I was trying to build Apache Hadoop 2.0.3-alpha with the ARM Java 8 Preview (to test out hard-float build support, which needs a Hadoop build fix), and I hit a compile error in InputSampler.java in the Map/Reduce code. It seems that the Java 8 compiler won’t allow a raw type to be used in a …
I’ve always thought XMLSpy was a great product. Unfortunately, today I discovered the caveat that you have to spend lots of $$$ on it to be impressed. I just bought a copy of XMLSpy 2009 Standard ($129) after evaluating 2009 Enterprise ($999), since that’s the version that the free trial links go to. Anyway, I’m …
I’ve finally discovered that I don’t have to feel bad about not knowing how to figure out the date of Easter. It turns out the rules are really a bit complicated, but quite facinating if you’re into history or astronomy: Easter falls on the first Sunday following the first ecclesiastical full moon that occurs on …
Anyone who knows me is probably aware that Taco Bell Fire Sauce is my favorite fast food condiment packet. I thought I was pretty fanatical about the stuff until I searched the web… First I discovered The Condiment Packet Museum, which in addition to almost any other condiment packet you could think of, features photos …
Never able to get quite enough cowbell, I’m very thankful to Paul Frank and UrbanOutfitters.com for selling this More Cowbell T-shirt. Bruce Dickinson would be very pleased indeed. Speaking of “the cymbal’s evil third cousin”, Wikipedia has impressed once again with its very thorough coverage of this topic.
My love of spicy food has been justified once more: The American Association for Cancer Research released a report today claiming that capsaicin drives prostate cancer cells to kill themselves. According to a team of researchers from the Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, in collaboration with colleagues from UCLA, the pepper …
I went to Chop Suey tonight for the 9th Annual Valentine’s Day Bash with Dan Savage. The only instructions on the invitation: “Bring a token from a relationship gone sour and we’ll destroy it on stage in a sick and cathartic way.” I was there with some new friends that had such a momento: a …
Hopefully I’ve fixed the problem where some people aren’t able to see the comment box. I switched the method of avoiding comment spam from using a JavaScript hash code to using a captcha from the AuthImage plug-in.
I would like to share my two favorite pirate jokes with anyone who has not yet heard them: A pirate walks into a bar with a steering wheel attached to his crotch. The observant barkeeper calls over to him, “Hey friend, do you know you’ve got a steering wheel attached to your crotch?” “Arrrr,” says …
I made an interesting salsa tonight with some piquin chiles that Julian brought back from his family: 1 lb tomatillos 1 small yellow onion 2 small carrots 2 small handfuls of piquin chiles 6 orange habanero chiles 1/2 bunch cilantro 1 clove garlic Juice of 1/2 lime 1 tsp salt Remove the tomatillo husks and …