This is the personal weblog of Moss Collum, a programmer living in Healdsburg, CA. I mostly blog about tech stuff, linguistics, politics, and fun things I find on the web, but there's really no set topic.
If you've found this page through Google, I hope it helps. The search tool may help find the exact post you're looking for. If you want to see what I've posted lately, you can go to the front page of the blog.
If you're someone I know, you probably already know about this blog and come here regularly, but if not, please leave me a note: chances are I'd be delighted to hear from you.
If you want to contact me, you can email me at gmail (where my address is my first name dot my last name), or just leave a comment here.
Note that the "Bloglet" of my page title is the Perl script I use for my blogging, not the other, better known Bloglet.
Also, if you want to get just your new item count from BLT, you can get it from
http://track.m14m.net/tracker/?username=YourUsername&skin=count
I could see this being useful when writing scripts and things.
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(3)
03:39:15 PM,
Monday 13 November 2006
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Does anyone else use both my blog tracker and the Growl notification tool? If so, I can send you a script for showing BLT updates in it.
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(1)
03:38:59 PM,
Monday 13 November 2006
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Listening to: KPFA
Watching: C-SPAN
Reading: CNN, Yahoo, Washington Post, New York Times
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(18)
08:06:18 PM,
Tuesday 7 November 2006
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If there's anything on the ballot in California that you feel particularly strongly about, the next two hours are your chance to lobby me.
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(8)
12:16:25 PM,
Tuesday 7 November 2006
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Imagine a form of government that was effective, served the common good, and didn't tend to fall apart over time. What would it look like?
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(23)
08:47:15 PM,
Monday 6 November 2006
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Sign of growing cynicism, or reasonable approach to an imperfect world? I've stopped trying to convince people to vote if I don't think they'd vote my way.
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(3)
01:14:10 AM,
Sunday 5 November 2006
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I have seen the future, and the future is carbonated fruit.
I think it would be pretty fair to describe the future as "dystopian".
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(3)
02:43:49 AM,
Saturday 4 November 2006
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In a MetaFilter discussion the other day, someone linked in passing to a sample ballot from Connecticut. Looking at it, I have only one thing to say. If the Connecticut for Lieberman party really believed in their principles, they would have followed them through to their logical conclusion: they would have nominated Lieberman for every office in the state of Connecticut.
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07:31:34 PM,
Thursday 2 November 2006
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Very exciting news! That is, for the handful of people (including… maybe two readers of this blog?) that it will mean anything to at all: The new version of ECMAScript (the standard on which JavaScript is based) is going to be defined by a reference implementation written in ML.
ML is a fascinating language. It’s statically typed, like Java, but uses something called type inference: you never actually have to declare the type of a variable, because it determines the type by how it is used. This means that you get the benefits of having types checked at compile time, without all the extra time and clutter of declaring them. It still has a different feel than dynamically typed languages do, but for situations where static typing makes sense, it’s just delightful. It’s also a functional language, which, together with some nice aspects of its syntax, makes programming in ML feel more like describing a series of mathematical truths than like giving instructions to a computer. This makes it an excellent language for specifying things in.
In practice, what this means for JavaScript is… not much. But it does mean that the language will be very precisely specified, which is always nice, and for language geeks like me it should be lots of fun to check out the reference implementation.
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Just reading Raymond Chen’s blog every day has done more to improve my opinion of Microsoft than all the glossy PR in the world.
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What can you tell me about Barack Obama? He looks interesting, but a bit insubstantial--I worry that he's just a blank screen that people project their own ideas onto. Is there more to him than that? Anything in particular I should read?
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05:24:53 PM,
Wednesday 25 October 2006
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I don’t know a whole lot about web design, but there are a few bits of advice that I’m steadily becoming more convinced of:
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There's a slight change to the behavior of tabs in Firefox 2.0. At first it confused me, but now that I can see what it's doing, I find it really nice. The change is that, when you open a link in a new tab, closing that tab will take you back to the tab you opened it from, rather than just bumping you over to the next-rightmost tab. It makes it much simpler to go off and explore a link, then return to what you were doing--sort of like what Apple was trying for with Snapback in Safari, except that it's actually usable.
