Author Archives: ward
javascript performance
Jeff Atwood has a great analysis of javascript performance in the four main browsers. He used the new Sunspider benchmark that the webkit.org folks released recently. I’m curious how Firefox 3 compares – Firefox 2′s numbers are only so-so.
Posted in Open Standards
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the problem with the kindle
Mark Pilgrim has a really nice writeup on the problems with DRM and the Amazon Kindle in particular, written out as a play in 6 acts. He references RMS’s Right to read, as well as George Orwell’s 1984.
Posted in DRM
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djb to release all his software into the public domain
Dan Bernstein aka djb writes brilliant software. He has a reputation for being a little difficult but his software is really, really well written and some of the most secure code out there. I used qmail for a long time, … Continue reading
optimizing a home office for energy consumption
Great article over at computerworld.com on reducing the energy consumption of a home office.
Posted in Environment
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trade deficits
CNN has an excellent article by Warren Buffett on the worrying US trade deficit. He wrote it four YEARS ago.
Posted in Finance/SRI
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Lessig at TED
Larry Lessig‘s excellent talk at TED titled ‘how creativity is stranged by the law’ is now online. Recommended viewing – 19 minutes long.
Posted in Copyright, patents, and trademarks
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rail
There is an interesting blog post at carectomy.com about the state of the US rail transportation system. The article mentions the “Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act” of 2007 (S.294) that cleared the Senate at the end of October with … Continue reading
Posted in Environment
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testing smtp auth from the command line
Testing smtp auth can be a bit of a pain sometimes, particularly if SSL or TLS is involved. Mail clients often don’t really show what they are doing and/or don’t allow you to set all variables, like which authentication mechanism … Continue reading
Posted in Sysadmin
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Soviet ministries
Walt Mossberg gets it, too: he likens wireless carriers in the US to Soviet ministries. I would go further and include most incumbent telcos, but hey, this is a good start. I think things are going to change in broadband-land.
Posted in Broadband
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hear, hear
Great article in the New York Times’ business section on the upcoming 700 MHz auctions and the White Spaces Coalition. Here’s to hoping that the FCC will take up professor Judith Chevalier on her advice; we desperately need more competition … Continue reading
Posted in Broadband
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