http://suniltanna.com/random Musings on Computers, Software and Technology Tue, 01 Jan 2008 12:50:48 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Today is the 25th anniversary of TCP/IP, which a standard abstract model for network and computer communications. TCP/IP was originally developed by DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency - which is an agency of the United StatesDepartment of Defense) and has proved highly influential on the structure of ... http://suniltanna.com/random/2008/01/01/25-years-of-tcpip/ Note: This post is based on a discussion that I participated in at the Joel on Software message board. I’ve reused (but cleaned up) my own posts, but I’ve rewritten the original question - as that bit doesn’t belong to me. Question: Is copy-and-pasting chunks of code into our app, a ... http://suniltanna.com/random/2007/11/27/bad-copy-and-paste-good-copy-and-paste/ There’s an interesting thread on JoelOnSoftware.com about the kind of knots that computers allow newbies to get themselves into. Of course, as in the thread, an obvious response is RTFM, but is that fair? I know how to use a PC, but in other aspects of my life, I increasingly ... http://suniltanna.com/random/2007/04/13/computers-we-aint-quite-there-yet/ Paul Graham writes in two recent articles, Microsoft is Dead, and the Cliff Notes explanation of why he thinks Microsoft is Dead. Of course, the articles have attracted a lot of attention - it’s a great headline - but is it true? The first thing to understand is who Paul ... http://suniltanna.com/random/2007/04/10/competing-with-microsoft-is-dead-to-paul-graham/ There are many compelling animations on the web, and some have entered the realm of popular culture like Bush/Kerry singing movie from 2004. Anyway, here are a few of my other favorites, which for want of a better way of doing it, I’ve posted as a top 5 countdown. 5. ... http://suniltanna.com/random/2007/03/07/internets-most-compelling-animations/ A few days ago, I wrote an article about the contaminated fuel problem in the UK, speculating that the cause might be silicon. Well, it was silicon and the story has faded from the TV news… but there’s still plenty to say about it: What happens to motorists whose ... http://suniltanna.com/random/2007/03/06/contaminated-fuel-again/ One of the great mysteries of the modern world is the Fermi paradox (Well, "great" might be a slight exaggeration, I personally don’t stay up nights worrying about it - and I doubt too many people do). The short version of the Fermi paradox is basically "Where are they?", ... http://suniltanna.com/random/2007/03/04/fermi-paradox-an-interesting-solution/ I’ve posted links to unusual videos before, but this is definitely one of the strangest. It’s been around for a while, and I suppose it’s off-topic for a blog that’s mostly about technology, but I’m posting it anyway since I’m in a funny mood (this is what staying up ... http://suniltanna.com/random/2007/03/03/something-strange-in-the-woods/ The tech press (example) is reporting that Adobe is developing some kind of cut-down version of Adobe Photoshop that will be delivered as a browser instead of desktop application. As you might expect, since these articles are generally aimed at people who are technically-aware but not necessarily programmers, most ... http://suniltanna.com/random/2007/03/02/photoshop-online-the-questions-that-only-programmers-would-ask/ The UK is being over-run by reports of cars being stopped by contaminated fuel. However the causes appear to be a bit of mystery. Here’s the information that I have gathered from my research (principally by sitting in front of the TV!): According to most reports, the fuel affected appears ... http://suniltanna.com/random/2007/03/01/contaminated-fuel-in-the-uk-is-it-silicon-contamination/