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04:24:02 PM,
Sunday 22 October 2006
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If you want to see something completely awesome today, you might check out this video of a mechanical tiger (found via MetaFilter, where there are also a couple more links about it). You know, if you're into that sort of thing.
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(1)
06:50:50 PM,
Saturday 21 October 2006
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The first beta of Flash Player 9 for Linux is out, if you're into that sort of thing.
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(4)
01:56:02 PM,
Friday 20 October 2006
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My blog tracker now has a microsummary available for use in Firefox 2.0, if you're into that sort of thing.
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05:19:12 PM,
Tuesday 17 October 2006
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It is French Night! And we hope you have a happy one! Hereabouts, we are celebrating French night by cooking and eating a delightful seven course meal and listening to RTL2 (le son pop rock!). And drinking wine, of course. I heartily recommend this way of celebrating French Night. If you are wondering, French Night can be celebrated on any day when it seems like a good idea.
Also, even more importantly, today is Libby's Birthday! (For another 10 or eleven minutes!) Joyeux Anniversaire, Libbyeautiful!
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02:50:59 AM,
Saturday 14 October 2006
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In a 2008 presidential race between Hillary Clinton and John McCain, who would you vote for? (If you insist on having some third party candidates in there I'll give you Ralph Nader, Pat Buchanan, and Harry Browne.)
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03:06:11 PM,
Thursday 12 October 2006
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They were playing the Blue Danube Waltz on NPR this morning, and I was really struck by how bad it was. At least half the modern pop songs on the radio are easily nicer to listen to and more musically interesting. Also, that shit's totally a lie, these days at least: I've seen the Danube and it is brown.
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01:51:13 PM,
Thursday 12 October 2006
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I'm afraid I must confess that I don't always read Rob's LiveJournal very closely, not because I dislike it, but just because I don't really know Rob. However, I was very glad I did today, because the concert rider for Iggy and the Stooges is utterly, gloriously brilliant.
We will require the use of two dedicated and intensely loyal security persons to be stationed at the entrance to each of the two dressing rooms. Or do I mean one each? Otherwise that would be four, and I think we only need two, one at each door. Wait a minute, let's start again.
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03:49:14 AM,
Wednesday 11 October 2006
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There's a certain satisfaction to be had in knowing people in all four quadrants of the Opinion Of Noam Chomsky Matrix.
| The Matrix In Question | Linguistics | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| - | + | ||
| P o l i t i c s |
- | "The man is a monster who destroys everything he touches!" | "His contributions to linguistics are brilliant, but he's simply not qualified to talk about things outside his chosen field." |
| + | "I actually sympathize with his politics, but his crackpot theories have done real harm to linguistics." | "OMGChomsky! Yay! The greatest living public intellectual!" | |
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This document, on how to write software that interfaces with Blogger, has the most delightful sample code I have seen in some time.
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(115)
06:52:17 PM,
Tuesday 10 October 2006
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Today on MetaFilter (scroll down to October 8th if you're seeing this later) more or less spontaneously turned into Elephant Day. Fun!
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(2)
02:57:23 AM,
Monday 9 October 2006
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A cookie is just a cookie, but pizza is grease and cheese!
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10:44:33 PM,
Thursday 5 October 2006
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This is so true.
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(9)
11:08:51 PM,
Wednesday 4 October 2006
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The Republicans and Democrats spent so much time saying they're against baby eating, they never really said what they're for!
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(7)
06:51:35 PM,
Monday 2 October 2006
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ATTENTION US MILITARY PERSONNEL
You are not required to obey an unlawful order.
You are required to disobey an unlawful order.
You swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.
The Constitution states (Article VI):
This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.
