Odds and Ends, Wed 20 Dec 2006

   1. Recently "My Favourite Album" aired on ABC TV:
     < http://abc.net.au/myfavouritealbum/ >
   I own seven of the top ten, including the #1.  Personally I don't like
   it that much, but there are a couple of ok songs on it.

   In past years they've aired "My Favourite Film":
     < http://www.abc.net.au/myfavouritefilm/ >
   and "My Favourite Book":
     < http://www.abc.net.au/myfavouritebook/ >

   2. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery
   a. "Microsoft Rips Off Apple's Workgroup Manager Icon"
     < http://daringfireball.net/2006/12/microsoft_workgroup_manager_icon >
   b. "Google Blatantly Copies Yahoo!?"
     < http://jeremy.zawodny.com/blog/archives/008122.html >

   To spare their blushes the copycats quickly changed their sites, but
   the posts preserve the moment.

   3. Great gift for the office ...
   USB Missile Launcher - Computer-Controlled Desktop Rocket Launcher
     < http://www.kleargear.com/5004.html>
   "The USB Missile Launcher (aka USB Rocket Launcher, USB Air Dart, or
   USB Powered Air Darts) is the state-of-the-art deterrent against those
   bored and aggravating individuals that loiter around your desk when
   there's nothing better for them to do"
   "To defend your desktop from those pesky impostors, all you need to do
   is install the software provided and plug in the Missile Launcher to
   the USB port on your notebook or desktop computer"

   4. "Behind the Scenes at the Microsoft Zune Design Laboratory"
     < http://doodleplex.com/glassmaze/?p=447 >
   Warning: contains slightly colourful (brown) language.
   What a lot of people don't want for Christmas.

   5. "Santas face job risks being cheery: survey"
     < http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200612/s1804117.htm >
   "Santas get sneezed upon up to 10 times a day, fend off children pulling
   their beards and mop up after children who frequently wet their laps,
   the survey of hundreds of men who work as seasonal Santa Claus
   characters says"

   I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
   B!?

iWoz + Lost in a Good Book

   A couple more books that I've just finished reading ...

   1. "iWoz" by Steve Wozniak and Gina Smith
     < http://www.amazon.com/iWoz/dp/0393061434/ >

   This is an autobiography by Steve Wozniak, nicknamed "Woz".  For those
   who don't know, he is one of the Two Steves that founded Apple Computer
   (the other being Steve Jobs, who returned to Apple in 1997 and has been
   CEO ever since).

   For someone who has been into computers for over 20 years, and an Apple
   fan, I found it a very interesting read.  Wozniak has a relaxed, almost
   conversational style (probably aided by the co-author).  Even engineers,
   like, say "like" a lot :)

   It's a very candid book, with the author's primary motivation being to
   set the record straight regarding his life, in particular his time at
   Apple.  While it's clear that he is normally very shy and gentle by
   nature, he developed incredible self-belief and confidence from his
   engineering work.  There's a lot of detail for geeks, but it's not over-
   done.  You can skim over it, but make sure you don't miss all the
   practical jokes he's pulled.  He started early and some of the pranks
   are highly elaborate.

   He doesn't just tell you what happened, but he also offers some of his
   personal philosophy.  For example, he tells us that "the secret to life
   ... is to find a way to be happy and satisfied with your life and also
   to make other people happy and satisfied with their lives" (Chapter 5).
   The book concludes with some "Rules to Live By".  But the style is not
   preachy, rather he just tries to give an honest and truthful account of
   his life, and how he tries to live it.


   2. "Lost in a Good Book" by Jasper Fforde
     < http://www.amazon.com/Lost-Good-Book/dp/0142004030/ >

   This is the second book in the "Thursday Next" Series, and the sequel
   to "The Eyre Affair".  It continues the style established in the first
   book.

   In the process of rescuing Jane Eyre our Heroine, Thursday Next,
   has unfortunately made a lot of enemies.  In this book, they each try
   to exact revenge in their own separate way.  For example, Goliath
   Corporation has conspired with a corrupt ChronoGuard agent to go back
   into time to "eradicate" Thursday's husband, and is blackmailing her
   in return for Goliath's Jack Schitt (no kidding).  In addition to
   trying to get her husband back, Thursday becomes apprenticed to Miss
   Havisham from "Great Expectations", who teaches her a new way to
   transport herself through literature.  And somehow she manages to find
   time to help save the world from being turned into pink slime.

   Another enjoyable read, just as imaginative as the first book in the
   series.  Perhaps a touch of the novelty has worn off for me, so I
   didn't think it was quite as good as "The Eyre Affair".  Amazon readers
   have given it an average rating of 4.5 (out of 5), while the first book
   in the series has an average of 4.  Personally I'd swap the ratings,
   but they're both very good books.

Apple iPhone, Fact or Phantasy?

