I've had similar experiences replacing Java with perl. Heck I've had similar experiences replacing compiled C code with perl. Perl has it's limitations, but it's often about picking knowing how to pick the right tool and how to use it.

Verizon's network has been live for quite a while now and there's a decent number of customers actively using it. I would wager there wasn't many other AT&T customers sharing resources when these tests were conducted, but on Verizon's there was.

I'll be curious to see these tests repeated in six months, a year, etc.

(NOTE: not a Verizon fan... I'm with Sprint... just pointing out the obvious).

APUE is awesome. I actually learned a lot of perl by reading APUE. Which might not make sense on the surface, but perl support so much of the standard system calls and APUE is so well written that you can understand the concepts without having to depend on the exact examples.

I argued with all of my friends about it and they all thought I was an idiot. :) Since then we've had a major change to when DST (at least in the US) takes affect which makes the problem just worse.

That said, I doubt we could convince the world to change, but for those of us that routinely communicate with friends/colleagues around the world... timezones only complicate the matter.

Speaking as someone with a pretty low ID number....

I stumbled across your home page in the summer of '97 and was looking at your rendered animations and chips 'n dips. Been following pretty much ever since. Sad to see you go, but I wish you all the luck.

I guess it's about time I circled you on Google+.

To be technically correct, engineer licensing is handled at the state level and each state does it differently. In Texas, the title "Software Engineer" does mean something and if you are not a licensed "Professional Engineer (PE)" and attempt to claim to be a Software Engineer you can get into a mess of trouble.

I have an ABET accredited Masters of Engineering degree in Computer Science (from a state school no less) but I never sat for the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam nor completed the required apprenticeship period (or sit for the PE Exam) so I cannot claim to be a Software Engineer. (However, I've got nearly 12 years of industry experience as a software developer).

Me too. :)

Since it's Creative Commons, Derivative works should be allowed. I took a stab at pulling down all the files with wget and then generating an EPUB using Calibre. Don't claim the format is perfect, this is the first time I've ever tried anything like this. However, it should be readable. If you interested, I've put it up on Google Docs.

Now spammers are indirectly using their massive botnets for the cause of OCR conversion of books. :)

Best...Pointing...Device....Ever!

In all seriousness, I remember seeing a "preview" in a computing magazine when Logitech first announced them and I thought it was the most bizarre device I ever saw... I initially didn't want anything to do with it.

Then one day I was I office depot and they had one you could "try out"... and I really liked the feel. The large finger operated ball, the "window" that allows you to use your thumb to fine tune it, 3 buttons (well 4, but you know what I mean). When I bought mine "laser" mice where really uncommon and the trackball didn't "slow down" or "rumble" like a tranditionly ball-based mouse would. It was great, accurate, ergonomic.

I still have one at home, but I mostly use a laptop these days.. and it's getting harder and harder to find PS2 connectors on computers. I've replaced mine at work with the newer "cordless" model, but frankly it's just not as good... the USB connection is nice and all, but I have <b>NEVER</b> understood why someone would need a "wireless" trackball.. it's not like it goes anywhere... and you have the added cost of feeding the thing batteries...

I really REALLY wish logitech would bring back the FX... update it with a scroll wheel and USB support... I would buy 10.