“Always code as if the guy who ends up maintaining your code will be a violent psychopath who knows where you live.”
– Brad Bowman
On Code Maintenance
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Tag Archives: philosophy
A Practical Observation on the Risks of Stupidity
“I divide my officers into four classes; the clever, the lazy, the industrious, and the stupid. Each officer possesses at least two of these qualities. Those who are clever and industrious are fitted for the highest staff appointments. Use can be made of those who are stupid and lazy. The man who is clever and lazy however is for the very highest command; he has the temperament and nerves to deal with all situations. But whoever is stupid and industrious is a menace and must be removed immediately!”
– German General Kurt von Hammerstein-Equord,Truppenführung
Anathem: One Paragraph Review
I started readingAnathem with some hesitation, because I really didn’t get intoThe Baroque Cycle. It’s not that they were bad books, I just wasn’t into the time period they were set in. Thankfully, this is a return to his earlier style of spec-fic, and I found the world he invented absolutely compelling. The book is presented as a journal kept by the main character, and is basically divided into two parts. The first half introduces us to the world he lives in — a sort of inversion of our world, where scientists isolate themselves in monastic communities called Maths. These communities are built around Millenium Clocks, which only open the gates to the outside world at predefined intervals (1 year, 10 years, 100 years, and 1000 years, depending on the Math). Our story starts as a ten-year Math prepares for their gate to open. The second half of the book is the action story, describing a series of world-changing events. I can’t describe any further without ruining some surprises, but suffice to say that it’s a great story.
Feminist Sensibilities
“My feminist sensibilities have been compromised by my need for a pocket.”
– Annie Applegate
Best. Fanmail. Ever.
“I know of no other strip that quotes Milton and Ruby in successive panels.”
– random reader of Isometric
Hee, hee. Best. Fan mail. ever. Must gloat!
Also, I had one of those Horrible Revelations I live for: Isometric only has one kind of joke. It’s simple exaggeration, blowing things up to giant size.
For example, take the idea of bread. Make an Isometric. The giant sentient yeast that took over the world!! OH GOD THE BREAD IS OUT OF CONTROL SAVE US JESUS!! IT IS YOUR OWN FAULT MORTALS FOR FORGETTING THE WAYS OF THE UNLEAVENED. etc.
It’s dead simple, almost mechanical. I also reverse it sometimes, shrink things down. Take the idea of Godzilla. OH NO GODZILLA IS ATTACKING! What, again? This always happens when you leave the lid of the Giant Reptile Treats! Hey, don’t get on my case when you can’t even pick up your socks off the floor! Why, you! Are you calling me a slob, when you– etc.