Monthly Archives: June 2009

Bad day, seating, and free speech

Posted on 30 June 2009 by cajo

Lastly, I had to add a CAPTCHA to the comments form to get rid of a tide of spam.  Mostly from Russia, it seems, although there are probably enough people who dislike Russians to try to make it look as … Continue reading →

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I can't get no satisfaction

Posted on 29 June 2009 by cajo

Today I bounced some ideas off Henri and it made me realize that I have, for a very long time, slightly misunderstood a fundamental problem in Computer Science.  In particular, the CNF-SAT problem is arguably at the core of computation … Continue reading →

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Ripping science off

Posted on 28 June 2009 by cajo

There are many things in the news this week:  MJ passed away, of course (sad for his family, but I have never been a big fan, and even if I were, how much would it have affected me?).  Stonewall riot … Continue reading →

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Complain, complain, complain

Posted on 25 June 2009 by cajo

The cold is cometh.  It is only about 12 degrees, so not a bitter cold.  (It will probably get colder, although the next couple of days are forecast as sunny.  Poor Sutherland:  they’ll be having -6 next week, if the … Continue reading →

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Freedom

Posted on 24 June 2009 by cajo

Savoir se libérer n’est rien ; l’ardu, c’est savoir être libre. [Knowing how to free oneself is nothing; the difficult thing is knowing how to live with that freedom.] André Gide The situation in Iran is sad and I hope it … Continue reading →

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Stormy weather

Posted on 23 June 2009 by cajo

Was raining cats and dogs today.  Interesting what falls from the sky in different languages: old women with knopkerries (clubs), boats and barrels, dog poo, wheelbarrows, shoemakers’ apprentices, pipe stems, stair rods, pitchforks, elephants & giraffes, frogs, ropes, long strings … Continue reading →

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Fatigue

Posted on 22 June 2009 by cajo

I am explicably tired.  My sleeping has varied wildly over the weekend, and I am looking forward to a good night’s sleep tonight.  Looking back over the day, it has been quite successful.  I browse through Papadimitriou before I go … Continue reading →

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Infobesity

Posted on 21 June 2009 by cajo

My site was down a little yesterday.  It is rare, so I am not too worried.  I was trying to post a bit of fluff about the similarity between our modern diets and the rise of obesity, and the glut … Continue reading →

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The birth of software science

Posted on 19 June 2009 by cajo

While the performance of computer hardware has been accelerating nicely according to Moore’s Law, many have observed that software has been compensating by growing more and more sluggish.  Apparently the hardware trend will run its course somewhere between 2020 and … Continue reading →

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Busy bee

Posted on 18 June 2009 by cajo

Had a busy day today.  Meeting with a prospective student who wanted to do an Honours degree without any undergraduate background in Computer Science whatsoever.  I can understand the impulse, and perhaps it is possible in some fields, but I … Continue reading →

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