code_Whisperer

Check out Clojure, it is a dialect of Lisp.

What is the best setting for Chocolate Mint Ice Cream?

This arrived at literally the exact moment I was looking for lists/services for profanity/vulgarity (to disallow as game app nicknames). Thanks!

I would heartily recommend "Children of Time" (Children of Time #1) by Adrian Tchaikovsky. Another one that stands out over the last couple of years (for me) is "The Book of Strange New Things" by Michael Faber, which has a mix of hard sci-fi with some very thought provoking philosophy/religion.

A "small Bluetooth radio transmitter" that can be embedded on a website? Somebody's got some 'splaining to do.

Visual Studio Code?

Under pre-what!? OMG I can't think now. (ahem)

Agreed, but caution is warranted here. (IANAL, but...) Ask yourself if you are willing to risk personal liability at that early stage by essentially operating as a 'sole proprietor' instead of taking the steps to create a new entity that is separate from yourself. For some businesses this may be fine, but it's certainly something to evaluate. For example, if you are (e.g.) aggregating information from various places on the web and then simply presenting it to users, that has a much different liability footprint compared to (e.g.) a dog walking business (what happens if a dog you're walking is run over by a bus?) or (e.g.) catering (what happens if your clients get food poisoning?) etc. In short, it would behoove you to ask a business attorney this question so that she can evaluate your business model and give you a recommendation.

It's likely that you won't be able to open a business account UNTIL the company is formed. Most banks will ask for copies of your articles of formation/incorporation, documents showing your right to do business in the state you're in, etc.

Yup, same here.

Thanks, that's a great explanation, and a great way (from the customer's point of view) to charge for the service.

Looks pretty good, congrats on shipping! Not a criticism, but a question: What does "Paid Hourly" mean in the pricing options?

but... whose twitter account is #julianassannge (with two n's)?

"Roadside Picnic" is one of those books that stick in your brain for a very long time, which in turn makes it one of the books I most love. I do not know ANYTHING about the novel (or movie) "Annihilation" but whenever I see the trailer for the movie, it makes me think of "Roadside Picnic". Perhaps there are some similarities there?

I read a ton, and without a doubt, one of the best sci-fi books I've read in the last 10 years is "Children of Time" by Adrian Tchaikovsky. Read it. Seriously. Runner-up might be "Spaceman of Bohemia" by Jaroslav Kalfar.

Have been lucky to stumble on several new ones over the last few months:

Children of Time (wow!)

Spaceman of Bohemia

The Book of Strange New Things

The City and The City

(I'd also recommend the three body trilogy - fantastic)

Some choice fiction:

Daemon, by Daniel Suarez

Snow Crash, by Neal Stephenson

Gold Bug Variations, by Richard Powers

Galatea 2.2, by Richard Powers

Off to Be the Wizard, by Scott Meyer

Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline

Neuromancer, by William Gibson

The Adolescence Of P-1, by Thomas J. Ryan (from when I was just a kid)

Weeks of programming can save you hours of planning.

One of the (many different) pages I received wanted me to call a toll-free number (screenshot in URL, and which looks like a real Facebook page) for help in overcoming my 'facebook compromise'. I feel quite certain that if I had dialed that number they would have tried to get facebook login info, perhaps a credit card to pay for their 'service', etc.

My characterization of it being a 'hole' was more on the order of 'how could a typo-squat on such a valuable domain name be allowed to continue?'

Thanks! I figured it was related to the domain com.com, but still shocked that such a prominent domain name could be running such an obviously damaging ploy.

Yes, on April 14th, 2015.

I've waited to post a response on this because my knee-jerk reaction was "Of course I share your dilemma! I think that a majority of geeky developer-types share this same trait." I figured you'd get a lot of feedback.

But given the paucity of responses, now I am wondering if perhaps you and I are more rare than I thought.

I have ALWAYS felt the way you describe. I also share the same traits... I am reasonably normal/good looking, feel that I can speak somewhat intelligently, am passionate and knowledgeable about my craft. But if you put me in a social setting like a dinner party I am a reclusive wreck. I feel that I am an island in a sea of chatter. Although I find much of the discussion around me banal and pointless, at the same time I covet the ease with which everyone else 'seems' to be able to converse with complete strangers. And if I do try to strike up a conversation, I feel like a fool when I can't seem to keep pointless chatter going (like weather, sports, politics, whatever). However, once I know someone really well I can talk with them all day with relative ease.

Although self-diagnosed, I've always assumed this was what it meant to be an "introvert". Lately I've heard a new term which seems to fit my own personality much better: ambivert.

So here are some suggestions I've found helpful.

- Join a local geeky group that appeals to your interests (e.g. Programming, Astronomy, Brown Coats, Creative Writing, WHATEVER!) If you can't find a geeky group, create one!

- Develop a list of questions (and followups) to ask someone when you first meet them. If you can get someone else talking (and you truly listen to what they're saying) you will find it easier to create that initial conversation. Examples; What do you do in life? How did you get started on that path? How do you know the host? Are you working on on something you're passionate about? Tell me about it! What do you do for fun in [your city]? Read any great books lately that you'd recommend to someone you barely know? What was the worst job you've ever had?

If you create a good list of initial questions (and you LISTEN to what the other person is saying] you will be able to create conversations from thin air. And you'll likely make new friends!

You might also look up "Toastmasters". If there's a Toastmasters club near you that might be a very enlightening experience (www.toastmasters.org)