I should have known!!
2010/12/31
2010/09/17
2010/09/15
Subtleties of search-and-replace in Emacs - I Still Know What You Learned Last Summer
Subtleties of search-and-replace in Emacs - I Still Know What You Learned Last Summer : a great summary of all that is good in Emacs search ( and replace). Now all I have to do is remember the key strokes!!
It definitely helps if you can "live" in emacs. Hmm, I just need an RTC emacs client !!
2010/08/19
Results day - the long wait
Today is AS result day for one member of the household. It seems that everyone elses child as reported ack in person or by phone... but not ours!! Good sign or bad sign? Or just torture?
2010/07/13
Kill the cull, not Wales's badgers
Kill the cull, not Wales's badgers | Brian May | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk: "Kill the cull, not Wales's badgers"
Just saw Brian May talking on the Channel 4 news after the proposed cull was stopped.
I don't know what the facts of the case are, but Brian May came over as a very reasonable, articulate and patient person. He refuted many assertions by the interviewer (e.g. "the cull is the only way to stop bovine tuberculosis", "no, it could make matters worse, inoculation is the only way to stop it"), and as the interviewer did not demure he was either not sure of his facts or Brian May was correct.
I was impressed at how polite Brian remained as he had to repeat his facts several times.
10 out of 10 for what appeared to be a fact-based interview - they seem to be a rarity these days.
2010/03/05
2009/11/29
Google Wave
Just got my Google Wave account. Looks good, but I am amased at how few of my contacts have accounts. This put a bit of a damper on the collaboration !
2009/09/01
Nokia n900 announcement .. I think I'm disappointed
So I was indeed correct a new Nokia Internet tablet is on its way. And there are many things to like, such as a phone, a much more powerful processor etc.
On the other hand it looks like the new OS will not run on the N8xx hardware, which is disappointing as I don't think I will be buying the new machine.
I agree with this blog by Pengiunbait, in that the reduced size means a smaller screen ( I need a bigger screen but the N810 is the smallest my varifocal eyes can now deal with), and a less adequate keyboard.
This release seems to be heading to be a phone, but I actually want better internet tablet !! I am happy to have a separate (small) phone if necessary.
So I think my requirements and the Nokia Internet family are diverging. Still perhaps they will have the resources to have 2 variants in the range?
On the other hand it looks like the new OS will not run on the N8xx hardware, which is disappointing as I don't think I will be buying the new machine.
I agree with this blog by Pengiunbait, in that the reduced size means a smaller screen ( I need a bigger screen but the N810 is the smallest my varifocal eyes can now deal with), and a less adequate keyboard.
This release seems to be heading to be a phone, but I actually want better internet tablet !! I am happy to have a separate (small) phone if necessary.
So I think my requirements and the Nokia Internet family are diverging. Still perhaps they will have the resources to have 2 variants in the range?
2009/08/20
Peter Siebel's new book: Coders at Work
Interesting preview by Marc Hedlund. If this book is anything like as good as Practical Common Lisp ( which is very good indeed) then it will be worth owning. Rather a change of topic from Peter but, as Marc points out, the fact that Peter is a coder too allows for a different sort of book from say a journalist doing the interviewing.
See here for a previous entry
See here for a previous entry
N810 prices falling...
I am very happy with my Nokia N810. I noticed that the price was starting to fall again.
Perhaps this is the reason why: RX-51/N900
Now with phone! Obviously, the Google Android is not the only Linux based phone from a major player.
I hope that the (non-phone) parts of the OS are backward compatible with the N810.
Perhaps this is the reason why: RX-51/N900
Now with phone! Obviously, the Google Android is not the only Linux based phone from a major player.
I hope that the (non-phone) parts of the OS are backward compatible with the N810.
2009/06/09
A great overview of how to use org-mode
This is super:
Org Mode - Organize Your Life In Plain Text!
I have not studied all of it, but it certainly clarifies a few things for me, points out some new features which had slipped through my net, and shows how to avoid using one huge file for everything! Storing to-dos etc. in a holding file and then working through (weekly review?) looks good.
I am expecting to be spending some time in .emacs again!!
Org Mode - Organize Your Life In Plain Text!
Org Mode - Organize Your Life In Plain Text!
I have not studied all of it, but it certainly clarifies a few things for me, points out some new features which had slipped through my net, and shows how to avoid using one huge file for everything! Storing to-dos etc. in a holding file and then working through (weekly review?) looks good.
I am expecting to be spending some time in .emacs again!!
2009/05/30
2009/05/29
#tweekly summary
Kelly hosted a really useful one-hour Weekly review on Twitter yesterday (6pm BST). Every five miutes or so, Kelly would fire out a tweet marching us throught the 11 steps of the GTD weekly review. Why was this a valuable session (as opposed to following the book by oneself on a Friday pm. say):
- Having a defined public time was a great way of getting people to actually do the review. For hours, in some cases days, before the event, tweets were going out creating a real buzz.
- In addition to someone keeping the time (Kelly), she also sent out advice with each 5 minute period to prompt ( "No waiting on list? Check your sent mail!")
- Kelly was able to answer folks questions - for example, when someone expressed a fear of the "mind sweep" adding too many new to-dos, Kelly was able to offer reassurance!
