Solidifying Friendships

Recently I have been assaulted with many stories of chat, game and social networking site addiction. Amidst all of these problems, it is hard to see anything good. While I understand how becoming emotionally attached to someone that you have never met can be a serious problem, what if that online interaction is with someone you know? Yes we need to avoid the illusion and step into reality, but online interactions with people we know can create strong emotional ties. Online chat played a key part in becoming emotionally attached to my wife. We would chat online all the time. It was a way for me to get to know how she thought, and what she was like all the time. I was able to see how similar we were and create a strong emotional tie while we were apart. So although we need to be careful, online interaction will solidify friendships and bind us closer together.

Dark Corridors

Late one evening, serving as a missionary in Brazil, my companion and I lost track of time at an appointment. Realizing we were going to miss curfew, we raced out of the house and down the road. Hard-pressed for time, we decided to take a shortcut through a dark alleyway. As we entered, two muggers followed in after us; we were met by two more at the other end. One pulled out a gun while the others took our bags, and all valuable material. Fortunately all we had were cheap street watches and about $2 between us, and they left us otherwise unharmed. Like the city in Brazil, the internet is full of dark passageways. Amidst all of the tools and resources the internet has to offer, we must be careful -- Danger is lurking behind every corner and can take many forms. It may be a virus-filled email or a sultry advertisement; you may inadvertently follow a wrong link, or choose to succumb to an unholy curiosity. Whatever the threat, the best form of security is a knowledge of what to avoid. Once I knew the alleyway was dangerous, you can bet I never went near a similar one again.

The Cost of Attention

My birthday was last month. I apologize if you wished me happy birthday on my Facebook page. I didn't read it. To be honest, I can't remember the last time I checked my Facebook account. It isn't the countless hours wasted "Facebook stalking", farmvilling, and hot-or-notting that drove me to abstinence. In fact, for the longest time I didn't even really know why I stopped. I think I know now.

Recently I was reading a book by Clay Shirky called "Here Comes Everybody." In the book he describes the powerful effect that the internet has on forming social groups. In one part of the book, he briefly talks about how the internet has made the cost of forming these groups obsolete. He explains that "cost... is used in the economist's sense of anything expended -- money, but also time, effort, or attention." It is the last item in that list that really got me thinking. How has the cost of attention become obsolete in forming these groups?

Immediately I thought of the frivolity of status updates on Facebook, thoughtless Twitter messages, and careless wall posts. Millions of people are blabbing to the world when no one is listening. Shirky argues that indeed there are people listening. His argument is that conversations taking place on the internet between friends are synonymous to meeting up and chatting at the mall. However, if my close friends, and siblings are spouting out every fickle second of their lives, it doesn't matter where they are, I don't want to listen to it.

What's more, the comments that are being posted online are half-baked at best. Little or no thought is put into conversations on the web; it is far to easy to say things that can be mis-construed or are intentionally deceitful. As an example: Cyber-bullying is a result of careless teens and children who somehow feel that the things they are saying and doing online isn't real. Those children, and others are suffering from verbal apathy. The computer is merely a facade. Real people with real emotions are behind.

My heart holds no ire for Facebook. I completely value the ability to keep in touch with relatives and friends on a regular basis, and I know of no better tool suited for that purpose. That said, Facebook, and other social networking sites should not be the canvas for careless abstraction. Be considerate, be thoughtful, be true, and above all, think before you say.

iPad Vengeance

I really struggled to cut it down to the right time. I probably could have done it, but It is getting late. Enjoy!

Software Hypocrites

It is far too easy to get caught up in software piracy, and it is even easier to justify the use of that software. Either the software is too expensive, you need to learn it, or you want to use it for personal projects. Whatever the reasoning, there can be no justification for a software company to use illegitimate copies of other software. Software companies that use pirated software are hypocrites. How can you expect others to purchase your software when you are too cheep to purchase it from everyone else? If you know your company is using illegal software, it doesn't hurt to ask them to buy a license. If your company cannot afford a certain product, alternatives exist. Don't be a software hypocrite!

