DISQUS

I once corrected my HR manager whom I considered my friend. She would always reply to any email thanking her with a one-line "your welcome" email. She sent these to everyone in the whole firm. I sent her a short, polite email pointing out that she really meant "you're welcome". I got back a blistering email saying that if I had time to critique her grammar, then she would find more work for me to do.

I've since resolved not to correct a friend's grammar again—at least not via email or chat. Text-based media are too lean to convey a helpful critique without coming across as insensitive. The risk of someone taking offense is always there. But maybe I would make a suggestion again face-to-face over lunch or something.

Thanks for the link. I had a custom Google News feed for data loss, but this feed appears to be more thorough.

Thanks for the link. I had a custom Google News feed for data loss, but this feed appears to be more thorough.

This is something I would like to study in depth as well. I started reading the Federalist Papers a couple years ago, but left off reading them. I'll have to begin again because they were very enlightening.

I can, however, recommend 1776 by David McCullough. It is well regarded and made me appreciate the struggle of the revolutionary war much more. Audible has a good unabridged version read by the author.

This is something I would like to study in depth as well. I started reading the Federalist Papers a couple years ago, but left off reading them. I'll have to begin again because they were very enlightening.

I can, however, recommend 1776 by David McCullough. It is well regarded and made me appreciate the struggle of the revolutionary war much more. Audible has a good unabridged version read by the author.

I agree. I really like media and activities that reduce perceived national and ethnic barriers. This video is about how, deep down, everyone just wants to dance. :) It's a simple message of the brotherhood of man.

Here's a high quality version of the video with a link to a download:

http://www.vimeo.com/1211060

Here is his website—neat story:

http://www.wherethehellismatt.com

I agree. I really like media and activities that reduce perceived national and ethnic barriers. This video is about how, deep down, everyone just wants to dance. :) It's a simple message of the brotherhood of man.

Here's a high quality version of the video with a link to a download:

http://www.vimeo.com/1211060

Here is his website—neat story:

http://www.wherethehellismatt.com

Good point, though I was refering to lists of links in plain text (like an email). Now if we could only get rid of the double slash cruft in the protocol declaration ("http://").

Sir Tim:

"Looking back on 15 years or so of development of the Web is there anything you would do differently given the chance?

I would have skipped on the double slash - there's no need for it. Also I would have put the domain name in the reverse order - in order of size so, for example, the BCS address would read: http:uk/org/bcs/members. This would mean the BCS could have one server for the whole site or have one specific to members and the URL wouldn't have to be different."

http://www.bcs.org/server.php?show=ConWebDoc.3337

Good point, though I was refering to lists of links in plain text (like an email). Now if we could only get rid of the double slash cruft in the protocol declaration ("http://").

Sir Tim:

"Looking back on 15 years or so of development of the Web is there anything you would do differently given the chance?

I would have skipped on the double slash - there's no need for it. Also I would have put the domain name in the reverse order - in order of size so, for example, the BCS address would read: http:uk/org/bcs/members. This would mean the BCS could have one server for the whole site or have one specific to members and the URL wouldn't have to be different."

http://www.bcs.org/server.php?show=ConWebDoc.3337

While I agree leaving off the trailing slash for directory links is inefficient from a technical perspective, I disagree with your recommendation.

For me the resource to conserve is attention, not TCP/IP packets. It is simpler to leave the trailing slash off all links so you don't waste a second considering whether to include a slash at the end of your link or not, depending on the resource.

I also think a consistent link format is more visually appealing given a list of links. In my view, the trailing slash is superfluous information (i.e. cruft) for the information consumer.

Neat log analysis though.

While I agree leaving off the trailing slash for directory links is inefficient from a technical perspective, I disagree with your recommendation.

For me the resource to conserve is attention, not TCP/IP packets. It is simpler to leave the trailing slash off all links so you don't waste a second considering whether to include a slash at the end of your link or not, depending on the resource.

I also think a consistent link format is more visually appealing given a list of links. In my view, the trailing slash is superfluous information (i.e. cruft) for the information consumer.

Neat log analysis though.

The researchers at Princeton have instructions on how to conduct a simple experiment testing memory remanence of your own system using a simple Python script:

http://citp.princeton.edu/memory/exp/

It's cool, but is mostly for illustrative purposes.

The researchers at Princeton have instructions on how to conduct a simple experiment testing memory remanence of your own system using a simple Python script:

http://citp.princeton.edu/memory/exp/

It's cool, but is mostly for illustrative purposes.