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I wrote a simple little search-and-replace proxy that I call typoxy. Browse many forums through this, and about 1000 common typos and grammatical errors are fixed invisibly. It can't try to figure out complicated grammar errors, but it does find fragments including "would of" or "your the" and replaces suitable English. The HTML highlighting of errors is configurable.

screenshot: http://halley.cc/typoxy.png - code: http://halley.cc/typoxy.txt - typo file (save as ~/.typo): http://halley.cc/dot-typo

Implementing something like this might be useful to extend the "wavy underscore" corrections in Firefox/Chrome, which a lot of people depend on for their corrections. MS Word uses a wavy green for grammar, and wavy red for spelling, but I don't think that the two must be distinguished for most users.

I wrote a simple little search-and-replace proxy that I call typoxy. Browse many forums through this, and about 1000 common typos and grammatical errors are fixed invisibly. It can't try to figure out complicated grammar errors, but it does find fragments including "would of" or "your the" and replaces suitable English. The HTML highlighting of errors is configurable.

screenshot: http://halley.cc/typoxy.png - code: http://halley.cc/typoxy.txt - typo file (save as ~/.typo): http://halley.cc/dot-typo

Implementing something like this might be useful to extend the "wavy underscore" corrections in Firefox/Chrome, which a lot of people depend on for their corrections. MS Word uses a wavy green for grammar, and wavy red for spelling, but I don't think that the two must be distinguished for most users.

I wrote a simple little search-and-replace proxy that I call typoxy. Browse many forums through this, and about 1000 common typos and grammatical errors are fixed invisibly. It can't try to figure out complicated grammar errors, but it does find fragments including "would of" or "your the" and replaces suitable English. The HTML highlighting of errors is configurable.

screenshot: http://halley.cc/typoxy.png - code: http://halley.cc/typoxy.txt - typo file (save as ~/.typo): http://halley.cc/dot-typo

Implementing something like this might be useful to extend the "wavy underscore" corrections in Firefox/Chrome, which a lot of people depend on for their corrections. MS Word uses a wavy green for grammar, and wavy red for spelling, but I don't think that the two must be distinguished for most users.

I've also resorted to Bob the Angry Flower, and even wrote a perl script that will silently fix many things I read on IRC and HTTP, so that I don't go insane.

Typoxy: typo correction by proxy (sample image)
Typoxy: typo correction by proxy (perl script) Typoxy: typo correction by proxy (starter ~/.typo file)

I've also resorted to Bob the Angry Flower, and even wrote a perl script that will silently fix many things I read on IRC and HTTP, so that I don't go insane.

Typoxy: typo correction by proxy (sample image)
Typoxy: typo correction by proxy (perl script) Typoxy: typo correction by proxy (starter ~/.typo file)

I've also resorted to Bob the Angry Flower, and even wrote a perl script that will silently fix many things I read on IRC and HTTP, so that I don't go insane.

Typoxy: typo correction by proxy (sample image)
Typoxy: typo correction by proxy (perl script) Typoxy: typo correction by proxy (starter ~/.typo file)

• It finds solutions to the 6x10 pentominoes board (exhaustively)
• To find places that pieces will fit, it employs regular expressions
• To draw pieces into the board, it employs an embedded tape-driven LOGO-like turtle language
• It prints solutions as a specially formatted quine of its own source code
• Any printed solution can be run separately
• It takes hours and hours to find solutions

I agree with the basic premise that a high-level scripting language is a great first tool. No explicit compiler required, and you can accomplish things in a pretty straightforward way.

Just after learning the basics of imperative programming, though, I would recommend a short primer in how microprocessors or microcontrollers work. Registers, limited storage, direct access to hardware, opcodes, and so on.

As it happens, a little while ago I decided I wanted to write a cheesy simulator for a six-bit microcontroller in python. The bytes are six bits, the address space is six bits wide. It all fits on a chess board. http://halley.cc/code?python/octalplus.py

Thanks for that. My usual 'microrant' on this topic: http://www.halley.cc/ed/microrants/#piracy - it looks like your Thomas Dekker reference predates my reference.