   Few would argue that Apple's iPod has been a very successful product
   since its launch in October 2001.  By September 2006 over 67 million
   iPods have been sold.  Apple reportedly has 70% of the overall digital
   media player market, and the iPod has been dubbed the "Walkman of the
   21st Century".

   With the annual MacWorld Expo scheduled to start on January 9 2007, many
   industry pundits are speculating what will be the Next Big Thing from
   Apple.  The current favourite is an Apple-made mobile phone, dubbed the
   iPhone.  Apple has never officially declared its intention to enter the
   mobile phone market.  Unlike some of its rivals, Apple very rarely pre-
   announces upcoming products.  Instead Apple prefers to maintain a cult
   of secrecy, making surprise announcements of new products just prior to
   their release.  This approach seems to have helped fuel a whole host of
   rumour web sites and blogs, devoted to speculating on Apple's future
   products.

   Here's a selection of the more interesting iPhone-related sites:

   * MYiPhone, the unofficial iPhone weblog
     < http://www.myiphone.com/ >

   * Everything iPhone
     < http://www.everythingiphone.com/ >
     Includes a gallery of Photoshopped iPhones:
     < http://www.everythingiphone.com/iphone-photo-gallery/ >

   * iPhoneFreak
     < http://www.iphonefreak.com/ >

   * iPhone concept blog
     < http://appleiphone.blogspot.com/ >

   Wild speculation from self-declared rumour sites is understandable.
   Even if the iPhone never sees the light of day, such sites at least
   provide some entertainment value.  But when "analysts" and news sites
   join in the frenzy, you have to question their credibility.

   Some sites have been tracking the iPhone phenomenon with a rather
   sceptical eye.  Tao of Mac has a list of articles dating back to 2002:
     < http://the.taoofmac.com/space/iPhone >

   The site's author outlines his thoughts on why it is unlikely that Apple
   would release a mobile phone any time soon.  I tend to agree.  However
   stranger things have happened.  I'm sure there have been several
   internal projects within Apple that could be similar to the mythical
   iPhone.  A large proportion of prototypes in Apple's labs never make it
   to production.  Here are a couple of links with photos of such
   prototypes:

   * The Apple Museum: Protoypes
     < http://www.theapplemuseum.com/index.php?id=45 >

   * Apple Prototypes: 5 Products We Never Saw
     < http://www.applegazette.com/mac/httpwwwapplegazettecomwp-
         adminpostphpactioneditpost272/ >
   Note that #2 is "Apple Videophone PDA".

   More Photoshopped Apple prototypes are collected at:
     < http://www.theapplecollection.com/design/macproto/ >

   Interestingly, just prior to the announcement of the iPod, many rumour
   sites were convinced that Apple would be releasing a PDA (Personal
   Digital Assistant).  One site even gave it a name, iWalk.  So when
   Apple announced the iPod at a special media event, many news sites and
   analysts, were underwhelmed, e.g. "No iWalk, just an iPod":
     < http://www.geek.com/news/geeknews/2001oct/mac20011023008486.htm >
   Some of the comments are quite amusing in retrospect.

   So, what new products will Apple release in 2007?  The iPhone?  An iPDA?
   An iTablet (a tablet PC)?  One product that Apple has pre-announced for
   2007 has the internal code name "iTV", which is a set-top box:
     < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITV_(Apple) >

UPDATE:
* An iPhone is launched on December 18, not by Apple but by Linksys:
   Surprise iPhone launch

* Timeline of Apple "iPhone" Rumors (1999-Present)

Two Novels and a Film

   Since the last B-List post I finished reading two more books and watched
   a classic film at the cinema.  I've spent very little time in front of
   computers ;)

   Note: Some of links may contain spoilers.  But if you have neither the
   time nor the opportunity to read the books or see the film, then by all
   means check out the links.

   Novel #1: "The Eyre Affair" by Jasper Fforde
     < http://www.amazon.com/Eyre-Affair-Jasper-Fforde/dp/0142001805/ >
   Jane Eyre, the main protagonist from the novel of the same name, is
   kidnapped.  How is this possible?  In a parallel world a resourceful
   inventor has devised a Prose Portal which allows people to literally
   step into the pages of any piece of literature.  The Prose Portal falls
   into the hands of Acheron Hades, a really Bad Guy, and he gets the idea
   of kidnapping characters from books in return for ransom.

   I found it a thoroughly entertaining read, filled with imaginative and
   amusing characters and situations.  There are more novels in the series,
   and I look forward to reading them soon.

