Things to remember

Some things to remember

Edsger Dijkstra, a computing pioneer now is his 60s, marvels at the appearance of a fat manual on how to use the WordPerfect word processor that runs to more pages than Georg Joos's Theoretical Physics. In view of this, he asks, can the digital revolution really be as positive a force as its enthusiasts claim?
From "Ahead of the Curve" by Tom Yager February 04, 2005: "Technology workers who don't see themselves as passionate, creative professionals, and who lack commitment to their work, will inevitably occupy the lower strata of the future job market. I've said that before. My new corollary to that is that all working people are consumers even on company time. We need to feel impressed and inspired by the tools and materials we're given ... When I'm writing, OS X doesn't present itself as an operating system the way Windows does. I see Windows as a foundation for exposing Windows' services. It exists for the computer's benefit. The Mac GUI exists for the user's benefit. It takes on the task of integration and consistency of presentation ..."
Anyone who considers arithmetical methods of producing random digits is, of course, in a state of sin. John von Neumann.
Knut Schmidt-Nielsen, The Camel's Nose: Memoirs of a Curious Scientist, Island Press/Shearwater Books (1998). "It has been said that the primary function of schools is to impart enough facts to make children stop asking questions. Some, with whom the schools do not succeed, become scientists."
Advice from Jan and Anneke Sengers, "As experienced travelers of the 7th decade, we can assure you that there will be plenty of good years in the decade to come, as long as you keep physically fit and avoid constant stress. In other words: make the personal life as pleasant as can be, and the academic life will follow suit."
I said it: "A society that will not invest in education for its children and maintain its roads and bridges will not take the necessary steps to avoid global warming."
"The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man." -- George Bernard Shaw.
Writing is a sure way of letting you know how sloppy your thinking is.
"Science is like sex: sometimes something useful comes out, but that is not the reason we are doing it." -- Richard Feynman.
There is two kinds of music, the good and bad. I play the good kind. -- Louis Armstrong.
All music is folk music. I ain't never heard a horse sing a song. -- Louis Armstrong.
I think there are only three things America will be known for 2,000 years from now when they study this civilization: the Constitution, jazz music, and baseball. Gerald Early.
Anyone can make the simple complicated. Creativity is making the complicated simple. Charles Mingus.
From InfoWorld 2/14/00. Comments on examples of where Microsoft has inhibited innovation. IBM OS/2 Warp, pen-based computing, and superior utilities. For this reason more innovation is expected from outside the U.S.
The future is here, it's just not evenly distributed. William Gibson.
Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted. Albert Einstein
Inside every older person is a younger person -- wondering what the hell happened.
When in doubt, pick the course of least regret.
Those who do not want to imitate anything, produce nothing. Salvadore Dali.
Committee Rules:
1. Never arrive on time or you will be stamped a beginner.
2. Don't say anything until the meeting is half over; others will think you are being wise.
3. Be as vague as possible to prevent irritating the others.
4. When in doubt, suggest that a subcommittee be appointed.
5. Be the first to move for adjournment.
A Gould play on words: "If baseball is a game of inches, soccer is a game of feet."
The National Short-Sleeved Shirt Association says: Support your right to bare arms!
A neutron goes into a bar and asks the bartender, "How much for a beer?" The bartender replies, "For you, no charge."
Two hydrogen atoms are leaving a bar. The first one says to the second, "Hey, I think I lost an electron in there!" The second one responds, "Are you sure?" The first one says, "I'm positive!."
When she told me I was average, she was just being mean.
An architect, an artist and a physicist were discussing whether it was better to spend time with the wife or a mistress. The architect said he enjoyed time with his wife, building a solid foundation for an enduring relationship. The artist said he enjoyed time with his mistress, because of the passion and mystery he found there. The physicist said, "I like both." If you have a wife and a mistress, they will each assume you are spending time with the other woman, and you can go to the office and get some work done."

Some of my favorite Steve Wright jokes

Why is "abbreviation" such a long word?
What is the speed of dark?
If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate.
What's another word for Thesaurus? What's another word for synonym?
If you tell a joke in the forest, but nobody laughs, was it a joke?
I was in a job interview and I opened a book and started reading. Then I said to the guy, "Let me ask you a question. If you are in a spaceship that is traveling at the speed of light, and you turn on the headlights, does anything happen?" He said, "I don't know." I said, "I don't want your job."

More jokes

Updated 27 November 2007.