Here's a little "political-cartoon-style" diagram I put together a week ago on this topic: http://halley.cc/2006-05-16.hidden.agenda.jpg

http://halley.cc/ed/linux/newcomer/filename.html includes a simple graphic to accompany the text.

You sure this isn't quake3?

It's a fascinating structure, with excellent pieces for close inspection. I encourage anyone within a couple hours drive of Manhattan to take the trip to see these in person. It's at the north end of Manhattan at Fort Tryon Park (there's also one high-resolution picture in my gallery from the park).

Fine by me, just as long as THEY look like THIS.

Heh, the closeup of the scoreboard shows MSU 3, PSU 0, first quarter. ;) I'm sure I could fudge that to the final score if I wanted to sell to Penn State fans. The detail in the original is high enough you can find Sparty and the Lion mascots on the sidelines, read most of the jersey numbers, and count the cheerleaders too.

If anyone's interested in a print of any of my gallery, even those not already in the "storefront" page, I could arrange a PayPal for it. Give me an idea of the size you'd like and we'll negotiate a price.

That's not very hard to do at all. And it's nothing like what this camera is doing.

Hidden extensions are bad news.

Hidden extensions are bad news.

I'd like to see a post on /. where it didn't degenerate into the "this or that is better" arguements but where Gimp users shared their tips and tricks more.

Here's a tutorial I wrote a couple years ago. http://www.halley.cc/ed/linux/multexp/

My one and only attempt at writing obfuscated Perl: The Pentominos-Solving Quine.

I throw out all the packing materials, but keep all the extra cables, driver disks, replacement rubber feet, instruction manuals, disposable headphones, and other cruft in separate ziplock baggies. All sizes; the 1 Gallon freezer bags can contain a spare five-port ether hub, a DC brick, and two short cat-5s. Then I can toss the baggies into a crate without worrying about them getting too intermingled. I have dozens of clear stackable containers I use for everything, including such electronics junk. And I mean, everything. http://www.halley.cc/pix/?f=portraits/naptime

More screenshots from my desk:

• http://www.halley.cc/ed/linux/shots/

I've done customization of terminal window settings and wallpapers, but the rest of the stuff you see is all Red Hat Linux (null) Bluecurve on GNOME2.

(or he surfs a lot sites he'd rather keep secret)

Ali

I put together some bumper stickers for a friend who will be there. He printed a bunch and will be giving them away (perhaps accepting donations to defray printing costs).

The stickers he's offering are the top two from this site: http://www.halley.cc/ed/linux/slogans.html

I wonder how the "convicts" sticker will go over with the Microsoft crowd. ;)

I went MicroPro.com earlier this year because they had low prices and most of the parts I wanted.

This is how they treated my order. Two computers, pretty much ripped apart into pieces because they didn't even bother TRYING to pack the parts properly. The photos show how laughable their efforts were. Laughable if it's not your order, that is.

While they did eventually replace all the parts, they (1) were hoping to get away with calling it UPS's fault, and (2) took a month to "find" the RMA parts so they could replace it.

It was only the day I threatened a BBB letter that the final RMA'd units were mysteriously "found" and replaced promptly.

My open letter to my representatives goes into quite a few separate objections to the SSSCA (and why the DMCA was broken). It's eight paper pages long, going into extra details and speaking plainly since it's also intended for a wider audience. It covers scope, civil, business, technical and motive objections to such legislation.

If you're writing to your representatives, you may want to read my letter for additional arguments on the topic. A couple of the court case mentions are slightly out of date now, as it was originally written last October.

It is posted online at http://www.halley.cc/ed/politics/2001-10-22.conten t.control.html. Comments always appreciated.

[stock rant on the subject]

Patents are not about who is right, or who is first; patents are about who will sue.

The US PTO is a money-making service for the government, and this fact is why it operates as it does.

There is a misconception that it is the central duty of the PTO to form a blockade against granting patents. The PTO can and will block applications where there's heavy similarity with prior art or existing patents, but that's really just a guideline to using the service, not the core function.

The PTO's purpose is to grant patents for a fee, and it's wholly suited to do so.

