Archive for category Blog
MP voting records
Thanks to The Phantom Observer for reminding me of the idea of online vote tracking for MPs. I e-mailed the guy who runs (or ran) howdtheyvote.ca months ago. It is a lot of work to get that voting data in a usable form. And what votes do you track? Every little motion and amendment? Or just the important stuff? How do you write code that can differentiate that?
I believe he mentioned using a version of Parliament Parser which is used behind the scenes for sites like TheyWorkForYou.com and The Public Whip, both British. The latter’s Ministerial whirl (a Java app that isn’t working for me right now) is a very interesting visualization of cabinet shuffles.
Of course, in the States, all this data is readily available on sites such as the Washington Post’s Votes Database, written by, of course, Adrian Holovaty. It helps that the U.S. government makes so much of its data available in usable (or, at least, scrapable) forms.
Clearly we need to elect more nerds in Canada.
Pitch manure, program a computer…
This list of 25 skills every man should have (from PC Magazine, found on Geekdad) reminds me of Robert Heinlein’s “specialization is for insects” quote.
✓ for stuff I can do, ? for things I’ve done, but probably couldn’t do now.
1. Patch a radiator hose
2. Protect your computer ✓
3. Rescue a boater who as capsized
4. Frame a wall
5. Retouch digital photos ✓
6. Back up a trailer
7. Build a campfire ✓
8. Fix a dead outlet
9. Navigate with a map and compass ?
10. Use a torque wrench ✓
11. Sharpen a knife ✓
12. Perform CPR ✓
13. Fillet a fish
14. Maneuver a car out of a skid
15. Get a car unstuck
16. Back up data ✓
17. Paint a room ✓
18. Mix concrete
19. Clean a bolt-action rifle (I’ve only fired one once…)
20. Change oil and filter ✓
21. Hook up an HDTV ✓
22. Bleed brakes ?
23. Paddle a canoe ✓
24. Fix a bike flat ✓
25. Extend your wireless network
Who touched Sasha!?
Wow, this takes me back. I use to play TFC all the time back in journalism school. I actually did a radio assignment about playing TFC. Sad, yeah?
I love the campy tone and look of Team Fortress 2. It fits very well with the cartoonish gameplay. Rocket-jump, anyone?
Check out the character interviews. They’ve already done my two favourites: the Engineer and HWG. They’re made of awesome.
You sunk my Unterseeboot!
There’s German board games and then there’s…
Nazi board games under the hammer
A collection of Nazi era board games – including one where players are given points for bombing British cities – are going on auction in the UK this week.
Breaking news! The bridesmaids will all wear a corally pink, but will choose their own dress style
Let’s see what’s happening on CNN right now:
Padilla convicted in terror trial
CNNMoney: Stocks tumble on credit worries
Ticker: Jenna Bush engaged
Report: Vick deal includes prison 46 min
Human remains found at bridge collapse
Bodies line Peru streets after 8.0 quake 25 min
Erin causes floods, Dean strengthens
Noise detected in mine, drilling plan changed
Wow. That’s a lot going on.
But guess which one appeared as “Breaking News” in my e-mail inbox.