What Does the Engineer Mean

Basically, how computer programmers and by extension engineers classify difficulty of solving problems.

Understanding Engineers: Feasibility

In a post titled “Understanding Engineers: Feasibility,” Charles Miller explains exactly what engineers mean when they describe problems as “impossible,” “trivial,” “unfeasible,” “non-trivial,” “hard,” and “very hard.”

[via Off Topic : Good Morning Silicon Valley]

As a bit of a side note, computer scientists even have a notation of problem size: O(f(x)) or Big O notation.

Art Deco Dystopia

I've been playing Bioshock.



Glorious Art Deco design: the clothes, interiors, music etc. The voice acting stands out; there's just something about the accents. And if you're familiar with Ayn Rand, it makes the game more intriguing.

It's a game, it's a work of art, and it's a political commentary.

Links galore:

• Atlas Drowned: A crumbling utopia sets the stage for the world's most fascinating shooter


• BioShock lets users take on fanaticism through fantasy


• Welcome To Rapture! Even Ectomo’s Non-Gamers Will Love Bioshock


• Two Reasons Why Bioshock Is Ectomo’s Game Of The Year

Ordering Chinese Food in America

WNYC - The Leonard Lopate Show: Dim Sum Done Right (July 31, 2007) via Gothamist

When Whippersnappers and Geezers Collide - New York Times

When Whippersnappers and Geezers Collide - New York Times

They are their parent's children. Overachievers? Pampered? Seriously though, the "Baby Boomlets" have it rough. There is more competition for college spots, especially at the elite institutions. Furthermore, the Baby Boomers (i.e. their parents) are sticking around in the workplace.

And where do "Gen Xers" fit in here? Stuck in the middle?

Summer Soccer Watching

As I'm posting, I'm watching Mexico vs. Argentina and wish I was watching USA vs. Uruguay. And I "no comprendo" Telemundo. Fortunately, soccer is a global langauge. Here's to some golazos!

Why soccer? Maybe because soccer fans have more fun: US soccer punks 1, McFans 0. Even Major League Soccer (MLS) expansion Toronto FC club is literally tearing down their stadium.

Seriously, I've watched as much soccer this summer as last summer. Aside from MLS (back to that later), the Americas including the good 'ol USA have been busy. First, the USA won their regional cup, the Gold Cup. Then, the US crashed out of Copa America. Meanwhile, the future of US Soccer looks bright in Canada. Finally, the most marketable David Beckham comes to MLS.

Links:
Looking toward 2010, U.S. enters a crucial summer with eyes on World Cup
Red Bulls Import a Little Excellence (see Summer Tournaments section)