one site to rule them all

Disclaimer: This posting is almost a shameless advertisement, for amazon.com (they didn't ask for it though).

For a while now, I've had my eyes on the Pentax K20D and today I decided I'd get one, preferably by the end of the day.

I searched online, and went with the top camera shop, as returned by a Google search (in this case, www.bhphotovideo.com).

After approximately two hours on the website, browsing for lenses, bags and accessories, I picked three lenses (not all of them for me), the camera body and a camera bag, then happily proceeded to checkout.

Five or so tries later, after acknowledging again and again that I'd have to go home and take a picture of my credit card and send it to them, and after five refusals of my credit card, I decided to switch websites.

www.bhphotovideo.com, you didn't get my money.

I picked the second choice from the Google search results, adorama.com. I picked the items I had already decided on (no browsing the website this time, just specific searches) and proceeded to checkout, again. After three tries, all I have to say about this, is adorama guys, international phone numbers are not necessarily ten digits long, and if you don't allow people to make accounts because their phone numbers are not ten digits long, you lose customers. Like me, for example.

In the end, adorama.com guys, you didn't get my money either.

Then, I abandoned Google search results altogether and went directly to amazon.com. I did a search for the camera type, added it to the cart, and among the recommendations made by amazon's engine, I found everything I had already decided to get (their recommended stuff engine is spot-on). I ended up spending no time on the site, searching for items or otherwise.

Two minutes later (the two minutes being mostly filled with completing a new delivery address) I had completed my order, checked it, and received a confirmation email for my order.

To conclude, the next time, I don't think I'll bother with other websites at all.

My second conclusion: Hey, amazon.com guys, thanks!

Ticket #10919 (incorrect pluralization) A.K.A. Why Ruby Just Might Be Cooler than Python

I haven't laughed so much since ... yesterday? the day before? I laugh a lot, so that's probably not relevant.

Either way, Ticket #10919 appears to be a real defect opened for the Ruby language.

(I received the link from A.C., on a jokes list I subscribe to).

conundrum

The more emphasis one places on knowing things, the more stupid one becomes.

So, who's an expert?

Bertold Brecht quote

The aim of science is not to open the door to infinite wisdom, but to set a limit to infinite error.

I liked this quote enough to share ... have a nice day!

tuesday morning activity


49 cd /usr/lib/amarok/install-mp3
50 ls
51 ls -lart
52 less install-mp3
53 sudo chmod +w install-mp3
54 sudo ./install-mp3
55 sudo . ./install-mp3
56 sudo source ./install-mp3
57 sudo sh ./install-mp3

I now have mp3 support in amarok again.

frozen grand central

I've written about Mission: No Pants before. Now, I found the ImprovEverywhere user on youtube. This prank is amongst their most spectacular movies:

connected ... or not really

I tried three times to start writing this and I deleted what I wrote, three times also, as it sounded ... disingenuous.

There is a state of being, when one can perceive a connection over space and time, to remote people, places or situations.

It's a sensation that I started to identify just lately, but something that I feel sure it's actually there (id est I believe I'm not actually making this up :-().

The experience itself is that all of a sudden, I feel the presence of a person strongly (that happened twice that I can remember in the last six months, shortly before meeting said persons), or a place, down to the smell of the air in that place, it's presence around me (just like being there).

Today I dreamt of a place that I've visited this year and had the sensation I'll be getting there. Then, I woke up (after sleeping for half an hour or so).

Maybe it was just a dream and I guess In the end it doesn't really matter.

driving through the rain

best vista commercial

censoring the internet / wikileaks.org

There's been a scandal over the last few days, as wikileaks.org actually did more of its purpose: they published some confidential documents on the money-laundering ways (apparently - I haven't read the documents myself) of a Cayman Islands Bank.

Then, the website was DoSed and the State of California ordered their internet provider (called Dynadot - and located in California - the only one they had jurisdiction over) to take down the domain, keep it reserved so that the site's anonymous creators wouldn't be able to register it somewhere else, and requested all the IP addresses of people who accessed the site.
(as a result, the wikileaks.org site can now be found at either wikileaks.be, or http://88.80.13.160/wiki)

How could I put this? CAYMAN ISLANDS BANK, you're on the verge of creating a new internet phenomenon (see references to 09F911029D74E35BD84156C5635688C0).

Attempting to censor information on the net (if you don't benefit from China's resources - that is) is practically impossible. It's a clear case when creating resistance to something actually gives it more power.

In fact, the only chance you'd have had to get over this is pretend you didn't see it, and hope others won't either (like the declaration of Francesco Cossiga).

didgeridoo

I've decided: I want to get (and learn to play) a didgeridoo.

first day

I'm dead tired, as today is my first day of going to the pool for this year. It was nice (and the jacuzzi after swimming was very nice), but now I'm sleeping in my chair.

If I remember correctly, it's gonna be like this for a few days (body adapting to making effort again and all that stuff).

Happy office dreams!
utnapistim

Happy Sarcastic Wednesday!

Happy Sarcastic Wednesday to you all!

B, thanks for the link!

music on youtube

Worlds Most Amazing Instrument:


Railroad Matsuri Daiko (harmonica, didgeridoo and taiko drums):


Shamisen Vs. Taiko:

the tao of programming

There was once a programmer who worked upon microprocessors. ``Look at how well off I am here,'' he said to a mainframe programmer who came to visit, ``I have my own operating system and file storage device. I do not have to share my resources with anyone. The software is self- consistent and easy-to-use. Why do you not quit your present job and join me here?''

The mainframe programmer then began to describe his system to his friend, saying ``The mainframe sits like an ancient sage meditating in the midst of the data center. Its disk drives lie end-to-end like a great ocean of machinery. The software is as multifaceted as a diamond, and as convoluted as a primeval jungle. The programs, each unique, move through the system like a swift-flowing river. That is why I am happy where I am.''

The microcomputer programmer, upon hearing this, fell silent. But the two programmers remained friends until the end of their days.

Taken from The Tao of Programming

what is the matrix?

S, thanks for the link :)

Edit: ... and some more:

of ego

For a few days it bothered me that I stopped writing here; I felt I was neglecting something. Now, I feel I can say my .. need to write is a manifestation of ego.

That doesn't make it in any way something to avoid (or something "inferior" or such nonsense). In fact, judging it as "to avoid", is also a matter of ego, as it is deciding to write ... or not to. Running towards freedom, spiritual search and running from suffering is ego again; Characterization, description, putting words on a weblog, having something called "my weblog" (or not), is all, in the end a refined form of bullshit (Brad B, W, thanks for this word - it fits to perfection).

I am not described in here, nor am I describable in any way.

Here is just ego, just bullshit!

Good bullshit though!