My name is
David Robins:
Christian, lead developer (resume), writer, photographer, runner,
libertarian (voluntaryist),
and student.
This is also my son David Geoffrey Robins' site.
Today, I love Windows
News, Technical ·Sunday August 12, 2012 @ 20:32 EDT (link)
I take back most of the mean things I've said about Windows in the past, and some of the kind things I've said about Source Insight.
So, when you tell Source Insight that a project does not share the global config file, it creates a brand new one (as opposed to, say, letting you base it on the global one, which would be sensible). Then when you change your mind, it clobbers the global one with the brand new one, wiping out all your customizations. This is possibly the first insanely stupid thing I've seen Source Insight do, but it's a doozy.
I remembered seeing this interesting looking "versions" tab on a Windows explorer file properties page, so like a drowning man clutching a straw I brought up the page for the lost GLOBAL.CF3 configuration file—and joyfully, it had a backup from last week it could bring back! All my customizations (some from BryanK, I think, from Office, and many local ones) were back! I still lost a few changes (which I just restored); but nothing to the months I'd otherwise lose. (Yes, I'm aware Unix can do this and probably did it first. The SunOS machines at Waterloo did these sorts of automated backups, for instance.)
Today Windows (and perhaps the IT people who set it up?) gets a point.
Do anarchists "cheat" more on their taxes?
Political, Economics ·Wednesday August 1, 2012 @ 20:05 EDT (link)
Another book I am reading is Dan Ariely's The (Honest) Truth About Dishonesty; in it he describes the SMORC, or Simple Model of Rational Crime, wherein, for example, people might suppose that those with the opportunity to cheat might make a cost-benefit (expected value) calculation, and (as a few implication) cheat more when the payoff is larger, or when it is believed they are less likely to be caught: experiments, however, indicate this is not necessarily the case. Rather (he concludes from a series of experiments), "[W]e cheat up to the level that allows us to retain our self-image as reasonably honest individuals."
"Well," I immediately leaped, "surely that means that anarchists must cheat on our taxes more than statists (people that adore or tolerate the state), and thus, education about the state will help more than originally thought to starve the beast!" In similar vein, it is more important than thought that the state retain control of the educatory apparatus; for if it cannot bedizen itself and indoctrinate the masses, then they are less likely to give it what it demands.
(How did I get there? An anarchist understands he owes the state nothing in taxes—they are understood to be mere extortion; thus it is not wrong to withhold and refrain from paying any of them demanded, even through violent self-defense if possible—although such is not advisable, even through a method of deceit, for it is of the same morality as deceiving the storm trooper when he asks if there are any Jews in the house, differing only in degree.)
But the thought is then: what sort of honesty are people concerned with: local honesty (did I honestly report my income?) or a bigger picture (even though the truth is that there are three Jews in the attic, deceiving evil people so they do not do unjust harm is, as it were, a higher form of honesty)? Well; if you had read Ariely's other books, where people are shown through experiment to easily distracted and not to retain abstract concepts well when making decisions (preferring, e.g., associated emotion), you'd guess that the "local honesty" would triumph, as would I, and that it would take considerable training to not actually feel bad about lying even to the Nazi troops at the door. For anything less serious, one would likely not make the effort to rewire one's brain, as it were; and so, alas, it does not seem that the revolution will be brought about along this wise.
A Song of Ice and Fire (books 1-3)
News, Political ·Wednesday August 1, 2012 @ 19:26 EDT (link)
It's been a while since I've written here; and I have much to catch up on (such as Sharon's wedding, especially the photos thereof). It's a muggy summer here in St. Petersburg, not shockingly, of course, but it's our first. Honey's away visiting her parents for three weeks; and sometimes that might occasion staying longer hours at work, but honestly there's nothing interesting to do right now with a release pending next Wednesday, so I've been reading; it's nice to have made the time.
There are spoilers for the first three books below; you've been warned.
I have been making my way through George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire (just finished book three and put a hold on book four); what I take from it so far is that it's not the "happily ever after" of Eddings or even Jordan: I did not expect (this back when I was watching not reading) Ned Stark to actually be killed—that was the first warning; and then Ygritte and Rob with various other cruelties interspersed. But then, feudal life likely was "nasty, brutish, and short" (to make some good use of that nasty state bootlicker Hobbes), especially for the "smallfolk"; I cannot fault his realism.
