Wednesday, June 30, 2004
Tuesday, June 29, 2004
And The Award for "Too Much Time On My Hands" Goes To....
Cockeyed.com
This is a fascinating site from people who do things that I can imagine my brothers doing.
Of particular interest:
How Much Is Inside?" stuff like Oreos, Printer Cartridge, and Cheerios
Chad, The Cross-Country Googler Prank
Science Club episodes such as Dropping Toast
Incredible Creations such as Ketchup Packet Bear, which has a tragic ending involving an ugly crowd and fireworks. (Tragic for the bear, that is).
This is a fascinating site from people who do things that I can imagine my brothers doing.
Of particular interest:
How Much Is Inside?" stuff like Oreos, Printer Cartridge, and Cheerios
Chad, The Cross-Country Googler Prank
Science Club episodes such as Dropping Toast
Incredible Creations such as Ketchup Packet Bear, which has a tragic ending involving an ugly crowd and fireworks. (Tragic for the bear, that is).
Google Ranking Technology Revealed!
How does google decide which website is number 1 ranking for a search term?
Previously a closely guarded secret, Google has finally revealed its ranking technology.
Previously a closely guarded secret, Google has finally revealed its ranking technology.
Impossible Objects
Any theories how to make these? My favorites are: Ball and cage, bolted deck, and mystery lights.
Monday, June 28, 2004
Friday, June 25, 2004
Cryptic Crosswords
Here's a quicky guide to cryptics - my favorite type of word puzzle.
A cryptic is a type of crossword puzzle specially designed for poor spellers. It looks like a regular puzzle with very strange clues. For example, a clue might read:
Ned T.'s seal cooked is rather bland. (5,4)
It looks like non-sense, but that's because you don't know the rules yet.
The (5,4) at the end of the clue tell you how many letters are in the answer. In this case, a five letter word followed by a four letter word.
Each clue has two parts: a recipe and a definition. The difficult part is figuring out which is which. In the above clue "ned t's seal cooked" is a recipe meaning "cook" (make an anagram out of) "ned t's..." (those letters) and come up with something that means "rather bland". After a little work, the answer pops out: "NEEDS SALT".
It looks harder than it is. Really. There are only a few types of recipes: anagrams, hidden words, charades, containers, double definitions, reversals, homophones, deletions. Here's a guide to clue types.
Unlike regular crosswords, once we have an answer, we *know* it's correct. Perfect for poor spellers!
I would recommend "The New Yorker" cryptics as your first book of cryptic puzzles. After you get the hang of them try the cryptics in The Atlantic, or Harpers. These usually have a twist that make them much harder.
Here's two clues with answers. Can you see how the clues work?
Counts spots aloud. (ADDS homophone of ads)
Bigotry aside, I'd take him. (apart + he + id)
A cryptic is a type of crossword puzzle specially designed for poor spellers. It looks like a regular puzzle with very strange clues. For example, a clue might read:
Ned T.'s seal cooked is rather bland. (5,4)
It looks like non-sense, but that's because you don't know the rules yet.
The (5,4) at the end of the clue tell you how many letters are in the answer. In this case, a five letter word followed by a four letter word.
Each clue has two parts: a recipe and a definition. The difficult part is figuring out which is which. In the above clue "ned t's seal cooked" is a recipe meaning "cook" (make an anagram out of) "ned t's..." (those letters) and come up with something that means "rather bland". After a little work, the answer pops out: "NEEDS SALT".
It looks harder than it is. Really. There are only a few types of recipes: anagrams, hidden words, charades, containers, double definitions, reversals, homophones, deletions. Here's a guide to clue types.
Unlike regular crosswords, once we have an answer, we *know* it's correct. Perfect for poor spellers!
I would recommend "The New Yorker" cryptics as your first book of cryptic puzzles. After you get the hang of them try the cryptics in The Atlantic, or Harpers. These usually have a twist that make them much harder.
Here's two clues with answers. Can you see how the clues work?
Counts spots aloud. (ADDS homophone of ads)
Bigotry aside, I'd take him. (apart + he + id)
Wednesday, June 23, 2004
Tuesday, June 22, 2004
More Blog Dogs
Some great pics for the petophiles from Northampton, MA. The site is written by a lovable grey-muzzle. He's not unlike another grey-muzzle we knew.
determan_population++
Natalie and I had a baby boy at 1:59 this morning. 7lb 12.2oz. 19". No name, yet. I will have his blog up by the end of the week.
I called the main line at Michele's work today. I asked for Michele D... D... D... Hsu! First time I had to ask for that name in an official manner.
I called the main line at Michele's work today. I asked for Michele D... D... D... Hsu! First time I had to ask for that name in an official manner.
Well I'll be a monkey's uncle.
The good old wikipedia has a nice interactive plant/animal taxonomy. For example: cicada, hymenoptera, archaea, coelacanth, cuttlefish, cthulu.
Hey, but don't forget about the Tree Of Life site.
On the subject, there's an excellent PBS series running called Nature: The Triumph of Life. Cool stuff. Watch it or TiVo it.
Hey, but don't forget about the Tree Of Life site.
On the subject, there's an excellent PBS series running called Nature: The Triumph of Life. Cool stuff. Watch it or TiVo it.
Cicadas
The 17 year Brood X cicada has come and gone. Fare thee well - we hardly knew thee. In 17 years:
- Allison will be in college
- Baby XY and Baby Hsu will be graduating high school
- Cars will fly
- We will all be really old
- Our 15 year commitment to a new pup will have expired
- Allison will be in college
- Baby XY and Baby Hsu will be graduating high school
- Cars will fly
- We will all be really old
- Our 15 year commitment to a new pup will have expired
Monday, June 21, 2004
Thanks, Harry!
After a long hiatus, we returned to beautiful Harold Parker State forest on Sunday. The weather was beautiful and we at a hearty breakfast. I have a lot of great memories of Harold Parker, and it looks even better than I remember. They have a beautiful swimming hole (better than missile-site) with lifeguards. This is definitely going to become a regular thing. Maybe even do a treasure hunt.
Everyone plan on going again on the weekend of the 4th, when Michele and Richard are back.
So, thanks Harold Parker, whoever you are. I couldn't find anything about you on the web. Its 2004, Harry, get a blog.
Everyone plan on going again on the weekend of the 4th, when Michele and Richard are back.
So, thanks Harold Parker, whoever you are. I couldn't find anything about you on the web. Its 2004, Harry, get a blog.
Saturday, June 19, 2004
Reflections Of Feynman
How does a mirror work? Seriously. This is something scott and I were talking about on the drive back from NYC a few weeks ago. When I got home, I searched the internet. I found a great lecture online by none other than richard feynman.
Also noteworthy: I went back to google tonight to try to find the lecture page. I searched for "feynman mirror" and scott's playful thoughts came up as the second item!
Also noteworthy: I went back to google tonight to try to find the lecture page. I searched for "feynman mirror" and scott's playful thoughts came up as the second item!
Friday, June 18, 2004
Our Blog is Dead. Long Live Our Blog!
I encourage all determans (determen?) to set this blog to their browser's homepage. The once glorious and much envied determan.net has grown weak from disuse. This stagnocity WILL NOT STAND! It brings shame to all things determan.
Speaking of shaming the family, check out The Natural Blog of I, my own private blog.
Speaking of shaming the family, check out The Natural Blog of I, my own private blog.
