Blog

Mike Clark has an incredible powerfull idea: Learning through testing. He describes how he uses unit tests to learn a programming language (Ruby in this case). Each unit test encapsulates a bit of language knowledge he has aquired. Writing the unit tests, he explores a bit of the language. Also, there’s a written trail of things he has done and explored. I find this an extremely compelling way of learning a language and keeping track of what you know, so I guess this will go into my: “Things to try out” stack. ...

2600+ pages…. It is over – I want more

I have successfully avoided a lot of the web based tools, aggregators, services, demonstrations of technology and general doo-ahhs. But I have come across two (and I’m probably the last person in the blogosphere to do so) that really have helped immensly in how I read, digest and store information. Let me introduce bloglines and del.icio.us. On second thought though, I don’t think they need introductions. Because I roam from computer to computer, having those resources on a central server, makes it totally easy and practicable to read >160 feeds. And on every computer I have the up-to-date list of subscriptions and read feeds. Just fantastic. Same for del.icio.us - having a handy way of keeping track of bookmarkable stuff is great. ...

Skype has started the SkypeIn Beta (Windows only at the moment). Sign up & set up is skype like easy and it calling my new number worked 30 seconds after paying for it. At the moment I have a 3 month subscription, paying EUR 10. This is more of a test, than a real number - but who knows - that might change. You can call me on +1 (415) 367-3772 - I might be online… ...

from the my-outsourced-brain-dept: Install cygwin. Be sure to select the X11 base package open a cygwin shell start X: $ startxwin.sh you will get a xterm window on your Windows box type $ xhost + to disable host security, so that other hosts can connect to your server Enable X port forwarding in PuTTY ( Connections / SSH / Tunnels ) connect to the remote machine and start the program that requires X If all goes well, it will show up on your screen. If you get a “Xlib: connection to “:0.0” refused by server” error message, you have forgot to disable the security by typing xhost +. ...

Early in the morning, almost at the end of my 105 minute commute, I have to switch trains at Bern. Sometimes I pick up a Brezel as a kind of breakfast. That’s what I did today. As I was standing in the queue I noticed a man, about 50-55 years old, worn out, looking ragged, leaning his crutches against the wall and smoking while he was waiting for his order to be filled. I noticed his pack of cigarettes dropping to the floor. All the time while waiting, I debated if I should pick it up for him or just deprive him of the fags. ...