Here is article 3, the common article, to the Geneva Conventions, a duly ratified treaty made under the authority of the United States:
Article 3
In the case of armed conflict not of an international character occurring in the territory of one of the High Contracting Parties, each party to the conflict shall be bound to apply, as a minimum, the following provisions:
1. Persons taking no active part in the hostilities, including members of armed forces who have laid down their arms and those placed hors de combat by sickness, wounds, detention, or any other cause, shall in all circumstances be treated humanely, without any adverse distinction founded on race, colour, religion or faith, sex, birth or wealth, or any other similar criteria.
To this end the following acts are and shall remain prohibited at any time and in any place whatsoever with respect to the above-mentioned persons:
(a) Violence to life and person, in particular murder of all kinds, mutilation, cruel treatment and torture;
(b) Taking of hostages;
(c) Outrages upon personal dignity, in particular, humiliating and degrading treatment;
(d) The passing of sentences and the carrying out of executions without previous judgment pronounced by a regularly constituted court affording all the judicial guarantees which are recognized as indispensable by civilized peoples.
2. The wounded and sick shall be collected and cared for.
An impartial humanitarian body, such as the International Committee of the Red Cross, may offer its services to the Parties to the conflict.
The Parties to the conflict should further endeavour to bring into force, by means of special agreements, all or part of the other provisions of the present Convention.
The application of the preceding provisions shall not affect the legal status of the Parties to the conflict.
Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions is straightforward and clear. Under Article VI of the Constitution, it forms part of the supreme law of the land.
You personally will be held responsible for all of your actions, in all countries, at all times and places, for the rest of your life. “I was only following orders” is not a defense.
What all this is leading to:
If you are ordered to violate Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions, it is your duty to disobey that order. No “clarification,” whether passed by Congress or signed by the president, relieves you of that duty.
If you are ordered to violate Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions, this is what to do:
1. Request that your superior put the order in writing.
2. If your superior puts the order in writing, inform your superior that you intend to disobey that order.
3. Request trial by courtmartial.
You will almost certainly face disciplinary action, harassment of various kinds, loss of pay, loss of liberty, discomfort and indignity. America relies on you and your courage to face those challenges.
We, the people, need you to support and defend the Constitution. I am certain that your honor and patriotism are equal to the task.
Quoted from this post on Making Light.
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(20)
02:04:47 PM,
Monday 2 October 2006
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Robert Aderholt, Todd Akin, Lamar Alexander, Rodney Alexander, Wayne Allard, George Allen, Robert Andrews, Spencer Bachus, Richard Baker, J. Barrett, John Barrow, Joe Barton, Charles Bass, Melissa Bean, Bob Beauprez, Robert Bennett, Judith Biggert, Brian Bilbray, Michael Bilirakis, Rob Bishop, Sanford Bishop, Marsha Blackburn, Roy Blunt, Sherwood Boehlert, John Boehner, Kit Bond, Henry Bonilla, Jo Bonner, Mary Bono, John Boozman, Dan Boren, Leonard Boswell, Charles Boustany, Allen Boyd, Jeb Bradley, Kevin Brady, Henry Brown, Sherrod Brown, Ginny Brown-Waite, Sam Brownback, Jim Bunning, Michael Burgess, Conrad Burns, Richard Burr, Dan Burton, Steve Buyer, Ken Calvert, Dave Camp, John Campbell, Chris Cannon, Eric Cantor, Shelley Moore