“Wikipedia has a special section called, ‘Language Philosophy,’ in every article for a programming language. This section looks at the motivation and the basic principles of the language design. What if we investigate further than that? What deeper connections between philosophies and programming languages exist? By considering the most influential thinkers of all time (e.g. Plato, Descartes, Kant) we can figure out which programming language fits best with aspects of their philosophy (Did you know that Kant was the first Python programmer)? The list is not exhaustive, but this is a funny and educative start.”
Just in case you thought that blogging was the domain of humans only, along comes Midori-san – a Sweetheart Hoya (English translation here) that is able to use a sophisticated botanical interface system to blog its thoughts for all and sundry to read, from the comfort of its bowl at Donburi Cafe, Kamakura near Tokyo.
A potted plant that posts daily news on its mood and health is believed to be the world’s first botanical blogger. Midori-san, which lives on the counter of a Japanese café, writes regular updates with the help of sensors attached to its leaves.
This new plant interface system is the brainchild of Satoshi Kuribayashi at the Keio University Hiroya Tanaka Laboratory, relying on surface potential sensors to read the weak bioelectric current flowing across the surface of the leaves. This natural current has been found out to fluctuate depending on the changes in the plant’s immediate environment, ranging from temperature to humidity, vibration, electromagnetic waves and even nearby human activity. The algorithm coded will translate data into Japanese sentences that are then constructed into daily blog posts.
Midori-san is a hoya kerrii, which are more commonly called “sweetheart plants” because of their heart-shaped leaves.
Can’t be too exciting to be a plant, IMHO, but it would definitely be adept at picking up office gossip on who’s sleeping with who. We had cats (here and here) blogging earlier about their daily encounters with their humans, and now we have plants. What next?
Just saw an interesting bit of JavaScript that allows anyone to edit the content of a web page from IE or FireFox. This is a JavaScript trick that runs on the client side and does not have any effects on the actual file on the server. With this you can change the text of a web page to your hearts content.
Once you visit a page you are interesting in modifying, enter the following JavaScript in the address or location bar all in one line.
Bring innovation into your work without buying a new PC or a system. The best freeware safely installed. So if you want to make your computer get a modern Vista look, this is the perfect solution. The package includes: Yahoo widgets – a lot of small and beautiful assistants. Anything you could only imagine on your desktop – from PC temperature to mini games; Vista Theme – a special theme developed by Microsoft which transforms Windows XP into Windows Vista; Vista Start Menu – modifies not only menu’s skin but also its functionality. Learn how a convenient menu looks like. The items of the package 1.2 may include unspecified updates, enhancements, or bug fixes.
People around the world have come up with all kinds of strange laws in their efforts to maintain law and order. The following is the list some of the strangest laws in effect around the world
In Thailand, it is illegal to leave your house if you are not wearing underwear – how do they actually find that??
In Switzerland, it is illegal to flush the toilet after 10pm if you live in an apartment – what??
It’s also illegal for a chicken to lay an egg on Friday or Saturday in Israel – and it does then??
Picking your nose on Saturday is forbidden in Israel – what???
In Denmark, attempt to escape from prison is not illegal, however, if one is caught he is required to serve out the remainder of the term – they are rally nice people!
In Liverpool, it is illegal for a woman to be topless in public except as a clerk in a tropical fish store, or in a bank if handling foreign currency
In Ireland, it is illegal for a student to walk through Trinity College without a sword – they actually go to college to war?
In Texas, ‘when two trains meet each other at a railroad crossing, each shall come to a full stop, and neither shall proceed until the other has gone’ – and when do they proceed actually?
No man may purchase alcohol without written consent from his wife in Pennsylvania
In Pennsylvania, ‘any motorist driving along a country road at night must stop every mile and send up a rocket signal, wait 10 minutes for the road to be cleared of livestock, and continue’ – I am not going to that country with my bike! never
In Paulding, Ohio, a policeman can legally bite a dog to quiet him – eek
In Oxford, Ohio, it’s illegal for a woman to strip off her clothing while standing in front of a man’s picture – no comments!!
A man cannot go outside wearing un-matching jacket and pants in Carmel, New York – what?
In Cresskill, New Jersey, cats must wear three bells to warn birds of their whereabouts
It’s illegal for a husband to make love to his wife if his breath smells like garlic, onions, or sardines in Alexandria, Minnesota. The wife can, by law, force her husband to brush his teeth
In Michigan, a woman’s hair legally belongs to her husband. Consequently she’s not allowed to cut her own hair without her husband’s permission – of course.. I mean this should be implemented all over the world.
All dogs are required to have their hind legs tied during the month of April in Massachusetts – and why is that so?
Carrying an ice cream cone in our pocket is prohibited in Kentucky – poor boy
In Natoma, Kansas, it’s against the law to practice knife-throwing at men wearing striped suits – hey, give me a break
In Zion, Illinois, it’s illegal for anyone to give lighted cigars to dogs, cats, and other domesticated animals kept as pets
In Chicago, eating in a place that is on fire is forbidden – and who does that? I mean, its fire all over and you are eating… my last supper
In Kenilworth, Illinois, roosters must be at least three hundred feet away from any residence if they wish to crow- now rules are for the animals also…poor guys
It is illegal for a cab in the city of London to carry rabid dogs or corpses
It is illegal to die in the Houses of Parliament in UK – if somebody dies… hang him till death..?
In France, it is forbidden to call a pig Napoleon
Under the UK’s Tax Avoidance Schemes Regulations 2006, it is illegal not to tell the taxman anything you don’t want him to know, though you don’t have to tell him anything you don’t mind him knowing – I don’t have any problem you knowing everything.. So I don’t tell you anything!!
In Ohio, it is against state law to get a fish drunk – fish… drunk… how… why???
Royal Navy ships that enter the port of London must provide a barrel of rum to the Constable of the Tower of London – that guy must be lucky
In UK, a pregnant woman can legally relieve herself anywhere she wants- even if she so requests, in a policeman’s helmet – eek…
In Miami, Florida, it is illegal to skateboard inside a police station – crazy… is it legal to play golf?
In San Salvador, drunk drivers can be punished by death before a firing squad
In UK, a man who feels compelled to urinate in public can do so only if he aims for his rear wheel and keeps his right hand on his vehicle
In Florida, unmarried women who parachute on Sundays can be jailed
In Kentucky, it is illegal to carry a concealed weapon more than six feet long
In Chester, Welshmen are banned from entering the city before sunrise and from staying after sunset
In the city of York, it is legal to murder a Scotsman within the ancient city walls, but only if he is carrying a bow and arrow
In Boulder, Colorado, it is illegal to kill a bird within the city limits and also to ‘own’ a pet – the town’s citizens, legally speaking are merely ‘pet minders’
In Vermont, women must get written permission from their husbands to wear false teeth
In London, it is illegal to flag down a taxi if you have the plague
The head of any dead whale found on the British coast is legally the property of the king; the tail, on the other hand, belongs to the queen – in case she needs the bones for her corset
There are many more. It was really amusing that these kinds of rules exist.
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