TTN

A new TLA especially suited to computer architecture at the large microprocessor companuies that I have worked at:

TTN. Time To Numbers. Specifically performance numbers.

Formex

I have a confession: I told a manager type guy at work that I needed to write a spreadsheet to prepare some hardware estimates. So, I wrote a spreadsheet programming it in Perl.

Actually, I am reviving a tool That I first wrote in undergrad circa 1984- a sort of free form spreadsheet. Not WYSIWYG in this incarnation, but could/should be. Actually started (re)writing it this summer. Formex = Formula Expander. I am quite happy.

Thunderbird (map Interface to Gmail.

I got sick and tired of Gmail's web interface, but I want to use it as my mail store-since amain has already outlasted of my PCs.So I installed Thunderbird. Imap to browse on the Gmail server; it appears that can use POP to back up the email, albeit without tags/ labels.

The mapping of Gmail tags/ labels to Imap folders sucks. Gmail needs some sort of structure for its tags.

TabletPC pen enables Gmail.

I have finally started using my new Tablet PC, and I am happy!!

I have used Gmail for my personal, non work stuff, for Years I but have always hated its interface: too much mouse clicking.

With the pen, fiddly I can use it.

Ironic that I just installed the Thunderbird Imap interface to G mail.

Heck, the TabletPC may help me write more on this blog. If only I could carry this Tablet every where - but since I also have a work laptop, that's a bit too much. OQO?

Google Personal Accounting

I used to be an assiduous user of Quicken for my personal accounts. I found that I could easily enter my receipts on my pen computer (originally a Compaq Concerto, later a Toshiba Tablet), and on myKyocera SmartPhone.

But then a series of unfortunate events caused me to fall off the diligent accounting wagon:



a) my employer, stopped allowing us to use our personal computers at work - so I could not do my accounts, e.g., at lunch. (Well, actually, I could, but who wants to carry two laptops/tablets around).



b) my Kyocera SmartPhone\ did not die, but it refused to work at my desk at work in Oregon. Only AT&T/Cingular phones work most places at my work campus. So I switched phone companies and, in the US, this meant that I switched phones. My wife and I still miss our Kyocera.



We have not found another software package that allows receipts to be entered on our phones. Actually, even if we had, we have not found a phone that we like using as a smartphone- mainly because we have not found another stylus based phone, and we hate teensy weensy keyboards.



c) the last straw was when my desktop died a few years ago. It had not be been backed up for quite a while. Although I talked about disk recovery, I basically just gave up on accounting.







Now I want to get back on the wagon. So this morning before work I googled far accounting software. Quicken of course - in both Quicken Online, and offline versions, the latter with a web entry option.

Now, I want to be able to enter accounts offline, when not connected to the net. E.g.. in an airplane. But I also want to be able to enter from other then my main PC, e.g. from my phone the way I used to. And I also want both any wife and I to be able to use it. fleck, I want us both to be able to USE it-not just enter transactions, but browse accounts, etc.

So, Quicken Online works, except for the offline requirement; whereas Quicken Web Entry works, but doesn't give 2 users full access.

While searching, I byes wading: does Google have an online accounts program? I came across the following conversation:



http://www.readwriteweb.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-tb.cgi/1880

I guess I am already an example: I am actively sanely for a web, plus offline, accounting system. And already use Google. I an wrestling with the security implication of online proud finance information - but heck, my bank and retirement and everyone else is all online. What would feet another do except provide one stop shopping for fraudsters?

Google has never done a good job at solving the "offline problem" - aka the "airplane problem". But apart from that, they rock.

I wonder which will care first: offline Google docs + spreadsheets 2 Calendar, on Google personal accounting?

eBeam

Yet another vain attempt to use Dave Sager's eBeam device to record my whiteboard scribblings.

By now, this device is so old that it would probably be best to buy a new one. Yet I cannot get buying a newone approved, because nobody ever really used the old one. Sager got it working, but its usage peetered out. I have never been able to get it working at all on my laptops.

It's a pity. I would love to have a way of recording what is written on a physical whiteboard. At the moment, it looks like a photograph is the best way... although I would love to record the time series.

Campaign Finance Reform - Not Limit - Matching Funds for "Equal Time"

Topher:

As I listened to yet another of the perpetual discussions about Campaign Finance Reform - what is it, Oregon Measure 47? - I came up with the following idea. It's new to me.

Instead of trying to limit campaign contributions, which has all sorts of free speech implications, how about encouraging them?

But, tax them in the following way:

If somebody contributes N dollars to a political purpose, require that a matching amount f*N dollars be placed in a fund for "equal time".

The "equal time" funds would be distributed as follows: everyone - any citizen, any voter, whatever - gets an equal share of the "equal time" fund. He or she can assign his or her share of the funds to whatever cause or organization he or she wishes.

E.g.

* some might assign all of their funds to their party, Democratic or Republican or ...

* some might assign their funds to their church

* I would probably assign my share to a "Contrarian" organization, dedicated to debunking the top 10 mistruths publicized by the original donation. E.g. I would fund counter attacks against the Small Boat Veterans for Truth in the Kerry campaign, but equally fund counter attacks against Democrat mistruths.

Bottom Line: the "equal time" funds would be distributed democratically. Each person would control his share of the money.

The ratio f might be set equal to 1; it might even be larger than one. Without loss of generality, let us talk as if f=1.

In such a situation, half of the money in politics would be distributed as it is now, according to the incliniations of the wealthy; but half would be distributed on a per capita basis. A plutocrat seeking to advance his cause would have to balance his expenditure against the consideration that he is also financing his opponents.

The downside, of course, is that the "equal time" funds are distributed proportionately. But it's like Churchill said: "Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others."

One might even be able to have a graduated scale for the "equal time" funds: the poor might not have to match such funding, but the rich might. If you are a progressive, though, beware of what you ask for: the Republican party has many more small contributirs than does the Democratic party, which is funded mainly by a small number of wealthy individuals (and then unions).

I think this scheme might be able to meet US Supreme Court standards: it is not restricting free speech. It is just taxing it; and taxing it in a way that is eminently neutral. All speech gets taxed; and the taxes on free speech encourage still more free speech. By the way, that is not "free as in beer" free speech, eh?

Lest it become too dificult to tell what is a political contribution ad what is not, how about making this just be a tax on ALL advertizing, commercial, politucal, or otherwise?