Here is a summary ( with helpful tips) from the Tweets:
* GET CLEAR
** Collect loose papers and materials
*** Gather everything that's loose into an Inbox, Tray or folder.
** Get “In” to zero
*** a good way to process in is 4D's: Delete it, Do it (under 2 mins), Delegate it, Defer it (onto a list)
** Empty your head
*** Open a Word doc, or grab and pad and clear your head for 5 minutes
*** SOME MINDSWEEP TRIGGERS: Family, health, meetings you've had, meetings you're going to have...
*** MORE MINDSWEEP TRIGGERS: Your direct reports, finances, 401k, the dog, your car, health appts you've been putting off...
* GET CURRENT
** Review Action Lists
** Review past calendar data
*** Many times reviewing your old calendar (go back about 3 wks) catches things you meant to do. 3 more mins left)
** Review upcoming calendar
*** REVIEW UPCOMING CALENDAR TIP: if you find something you need to process, you can add to your mindsweep for now.
*** if you don't get anything on reviewing your calendar, try going further out. Recurring Tasks are great for calendar
** Review Waiting For list
*** if you've got a list review it. If you don't have one, what are you waiting on?
*** WAITING FOR TIP: Review your email Sent folder. Usually some waiting for's hiding in there.
** Review Project (and larger outcome) lists
*** Projects are your outcomes that require more than one action step
*** PROJECT TIP: If you are not willing to take any next action on a current project, are you sure it's not Someday/Maybe?
*** PROJECT TIP: Most people we coach have 30-100 current personal & professional projects. Don't be surprised!
*** PROJECT TIP: Projects are typically completed within 18 mos. If you can NEVER mark it done, it's likely an Area of Focus.
** Review any relevant checklists
*** birthday checklists? travel checklists? home mntce?
*** CHECKLIST TIP: Maybe you want to CREATE a checklist? Anything recurring that would be good? What to always pack for vacation?
* GET CREATIVE
** Review Someday/Maybe
*** If you have one, update it. If you don't have one, create it!
*** SOMEDAY TIP: You'll trust S/M list(s) more if you know you're actually going to review them again. Otherwise they'll die.
*** SOMEDAY /MAYBE TIP: S/M is not just a "fantasy wish" list. It can be a fantastic place to stage "not yet" projects.
** Be creative & courageous
*** Any new thought-provoking, creative, risk taking ideas to add to your system?
*** What's REALLY got your attention in your job, family, environment? This is the last step!
2009/05/28
Supporting org-mode!
I am a great fan of org-mode (for Emacs) I started using it to Getting Things Done, where it is super for entering tasks, prioritising, tracking and closing. But it is also good for note taking, time recording, simple tables, publishing to a variety of formats.
Strongly recommended - in fact, install Emacs for no other reason !!
Vote for org-mode!!
A modern view of starting Clojure in Emacs with Slime
This looks promising:
in which are found tricks of the trade concerning clojure authorship - Technomancy
Now what about co-existing with SBCL?
in which are found tricks of the trade concerning clojure authorship - Technomancy
Now what about co-existing with SBCL?
2009/05/01
YALB - Yet Another Lisp Book
Land of Lisp - O'Reilly Media
Conrad's other stuff, such as Casting Spels, has been humorous and informative - on pre-order!
Common Lisp has been blessed with some great books, even if few in number ( Practical Common Lisp, On Lisp etc. spring to mind). I wonder how the advent of Clojure will affect Common Lisp and the flow of great books?
Lisp is a uniquely powerful programming language that, despite its academic reputation, is actually very practical. Land of Lisp brings the language into the real world, teaching Lisp by showing readers how to write several complete Lisp-based games, including a text adventure, an evolution simulation, and a robot battle. While building these games, readers learn the core concepts of Lisp programming, such as data types, recursion, input/output, object-oriented programming, and macros. And thanks to the power of Lisp, the code is short. Rather than bogging things down with reference information that is easily found online, Land of Lisp focuses on using Lisp for real programming. The book is filled with the author Conrad Barski's famous Lisp cartoons, featuring the Lisp alien and other zany characters.
Conrad's other stuff, such as Casting Spels, has been humorous and informative - on pre-order!
Common Lisp has been blessed with some great books, even if few in number ( Practical Common Lisp, On Lisp etc. spring to mind). I wonder how the advent of Clojure will affect Common Lisp and the flow of great books?
Cool - live MDA via Google App engine
Epsilon + AppEngine + Ajax = Epsilon Live « Epsilon Weblog
The Epsilon website already includes several screencasts and examples that demonstrate the tools and languages it provides. The preview release of the Google App Engine for Java has made it possible to go one step further and allow people to actually write and execute EOL (the core language of Epsilon) programs straight from their browser without needing to download or install anything.
Diplomacy - a long neglected game
I can remember some distant games of Diplomacy - the board is still around. I have even talked with some friends about restarting. Now this:
Practical Leadership: Diplomacy is Fun Leadership Training
Diplomacy as training in trust ? Hmmm.
The game recently celebrated its 50th anniversary - with a rather disappointing reissue of the game.
Practical Leadership: Diplomacy is Fun Leadership Training
I just got back from chaperoning a high school trip to Costa Rica. While there, some of the kids put together a make-shift Diplomacy game out of a pizza box top. Playing gave the kids and me fun lessons in leadership and negotiation.
Diplomacy as training in trust ? Hmmm.
The game recently celebrated its 50th anniversary - with a rather disappointing reissue of the game.
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