Mad Scientific Purity

As seen at today's SMBC.  Be sure to go there for the mouse-over & big red button for two more jokes.

In case you're wondering, I'm only mildly peeved at the moment.  Yesterday was a pretty good day.

More Swear Words = Better Code?

I dunno, but it kinda works for me.  Link to original paper.  From the abstract:

We find that open source code containing swearwords exhibit significantly better code quality than those not containing swearwords under several statistical tests. We hypothesise that the use of swearwords constitutes an indicator of a profound emotional involvement of the programmer with the code and its inherent complexities, thus yielding better code based on a thorough, critical, and dialectic code analysis process.

They Make a Tool for That

After some years of fighting quick-links into place on bike chains, it occurred to me that there ought to be a tool to do this more professionally.  Turns out, Park makes one.  Behold the MLP-1.2 Master Link Pliers:

Forget the single-item shipping charges, I ordered one today after fighting that 12-speed chain's new quick-link for about a half-hour+.

BTW, the original 12-speed mtb chain held up pretty well.  Didn't get into the red zone on the chain-check tool until 540 miles of mostly gritty off-road use.  The chainline is wonky as hell on the inner cogs, but OTOH the narrow chain's so floppy that it doesn't seem to mind.  I still think that drivetrain technology reached its apex with the 3x8 systems circa 1995, but that's just the retrogrouch in me speaking.  The new 12-speed surf works just fine.

Saturday at Munson

Hot, but I just couldn't stand it any more: Back to Munson!  Here, have a trail map.  Now for pics.

What is this strange orange beast in the woods?

It's a long drive to Munson, so better get those miles in.

Munson has nice trails.  Not particularly challenging, but it does have speed speed speed.  In particular, Luge Trail is a hoot to ride, both ways.  Smooth & raised, this is a trail that has good flow.  The woods are mostly pine, some turkey oak.  Views?  Mostly sinkholes (unfortunately without water in the bottom) and more trees.  That's OK.  It's not going to be an every weekend thing, but more of a once a month thing.

Bone Music – Now On Shortwave!

When, where, what: 2000 utc (that's 4pm edt) this coming Sunday, 6160 kHz, & details (including a short video).  We may not be able to receive it here in North America, but I'm sure going to try!  Also, here's a previous blog post on the subject of Soviet bone music.

I do hope that it comes in OK, because, damn, but this is cool.

ps 7/9/23 2010 utc: Nope, not even close.

Feels Like Monday

After all the Independence Day goings-on, today feels like a Monday following a king-sized extended weekend with sprinkles on top.  What to do, what to do today?  Ride, statewide EOC net, teach class – will I never get away from teaching folks what their mammas should've already taught them about decibels yet again? – then back to what I actually need to be working on.  Here, have some theme music.

Not busy, just harried.  Though it has occurred to me lately to put the damn phone on "focus/sleeping/time-out" mode while out on the bike.  Much better.  Oh damn, that reminds me, down to my last pair of bike shorts, gotta put on laundry when I get in.  Yep, definitely a Monday, and I don't care what the calendar says.

July 1...

So far, so good.