"Murphy was an optimist!"
I’m defined May 18, 2006 2:53 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Daily LifeSomeone that I know only from online (irc efnet #coldfusion)sent me this message: "I was reading the Death Before Dullness article in the Make vol6 mag and immediately thought of you djuggler.
" so I flip to page 14 and read the article, Following are the first 3 paragraphs:
I think many lightly organized geeks suffer from an overpowering fear of tedium. It’s part of being a novelty-seeking kind of person: when you get substantial amounts of pleasure from uncovering new knowledge, any task where you’re not learning — where you’re just repeating — is unbearably painful to pursue.
If you’re a programmer, there’s an additional level of suffering in drudgery. Doing the same thing over and over while coding, like copying and pasting the same function into different functions? That’s never a demonstration that you’re doing good work. It’s usually a sign that something is wrong with your code. You’re paid to remove redundancies. Programmers look at a task like weeding the lawn and think, "I’ve already done this. Why can’t I wrap it in a loop, and just run that?"
As a result, geeks often get themselves into terrible trouble because they cannot bear to do simple, everyday tasks — like pay bills on time, or fill in a tax form, or wash the dishes. It’s an aesthetic and moral offense. Better, says the subconscious, to be bankrupt and on the run from the IRS, eating from plastic cups and plates, than to have to do some brain-numbing piece of repetitious nonsense, even for a moment. Death before dullness!
Well now. That about says it. The rest of the article is equally great. Thanks atomi!
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The Hanso Foundation has been updated May 18, 2006 2:21 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Lost, Of Interest, TV / MoviesHugh McIntyre’s profile has been updated at The Hanso Foundation.
A veteran U.N. translator with an extensive background in public relations, Communications Director Hugh McIntyre serves as the public voice of The Hanso Foundation.
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Need O2 May 18, 2006 7:58 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Daily Life, HealthI’m drained. I feel like I need some oxygen! But maybe the O2 experience is all hype.
A little known fact about our planet is that about 300 years ago the Earth’s atmosphere had an oxygen content of 30-32%. since then because of industry, rain forest destruction, & several other factors our planet’s Oxygen has dropped considerably, down to between 19-21%.
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