Archive for September, 2008

Saved?

Friday, September 26th, 2008

The icon to save your work is all but universally an image of a 3.5″ floppy disk. In most modern computers, this type of storage has gone the way of the dinosaur, yet the icon persists. What will our children, not to mention our grandchildren, think that that icon represents. Surely they will know that it means ‘save,’ but what will they imagine it is a picture of?

I have no idea.

Devil’s Advocate

Tuesday, September 16th, 2008

As an engineer, I am compelled to constantly question my own beliefs, in order to achieve truth. This leads me to do the same with others. I must find the truth, by examining every statement from every possible angle. This has lead to some unexpected situations, where when I take the principle too far, and find myself in an argument, arguing for a side I disagree with strongly. Nevertheless, I argue as strongly as I am able, as my ultimate goal is the truth, whatever that truth may be. Whether it’s scientific truth, or historical truth, or personal truth.

Or maybe I just like to argue.

That is all.

Lessons Learned

Saturday, September 13th, 2008

Just a few gems I’ve picked up recently.

  • It is not possible to convince people that something cannot be done by continually forcing them to fail. As a corollary, people will always try to improve at something if there is hope for improvement.
  • No task is so repetitive that it cannot be accomplished.
  • Waiting is the least fun activity in existence.
  • The review of Spore which says “The first four stages are great for the 45 seconds you spend in each one and then you can’t do anything in space because you keep getting attacked” is surprisingly accurate, though hyperbolic.
  • DVD Commentary is not a cure for boredom, it is a symptom.

That is all.