, go here http://www.t9.com/ for an explanation of how it works and an interactive tutorial). There is even an online help - one that can actually help you learn how to use the special features of the site, including the "Google Number Search". If you use Google on your web enabled mobile device, or just want to try it, this is the best way to do it.
Not everyone surfs the web on their mobile device, due to the additional costs or frustration with its limitations. There is an alternative, Google SMS, available on all major wireless providers in the US , including AT&T, Cingular, Nextel, Sprint PCS, T-Mobile, and Verizon. Google SMS is not the standard Google search, but a fast and simple way to find business listings, residential listings, prices, definitions, zip codes, area codes, and much more. A complete explanation if the service is available here http://www.google.com/SMS/index.html, but the basic idea is very simple.
From the site:
"Google SMS (Short Message Service) enables you to easily get precise answers to specialized queries from your mobile phone or device. Send your query as a text message and get phone book listings, dictionary definitions, product prices and more. Just text. No links. No web pages. Simply the answers you're looking to find.
Enter your query as a text message. See some sample queries.
Send the message to the US shortcuts 46645 (GOOGL on most phones).
Receive a text message (or messages) with your results, usually within a minute. Results may be labeled as "1of3", "2of3", etc.
To get Google SMS help info sent directly to your phone, send the word 'help' as a text message to 46645."
Give these mobile Google services a try, and you will soon wonder how you lived without them. Highly recommended.
Read more!
Google's mobile web search site, http://www.google.com/wml, is specifically designed for the mobile web user. You can search the entire web or just mobile related entries. Perhaps the best feature is "Google Number Search", an option which allows you to enter your search text using a single key press for each letter. If you have "T9" or "Word" text entry on your phone it works in a similar way (if not, go here http://www.t9.com/ for an explanation of how it works and an interactive tutorial). There is even an online help - one that can actually help you learn how to use the special features of the site, including the "Google Number Search". If you use Google on your web enabled mobile device, or just want to try it, this is the best way to do it.
Not everyone surfs the web on their mobile device, due to the additional costs or frustration with its limitations. There is an alternative, Google SMS, available on all major wireless providers in the US , including AT&T, Cingular, Nextel, Sprint PCS, T-Mobile, and Verizon. Google SMS is not the standard Google search, but a fast and simple way to find business listings, residential listings, prices, definitions, zip codes, area codes, and much more. A complete explanation if the service is available here http://www.google.com/SMS/index.html, but the basic idea is very simple.
From the site:
"Google SMS (Short Message Service) enables you to easily get precise answers to specialized queries from your mobile phone or device. Send your query as a text message and get phone book listings, dictionary definitions, product prices and more. Just text. No links. No web pages. Simply the answers you're looking to find.
Enter your query as a text message. See some sample queries.
Send the message to the US shortcuts 46645 (GOOGL on most phones).
Receive a text message (or messages) with your results, usually within a minute. Results may be labeled as "1of3", "2of3", etc.
To get Google SMS help info sent directly to your phone, send the word 'help' as a text message to 46645."
Give these mobile Google services a try, and you will soon wonder how you lived without them. Highly recommended.
Read more!
Tuesday, October 05, 2004
Penny Arcade - part gaming diatribe, part game review, part web comic.
I've wanted to tell you about this site for a while. Problem is its not an easy site to describe. Part need to bitch and part gaming itch with a web comic thrown in might do it. For a no holds barred look at video games, from rant to review to web comic, look no farther than Penny Arcade. There is even a section for Japanese console games (you will need a Japanese console or a modded console to play these imports - most if not all for PS2). As a gamer who has visited Japan, I can tell you they have a google load of interesting looking games that never see the light of the American market. Too ethnic I guess :-).
The web comic part centers around the antics of two avid post-adolescent gamers.
Try on this recent strip for size - your reaction to it will likely hold true for the entire site -http://www.penny-arcade.com/view.php3 If you are still laughing, check out the rest of the site at http://www.penny-arcade.com.
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The web comic part centers around the antics of two avid post-adolescent gamers.
Try on this recent strip for size - your reaction to it will likely hold true for the entire site -http://www.penny-arcade.com/view.php3 If you are still laughing, check out the rest of the site at http://www.penny-arcade.com.
Read more!
