January « 2007 « Outer Thoughts

Where is D.A.V.E – uses for portable wireless storage devices

By arafalov, on January 30th, 2007%

What could one do with a portable hard-drive that can be connected to wirelessly? And with software API to boot. More than one can think!

Robert Scoble has a video interview with a Seagate exec about D.A.V.E/DAVE, the new device they are releasing in the coming months. It is envisaged to be an external storage device for . . . → Read More: Where is D.A.V.E – uses for portable wireless storage devices

Is it a crime to learn a foreign language?

By arafalov, on January 28th, 2007%

These days, learning a foreign language is considered a useful thing. The advantages are many: from travelling to foreign countries to getting a preferential treatment in the ethnic restaurants of your own to keeping the dementia away.

This was not always a case though, at least for China. Until 1844, it was illegal for a foreigner to . . . → Read More: Is it a crime to learn a foreign language?

On translated poetry and the power of internet

By arafalov, on January 24th, 2007%

I am not into poetry. This could be easily explained by the fact that we had to learn by heart very long, very boring poems about hapless peasants in the Russian literature class.
But there was one short piece of poetry that I really liked. It was a translation by Marshak, who was often said to produce . . . → Read More: On translated poetry and the power of internet

Is RSS team pushing people to ATOM?

By arafalov, on January 17th, 2007%

Netscape has decided to remove RSS DTD, but – under brunt of developers’ fury and logic – brought it back. But until July 1st only!

Given that back in 1999 Netscape, insisted that RSS documents must be validated, this feels more than a little annoying. And given that – as a developer of web content – I . . . → Read More: Is RSS team pushing people to ATOM?

Speed learn a language through Esperanto

By arafalov, on January 13th, 2007%

When I speak to other people about Esperanto, they often ask whether there are any practical uses to knowing the language beyond the language itself.

I used to talk about Pasporta Servo, ability to listen to other countries’ radio and global community. Now I just go straight for the big guns.

I ask them whether they ever tried . . . → Read More: Speed learn a language through Esperanto

Calling for support? Calling for trouble! The business idea.

By arafalov, on January 7th, 2007%

Account cancelation is a great pain in the rear. A PCWorld article (via BoingBoing) tests multiple services and discoveres that most of them go to great troubles to keep people subscribed, willingly or not.
Something has to be done about it. I propose a new business that will cater specifically to the people calling support numbers (e.g. . . . → Read More: Calling for support? Calling for trouble! The business idea.

Allow me to recommend: Marion Gropen

By arafalov, on January 2nd, 2007%

I am interesting in publishing (as in books, e-books, etc). I think the field is rapidly changing due to e-books, print-on-demand and other factors and watching the change is quite exciting.
Unfortunately, I don’t have time or wherewithal to get into the topic seriously. So instead I dip into a sub-genre mailing list, get the feel for . . . → Read More: Allow me to recommend: Marion Gropen

Outer Thoughts