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- January 30, 2005
A Handfew of Eggcorns
January 30, 2005Read moreI was browsing Language Log after seeing a mention on Slashdot. Linguists use Google to track how contemporary written language use is changing; you can enter in a phrase or expression that you’re interested in, and see how many hits show up, and try to come up with a pattern of use. It’s cool stuff, trying to establish the sources of language trends as they evolve.
For example, there are spelling anomalies that crop up in online writing. This post on the use of “deep-seeded” as an expression, as in “deep-seeded hatred” is one such example. Or the existence of “eggcorns“.
There are also cultural differences that lead to the Norwegians being surprised at Barbara Bush’s salute to satan during the presidential inauguration (apparently, the gesture is a University of Texas salute to their sports teams).
Fun stuff.
- January 29, 2005
Successful Power Supply Transplant
January 29, 2005Read moreI’d written recently that I suspected the power supply in my desktop production PC was too anemic. I just replaced it, and all the problems have gone away!
- January 29, 2005
Cramming for Microsoft
January 29, 2005Read moreStumbled upon a collection of Microsoft interview questions. Microsoft’s interview process is renown for being difficult and challenging, so it’s interesting to see what they’ve asked in the past. In addition to the usual riddles, algorithms, and application questions, there’s a “thinker” section. Excerpts:
- How would you explain how to use Microsoft Excel to your grandma?
- You have been assigned to design Bill Gates bathroom. Naturally, cost is not a consideration. You may not speak to Bill.
- Interviewer hands you a black pen and says nothing but “This pen is red.”
- Why is it that when you turn on the hot water in any hotel, for example, the hot water comes pouring out almost instantaneously?
The main interviewing page covers broader topics relating to interviewing…interesting stuff.
- January 28, 2005
Getting my Feet Wet Again
January 28, 2005Read moreJeremy IMs me out of the blue, announcing that he’s made progress on porting Crixa to SDL on the PC. Wow! Much more exciting than anything I had going on. So I had to get into it myself. It’s been a good eight years since I looked at the source code, a hundred-fold collection of C++ files that I still have yet to fully grasp…
- January 28, 2005
Ad Hoc Knowledge Systems
January 28, 2005Read moreI caught an episode of NPR’s Day to Day regarding the creation of expertise-sharing websites at the company commander level. At companycommand.com, military commanders at the company level (a company being from 100-200 troops) exchange practical tips on how to get the job done. Say you’ve got to lead a convoy out of Falujah…ask your fellow commanders on this password-protected site for their advice. Listen to the Day To Day audio segment.
While the companycommand.com website is not open to the general public, there’s a link to Tomoye, the company that apparently makes the knowledge system behind it. It seems to be a social network package designed to facilitate the creation and management of what they call a Community of Practice. The powerpoint demo provides a good general overview of what the product is supposed to do, though I wonder how many people really get it.
You’d need motivated leaders and contributing experts to make any community happen, but it’s interesting to see how social networking is developing from beyond simple roll-ups like LinkedIn to make it easier to happen. A few months ago, Meetup added something similar, but that site seems pretty dead these days.
