NoSoftwarePatents.com

NeXTSTEP To Mac OS X

Thanks to this article on Slashdot, I took a wonderful little jaunt down Amnesia Lane. If you don't remember much about NeXTstep, the Wikipedia article provides the best summary.

NeXTstep was an important part of my computer thinking from the time that Southern obtained an early beta machine in the late '80s. Like OS/2, NeXTstep was far ahead of its time, and set many standards that are still pursued by commodity computers today. The demise of independence and wide availability for these two operating systems left scars that still contribute to my cynicism and distrust of corporate management and marketing.

In the early '90s I bought a license for NeXTstep/OpenStep, and until recently my web server ran on NeXTstep. The NeXTstep heritage contributes to my deep respect for Mac OS X.

Kids Weblogs

This is a quick pointer to my children's weblogs. Beth just posted a few pictures from our trip to see the Coast Guard barque Eagle yesterday.

• Beth's Pathfinder/Wildlife Journal
• Beth's English Blog
• William's Pathfinder Blog
• William's English Blog

These are also listed in the sidebar on the left side of this page.

The Long Hill

Rode my old Schwinn 15-speed to IBM and back before work this morning. It took me less than 9 minutes to reach the corner at IBM where I normally turn around, and I thought I must be really getting into shape. Concerned that I might come in under 20 minutes, I decided to make a loop through the IBM parking lot. As I crested the first little hill the reason for my speed suddenly struck me in the face. And in the chest. And on the remainder of my anterior. A persistent "breeze" of, say, 15 MPH or so, created a very noticeable difference between riding south and riding north. So check out the numbers below. It took me far more effort and time to ride home again. And that last hill seemed to last almost all the way home, as the headwind nearly negated the advantage of a level or downhill grade. For example, rolling down into the valley as I left IBM I barely reached 13 MPH.

• Distance: 5.37 miles
• Time: 27 minutes 20 seconds
• Average Velocity: 11.99 mph
• Max Velocity: 35.3 mph

Weight after showering: 2??.? lbs

What you do…

…is of little significance; but it is very important that you do it. -Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869-1948)