   For more about the plot, read the Amazon page, or the following
   Wikipedia entry:
     < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Eyre_Affair >

   If, like me, you're not familiar with "Jane Eyre", this entry has
   some helpful background on that novel:
     < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Eyre >


   Novel #2: "Chart Throb" by Ben Elton
     < http://www.amazon.co.uk/Chart-Throb-Ben-Elton/dp/059305749X/ >
   This is a satire of the Pop Idol/X-Factor phenomenon, wherein the Prince
   of Wales, yes Charles Philip Arthur George Windsor himself, becomes the
   most unlikely "pop idol" ever.  I'm not giving the ending away, since
   this challenge is set for the producer of the show very early in the
   book, and the plot reveals how this is achieved.  In the process, the
   shonky and contrived world of reality "talent" shows is exposed.

   I wish I could say I enjoyed the book.  Sure, it had its moments, and
   there is an interesting twist at the end.  If you're familiar with Ben
   Elton's other work you know what you're in for. But I found almost all
   the characters very cliched, and the story rather predictable and
   repetitive.  I didn't find any of the characters particularly endearing.
   Perhaps that's what the author intended?  I might have enjoyed it more
   if it was edited down from 400+ pages to around 200 pages, and some of
   the plot improved.

   Looks like some reviewers didn't think much of the novel either:
     < http://books.guardian.co.uk/digestedread/story/0,,1958726,00.html >


   Finally, the Film: "L'avventura" ("The Adventure")
     < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%27Avventura >
   This is a 1960 Italian film written and directed by Michelangelo
   Antonioni.  It won the Special Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival
   when it was released.  It was shown last Saturday as part of the
   2006 Italian Film Festival in Adelaide.

   It doesn't really matter if you know the plot before seeing it, since,
   unlike most Hollywood movies, there is much more to the film than
   the plot.  A very unforgettable film that will reveal more of itself
   with each viewing.  I can't wait for the DVD :)

   According to Roger Ebert,
     < http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19970119/
         REVIEWS08/401010338/1023 >
   "His characters were parasites whose money allowed them to clear away
   the distractions of work, responsibility, goals and purposes, and
   exposed the utter emptiness within. It is possible to be rich and
   happy, of course, but for that you need a mind, and interests. It is
   impossible to be happy simply because one is ceaselessly entertained.
   L'Avventura becomes a place in our imagination--a melancholy moral
   desert."

   Interestingly, this analysis is consistent with the theme in the
   Affluenza book I read.  Perhaps Antonioni was ahead of his time?
   Or maybe people never learn from the missteps of others?

   The film is also an interesting companion piece to Federico Fellini's
   "La Dolce Vita", released in the same year (1960):
     < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Dolce_Vita >

The Paradox of Choice

   A while ago I read "The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less", by Barry
   Schwartz:
     < http://www.amazon.com/Paradox-Choice-More-Less-P-S/dp/0060005696/ >

   The basic theme is: while some choice is good, having to choose from a
   large number of things is not only complex, but it can actually make us
   unhappier.

   The book argues the case using psychological and economic reasoning.
   The last chapter lists 11 useful steps to deal with the problem of too
   much choice.

   Transcript of an interview with author:
     < http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/economy/july-dec03/paradox_12-26.html >
   Excerpts from the book:
     < http://www.hopkinsandcompany.com/Books/The%20Paradox%20of%20Choice.htm >
     < http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/excerpts/2004-01-16-
         paradox-choice_x.htm >

   The item below was meant to be a brief personal anecdote to support the
   theme of the book, but it grew too big for a normal B-List post.  So I
   put it where I've put a lot of other nonsense I've been writing lately
   in my spare time:
     < http://bruno-rants.blogspot.com/2006/11/too-much-choice-
         considered-harmful.html >

Odds and Ends, Fri 24 Nov 2006

   1. "The Forbes Fictional 15"
     < http://www.forbes.com/2006/11/20/forbes-fictional-richest-
         tech-media_cx_mn_de_06fict15_intro.html >
   "The rich may be different than you and me--but not nearly as different
    as the characters that comprise the Forbes Fictional 15, our annual
    listing of fiction's very wealthiest. This year's selection includes
    a duck, a wizard, a Nigerian prince and even a plumber. Aggregate
    (fictional) net worth? $111 billion."

   2. Buzzword Generator
     < http://www.1728.com/buzzword.htm >

   3. Mission Statement Generator
     < http://www.dilbert.com/comics/dilbert/games/career/bin/ms.cgi >

   4. Performance Review Generator
     < http://www.dilbert.com/comics/dilbert/games/career/html/questions.html >

   5. Pop-up Potpourri: It's Getting a Little NaN Outside
     < http://thedailywtf.com/forums/thread/100851.aspx >

   6. Carry Your iPod in a Book
     < http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/portable-media/carry-your-ipod-
         in-a-book-216224.php >

   7. "That's the Way the Spaghetti Crumbles"
      < http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20051112/bob10.asp >
   "Great scientists sometimes do silly experiments. The renowned physicist
    and Nobel prize winner Richard P. Feynman, for instance, once got it
    into his head to figure out why uncooked spaghetti doesn't snap neatly
    in two when you bend it far enough to break. Pay attention next time,
    and you'll notice that the pasta tends to shatter into three or more
    fragments of unequal lengths."

