Listing problems instead of solutions
“Between the time I write a particular to-do item and the time I finally get around to executing it, I may significantly change the code in that area. Or I may learn something about the code and where it wants to go next. Or the problem may disappear, as a side-effect of some other change. Either way, the solution I might have on my to-do list has a chance of being inappropriate now that the code and I have moved on. So by listing the problem as I originally saw it, I’m giving myself a much better chance of creating the right solution for it – because I’m deciding on that solution in the presence of the full facts.”
Chessboxing
“The basic idea in chessboxing is to combine the #1 thinking sport and the #1 fighting sport into a hybrid that demands the most of its competitors – both mentally and physically. In a chessboxing fight two opponents play alternating rounds of chess and boxing. The contest starts with a round of chess, followed by a boxing round, followed by another round of chess and so on.”
See what your site looks like to people who are color blind
“Color Oracle takes the guesswork out of designing for color blindness by showing you in real time what people with common color vision impairments will see…Eight percent of all males are affected by color vision impairement.”
Internet radio in danger
“The future of Internet radio is in immediate danger. Royalty rates for webcasters have been drastically increased by a recent ruling and are due to go into effect on July 15 (retroactive to Jan 1, 2006!). If the increased rates remain unchanged, the majority of webcasters will go bankrupt and silent on this date. Internet radio needs your help!”
Keys to Lean Development
“1. eliminate waste – do only what adds value to the end product 2. amplify learning – when in trouble, increase feedback 3. decide as late as possible – by keeping your options open, you are free to change 4. deliver as fast as possible – because you want feedback as soon as possible 5. empower the team – enable the team members to make the decisions themselves, locally 6. build integrity in – integrity must be cared for from the start 7. avoid sub-optimization – overall success is what’s important – not success or failure of individual tasks.”
Viral virus site?
“Somebody should come up with a Web 2.0 site where people could report what [sickness] they’re catching and what you can expect from it. You could see a map of your region and watch the red cloud or the blue cloud spread closer and closer to your neighborhood, the better to step up your hand washings. As you lay in bed, miserable, you’d know that at least you had only 24 hours to go. Or whatever.”
Growing a company that encourages creativity
“The first thing a company needs is a leader who believes in creating a culture in which anyone can challenge anything and where ideas are valued and encouraged. If you don’t have that leadership, it’s difficult to be innovative lower down. People soon stop coming up with ideas if nothing happens at the top.”
Prototype and script.aculo.us
“Tired of getting swamped in the nitty-gritty of cross-browser, Web 2.0-grade JavaScript? Get back in the game with Prototype and script.aculo.us, two extremely popular JavaScript libraries, that make it a walk in the park.”
A no-frills kitchen that cooks for only $200
“I contend that with a bit of savvy, patience and a willingness to forgo steel-handle knives, copper pots and other extravagant items, $200 can equip a basic kitchen that will be adequate for just about any task, and $300 can equip one quite well.”
Urban Dictionary: drama llama
“A person who randomly throws their drama on others, in the same way a llama randomly spits.”