Capito, Thomas Carper, John Carter, Steve Chabot, Saxby Chambliss, Ben Chandler, Chris Chocola, Howard Coble, Tom Coburn, Thad Cochran, Tom Cole, Norm Coleman, Susan Collins, Michael Conaway, John Cornyn, Larry Craig, Bud Cramer, Michael Crapo, Ander Crenshaw, Barbara Cubin, Henry Cuellar, John Culberson, Lincoln Davis, Artur Davis, Jo Ann Davis, Geoff Davis, Jim DeMint, Mike DeWine, Nathan Deal, Charles Dent, Mario Diaz-Balart, Lincoln Diaz-Balart, Elizabeth Dole, Pete Domenici, John Doolittle, Thelma Drake, David Dreier, John 'Jimmy' Duncan, Chet Edwards, Vernon Ehlers, Jo Ann Emerson, Philip English, John Ensign, Michael Enzi, Bob Etheridge, Terry Everett, Tom Feeney, Mike Ferguson, Michael Fitzpatrick, Jeff Flake, Mark Foley, Randy Forbes, Harold Ford, Jeff Fortenberry, Vito Fossella, Virginia Foxx, Trent Franks, Rodney Frelinghuysen, Bill Frist, Elton Gallegly, Scott Garrett, Jim Gerlach, Jim Gibbons, Paul Gillmor, Phil Gingrey, Louie Gohmert, Virgil Goode, Bob Goodlatte, Bart Gordon, Lindsey Graham, Kay Granger, Charles Grassley, Sam Graves, Mark Green, Judd Gregg, Gilbert Gutknecht, Chuck Hagel, Ralph Hall, Katherine Harris, Melissa Hart, J. Dennis Hastert, Doc Hastings, Orrin Hatch, Robin Hayes, J.D. Hayworth, Joel Hefley, Jeb Hensarling, Wally Herger, Stephanie Herseth, Brian Higgins, David Hobson, Peter Hoekstra, Tim Holden, John Hostettler, Kenny Hulshof, Duncan Hunter, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Henry Hyde, Bob Inglis, James Inhofe, Johnny Isakson, Darrell Issa, Ernest Istook, William Jenkins, Bobby Jindal, Tim Johnson, Tim Johnson, Nancy Johnson, Sam Johnson, Sue Kelly, Mark Kennedy, Peter King, Steve King, Jack Kingston, Mark Kirk, John Kline, Joe Knollenberg, Jim Kolbe, Randy Kuhl, Jon Kyl, Ray LaHood, Mary Landrieu, Tom Latham, Frank Lautenberg, Ron Lewis, Jerry Lewis, Joseph Lieberman, John Linder, Frank LoBiondo, Trent Lott, Frank Lucas, Richard Lugar, Daniel Lungren, Connie Mack, Donald Manzullo, Kenny Marchant, Jim Marshall, Mel Martinez, Jim Matheson, John McCain, Michael McCaul, Mitch McConnell, Thad McCotter, Jim McCrery, Patrick McHenry, John McHugh, Mike McIntyre, Buck McKeon, Cathy McMorris, Charles Melancon, Robert Menéndez, John Mica, Michael Michaud, Candice Miller, Jeff Miller, Gary Miller, Dennis Moore, Lisa Murkowski, Tim Murphy, Marilyn Musgrave, Sue Myrick, Bill Nelson, Ben Nelson, Randy Neugebauer, Anne Northup, Charles Norwood, Devin Nunes, Jim Nussle, Tom Osborne, Butch Otter, Michael Oxley, Stevan Pearce, Mike Pence, Collin Peterson, John Peterson, Thomas Petri, Chip Pickering, Joe Pitts, Todd Platts, Ted Poe, Richard Pombo, Earl Pomeroy, Jon Porter, Tom Price, Deborah Pryce, Mark Pryor, Adam Putnam, Jim Ramstad, Ralph Regula, Dennis Rehberg, David Reichert, Rick Renzi, Thomas Reynolds, Pat Roberts, Jay Rockefeller, Mike Rogers, Mike Rogers, Hal Rogers, Dana Rohrabacher, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Mike Ross, Edward Royce, Paul Ryan, Jim Ryun, Kenneth Salazar, John Salazar, Rick Santorum, Jim Saxton, Jean Schmidt, Joe Schwarz, David Scott, Jim Sensenbrenner, Jeff Sessions, Pete Sessions, John Shadegg, Clay Shaw, Christopher Shays, Richard Shelby, Don Sherwood, John Shimkus, Bill Shuster, Rob Simmons, Michael Simpson, Gordon Smith, Christopher Smith, Lamar Smith, Michael Sodrel, Mark Souder, Arlen Specter, John Spratt, Debbie Stabenow, Cliff Stearns, Ted Stevens, John Sullivan, John Sununu, John Sweeney, Jim Talent, Tom Tancredo, John Tanner, Charles Taylor, Gene Taylor, Lee Terry, Craig Thomas, Bill Thomas, Mac Thornberry, John Thune, Todd Tiahrt, Pat Tiberi, Michael Turner, Fred Upton, David Vitter, George Voinovich, Greg Walden, James Walsh, Zachary Wamp, John Warner, Curt Weldon, Dave Weldon, Jerry Weller, Lynn Westmoreland, Ed Whitfield, Roger Wicker, Joe Wilson, Heather Wilson, Frank Wolf, Bill Young, Don Young
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(25)
02:42:06 PM,
Friday 29 September 2006
