Whenever I’m on the phone with a telemarketer or a customer service representative, I’m torn. I’m on the phone with a person, but I’m interacting with a corporation. I don’t know who had the bright idea to create an entity … Continue reading
Most downtown crosswalks have been upgraded from just a flashing red hand to a flashing red hand and a countdown timer. I don’t know why. If you watch people, it quickly becomes obvious: The time on the timer doesn’t matter. … Continue reading
Does a mall count as indoors? Does a baseball cap count? Do you have to tip your hat to a lady if she’s wearing trousers? Not if you were born after 1900 Exception – you do if you’re wearing a … Continue reading
“We can change. There has to be hope.” UPDATE - I think perhahps the thing that bothers me is that what he is looking for *is* knowable, but it is not knowable in the way that establishing a field of … Continue reading
Freakonomics posed this as “The greatest question ever asked” The economics hook is, of course, that people act according to incentives and it’s fun to try and examine a ‘selfless’ act. It’s a polarizing topic; the post gets 200 comments … Continue reading
Perspective is a funny thing. I’m sure there are thousands of little German boys who would have given anything to be in Robert Enke’s place – the first-choice goaltender for the German national football team. But on Tuesday, he threw … Continue reading
Why do we still have TV news anchors? So far as I can tell, good news anchors embody the following: Bland and inoffensive Willing to endure a yuppie haircut Pretty face Ability to adhere to standard intonation pattern Don’t make … Continue reading
If there’s English hidden in here, I don’t know where to find it. Context The presentation-tier request handling mechanism must control and coordinate processing of each user across multiple requests. Such control mechanisms may be managed in either a centralized … Continue reading
I guess I really don’t have to tell you, ’cause you could have guessed it anyway… The decline of video games sales. It’s obvious, but it’s worth mentioning, if only to learn a couple lessons. You would hope that these … Continue reading
For the next four months, it will be dark when I go to work and dark when I get home. Oh Goody.