Notes from the Future

Actually, notes from Japan. Update: and a counterpoint.

Random links

Shorthand and alternate writing systems

Grid Beam: like Lego for the real world

I'm done

I started taking college classes in September of 1995. After 14 years, three different schools and a continent away, I just submitted my last piece of homework. Barring unforeseen mishaps I will graduate and get my diploma in 3 weeks from the Harvard Extension School.

I <3 the Interwebs

Looking up a reference to a paper in a blog post, I found a summary... on a wiki site devoted to summaries of social science papers.

References:

One R short of a BRIC

Weingast and Marshall: The industrial organization of Congress

The aspiring novelist

My friend Hefzibah entered the Amazon Breakthrough Novel contest (along with 10,000 other writers), and made it to the quarterfinals. Apparently Amazon reviews will be taken into account, so read the free excerpt and write a review - it's good:

Easter Island

Now I know what Dollhouse is about

And after watching the latest episode, it's getting really disturbing (and a lot more Whedonesque). I expect Fox to cancel the show after one season, however popular it is, since they must be feeling like they've been tricked into something horrible.

If you've seen it, notice the progression of TV interviews and where it ends up: politics, and not the sanitized kind.

Warning

The NY Times explains:

“Watchmen” is rated R (Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian). It has extreme violence, a naked blue man and some superhero sex.

And apparently it's not very good, either.