Unusual Buildings + New 7 Wonders of the World

   Amazing Building blog
     < http://amazing-building.blogspot.com/ >

   More buildings and structures designed by Canadian architect Frank Gehry
   (who designed the "Dancing House"):
     < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Frank_Gehry_buildings >

   Strange and Unusual Buildings (in the US)
     < http://www.ohiobarns.com/othersites/buildings/buildings.html >

   New 7 Wonders of the World
     < http://www.new7wonders.com/index.php >
   A campaign to select a new list of Seven Wonders, voted by earthlings.
   There are 21 finalists, and the site is accepting votes until 07/07/07
   (get it?).

Our Multicultural Prime Minister

   The Annual APEC summit ended in Hanoi yesterday.  As is customary, the
   leaders of the APEC countries posed for their "class photo" wearing
   traditional costumes from the host nation.  Here's a photo of the class
   of 2006:
     < http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2006/11/19/1163871272274.html >

   It's good to see the "Man of Steel" embracing Asian cultures.  He always
   manages to look a picture of sartorial elegance.  The link below is a
   gallery of past APEC photos featuring Australia's representative:
     < http://www.news.com.au/gallery/0,,5007840-5001021-1,00.html >

   Complete APEC class photos are available from the official APEC web site:
     < http://www.apec.org/content/apec/leaders__declaration.html >
   Just click on the "Economy Representatives" link for the relevant year.

   Next year the APEC summit will be held in Australia.  I wonder what the
   "traditional" costume will be?  Singlet, stubbies and thongs maybe?

   You may be surprised to know that the PM has a blog.  Here's his post about
   the APEC summit in 2004:
     < http://johnhoward.blogspot.com/2004_11_28_johnhoward_archive.html >

The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid

   I've recently finished reading the latest book from Bill Bryson:
   "The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid"
     < http://www.amazon.com/Life-Times-Thunderbolt-Kid-Memoir/
         dp/076791936X/ >

   It's mostly a memoir of his pre-adult life, laced with Bryson's typical
   humour and casual social commentary.  If you've read any of his travel
   books, you should enjoy this book.  Of course it's easy to label it as
   pure nostalgia for a bygone era, but I think the book transcends such
   oversimplification.

   I've had to return it to the library, so I won't give you any quotes.
   Instead I'll out some of the general things that struck me ...

   1. Living as a child in the 50s and early 60s (in America) doesn't
   sound too different to my own childhood in the 70s and 80s (in
   Australia).  Neighbourhoods were friendly.  Children could spend
   endless summer days playing safely with their friends in the streets
   and any other open spaces.  I don't see that these days.

   2. Despite, or perhaps because of the Cold War, ordinary people seemed
   nicer to each other.  Things were simpler and people were less obsessed
   with material things.  Perhaps I'm being nostalgic myself?  Maybe I'm
   over-romanticising a time when I was too young to notice what was
   really going on?

   3. Mass-merchandising and marketing glitz has come at the cost of
   "the corner store" and other specialty stores run by people who really
   cared about their customers. "Local legends" like cinemas have been
   replaced by multinational chains and franchises.

   4. America really was an extremely racist place prior to the civil rights
   movement.  While the situation has improved since then, some Americans
   are more equal than others.  To some extent this applies to Australia
   too.

20/20 Vision

   20/20 vision means perfect vision, right?  Wrong!  The term actually
   signifies "normal" human vision.

   Meaning of 20/20 Vision
      < http://www.visionww.org/article-what-is-20-20-vision.htm >
   "20/20 vision is a term used to express normal visual acuity (the
    clarity or sharpness of vision) measured at a distance of 20 feet.
    If you have 20/20 vision, you can see clearly at 20 feet what should
    normally be seen at that distance. If you have 20/100 vision, it
    means that you must be as close as 20 feet to see what a person with
    normal vision can see at 100 feet."

   Wikipedia article on "Visual acuity"
      < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visual_acuity >
   "It is possible to have vision superior to 20/20: the maximum acuity
    of the human eye without visual aids (such as binoculars) is generally
    thought to be around 20/10 (6/3). Recent developments in optometry
    have resulted in corrective lenses conferring upon the wearer a vision
    of up to 20/10. Some birds, such as hawks, are believed to have an
    acuity of around 20/2, which is much better than human eyesight."

   A Snellen Chart is often used in doctors' surgeries to determine
   visual acuity.  If you're at work and want to make a dork of
   yourself, use the following chart to estimate your visual acuity:
      < http://www.mdsupport.org/snellen.html >
   Read the instructions to work out how far to stand from your monitor,
   and remember to test one eye at a time.

   (It turns out that my right eye is better than my left eye.)