n/t

My taxes are very simple, so simple in fact, I was able to use TELEFILE (enter your taxes via telephone, it was amazing). For some unknown and probably stupid reason, the Canadian Revenue Agency decided to cancel this method, so I had to scramble to find a free alternative. Since I work on Linux, none of the software out there could help me out. Then I saw on the CRA website a list of certified NETFILE providers (enter your taxes online), and that's where I found simpletax.ca. A few questions, a few clicks, and done! Free to use regardless of income. They ask for donation at the end of the filing only if you have a return, so I ended up giving them $10 or so, since I really liked the simplicity. This year, they sent me ONE email, reminding me to do my taxes, with most of the relevant information pre-filled. Amazing!

Twice a year, we keep switching by one whole hour...
Why not change once and for all by 30 minutes to average the daylight gain/loss and call it a day?

This story made me think of the game "Plague Inc." by Ndemic Creations. I currently play it on my phone while in transit.
The idea is to mutate and spread a pathogen (bacteria, virus, fungus, parasite, prion, nano-virus, bio-weapon, neurax worm, and the zombie-making necroa virus) until the whole world is dead, mind-controlled (neurax worm), or zombified (necroa virus).

One of the ways to infect everyone is to acquire the ability to spread through birds, just like this article is about.

The game aims to be close to reality in the way things could happen. It's cheap too: In game, I spend US$0.99 to get the full version and then played the game through until all the bonuses were unlocked without spending another dime.

did you see that the XKCD referred in the summary is 1337? Elite in leetspeak. My bet is it's not coincidence at all.

I wonder if such a meagre impact has an measurable effect on the moon distance from the earth in the long run. I tend to recall that due to various forces, the moon is slowly escaping Earth's gravity, but maybe by happenstance, events like this just give this tiny nudge that puts it back in track.

it's about 1/2 mile, although at this point, does it make a difference to you if you're covered with half a mile of molten lava vs a full mile? ;-)

Hello George,

I love game soundtracks so much, that I have a folder dedicated to it on my drive, and it's one of my go-to when I do my work. I have played a number of games for which you composed the music, including Loom, Wing Commander II, Might & Magic III: Isles of Terra, Ultima Underworld, etc. and I love them all.

Which one of your work do you look back on with the most feelings? Which is your favourite piece?

Before I start, please understand I enjoyed Manna and that's why I talked about it and linked to the essay.

The story is two-fold, one is the gradual shift into robotic "overlordship" (if you allow the term) in one part of the world, and the other is the gradual revealing of the panacean robotic semi-utopia in another part of the world.

While the first was rather convincing and for all intend and purposes I believe it could happen (has even already started in some ways), the second felt a bit naïve, as if the rest of the world would let such an "easy" solution elude their grip and control.

* spoiler alert *
"Easy" in quotation marks as gathering that amount of money, convincing country officials to sell a large portion of their land, setting up a new society based on a new set of values, etc, all this thanks to the benevolent dictatorship of what the others would label a radical, while at the same letting him run with it until the point were he successfully sets up a rival establishment, is refreshingly trustful in human nature (read childish). Note that I'm not addressing the technological prouesse of 100% recycling, neural implants for communication with all things electronic or full VR with brain disconnection, as those are for the realm of Sci-Fi and gave entertainment value to the story. But the socio-political solution was more hand-waving magic than workable solution for today's misery.

I applaud the author for giving some thoughts to it, however I would have preferred a deeper analysis of the obstacles and the way they were overcome for setting up Project Australia, as I think that's were the real meat of the material is found, but it was barely grazed at.

interesting read, even though I'm past the age where I think it's possible: Manna, by Marshall Brain.

Actually, Olignoicella isn't too far from it, since one of the main item in 1984 is the redefinition of words to subvert the languages, and by extension the masses. This here pretty much is exactly what it's all about.

time to implement the Mic Check! method as introduced by Cory Doctorow (owner of Craphound.com so that you don't freak out from the link)...