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Now this is the sort of delightfully geeky meme I can feel good about participating in:
history|awk '{print $2}'|awk 'BEGIN {FS="|"} {print $1}'|sort|uniq -c|sort -rn|head -10
102 cd
101 ls
38 ssh
37 bzr
25 open
25 flgrep
22 rm
13 gvim
13 cat
11 du
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Wallace Stevens's 127th birthday will come this October. What better way to celebrate than to dress up as a line from one of his poems?
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(3)
04:24:15 PM,
Thursday 28 September 2006
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This Saturday, September 30th, museums across the country will join the Smithsonian Institution in its long-standing tradition of offering free admission to visitors. (See here for more details--note in particular that there's a card you have to download and print.)
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(3)
02:59:27 PM,
Thursday 28 September 2006
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So, by happy chance, I've come into possession of a Windows laptop. I'm tentatively planning to install Ubuntu Linux on it, but I wonder: is there Windows software I should be checking out? Is it possible that Windows itself is even worth looking at? In general, should I consider keeping Windows on there, either on a second partition or as the primary OS?
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(9)
06:47:34 PM,
Friday 22 September 2006
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Until recently, I thought I had about as low an opinion of George W. Bush as it was possible to have, and I thought my attitude toward the future of the United States could be described as grim and despairing. But, while believing I had given up completely, I was still clinging to various shreds of hope: that another election might bring some change; that the President’s actions might at least be moderated by plain self-interest; that the system of checks and balances laid out in the constitution might prevent the worst disasters. I have lately been realizing how much further down there is to go.
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Having actually caught five different spams now, I feel comfortable announcing this on my blog: Links in comments are now perfectly acceptable anywhere on m14m.net. I've switched from my old, primitive and ineffectual, method of blocking comment spam to using Akismet, a brilliant collaborative spam blocking system from the people that make WordPress. If others are interested in using it too, there are implementations available for most major languages and blogging applications. I found it dead easy to integrate the PHP 4 library with my commenting code, and I can only imagine that it's even easier on something like Movable Type.
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(24)
05:53:12 PM,
Wednesday 20 September 2006
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A Warning
Never watch A Good Woman. Never.
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(3)
04:26:27 AM,
Wednesday 20 September 2006
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I would pay money to subscribe to an online newspaper that had:
Since I've brought it up, it seems only fair to give credit to people like Adrian Holovaty, Ben Hammersley, Stefan Magdalinski, and others who are actually doing amazing things with news on the web, rather than just talking about it. There are also a number of sites specifically built around interesting new ideas, like Newsvine, Topix.net, Memigo, Findory, and of course Google News. None of these are the exact site I want, but they're all doing excellent and original work. Seeing things like this gives me hope that I can eventually see the news site I imagine here--and others that go beyond what I could imagine.
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(3)
06:38:44 PM,
Tuesday 19 September 2006
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