Author: Chris Barrus

Random word generator

By analyising the frequency of pairs of letters in 45,402 different words it is possible to generate new words which, although, don’t have any meaning are reasonably syntatically correct.

Instant Star Trek gadget names if you ask me. (“But captain, the Omnizer has only been used in simulations!”). I quite like the results from running “crypto-” through it.

And another ‘way cool’ headline: “Giant squid are taking over the world!”

Will Mr. Lovecraft please pick up the white courtesy phone…

Giant squid are taking over the world, well at least the oceans, and they are getting bigger. According to scientists, squid have overtaken humans in terms of total bio-mass.

[via MetaFilter]

Compendium of tech-interview riddles

I’ve never had the misfortune of getting these types of questions in a job interview. Resorting to riddles always struck me as a sign of an unprepared interviewer that wants to make the geek squirm and take them down a notch. Crikey, they’re nervous anyway so what’s the point them feel worse if the only thing standing between them and making the month’s rent is the “manhole problem.”

Anyway, there were some great links buried in the Slashdot comments. TechInterview.org also compiles tech interview questions, and the Sells Brothers compiles stories just about Microsoft interviews.

[via Slashdot]

Defeating the Computer Assisted Passenger Screening system (CAPS)

Interesting paper on the weaknesses of the airport screening system and how the dependence on passenger profiles is the system’s biggest flaw. An algorithm called “Carnival Booth” demonstrates how a terrorist cell can defeat the CAPS system.

[via Boing Boing]

God reboots in single-user mode and types “fsck -y ^M reboot”

Everyone is mentioning this story, so I’m obliged to join in. Asteroid 2002 NT7 is on a “collision course” with Earth with the closest approach on February 1, 2019. NT7’s orbit is still not refined enough to judge whether or not an impact is certain, but it’s a close one. If anything, since 1 Feb 2002 is a Friday we’ll have the whole weekend to recover from our hangovers.

Today’s Astronomy Picture Of The Day is worth checking out too. Sure, space is empty, but that plot of the inner solar system would give even the sharpest air traffic controller the Mother Of All Anxiety Attacks.

[via everyone]