Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Literary Extravaganza

A haiku:
I can't rest in here
Old tombs are far too crowded
Zombies don't shut up!

A very short story(142 characters):
I pulled on my goggles and pushed the frankochicken lever. "Am I a mad scientist?" I thought, "No, mad scientists don't have pizza for lunch."

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Genomic Information and Privacy

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Priorities and Snowballs

The Lord is pouring out his Spirit on the Earth.  Knowledge and technology are ever increasing, along with the gospel. The gospel will roll on like a growing snowball, until it fills the whole Earth, but it will be helped by other growing snowballs that push it along. Computers can now manage records easily; temple work can be done once and not repeatedly; digital cameras quickly take pictures for ward directories; and the internet can spread the gospel. People don't have to drive an hour to their nearest family history center, now they can just use their home computers and printer to take names to the temple. The direction of technological development is to make gospel work easier and more personal.When more individuals are involved, more gets done and more are blessed.When work is easier, service missionaries who used to type records now can proselyte. The more important work of sharing the gospel can be emphasized when the other stuff is done by a computer. Technology is about the Lord emphasizing priorities.

*Image is from NASA discussing a state called "Snowball Earth", caused by the passage of the solar system through dense cool clouds of dust and gas, which is kind of cool. It's discussed further here:  http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2005/mar/HQ_05066_giant_clouds.html

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Ugly Defaults Are Depressing

Open source software is ugly. Sure the back end code is elegant and, oh, so logical.  But the user interface? Blah. Commercial software companies employ graphic designers, layout editors, and other artists.  (Make sure you emphasize the last syllable there).  Money equals flair.  Without money the user layout just isn't pretty.  Open source developers assume the user wants to customize, and make it easy to do so. But users often don't understand color palettes or size ratios, and are left with ugly defaults or worse.  Ugly defaults are depressing.  Who wouldn't be depressed by a background the color of a dull, grey Tuesday?

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Adapt Mollusk!

Globalization of the world scares me, but it excites me too. I'm not just competing with smart people in America, but every smart person on Earth. Now I have to challenge myself to get ahead. Sure I coasted into college with a full ride scholarship. But I can't coast through life. The only way to succeed in this world is to give all your passion and curiosity to several subjects and continually develop yourself. I plan on using my free time (post-graduation) to learn about new web development styles, health management software, and gardening-- the exciting stuff.
I can't assume that I will be doing the same job my whole lifetime. Business software programmers may soon be the thing of the past. What I can assume is that people who are good at math and science will always be needed. It's all about adaptation. Natural selection ensures the survival of the fittest. And through adaptation and a willingness to change with serendipitous life (mutation), one can evolve to the next level. Perhaps I will get my doctorate in genetics or film makeup or hologram technology. Maybe I will be best known for my science fiction literature, or for being the savvy librarian. It's all about adaptation to what life throws your way.
My mom always told me to do my absolute best. Globalization pours concrete over that idea and says to build a house on it.

This is a response to The World is Flat by Thomas Friedman.  Read it. It is awesome.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

ARRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!

Pirates are evil eye-patched evildoers who commandeer crafts craftily. Pirates don't surf the web, they sail the seven seas! Every pirate's pirated copy of Pirates of the Caribbean proclaims that! Nay, these surfing pirates are merely profiteers! And profiteers must earn their moniker; they must make a profit! Profiteers cannot share their cinematic compilations, they must collect cash. Rash record rapscallions wrong reserved rabble with rash requirements of recompense! They demand repayment from those whose booty ne'er would fill their coffers. Parlay with me rapscallions! Non-profiteers add to ye profit! They ship their mateys maps to buried treasure! And their mateys virally ship it to their mateys. The booty increases with the number of mateys. Persecute the pirates and the profiteers and cease the hostilities to the reserved rabble!

Me apologies for the number o' exclamation points, but ye olde pirates exclaim in EXCLAMATIONS!

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Bye Saturday Snail Mail

The U.S. Postal Service plans to propose today an adjusted mail schedule that will cut Saturday delivery.  Debt is high and mail volume is down.  The USPS predicts that this trend will continue and is searching for ways to cut back their losses.
I think that the stopping of Saturday deliveries won't affect most people.  The only mail I get is Netflix movies and my granny's greeting cards.  I pay my bills online and only my electricity company and gas company still send me monthly statements.  Even my parents and grandparents who used to pay all their bills through the mail now pay them automatically through their online bank account.  And no more are my friends and relatives sending me their thoughts and communication through snail mail that could take a week, now it's all through email that takes a few seconds.  The USPS is increasingly becoming a shipper of packages and not of letters. Perhaps the USPS should think about expanding to provide internet access or email servers after all this is the new mail.


http://money.cnn.com/2010/03/02/news/economy/usps/index.htm?hpt=T1