Japanese children's books from 1920s

Via Boing Boing a linjk to Kodomo no kuni in english and Japanese

Gizmo Society of End Users and Spime wranglers.

BoingBoing: Bruce Sterling SIGGRAPH 2004 speech "When Blobjects Rule the Earth"

Bruce Streling does this kind of near furture journalism better than anyone else out there.

Agile Pigs and Unit Testing Tips

You Are Number 6 links to this (his) article Agile Bug Finding with Risk Targeted Testing in Java, which lays out some best pratices in testing:

• Run the tests every time you change something. If you use Ant then have a test task that gets triggered on change. Keep your old test results for reference.
• Use XML for your test data. Hard coded tests are more difficult to maintain. An XML database is the ultimate form, but using a simple tool like XStream can do what you need. Use the XML include directive to share data between sets of test cases.
• Check your test classes with FindBugs. FindBugs will examine the logic, which should be very simple in test classes. Having passed that your test classes can be safely used.
• Use MockObjects or real classes with Proxy interceptors to keep the unit tests at the unit level. This insulates test classes, test data and test running against changes to other parts of the system.
• The test class hierarchy should mimic that of the real code under test, this allows abstract classes to be tested properly.
• For reviewing code use an integrated tool like Jupiter for Eclipse, that stores the review information with the source code.
• Build metrics collection into your test process. Use the extensions to Checkstyle to get some and test to get the others. For example try running a complex test case 1000 times to get an idea of performance, or at the end of the test serialize the object under test and see its size. You can then watch for dramatic changes in metrics.
• Use architectural checks like Macker rules to preserve the architecture standards.
• Use a tool like vDoclet to generate an initial set of test cases and your basic JUnit test class from the interface definition.

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, BarCode Fish...

(with apologies to Dr. Seuss) from Daily Yomiuri On-Line, via GadgetMadness, word about a Fish bar code system under development to enable consumers to receive detailed information (with thier cellphone) about fish at retail stores, including where and when the fish was caught and by whom.

Already Grocery stores in Japan have been using 2d barcodes for linking consumers with product information for a while now using QRCodes (two-dimension quick response code).

BoingBoing also recently noted: In Japan the QRCode is becoming wildly popular, for everyone with a celphone has a camera that can read these 2D barcodes and inst-o-magically input pre-formatted emails, contacts, URLs and even random text. and links to a QRCode Generator

I've bloged about Camera-phone barcode reader before: here and here and SemaCode, a URL barcode.

Update: and Gizmode gets in the act and talks about buying a Coke (pop) via Cellphone using (what else) a barcode.

Freescale to detail dual-core PowerPC G4

From The Register, Freescale - Motorola's soon-to-be-spun-off chip division - and AMD are set to detail their respective dual-core processor designs this autumn.

Let the Mult-Core, uber-processor wars begin.

The Case for VoIP

David Ticoll writes about how VoIP is revolutionizing the business phone in the Globe and Mail (aug 19th 2004), and presents 3 case studies, from basics to power phoners, that show how your business might use VoIP.

reduced costs, more choice of suppliers (improved service, lower costs), flexibity (easier to use features, more features).

The Dual Core Wars: AMD vs Intel

As a followup on the upcoming Multi core uber-chip's, The Inquirer comments on the dueling plans in the X86 world, how ADM planed ahead with it's K8 core 2 years ago, and Intel's late response with it Paxville desgin being simply two Pentium 4 cores bolted on to a chip.

To give a idea why multi core chips are important notice this comment :

A dual chip Paxville system should be about the same in all respects as a four way Xeon system, and a four way Paxville should be about where an 8 way Xeon is.

Jaws in 30 seconds with bunnies.

The 30-Second Bunnies Theatre Troupe proudly presents:

Jaws in 30 seconds with bunnies.

The Economist's Style Manual

Via Ernie the Attorney, Ive stumbled on The Economist's Style Manual, inculding the discussion of 'Americanisms.'

(But don't hold your breathe)

Advertisers Go Digital to Track Ads

Reuters.com is reporting that The top four U.S. broadcast networks -- CBS, ABC, NBC and Fox -- have signed on to comply with a new 12-character code for tracking all advertising, called Ad-ID.

Ad-ID's designers are the Association of National Advertisers and the American Association of Advertising Agencies, and gives advertisers a centralized Web-based system that helps assign unique codes to their Ad properties.

Via Tech Dirt who quite rightly points out the opportunities being missed to server the consumer rather the trying to serve up the consumer.

And then there is CentrSource

Any sufficiently handsome Accordion player is indistinguishable from Joey deVilla.

Accordion Guy started it and I'm sure, with his vast whuffle rank, will end it but I'll give it a Go

No big screen Television for me this year....

As reported by The Register, Intel is delaying cheap hi-def TV tech, which had been expected by the end of 2004, using "Liquid Crystal On Silicon" (LCOS), involving thousands of tiny LCD cells on a silicon wafer, as an inexpensive alternative to technologies like Digital Light Processing system, which uses computer-controlled mirrors to reflect light onto the screen.

This technique was expect to half the cost the big screen high definition TV's.

This continues Intel's very bummpy, 'Annus Horribilis'.

Heisenberg principle of projects

Words of wisdom (and caution) from Incipient(thoughts): the project managment equivalent of the Heisenberg uncertainty principle:

The more control you want on their status (or position), the less you have over their velocity. Pick one of the two - and pick wisely.

I would be tempted to phrase it : You can have Control (knowlegde of status, direction) or Velocity (forward motion), but not both.

Blinded by Science

Is Science Fiction About to Go Blind? article in Popular Science for August 2004 is now online.

orginally here

For a taste of what Cory and Chrile can do check out Jury Service (I'm still trying to get my mits on the sequel Appeals Court)

Bureau 42 reviews Singularity Sky (Charles Stross)

here in preparation for the The 2004 Hugos.

In total, Singularity Sky receives 33/42

Charlies Stross is a writer to watch.

I like it too...