Forcing Women to Technology

Increasingly many nations are beginning to rise to the standards of innovation established by the western world. In an attempt to help the US stay on top, Senator Wyden explains how Title IX encourages more women into technological fields. However, with statements like "Women represent a largely untapped resource," and "Title IX has yet to be applied stringently enough" (emphasis added) it becomes clear that our government cheerleaders are actually political juggernauts forcing women to technology. Yes women are capable; yes they have much to contribute to the advancement of technology; and yes there still exists discrimination in the technical realm. But can we really coerce women into these disciplines?

Family History Can Save Your Life

Researching family history can be extremely rewarding and can satisfy a hunger rooted deep within us. It will answer questions such as: where did I come from, who am I, and why am I here? But among all the benefits of researching your family history, who knew that it could save your life? A knowledge of your family history helps identify common genetic traits that lead to certain cancers and other illnesses. If you are aware of a family line of genetic illness, talk to your doctor to see if you need to be screened or tested. Get tested early. Many illnesses can be discovered years before there are any symptoms. There have been numerous cases where family history has saved lives. You can not afford to be ignorant. Click here to learn more about family history and your risk of disease.

Feast Upon the Digital Word

The Gospel Library application was my very first iPad download. After lugging around binders, manuals, scriptures and notebooks with me to church, I was finally able to consolodate my church life into one digital tool. Not only did the iPad give me access to all the resources I needed at church, but I was also able to link General Conference talks to my scriptures, access every church manual, and become the coolest guy in my ward. People started asking me questions about the iPad during Sunday School. They would watch me scroll through scriptures, occasionally commenting on how cool something looked. A man in my ward even offered me a job doing logo design for his company because he had seen me drawing on the iPad during a church meeting. It didn't take long to realize the iPad was becoming a distraction to other people and to myself. Eventually, I resolved to abstain from the digital word of the Lord. After a few clean weeks, I began once again to crave the power of the iPad. Convincing myself that with proper use, the iPad could be a fantastic tool, I have resolved once again to use it at Church. Since then, the iPad has increased my participation in lessons by giving me an infinite number of resources to cite and speeding up the scripture search process. Thus, if used properly, the iPad will truly let you feast upon the digital word!

How bazaar is open source development?

Open source development is much like a regular production environment, but bigger. In "The Cathedral and The Bazaar", Eric Raymond lists several key aspects of open source development including, releasing often, having lots of users, and extensively testing the code. Each key point made by Raymond can be applied to closed-source development, the key difference being that open source has more users willing to find and contribute to bugs, more releases for collaboration, and more people developing the software all for free. But is more really more? There will be more people fooling around in the code base introducing bugs, more unhappy users that want a more stable product, and more people with completely different programming styles and semantics mucking up the code. I'll let you manage a code base with over 1,000 collaborators. I'm sticking to a small team.

Computer Science Mode

If you are a computer scientist, software engineer, or programmer of any kind, you have probably experienced it. It starts with a loss of connection to everything around you. You become so entranced that eating, sleeping, and even breathing become cumbersome. In this state, the only thing that matters is accomplishing the task. What is this condition that so many helpless people are developing, and should we be concerned?

My wife has endearingly termed this condition computer science mode. Although the term stems from my intense concentration while I am developing a tool at work, or finishing a computer science project, it is possible to enter this mode through other means. Clifford Stoll, in his book "The Cuckoo's Egg," was clearly suffering from CSM (Computer Science Mode) for over a year while he was tracking the German spy through his network. He would sleep by the computer printers waiting for the hacker to log in. The trance was so strong that he had a hard time focusing on schoolwork and other aspects of his life.

CSM is fueled by endorphins. Every time we create something we feel a little rush. For me, sometimes this rush is so powerful that I shout excitedly and do a little dance. The result of which usually draws awkward glances from my co-workers. Even so, the rush from accomplishment is very rewarding and is a strong motivational factor to continue.

Intellectual geniuses have been suffering from computer science mode for many years. Traces of CSM can include Einstein's non-matching socks, Bill Gates' lack of personal hygiene (he often forgot to shower), and Newton's lack of social etiquette*. So if you are one who suffers from CSM, do not worry. You are not alone. You are probably on the verge of discovering something really cool, so go for it.