Monday, October 04, 2004
If you still think seeing is believing check out these amazing optical illusions.
Forget those lame optical illusions you may have seen in the past, this site is awesome! Akiyoshi's Illusion Pages, created by Akiyoshi Kitaoka of the Department of Psychology at Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto, Japan has some of the finest optical illusions you are likely to see.
The illusions seem to rotate, ripple, wave, roll, and more. Most illusions, but not all, involve perceived motion. From the site; "Caution: This page contains some works of "anomalous motion illusion", which might make sensitive observers dizzy or sick. Should you feel dizzy, you had better leave this page immediately". After browsing the site, I have no doubt it causes some to lose their lunch.
There are numerous papers and references explaining the principles behind the illusions. Plus the page has several sections with interesting and beautiful photos of various sites in Japan. Check out this site and its a safe bet you will pass this URL on to your friends. http://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/~akitaoka/index-e.html
Read more!
The illusions seem to rotate, ripple, wave, roll, and more. Most illusions, but not all, involve perceived motion. From the site; "Caution: This page contains some works of "anomalous motion illusion", which might make sensitive observers dizzy or sick. Should you feel dizzy, you had better leave this page immediately". After browsing the site, I have no doubt it causes some to lose their lunch.
There are numerous papers and references explaining the principles behind the illusions. Plus the page has several sections with interesting and beautiful photos of various sites in Japan. Check out this site and its a safe bet you will pass this URL on to your friends. http://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/~akitaoka/index-e.html
Read more!
Saturday, October 02, 2004
The Flu and Pneumonia Vaccines - why you should consider them both.
It's that time of the year again, when the flu season prepares to remind us why lotion tissue is such a good idea. Need I remind you what happened last year? I hope not, but just in case do you vaguely recall panic , death, and rapidly depleted supplies of vaccine? I hope so, because that what happened when a particularly nasty strain made its presence known. Flu has killed a lot of people over the years, so I hope you are planning to receive the vaccine this year. If not, I hope you will after reading the following - I promise to keep it simple, basic, and to the point.
A lot of people are afraid of the flu vaccine because they think it can give you the flu. That's both a myth and a damn shame when you consider the needless suffering and death it can prevent. I'll make this as simple as I can - you won't get the flu from the vaccine, because the vaccine contains NO live flu virus. It only contains a part of the virus (again, NOT the live virus) that tricks your immune system into thinking you have the flu and creating antibodies to protect you against it. This is the primary reason some people who receive flu vaccine think it gave them the flu. As a consequence of tricking the body, you may experience mild "flu like symptoms" for a few days, but you don't actually have the flu. Really Honest. I swear :-).
Many people wonder why you need the flu vaccine every year. After all, most vaccines only require one initial injection and perhaps a booster or two during your lifetime. Unfortunately, there many different strains (types, so to speak) of flu and they are constantly mutating into new strains. Each year, scientists select the strains they think will most likely present a problem in the coming "flu season", and concoct a vaccine "cocktail" from those strains. In this way the vaccine is designed to provide you with immunity to those strains and improved resistance to others. The flu vaccine can not guarantee you will be flu free, but greatly increases the odds.
Another common misconception is the flu (or any) vaccine provides instant immunity. It actually takes several weeks for your immune system to produce the antibodies required, so its very important you receive the vaccine before the actual flu season begins. This means October is an excellent time to receive the vaccine, so it's no accident October is when many flu vaccine programs begin.
Another vaccine well with considering is for pneumonia (note that you may require a booster later on like many other vaccines). Pneumonia is arguably best known as an antibiotic resistant infection that many consider epidemic in hospitals, where it can attack bedridden patients with a vengeance. My father, who did not have the vaccine and was admitted to the hospital for a completely unrelated condition, contracted pneumonia and was dead in about 48 hours from the time of diagnosis. My father had one of those fabled "iron constitutions", but was so weakened by a prior life threatening condition he had no chance after contracting pneumonia. Don't let this happen to you! The pneumonia vaccine is usually recommended for those 55 or over (those at greatest risk), but a growing number of people, including myself, see no reason to wait. What good is a vaccine against an easily preventable disease if you don't receive it?
