Older blog entries for scottyo (starting at number 15)

Here's a fun python "gotcha":

>>> spam = "spam"
>>> L = ['s', 'p', 'a', 'm']
>>> for letter in L:
. . .        if letter in spam:
. . .                  L.remove(letter)
. . .
>>> print L
['p', 'm']

(It might more appropriately be called a python "well, DUH"... ;)

I woke up thinking about why eivind's arguments on ad-filtering had stirred such a response from me. Well for those interested, it probably has to do with "not accepting guilt that is heaped upon me because I didn't fulfill someone else's flawed expectations". This is really nothing against eivind personally. In fact, I enjoy arguing ethics. For the record, the only thing like ad-filtering I use is "only accept cookies originating from same server." On the other hand, I think blanket ad-filtering is a great idea!

I do think that the current banner-ad-supported revenue model for many online sites is a temporary experiment that will probably fail for most, and eventually be abandoned as a valid model. I don't have a solution, but I would suspect that in the future, once the internet's novelty has worn off, sites that must directly generate revenue to survive will survive by subscription. (One idea for implementation would be for a site to offer a full-access time-limited trial subscription.) The content on such sites will have to be of high enough quality to sustain a large enough subscriber base. There are several I would subscibe to, including this one.

Update:

Coloc ISP has fixed problems. Determined tech support, at least. That's good.

Still no job, and I guess I won't be getting that interview with Linuxcare. The IT worker tech shortage is a myth. The only shortage is of perl and java programmers. I really don't like perl. Guess I may have to dig into java.

Speaking of Linuxcare, I'm glad to see lilo back. Sorry about the job. Glad you found a silver lining...

NPR just reminded me that the planets are aligning today. The dawning of new age?.....
The reporter ended his story with: "Maybe we are spending too much time staring at screens, and too little staring up at the heavens..."

Maybe so.

Argh! Just got through trouble-shooting my coloc ISP's network. It is getting really frustrating not being able to depend on communicating with my servers. I won't mention names here yet, but I sure hope it gets fixed soon.

It has occurred to me that maybe I should try to go to work for them. I'm just not real sure about SF, CA.

Columbia contact had a family emergency Friday. Looking for a job really sucks.

Well, I just posted to lilo's article on the front page. I apologize if I got it all wrong. I am sorry to see lilo go. I was beginning to track his diary.

My skin is thicker, and I don't consider what I did out of place, considering the record.

BTW, diary entries can be changed or obliterated as you all know. The statements I made in the comment were true at the time I made the comment.

Interviewed with Symatrix today. Seems like a good company.

Having fun with python classes.

Not much else here for now. Move along... ;)

I am really getting tired of all the "Meta-" articles. The only thing I can see wrong with Advogato is that it allows too many of this type of article. It reminds me of the old "should we allow anonymous cowards" discussions that popped up on Slashdot. Fortunately, *that* issue was decided from the beginning on Advogato. As a result, the articles and discussions (yes even the ones on meta-issues) are much higher quality here.

I use the certification system to "mark" people that I want to learn from or "follow" in some way. In return, I hope that people who certify me are willing to guage my progress. (In the future, maybe those who certify me will want to learn from or follow me in some way.)

I think the current certification system is fine. And I hope it is not changed too radically. And even though I get tired of the meta-topics, I hope change in what is allowed to be posted is not too great either. I liked Raph's idea of a "workshop" area for articles in progress.

Note that this diary entry is a comment on a current article that I didn't feel like posting to the actual article. It is really nice to have an option like that on Advogato. I can get it out of my system and only people who bother to read my diary will care. If you are reading this and it upsets you, that was not my intention. My intention was to vent *without* starting any kind of flame war. Yes, this is a very nice feature of this place!

Pet peeve:
I really hate websites with black backgrounds.

(Whew...glad to get that off my chest...)

I sent an e-mail to Eric Raymond yesterday to "let him know" that "someone" was using "his name" on Advogato and that I had doubts it was him...

Well...is my face red! It *is* him.

Other: I went to Columbia yesterday to see if anyone needed a Linux gun. Too soon to tell...

I've decided against going to Chicago for the Biz Expo. I've already applied to almost all the Linux companies I'm interested in anyway. Just figure it's a waste of my time and money.

Uncle.

No accounting for oversight. Oh, well...