*Brent Strong's History of Creativity describes Newton inviting his friends over for dinner. He was so engrossed in his work that he forgot to order dinner for his guests. His guests ordered the meal, and then proceded to eat his portion. When he looked up to see his plate empty, he declared that he wouldn't have remembered eating if the evidence wasn't right in front of his face.

If I had A Super Power...

It would be teleportation. Instead of a 10 min walk across campus for class, just teleport to your seat. Why drive 12 hours to get home over the summer? Simply jump through a worm hole to get there. You can bet my ears perked up when Fox News claimed that teleportation was 2010's greatest breakthrough. Have all of my childish dreams been realized? Unfortunately, the only thing teleporting are light particles. Because information is the only material that is transferred, the particle is dematerialized on one end of the teleportation and put back together on the other end. Unfortunately, humans are much more complex. Putting a human back together once his information has been transferred is unfathomable. The good news: Even without human teleportation, this technology is the next step in quantum computing. It provides the basis for computer processing lightyears ahead of current technology. Fortunately, lightening fast computing was my second preferred super power.

Obama and Captain Planet Team up!

Despite his clear lack of motivational umph, there was enough gas in President Obama's recent State of the Union address to spark my attention. The enthusiastic goal to reach 80% clean energy production by 2035 is, to say the least, ambitious. The research and technology required to attain this goal have only recently been conceived, not to mention the billions of dollars that is needed to execute the project may not yet exist. CNET claims that the Obama administration has vowed significant funds to researching methods of clean energy and the construction of clean energy plants. So where is this funding coming from?

As gas prices continue to steadily increase, electric bills keep getting longer. Instead of finding ways to produce more, Obama is searching for better. So does better ⇒ more, or will the energy thief continue to burn holes through our wallets? Unfortunately, gratification will not be immediate. But like all good investments, there will be payoff in the end.

Proof: Cleaner Fuel ⇒ More Energy

1. cleaner fuel ⇒ cleaner environment

2. cleaner environment ⇒ government money allocated to other areas

3. By modus ponens on 1 & 2: cleaner fuel ⇒ government money allocated to other areas

4. government money allocated to other areas ⇒ more R&D for clean energy solutions

5. By modus ponens on 3&4: cleaner fuel ⇒ more R&D for clean energy solutions

6. more R&D for clean energy solutions ⇒ more energy

∴ by modus ponens on 5 & 6 Cleaner Fuel ⇒ More Energy

Thanks Obama for making this world a better place! Captain Planet is proud!

Is That Car Driving Itself?

Email, browser development, maps, and many other web-based projects have been the focus of Google's development since its inception; obviously they would turn next to automobiles. Newsweek claims that payoff for Google may not come for a few years. So why not invest in something useful, like bug-free stock exchange software, or teleportation?

Okay, I admit, there may be some reasonable purpose for cars that drive themselves, but what it truly boils down to in the end is survival. Change is the golden ticket to success in the technology department, and Google is no exception. Just take a look at the leaders in the technology industry. Microsoft was originally a computer language company. Where would they be today if they had not jumped on the IBM train to develop their operating system? Sorry Bill, but let's be honest, we both know BASIC wouldn't cut it.

So why does Google throw money at a futuristic idea? Not because they can, it's because they have to.

Disheveled, disorganized, and drab - My week without internet

When upstairs neighbors move out and take the internet with them, you better start praying for a miracle. My dependency on the internet is alarming. Homework, projects, schedules, collaboration, communication and life as we know it is all based on the wonderfully delicious interweb. I was nearly destroyed not having the internet for a week. Almost a decade ago an article was posted on Newsweek titled "The World According to Google." Seemingly significant changes in society with the advent of google were addressed. I say seemingly because at that time, the author had absolutly no concept of how the world was changing, and where we actually would be 9 years later. Information is at our fingertips; knowledge is obtained by a click of a mouse. Nothing is hidden. How can something be so terrifying and so exhilerating at the same time? I am a sucking child unable to get enough, and unable to let go. I embrace it.

Google

Facebook

Wikipedia

Amazon

CNN

Twitter

Blogger

How did we survive before?