The flu and pneumonia vaccines are usually only $15-$25 and many insurance plans, both private and governmental, will cover the full cost. Consider how much contracting the flu or pneumonia can cost and you should realize it's well worth paying for the vaccines yourself if need be. They can be given together and are available at your doctors office or the numerous clinics held at drugstores and other retail outlets. Please note there are a few medical conditions or allergies that may prevent you from receiving the vaccine. The doctor or nurse should discuss them and as well as answer any questions you have, so don't hesitate to ask. Remember, an ounce or prevention really is worth a pound of cure. See you in line, I'll be the old guy asking for his lollipop :-).
Read more!
A lot of people are afraid of the flu vaccine because they think it can give you the flu. That's both a myth and a damn shame when you consider the needless suffering and death it can prevent. I'll make this as simple as I can - you won't get the flu from the vaccine, because the vaccine contains NO live flu virus. It only contains a part of the virus (again, NOT the live virus) that tricks your immune system into thinking you have the flu and creating antibodies to protect you against it. This is the primary reason some people who receive flu vaccine think it gave them the flu. As a consequence of tricking the body, you may experience mild "flu like symptoms" for a few days, but you don't actually have the flu. Really Honest. I swear :-).
Many people wonder why you need the flu vaccine every year. After all, most vaccines only require one initial injection and perhaps a booster or two during your lifetime. Unfortunately, there many different strains (types, so to speak) of flu and they are constantly mutating into new strains. Each year, scientists select the strains they think will most likely present a problem in the coming "flu season", and concoct a vaccine "cocktail" from those strains. In this way the vaccine is designed to provide you with immunity to those strains and improved resistance to others. The flu vaccine can not guarantee you will be flu free, but greatly increases the odds.
Another common misconception is the flu (or any) vaccine provides instant immunity. It actually takes several weeks for your immune system to produce the antibodies required, so its very important you receive the vaccine before the actual flu season begins. This means October is an excellent time to receive the vaccine, so it's no accident October is when many flu vaccine programs begin.
Another vaccine well with considering is for pneumonia (note that you may require a booster later on like many other vaccines). Pneumonia is arguably best known as an antibiotic resistant infection that many consider epidemic in hospitals, where it can attack bedridden patients with a vengeance. My father, who did not have the vaccine and was admitted to the hospital for a completely unrelated condition, contracted pneumonia and was dead in about 48 hours from the time of diagnosis. My father had one of those fabled "iron constitutions", but was so weakened by a prior life threatening condition he had no chance after contracting pneumonia. Don't let this happen to you! The pneumonia vaccine is usually recommended for those 55 or over (those at greatest risk), but a growing number of people, including myself, see no reason to wait. What good is a vaccine against an easily preventable disease if you don't receive it?
The flu and pneumonia vaccines are usually only $15-$25 and many insurance plans, both private and governmental, will cover the full cost. Consider how much contracting the flu or pneumonia can cost and you should realize it's well worth paying for the vaccines yourself if need be. They can be given together and are available at your doctors office or the numerous clinics held at drugstores and other retail outlets. Please note there are a few medical conditions or allergies that may prevent you from receiving the vaccine. The doctor or nurse should discuss them and as well as answer any questions you have, so don't hesitate to ask. Remember, an ounce or prevention really is worth a pound of cure. See you in line, I'll be the old guy asking for his lollipop :-).
Read more!
wordIQ.com - dictionary, encyclopedia, and web index rolled into one (and it's even up to date)
wordIQ.com is one of the most useful web sites I've stumbled onto in a long time. I was using google (who doesn't) to look up an unfamiliar term. A link that looked informative turned out to be at wordIQ, and I'm really glad it did. This site, IMHO, is an embodiment of the way the web was intended to coalesce and present information. Look up a search term and you will find definitions, references, web links, and an in depth, well organized encyclopedia like index relating to the subject as a whole. I realize that many encyclopedias are not worth the disks they are pressed on, but this site breaks with that tradition and actually provides real information. I found it to be an excellent way to rapidly gain a working knowledge of an unfamiliar subject, or find current and relevant links and references to a subject already familiar with.
In the site's own words; "wordIQ.com is a comprehensive and searchable reference tool on the web. We offer search results from a diverse array of dictionary, encyclopedia, thesaurus, and other valuable references. Our website is completely free and non-profit. Any advertisement you see on our website will be used completely towards server and maintenance costs necessary to operate the website".