I see also the principle of nothing for nothing—Jon getting Winterfell seemed to good to be true, and indeed it was, because now (at the end of the third book, again) there is a choice to be made and no free lunch. He is not in the least sympathetic with libertarian thought (nor was it expected): the free people of beyond the wall are wiped out by the better disciplined and equipped King Stannis (but again, that's reality; he emphasized many times that discipline beat numbers, so it was no surprise, nor is it impossible for free people to organize cohesively; again, I claimed he had no sympathy for, not antipathy toward). Besides, it's a tale of the game of thrones, not "how free folk threw off the yoke of kings".
Whenever Martin gives, he demands something in return: Tyrion's maiming for his victories; if Snow chooses Winterfell he must burn his father's gods and forsake the oath to the Night's Watch (which means something, even if sworn to the same old gods); Jaime returns free but without his right hand; Lysa gets Baelish but loses her life (if he does well by Robert, who is going to have to grow up awfully fast, though, perhaps even a choice she would make, in her mental state); Rob likewise pays dear for forsaking his oath and choosing Jeyne; and the demands are no transient fees but permanent damage. In sometimes presenting these demands as alternates and choices perhaps the concept of sacrifice is also introduced.
Magic in the books is far rarer than the other worlds mentioned: the wise maesters are skeptical of its very existence and so far the only demonstrated existence of it are in evil creatures like the wights of the north. It remains to be seen at this early point what sort of tale is being woven, and above all what (or if) a larger point is to be made.
Books finished: Princeps' Fury, First Lord's Fury, Heretics of Dune, The Upside of Irrationality, A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords.
The state extortion machine, hard at work (I)
News, Political ·Thursday May 31, 2012 @ 14:37 EDT (link)
Honey writes:
I was pulled over on my way to the doctor; here are the events as they happened: I left my apartment at approximately 9:05 a.m. to get to my doctor's appointment at 9:30 a.m. I drove down Gandy/Park Blvd. on my way to 66th St. where the office is located. I stayed in the right hand lane on the way down Park Blvd. because my turn on 66th St. was a right turn. The traffic light at 66th St. was red when I approached it. There was a vehicle in front of me and I was on Park Blvd. in front of the Kentucky Fried Chicken. I saw several police vehicles at this intersection. I made my right hand turn after the light turned green and the vehicle in front of me had cleared my path. I also noticed a pedestrian crossing at the crosswalk, so I waited until the crosswalk was clear to make my right turn onto 66th St.
After I turned onto 66th St. I wondered what was going on; there were at least 5 or 6 police officers with lights on that had pulled people over. I had only been to this doctor's office one time, so I was looking to the right side of the road to see the numbers to know which building was mine. Right before the next traffic light I noticed a black police vehicle with its light on behind me. I had no idea why he/she would be stopping me, so I slowed down and put my right turn signal on so that if the officer was pulling me over he/she would know that I was looking for a safe place to pull over (out of the way of traffic). I turned right at the next traffic light and then put my left turn signal on to let the officer know that I was turning into the place of business that was on the left side of the road. I stopped my car, put it in park, then I put my car window down, turned the ignition off and adjusted my seat belt so that I could reach my proof of insurance. I've never been pulled over before and knew that I hadn't done anything that was against the law, so I put my proof of insurance down on the passenger seat next to me and waited for the officer to come to me.