The application vetting process of the PTO is a cost center for the operation of the PTO. This is akin to saying that customer service is a cost center for the operation of AT&T. It is required, but they'll cut costs as much as they can get away with.

To fix the patent application vetting process, two things must happen:

• Congress must stop using the PTO's filing fees as a revenue source for other pet interests instead of the PTO's own budget, and
  
• The PTO needs to allow third parties to aid the vetting process by challenging potential patents before they're granted.

As of 15 March 2001, the USPTO has changed their policies to partially solve that second problem. They can now publish patent applications before the patent itself is awarded to the applicant. Third parties may now submit "helpful" arguments against controversial applications. The USPTO can then weigh obviousness against challenges without incurring the costs of doing all the searching themselves.

Breaking patents by finding simple prior art is not enough for most cases. Patents already granted are almost never cracked, certainly not by someone using an independent third party's prior art. In the famous Heinlein/Waterbed case, the patent was denied before it was ever granted by the Patent Office. Once a patent has been granted, the Patent Office rarely will get involved in disputes; that is a matter for the courts.

[end of stock rant on the subject]

Those who invade copyright are regarded as knaves who take the bread out of the mouths of deserving men. [...] Men very different from the present race of piratical booksellers will soon infringe this intolerable monopoly. --Thomas Macaulay, 1841

What strikes me here is the use of the word piratical. It is no new thing to consider the wholesale disregard for copyright as "piracy," a theft that has very real connotations on the wages of the copyright holder.

I am no fan of DMCA or SSSCA, but I am also no fan of disregard for copyright. It has its place, and as Thomas Macaulay was saying, if treated properly, ensures income for the popular working artist. The key here is to respect the creator's intent. If you want Metallica songs, pay for the CDs. If you want Stephen King novels, pay for the pages. If you don't like it, don't buy it. Vote with your dollars.

I posted this open letter to my representatives on the topic of SSSCA, and included anecdotal review of why DMCA shouldn't have been passed.

It includes Scope, Civil, Business, Technical, and Motivational issues against anything that even smells like SSSCA.

The SSSCA, which could become DMCA's darker sibling, has even more for Alan Cox to ponder. In fact, I just finished a weekend writing a fairly long letter to my representatives, and sent it only a few moments ago, so that it may get there in time for a Senate Commerce Committee hearing on the 25th.

The full letter is at http://www.halley.cc/ed/politics/2001-10-22.conten t.control.html. I welcome comments, and the letter may be reprinted with attribution.

Hope and pray the teacher isnt using multiple exams, and that the guy behind you knows what he's doing.

Hm, with 174x144 grayscale display, you better pray that the guy behind you writes really big. 174x144.cheating.gif Can you read it? Even if it was 2048x1024 full color display, it's a screen that you're wearing on your wrist. Gonna scroll around on a zoom-in function while the teacher's not looking?

I wrote my first political opinion paper recently.

I found my specific three representatives' names, email addresses, and postal addresses. In case you were asleep in Civics classes, that's one Congressperson in the House of Representatives that hails from your district (area) of your home state, and two Senators who hail from your home state. I also found the same information for George Bush, the President.

I wrote my letter, which you can read at http://www.halley.cc/ed/politics/. A fair first letter; the only thing I would have changed would be to specifically reference the bill number . The features of the letter:

• A cover page with all addresses sent.
• An executive summary of my thoughts in two lines, boldface.
• A one page opinion that states my thoughts in more detail.
• Specifically closing with the fact that I am one of their constitutents, and more importantly, opening with the notice that they are my representatives.
• As I form my opinions of our government based on their attention to the words of the Constitution and intent of the First Congress, I give a quote; one of the Founding Father's wisdom on the current topic.

I got printed letters back which stated each representative's viewpoints on the exact matter (and that the issue had not yet been sent from the Congress to the Senate). The Congressperson stated how they voted and why. The Senators described their current rationale on the issue.

While the letters did not contain any quotes or specific references to my own letter, they were appropos to my opinions, very articulate, very on-point and organized. I imagine that these were cranked out form letters, but in that case, they must have a very well-tuned library of form letters on each subject that they were addressing in their representative works.

I have not heard from GWB's office on this matter.