British Problems

I'm never sure if it comes down to Canada's colonial heritage, my English grandmother, or just an internal wiring fault. But these almost all resonated.

(Once again via Tyler Cowen)

What Programmers Want

I wish the title didn't use "Programmers". Am I a programmer? I kinda hope not.

But, I've re-read What Programmers Want about every week for the last... month and a half? Ow.

Aside from the title, there are occasional words with which I would quibble. But overall? A direct statement of some things I have long held to be true, but couldn't express clearly.

Programmers face a job market that’s unusually meritocratic when changing jobs. Within companies, the promotion process is just as political and bizarre as it is for any other profession, but when looking for a new job, programmers are evaluated not on their past job titles and corporate associations, but on what they actually know.

See, I might want to argue with "know" there. "...what they can actually do" perhaps? But it doesn't change the sentiment.

(Google Reader showed me this via this guy (recommended) )

The Pinboard Investment Co-Prosperity Cloud

Holy mackerel, this is genius.

(I saw it thanks to this guy)

Winnipeg

I've been following Bryan Scott's "Winnipeg Love Hate" for some time now. Today's small set around the Arlington Bridge hit me in that mostly-sad place Winnipeg photos often do.

Michael Abrash on Valve

A bit indirect path (Marginal Revolution linked to something by their Chief Economist, who referred to Abrash' post), but this is by far the best thing I saw today.

Thiel vs Schmidt

From Marginal Revolution, a short transcript from a debate between an economist and Eric Schmidt of Google.

Scary and fascinating.

Modern China : A New Life Awaits You In The Off-World Colonies

http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2012/03/a-look-inside-china/100269/

Just last night, David and I were talking about parts of the modern world that are already the Blade Runner Future (a slight left turn from the Grim Meathook Future). Here is a commercial device that could still be used as a prop in a P. K. Dick film adaptation.

Further down in the linked set, several pictures that are William Gibson Very Near Future, maybe most of all #33 and #35. Plus the giant dog that looks like a throw rug.