When he approached my vehicle he asked for my driver's license and he also asked me why I had not had my seat belt on. I said "Sir, I've had my seat belt on the entire time". He then asked me why it was that he and another officer had seen me without my seat belt on. I said "Sir, I've had my seat belt on the entire time", he told me that my seat belt was a different color than my shirt and that he saw me put my seat belt on after I had been stopped. After I told him again that I had had my seat belt on the whole time, he shook his head and then went back to his vehicle with my driver's license. He was in his vehicle for a few minutes, then came back up to my car and gave me my license as well as a ticket. He said something about me having 30 days to pay it and I said "Sir, can I explain what you thought you saw (because he had said he saw me put my seat belt on after I had been pulled over). He told me to proceed and I said "Sir, I had to reach over to my glove box to get my proof of insurance and I had to adjust my seat belt to do that. He said, "That doesn't explain why I didn't see you wearing it earlier." I proceeded to tell him that I had had my seat belt on the entire time I was driving and even after I'd been stopped. He said he didn't believe me and then walked away to his vehicle and left. It was almost time for my doctor appointment, so I went down to the next block and went to the doctor, while I was there they doctor's office staff told me that the police had been pulling people over all morning.
The reason that I had to adjust my seat belt is that I am very short (4'10") and I can't reach the glove box without pulling my seat belt away from my chest to give myself room to reach the glove box. Also this officer doesn't know that I have to reach all the way behind me to reach my seat belt while I'm sitting in the car (I have to do this because my seat has to be almost all the way forward for me to reach the pedals). There would be no mistaking me reaching for my seat belt if that's what I had done. At no time while I was pulled over did I reach around to get my seat belt, it had been clicked into place the entire time.
Continued in part 2, court.
Books finished: Academ's Fury, Cursor's Fury, Captain's Fury.
Niagara gorge hike with dad
News ·Monday May 14, 2012 @ 01:22 EDT (link)
Dad and I took a trip to the Niagara gorge, and hiked along it, taking pictures; here are a few of them.
(Driving home back to Florida, we saw a WV license plate "CARPE AU" (seize the gold)… a good sentiment, so long as they weren't government employees.)
Florida to Canada, 22 hours
News ·Friday May 4, 2012 @ 22:45 EDT (link)
(Needs more details.)
We drove up from our place in Pinellas Park, Florida to my parents in Canada. And it's high time whoever's working on autonomous cars starts selling them commercially; I'd rather be napping while my car drives itself.
Books finished: Furies of Calderon.
A day at the beach
News ·Friday April 13, 2012 @ 19:49 EDT (link)
We went out to the beautiful white sand beach at Fort De Soto park for the day; brought some food, swam, read on the beach.
Books finished: Catching Fire, The Hunger Games, Second Foundation.
Hunger Games, Oscar Scherer
News ·Sunday March 25, 2012 @ 21:46 EDT (link)
Finished Hunger Games (book one) Saturday. Interesting. Maybe I'm reading too much anti-statism into it, though. Having their children sent to die in the middle east doesn't seem to rouse people much here and now, but then "our" state has a better propaganda arm.
On Sunday after church we went to Oscar Scherer State Park, a nice park with a lake (Osprey) and some trails. We walked the Green trail, two miles (the third mile was closed as a buffer for eagle habitats), and then I swam in the lake, and didn't get attacked by alligators, which is always refreshing. We happened to be at the park just as the Sarasota Folk and Accoustic Music Festival was finishing up, so got to hear a pretty good Simon and Garfunkel cover before we went walking. On the way home we drove out a little on FL-64 just to see what was there—came across the DeSoto speedway (which is for sale); looks like a nice area, even a few properties for sale along the road.
Books finished: Hatrack River, The Hunger Games.
Visiting the Ramanathans
News ·Saturday March 10, 2012 @ 21:35 EST (link)
After coming back from Manatee county, we stopped home to change and then drove to Sriram Ramanathan's place in Safety Harbor; he had kindly invited us and another co-worker, Carl, and his wife and two daughters for dinner. We got there at about 1845.
No war in Iran
News, Political ·Sunday March 4, 2012 @ 14:27 EST (link)
I went out to stand with some anti-war protestors today: first at Dale Mabry and Gandy Boulevard West (over in Tampa), then we moved to Dale Mabry and Interbay and walked down to the base. We were standing in the median, but were forced to leave and protest on the other side. There were some Ron Paul supporters and some Occupy people. Sometimes it's good to get off Facebook, put your shoes on and let people know how you feel. (I had a problem with a few of the chants, like "this racist war has got to go" or ones about Palestine, so I didn't participate. I don't think getting off-message like that is helpful, but most were relevant.)
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