The Fates' lieutenant
"What is it, what nameless, inscrutable, unearthy thing is it; what cozening, hidden lord and master, and cruel, remorseless emperor commands me; that against all natural lovings and longings, I so keep pushing, and crowding, and jamming myself on all the time; recklessly making me ready to do what in my own proper, natural heart, I durst not so much as dare? Is Ahab, Ahab? Is it I, God, or who, that lifts this arm?"
-- Herman Melville, Moby Dick
"Ahab is forever Ahab, man. This whole act's immutably decreed. 'Twas rehearsed by thee and me a billion years before this ocean rolled. Fool! I am the Fates' lieutenant; I act under orders."
-- Herman Melville, Moby Dick
[ 15 November 2006 11:05 am submitted by Unknown
| 0 comments |
Post your own?
]
On Purpose
... Congress recently handed the National Guard
over to the President -- the Guard was set up specifically under the
command of state governors, not the president, to spread that military
power out a bit. But after more than 125 years, that has suddenly
changed: Public Law 109-364, aka the John Warner Defense Authorization
Act of 2007 (HR 5122), specifically gives the president the power to
declare martial law and deploy troops against the citizens of the U.S.
Why? We were THIS close to losing World War II, and THAT didn't show
the need for such a change in the law. We were at the brink of nuclear
war with the Soviets, and THAT didn't show the need for such a change
in the law. But a pipsqueak terrorist bastard hiding in the deserts of
Afghanistan DOES justify such a radical consolidation of power away
from governors, where it was put ON PURPOSE? Why? And where was the
public debate about the need for such a thing?
[ 14 November 2006 11:40 am submitted by Unknown
| 0 comments |
Post your own?
]
There was nothing anyone could do
It transpired instead though, that the bus driver was dying. Blinded by the dust, he had run into the back of a truck. The bus's steering column had gone through him - severing his legs.
There was nothing anyone could do. Mobile phones do not work here. In any case, who would you call? There are no emergency services.
And no way of getting help through, even if any were to be found. The bus driver bled to death.
We edged past the crumpled bus, and headed on.
[ 13 November 2006 1:50 pm submitted by Unknown
| 0 comments |
Post your own?
]
The Comment Which Broke Slashdot
Are you sure about that? I think it might have deflated the R's more than the D's - and given real credence to the "time for a change" meme.
Of course, I believe this mainly because the R's didn't set the resignation on Monday - if they had thought it would benefit them, be sure that Rumsfeld would have been gone at least two days ago.
[ 11 November 2006 11:31 am submitted by Unknown
| 0 comments |
Post your own?
]
Evolving languages
As George Orwell wrote in 1984, the fewer words we have, the more restricted our thinking becomes. With this in mind, I embrace the evolution and expansion of any language (especially the one I use). Adding words to your language, allows for more freedom of thought and expression. However, it does also mean you need a better spellchecker.
[ 09 November 2006 4:05 am submitted by Unknown
| 0 comments |
Post your own?
]
Yes. We know.
Enumeration types are a bit odd, bitfields are odder. The "static" keyword is very strange ... There are many odd bits here and there.
[ 08 November 2006 6:59 pm submitted by Unknown
| 0 comments |
Post your own?
]
Usability 101
If you can't click it easily after 3 cans of beer, then it's too small.
[ 6:46 pm submitted by Unknown
| 0 comments |
Post your own?
]
But she did.
'I warrant it will. And longer too.
'Tis a scantling that I got
Off poor John Wayward's coffin, who
Died of they knew not what.
[ 04 November 2006 1:01 am submitted by Unknown
| 0 comments |
Post your own?
]
