Mark

Why Browsers haven’t Standardized

Computers & Internet / /

Why do browser companies continue to forge blindly ahead with more and more new features when they haven’t even implemented existing standards correctly? Why can’t they follow the standards process? Good questions. The answer is that browsers do, in fact, follow the standards process! The problem is that browsers are encouraged to innovate, to make up new (proprietary) features and technologies. They then act as a test market for the W3C, who evaluate the new features and observe how they work in the “real” world. They then make recommendations based on their findings. But when they change their specifications, the browsers are left in a lose-lose situation. This article will give you the rest of the low down in an objective manner. Its a frustrating situation, from every angle, and this sort of complex problem has no easy answer. I hope, for everyone’s sake, that the process is tightened a bit so that emerging technologies can flourish. On a side note, I wonder how much an open source browser like mozilla could contribute to the standards process without having to officially release a non-standards compliant browser…

Lost Luggage

Culture / /

Ever wonder what the airlines do with your luggage? Sure, they claim 97% of lost luggage are returned to their rightful owners within 24 hours and another 1.5% within 2 days, but what about the remaining 1.5%? Well, after 6 weeks, they sell it (and going by the percentages, this works out to be somewhere around 435, 000 bags). Apparently most of the lost bags end up in a small Alabama town at the Unclaimed Baggage Center, where they, in turn, sell the contents of the lost bags at discount prices. In case you don’t feel like hopping on a plane to visit Alabama (what would you do with your luggage?), you can always visit their webpage and buy stuff online.

Mindless Entertainment

Computers & Internet / /

The computer versus television: I don’t watch TV anymore. The hours wasted in front of the tv screen are now wasted in front of the computer monitor. Sure, I’ll throw the TV on for episodes of the Simpsons or the occasional X-Files (or possibly a Flyers game), but I’m usually doing something on the computer as well. TV just isn’t a priority anymore and I’ve noticed similar trends with those around me. Why is that? I think its because of the control you have over the web (or your computer in general). You can look up whatever you want, whenever you want, and even display it how you want. TV rigidly forces you to adhere to their schedule, while the internet gives you the power. The internet also provides a creative outlet and interactivity, things TV lacks. The internet is a much more social activity than watching the tube, and the Television industry needs to refocus its efforts if its going to regain its once lofty status…

Homo Gestalt

Arts & Letters / /

I finished Theodore Sturgeon’s More Than Human tonight, and I was extremely happy with it. It is a book about a group of social misfits who band together to suvive, only to discover that their combined existance composes a single organism, possibly the next step in human evolution (Homo Gestalt). Sturgeon displays a poetic lyricism rarely seen in science fiction and explores what it really is to be human. Expect a review at Kaedrin soon…

Demotivators

Culture / /

To find the perfect gift for those hopeless people in your life, go to Despair, Inc., a company that sells demotivational posters similar to the popular motivational posters found in most business settings. My favourite demotivators:

  • Procrastination – “Hard work often pays off after time, but laziness always pays off now.”
  • Apathy – “If we don’t take care of the customer, maybe they’ll stop bugging us.” {I printed this out and put it in my cube.}
  • Blame – “The secret to success is knowing who to blame for your failures.”

LOL. I might actually buy one of these someday…

Bah Humbug

Culture / /

Lawyer Wants To Bar Christmas as Federal Holiday: This grinch has been trying to steal Christmas for almost 3 years now, with the argument that having Christmas as a federal holiday is a violation of Church and state. “the Christmas holiday amounts to a government approval for a day of Christian religious origins marking the birth of Jesus Christ” This guy obviously doesn’t know much about the History of Christmas, which has its origins in pagan rituals that were later adopted by Christianity to celebrate the birth of Christ. In my opinion, Christmas is such a wonderous holiday because of its secular aspects, including holly, ivy, Mistletoe, Christmas trees, Santa Claus, snowmen, jingling bells and presents on Christmas morning (which have been repeatedly recognized by US Courts). Furthermore, this is a season who’s very message transcends any specific religion, ideology, or tradition to become an occasion for collective reflection on the values of what brings us together. Lets just hope the Courts stand firm…

Firepower

Science & Technology / /

Taking Ballistics by Storm: An electronic gun with no mechanical parts that could theoretically fire a million rounds per minute. It was invented by former grocery wholesaler Mike O’Dwyer. I can’t believe this guy, who has no formal education in ballistics, didn’t kill himself while inventing this thing. [via usr/bin/girl]