There are a few other features I did not mention - let them be a pleasant surprise. The best way to give it a test drive is to goto the site and look up some topic in a subject that you know a lot about. Then check out the information and decide for yourself how relevant, useful, and up to date it is. I doubt you will be disappointed. http://www.wordiq.com
Read more!
In the site's own words; "wordIQ.com is a comprehensive and searchable reference tool on the web. We offer search results from a diverse array of dictionary, encyclopedia, thesaurus, and other valuable references. Our website is completely free and non-profit. Any advertisement you see on our website will be used completely towards server and maintenance costs necessary to operate the website".
There are a few other features I did not mention - let them be a pleasant surprise. The best way to give it a test drive is to goto the site and look up some topic in a subject that you know a lot about. Then check out the information and decide for yourself how relevant, useful, and up to date it is. I doubt you will be disappointed. http://www.wordiq.com
Read more!
Listen to me jabber and you could win a prize - really.
Friday, October 01, 2004
Can you buy gas and prescription drugs at reduced prices from warehouse clubs (Sam's Club, Costco, etc) without a membership? You just might!
I don't have to tell you how much gas prices have risen lately. But for those of you in the coveted 18-34 year old demographic I have some bad news for your old age (you know, 40 or so). Prescription drugs (meds) can be expensive - very expensive. Fortunately, just like almost everything else, you can often save a bundle by comparison shopping (we are not going to get into internet pharmacies or reimportation issues in this discussion, but these can also be ways to save money on meds). It can really pay to check the price of your prescription at the local pharmacies (just like most people do for gas at their local gas stations), especially for expensive or long term medications. Considering how much Americans love a bargain, I find it odd we rarely comparison shop when it comes to health expenses. Regardless, one thing is clear, membership warehouse clubs (clubs) often have the best gasoline and prescription drug prices - I know - I've checked :-).
Of course, unless you pop for the membership fee, you can't use buy gas (at least at the member's price) or meds at clubs, right? Well, maybe not right. The clubs in your area just might sell you gas and/or meds without a membership - just ask. As of this posting I have not been able to determine why (federal or state regulations seem to be the answer), but I have verified you can buy meds at the Sam's Clubs in my area without a membership. Here's how.
Just ask the"greeter" if you may use the pharmacy without a membership (they will tell you where it is if you can). If so, you should pay the same amount a member would. I personally verified this at two different Sam's Clubs in my area by talking to the greeters and the pharmacists. Please note you may have to pay cash or use a specific brand of credit card. Sam's Club told me non-members must pay cash or use a Discover Card (the only national credit card Sam's Club accepts).
If your local club offers gasoline ask the attendant (if available) or the greeter about that too. When trying to track down why meds could be purchased without a membership (I received conflicting answers) , I found examples on the web of clubs being required to sell gas to non-members for the same price as members. For either item, if you are initially told no, tell them you want to purchase a membership, them goto the service desk and ask there - its possible the attendant or greeter was wrong.
Good luck, and please post your results and any other relevant info. Thanks.
Read more!
Of course, unless you pop for the membership fee, you can't use buy gas (at least at the member's price) or meds at clubs, right? Well, maybe not right. The clubs in your area just might sell you gas and/or meds without a membership - just ask. As of this posting I have not been able to determine why (federal or state regulations seem to be the answer), but I have verified you can buy meds at the Sam's Clubs in my area without a membership. Here's how.
Just ask the"greeter" if you may use the pharmacy without a membership (they will tell you where it is if you can). If so, you should pay the same amount a member would. I personally verified this at two different Sam's Clubs in my area by talking to the greeters and the pharmacists. Please note you may have to pay cash or use a specific brand of credit card. Sam's Club told me non-members must pay cash or use a Discover Card (the only national credit card Sam's Club accepts).
If your local club offers gasoline ask the attendant (if available) or the greeter about that too. When trying to track down why meds could be purchased without a membership (I received conflicting answers) , I found examples on the web of clubs being required to sell gas to non-members for the same price as members. For either item, if you are initially told no, tell them you want to purchase a membership, them goto the service desk and ask there - its possible the attendant or greeter was wrong.
Good luck, and please post your results and any other relevant info. Thanks.
Read more!
