I’ve long held that the ability to hammer away at certain technical problems requires a kind of brain wiring similar to autism.
(Wired via slashdot): Autistic people have a hard time multitasking - particularly when one of the channels is face-to-face communication. Replacing the hubbub of the traditional office with a screen and an email address inserts a controllable interface between a programmer and the chaos of everyday life.
The paint began chipping off the step bars on our Ford Sport Trac about two years ago. With a few days left on the warranty, I took it in for a few minor things, assuming this problem would be repaired. The service manager (Lewis Ford, Fayetteville, Arkansas) says these are not warrantable issues. It’s absurd that the paint on these parts should be of such poor quality, given that you have to step on these bars each time you get in the vehicle.
I asked the service manager if this was the “way it was supposed to be.” He shook his head and said, “All I’m saying is it’s not defective.” He tried to demonstrate a little dance you can do to avoid coming into contact with the “sensitive” parts.
Hmm. Wonder if I’ll ever buy another Ford product?
Confirming what alert reader Steve commented on here, indeed, Americans are junkies for the sweet stuff. Rome:lead::America:sugar?
(ScienceDaily): Tufts researchers recently reported that while the leading source of calories in the average American diet used to be from white bread, that may have changed. Now, according to preliminary research conducted by scientists at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, Americans are drinking these calories instead. The research was presented in abstract form at the Experimental Biology Conference in April of this year and a more comprehensive paper is being developed.
Head over to kittenwar.com and pick your favorite kitten.
Well, I liked it, although the first two stunk it up. It’s more troubling to imagine a Star Wars that would make the NY’r happy.
(newyorker.com): What Lucas has devised, over six movies, is a terrible puritan dream: a morality tale in which both sides are bent on moral cleansing, and where their differences can be assuaged only by a triumphant circus of violence.
I don’t think Apple is bluffing, especially if they could somehow make OSX dual-bootable for current XP users. With Longhorn’s continued delays and increasing hardware requirments, it’s the perfect time to offer Wintel users a real alternative to their sad, virus-plagued existence.
(itweb): According to a Wall Street Journal report, Apple is expected to agree to use Intel chips, but talks could break down or could be a tactic to gain negotiating leverage with Apple’s current chip supplier, IBM.
Looking at the middle school lunch menus here in NWA, it’s no wonder there are so many fat kids. I’m astounded that educators can let a child order triple french fries and a cola for lunch. There’s no easy solution here under the current system. The notion of a child’s whole well being has taken a back seat to meeting standardized test goals.
(AP/myway): Connecticut is on the verge of adopting the most far-reaching ban in the country on soda and junk food in public schools, in an effort to curb rising rates of childhood obesity.