Author Archives: Pace Arko

Feynmanesque News

This just in: At Edinburgh, researchers build light triggered molecules that can shuttle comparatively huge objects around on a surface. Harvard scientists have convinced algae to carry microscopic loads over comparatively large distances. In Zurich, still other researchers build a … Continue reading

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Gaming conventions

At the behest and cajolery of various friends, I’ve been attending the Dragonflight gaming convention these last few years and, I plan to go again tomorrow afternoon. I’ve playing RPGs for many years, ever since discovering them back in high … Continue reading

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Problems with print media style

My redesign continues as I merge some of the very detailed usability suggestions given to me by Greg Lowney. In the process of exploring these issues, he discovered some major problems with the way Firefox, Opera and Internet Explorer handle … Continue reading

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Creationism and Artificial Life

I find it ironic that the revival of creationism that I spoke of earlier is taking place during a decade where research into artificial life is making enormous strides. Now I’ve been following developments in artificial life ever since reading … Continue reading

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Taming those pesky SWF files

This one is primarily for my benefit. In my line of work, I spend a lot of time converting proprietary file formats to other, usually open, formats. This I try to do without actually having to buy any software. Why … Continue reading

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How to protect science from the ignorant

I guess I should have said something a few days ago when Mr. Bush made his “alternatives to evolution” pronouncement but a good reply didn’t come to me until today. I have a theory, and perhaps you’ll disagree with it … Continue reading

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Gutless search solutions

So I’ve inserted a site specific Google search form on most of my pages. Since I have a lot of legacy content built with other tools and no easy way yet to incorporate it into my current CMS without breaking … Continue reading

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New layout

So what do you think of this new layout? Yeah, it’s still very simple; I said it would be simple. It should be easier to read and easier on the eyes. The masthead image is something Jean-Charles Marteau generously allowed … Continue reading

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More tricks for the nano bag

Some bright sparks at Northwestern University and Argonne National Laboratory have developed tougher tips for scanning probe microscopes. A past problem with tips in such microscopes has been that they wore down too quickly when scanning surfaces. The old process … Continue reading

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Some hobbies require a lot of work

When I know exactly what to do, I am pretty good at doing something. People have commented on how intense I am when I’m focused on something. This is odd because at the same time, I’m a lazy bastard. What … Continue reading

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