10 reasons to avoid talking on the phone

Business Intelligence

Data Mining. Remember this. Data Mining is where you learn what, when, whom and how to sell.

Seminars are great. They are even better if you attend in person and if they are free! Thanks Rafal Likawiecki for the great talk.

• Facts
• Dimensions
• ROLAP
• MOLAP
• DAX

PS. Video parameters “&w=800&h=500&fmt=18″

Today is the day

Today is the day to tell your wife that you love her.
Today is the day to call your mother and chat with her for an hour.
Today is the day to send your dad a note.
Today is the day to get in touch with that friend you haven’t talked to in a while.
Today is the day to call up a special person and set up a date.
Today is the day to stop by your grandmother’s house with a sack full of groceries and make dinner for her.
Today is the day to visit that old family friend who helped you so much when you were younger.

Build those relationships now before the chance is gone.
Build those relationships now and they’ll pay dividends for the rest of your life.
Build those relationships now so that you can have someone to always share every exciting moment and success in your life with.
Build those relationships now when times are good so they’ll still be there when the times are bad.

Thanks Trent!

Design Outside The Box

Rationalization. Everything you spend time on must be worth your while. Why? Because you spent time on it!

PS. Video parameters “&w=800&h=500&fmt=18″

via G4TV

Time travel discovered

Update:

The usual mantra is to ‘try harder’. Trying harder is impossible when you’re already trying as hard as you can.

But you can always try different.

Thanks Seth!

Time travel: If we would connect every camera to the internet and just start recording we can artificially travel back in time and simply walk around and see what was going on in the past. Seems to be just like in the movies? Obviously changing the past would be hard, but using computer simulations it may be possible atleast to certain lengths.

Read more here and here. CERN and LHC?

PS. Video parameters “&w=800&h=500&fmt=18″

See also:

• Tesla time travel
• DARPA time travel

JSC Ultra to reuse native source code

As advertised the developers will be able to seamlessly create flash sprites and java objects inside their javascript applications in C# via the jsc ultra offering. What if they could just drop some native source code and be able to reuse them in C#?

At the moment only the HTML web page is converted to DOM building code which looks like this under reflector.

In the future releases the native source codes could be parsed and placed in the correct location based on their namespace for their respective back-end compilers.

Seems like I will need source code parsers to pull it off. First step is to generate a stub. The next step would be to convert the native source to IL. If we go just for the first step, then one can surely benefit from some native language specific syntax constructs.

Update: The second pass would mean that the native back-end compiler does it’s job and jsc will go and decompile JVM or AVM to IL as jsc is not about compiling source to IL.

Then you could consume the AboutApplet.java  in your javascript code like this:

42 var Applet1 = new AboutApplet();

43

44 Applet1.Method1(“hello world”);

45

46 var Applet1Element = Applet1.AttachAppletToDocument();

47

48 Applet1Element.style.border = “1px solid red”;

This will create a red java applet in your browser.

The AboutApplet.java should could look something like this:

1 // PromotionWebApplication1.AboutApplet.dll

2 package PromotionWebApplication1;

3

4 import java.applet.Applet;

5 import java.awt.Component;

6 import java.awt.Container;

7 import java.awt.image.ImageObserver;

8 import java.awt.Panel;

9

10 public final class AboutApplet extends Applet implements ImageObserver

11 {

12

13

14 public AboutApplet()

15 {

16 super();

17 }

18

19

20 public final void Method1(String p)

21 {

22 }

23

24 }

Ch

Cool features ahead. Including HTML5 Including an actual installer!

jsc has now a twitter feed!

PS. What about .class, .jar, .swf, .swc? I surely would like to pull media from online .swf files just to be able to recompile them into my own application.

Hey Compiler that flash game there has nice logo and sound, could you go ahead and make them accessible for me in the code? Thanks!

GTA meets Google Maps

Simplify to get it done.

I didn’t have time to write a short letter, so I wrote a long one instead — Mark Twain

1. Keep the scope as simple as possible
2. Practice ‘Good Enough’
3. Kill extra features
4. Make it public, quick

Thanks Leo

See also: How do you know when it’s done? by Seth

 

jsc ultra

about jsc

Powered by flickr and sketch.

Loss Aversion

The Concorde Effect: Is it all worth it?

[...] losing $10 is more painful than gaining $10 is pleasurable

[...] Instead of saying that you will get the achievement or trophy if you buy the game

[...] Once we have committed a lot of time or energy to a cause, it is nearly impossible to convince us that it is unworthy

[...] How bad do your losses have to be before you change course?

