Ramblings for 2008-05-31

Christopher Alexander on the difference between a fifty-year-old carpenter and a novice - (37signals) Agile working FeedBurner Finally Rolls Out AdSense Google spotlights data center inner workings | Tech news blog - CNET News.com " The search colossus has shed only occasional light on its data center operations, but on Wednesday, Google fellow Jeff Dean turned a spotlight on some parts of the operation. Speaking to an overflowing crowd at the Google I/O conference here on Wednesday, Dean managed simultaneously to demystify Google a little while also showing just how exotic the company's infrastructure really is." IAF reopens old air base near China border-India-The Times of India Back to the future DNA - After Hrs - Bhajji gets a piece of Ajay Devgan’s mind - Daily News & Analysis This guy is an idiot Losing Track of Nukes "SAC considered itself an elite operation, and was pretty intense about whatever it did. SAC made sure the nukes were secure and well taken care of." Leadership: Why the Saudi Air Force Will Still Suck This is not a surprise to anybody who has been in the middle east Leadership: Band of Brothers Should blog about this soon Morale: A Really, Really Good Incentive " In an effort to retain the most skilled sailors, the U.S. Navy has been building barracks for sailors who have traditionally lived on the ship they were assigned to, even when the ship was in its home port." Morale: Why "Too Much Ain't Enough Matters" Matters "One thing that amazes soldiers from other nations, when they visit American bases in Iraq and Afghanistan, is the range of amenities available for all the troops. Fast food, swimming pools, ample and tasty chow in the dining halls. There are also mini-malls offering the same range of goods found state-side. Most of the troops live in air-conditioned living quarters, and can embellish those with mini-refrigerators and flat screen TVs (for viewing videos or playing games.) It's more like an American college campus, except for the occasional mortar shell going off, and the sound of bombs and gunfire in the distance." Thinking about Danny Devito Invest in Danny. The edges usually pay off. Doriot Quote Of The Day The riskiest part of the spectrum has to date proved the most rewarding, and the greatest capital gains have been earned in companies which were started from scratch. Mortgage Basics (part 1) Diff mortgage types and calculations. Via Sand Kumar Boeing 777 in Four Minutes Why I fired by secretary today LOL The Ultimate Dutch Status Symbol: House-Shaped Booze Bottles - WSJ.com "For 56 years, KLM has handed out a coveted souvenir: small ceramic replicas of historically significant houses filled with Dutch gin and topped with a cork. Many people can't get enough of them. The rarest houses -- given only to honeymooners -- can trade for upwards of $1,000." BBC NEWS | In Pictures | In Pictures: Tube drink ban BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Discovery shuttle blasts off video