[...] If you have $50, would you rather lose $30 or keep $20

[...] It is normal to dislike a choice we made… what isn’t is sticking with them even though we know for sure they are not making us happy.

Via wiki and Jamie Madigan and Jason Shafrin.

See also:

• Excite Is To Stir To Activity

Top 25 Most Dangerous Programming Errors

Cross-site scripting and SQL injection are the 1-2 punch of security weaknesses in 2010. Even when a software package doesn’t primarily run on the web, there’s a good chance that it has a web-based management interface or HTML-based output formats that allow cross-site scripting. For data-rich software applications, SQL injection is the means to steal the keys to the kingdom. The classic buffer overflow comes in third, while more complex buffer overflow variants are sprinkled in the rest of the Top 25.

1. Failure to Preserve Web Page Structure (‘Cross-site Scripting’)
2. Improper Sanitization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command (‘SQL Injection’)
3. Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input (‘Classic Buffer Overflow’)
4. Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)
5. Improper Access Control (Authorization)
6. Reliance on Untrusted Inputs in a Security Decision
7. Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory (‘Path Traversal’)
8. Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type
9. Improper Sanitization of Special Elements used in an OS Command (‘OS Command Injection’)
10. Missing Encryption of Sensitive Data
11. Use of Hard-coded Credentials
12. Buffer Access with Incorrect Length Value
13. Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program (‘PHP File Inclusion’)
14. Improper Validation of Array Index
15. Improper Check for Unusual or Exceptional Conditions
16. Information Exposure Through an Error Message
17. Integer Overflow or Wraparound
18. Incorrect Calculation of Buffer Size
19. Missing Authentication for Critical Function
20. Download of Code Without Integrity Check
21. Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource
22. Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling
23. URL Redirection to Untrusted Site (‘Open Redirect’)
24. Use of a Broken or Risky Cryptographic Algorithm
25. Race Condition

Found via Eddie

The Sequel

Sequel

The most common approach is for the events of the second work to directly follow the events of the first, either picking up dangling plot threads or introducing a new conflict to drive the events of a second story.

Every sequel is the same because:

• It will contain a story narrative that attempts to either resurrect the badguy you smoked in the first game, or a hackneyed expansion of the “universe” to an otherwise contained story.
• You get a buddy.
• You get multiplayer (Hello Uncharted 2 and Bioshock 2!)
• A peripheral character that died in the first game will miraculously return.
• If you can’t resurrect the UBER-BAD bad guy from the first game, they’ll create an even BIGGER UBER-BAD bad guy that is threatening the UNIVERSE!
• The developers will proclaim that the game is part of a trilogy and the sequel is the Empire Strikes Back of the series.
• If the sequel has been anointed the “Empire Strikes Back” of the series, it will have a shitty “to be continued” ending.
• You can dual wield.

Via sarcasticgamer.com

See also:

• Rules for comic book sequels
• Make a purely evil villain interesting by Gracie
• Terminator 2 making of

Online copywriting

• People don’t read they scan, so chunk your data and emphasize
• Cut your content, repeatedly, cut your content, you can write it in less.
• Put your conclusion at the top
• Write in active voice
• Keep paragraphs short and single themed
• Put links at the start or end of sentences
• Don’t make people think: don’t use large words and use ambiguouswords carefully

Via Brett

See also:

• 6 ways to make marketing content snackable by Gaby
• How better writing gets you better treatment by Jonathan

Outsourcing

Interface Usability

Virtual Camera as used in making of Avatar

Real time performance capture. Check it out.

Be sure to see this review:

The Reality Bytes Flash Game Contest

The contest will be running from February 2nd, 2010 to April 30th, 2010.

Please check out the official contest page for all the information you need and official rules!

Two birds with one stone?

Good luck!

Why Time Flies By As You Get Older

Managing your time well makes you successful!

[...] Time seems to have become just so precious!

Have weeks recently started to pass by in a such a haste? Here’s why!

1. that brains lay down more information for novel experiences;
2. that the “clock” for nerve impulses in aging brains runs slower;
3. that each interval of time represents a diminishing fraction of life as we age.

People also get more responsibility as they age, so more responibilities = less time

If you are 1 year old, then 1 day represents about 1/365th of your life. If you are 10 years old, then 1 day represents about 1/3,650th of your life. Thus the older you are the faster time may appear to pass by. When you are 1 year old, 1 day may seem to last much longer than 1 day when you are 10 years old.

LISTEN NOW

What to do with limited time? Do less! Seriously! Time is money. Do not waste them. If your not going to have FUN why DO it?

You can always earn more money. You can NEVER get your TIME back!

The powerpoint slides. 37 MB

• Goals
• Avoid wasting time
• Bosses & delegation
• Specific skills and tools
• Stress and procrastination

Strategy: Doing the RIGHT things
Tactics: Doing the THINGS right

Are you doing the RIGHT THINGS RIGHT?

How does a leader find the right things?

• What am I passionate about?
• What are we passionate about?
• What is our shared vision?
• What are our goals?
• Why are things done this way?
• Is there a better way to these things?
• Would changing the way we do things improve those things we are passionate about?
• Do these changes support our vision?

Imprtant advice:

• Kill your television – 28 hours/week
• Turn money into time – especially important for people with kids
• Eat and sleep and exercise. Above all else!

PS. Video parameters “&w=800&h=500&fmt=18″

Listen also: Live longer, think longer by Mary

 

See also:

• Experience this timeless moment by Liara

How to change User-defined Data Type

Let’s say in your fancy MSSQL database you have a UDT and you have to change it.

You are in a world of hurt if you ever have to change the definition.

1. Open your favorite version of Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio
2. Create a backup of your database (read: doublecheck if you are indeed looking at the correct database; detach and copy the files)
3. See object dependencies for your UDT to see how long it will take.
4. Create a new version for the UDT with requested name, type and length
5. Start updating your dependencies to the new UDT
6. For me the new UDT has a new suffix “_50″, thus all I have to do is to modify each procedure and add the suffix
7. Then finally when you are done  manually create an update sql script for the remote environment
8. Create a new backup
9. Restore to the previous backup for which you need to know the point in time
   I failed to restore…

   TITLE: Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio
   ——————————

   Restore failed for Server ‘x.x.x.x,x’. (Microsoft.SqlServer.Smo)

   For help, click: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink?ProdName=Microsoft+SQL+Server&ProdVer=9.00.1399.00&EvtSrc=Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Smo.ExceptionTemplates.FailedOperationExceptionText&EvtID=Restore+Server&LinkId=20476

   ——————————
   ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

   System.Data.SqlClient.SqlError: The tail of the log for the database “xxx” has not been backed up. Use BACKUP LOG WITH NORECOVERY to backup the log if it contains work you do not want to lose. Use the WITH REPLACE or WITH STOPAT clause of the RESTORE statement to just overwrite the contents of the log. (Microsoft.SqlServer.Smo)

   For help, click: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink?ProdName=Microsoft+SQL+Server&ProdVer=9.00.1399.00&LinkId=20476

   ——————————
   BUTTONS:

   OK
   ——————————

10. Run the script to see if it works

Games that Challenge the World

Turn Based Multiplayer
Users can send game moves to all of their friends allowing them to play when they want.

The submission deadline for games that meet the contest criteria is 11:59 PM EST on March 31st, 2010.

What we are looking for:
Awesome turn based games. Games will be judged based on originality, design, game play and use of Come2Play’s API features by Come2play and a panel of industry judges. Here’s a list of some turn based game ideas for inspiration.

Will there be ScriptCoreLib.Come2Play.dll within that timeframe?

Via freelanceflashgames.com

More powerful programming languages make programs shorter

[...] The weakest point in big companies is that they don’t let individual programmers do great work. So if you’re a little startup, this is the place to attack them. Take on the kind of problems that have to be solved in one big brain.

via Paul Graham

1. Avoid distractions
2. Work in long stretches
3. Use succinct languages
4. Keep rewriting your program
5. Write rereadable code
6. Work in small groups
7. Don’t have multiple people editing the same piece of code
8. Start small

The jsc solution is all about keeping it simple by hiding away differences in syntax and common base class libraries.

Write once, run everywhere!

PS. Chrome + WordPress just deleted half of this post… grrr. Remember to save draft and then publish!

Update:

Keep in mind that using higher level tools will introduce more overhead. Yet also keep in mind that it is less expensive to do it ineffectevly. You can always hire a team to convert your application to optimized assembly later:)

But, and this is important, after a year, we know whatever we:

• actually need it?
• can afford it?

Why we are happy?

I found it while browsing here. A few posts down there is yet another interesting post which reminds me one of my own posts here.

1. No attachments
2. Live in the present
3. No goals and dreams
4. Don’t act
5. It’s a practice

By the way do you have a growth oriented mind set ? Great posts amix!

Update: People are happy when working while being in the flow.

See also: Ways to be happier by Kimberley