Computational processes are abstract beings that inhabit computers. As they evolve, processes manipulate other abstract things called data. The evolution of a process is directed by a pattern of rules called a program. People create programs to direct processes. In effect, we conjure the spirits of the computer with our spells.

A computational process is indeed much like a sorcerer's idea of a spirit. It cannot be seen or touched. It is not composed of matter at all. However, it is very real. It can perform intellectual work. It can answer questions. It can affect the world by disbursing money at a bank or by controlling a robot arm in a factory. The programs we use to conjure processes are like a sorcerer's spells. They are carefully composed from symbolic expressions in arcane and esoteric programming languages that prescribe the tasks we want our processes to perform.

A computational process, in a correctly working computer, executes programs precisely and accurately. Thus, like the sorcerer's apprentice, novice programmers must learn to understand and to anticipate the consequences of their conjuring. Even small errors (usually called bugs or glitches) in programs can have complex and unanticipated consequences.

Fortunately, learning to program is considerably less dangerous than learning sorcery, because the spirits we deal with are conveniently contained in a secure way. Real-world programming, however, requires care, expertise, and wisdom. A small bug in a computer-aided design program, for example, can lead to the catastrophic collapse of an airplane or a dam or the self-destruction of an industrial robot.

Master software engineers have the ability to organize programs so that they can be reasonably sure that the resulting processes will perform the tasks intended. They can visualize the behavior of their systems in advance. They know how to structure programs so that unanticipated problems do not lead to catastrophic consequences, and when problems do arise, they can debug their programs. Well-designed computational systems, like well-designed automobiles or nuclear reactors, are designed in a modular manner, so that the parts can be constructed, replaced, and debugged separately. -- Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs, Abelson and Sussman 

I hate putting my iPhone in my pocket so I use a lanyard made by Collins America called a Danglet. I bought mine in February and it broke in April. Naturally I wrote asking for a replacement. They agreed to send the part, and attached a document explaining proper care of the Danglet. The Danglet is designed to withstand the maximum amount of pressure possible without damaging the iPhone's connector. I knew this from the videos I had seen on their website. What I didn't realize is that it is designed to break regardless of which angle the force is applied, not just directly down as you might expect. Talk about some excellent engineering. I wrote back and told them the Danglet worked as designed and that according to the instructions I had not used the device properly. Guess what? They are going to send the replacement anyway because the first Danglets apparently didn't ship with a copy of the "care and feeding" document. It's great when you find company that aims at excellence and exceeds your expectations.

Am I missing something here, or is this company asking you to let them keep your money even if they don't deliver content? Afterall the price is only $2.95? I'm assuming the three bucks is credited to your Logos account.

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This season's BBQ starting with my birthday...

I just heard a psychologist on NPR say that treating pedophilia is like treating having blue eyes...you have to explain how painful it can be to others etc. in order to talk them out of pursuing who they really are.

The weather is finally getting warmer, and this means more time outside the house on the swing with a cigar or cooking up some BBQ (with charcoal of course...I can cook with gas in the house) or working in the yard etc.

All of this also means stepping outside the range of my super fast Wi- Fi and into AT&T's useless Edge network. Sure Edge isn't as nice as a solid 3G connection, but that's not what I'm talking about. In my back yard connecting to the Edge network means dial-up speed data, or more often than not, no data at all.

Fortunately, I can use AT&T's Mark the Spot iPhone app to inform them about my problematic data connection. Of course I generally have to wait until I go back inside for the message to get sent once I'm back inside the range of my home network, and I have to report a bad connection every single day, but I'm sure AT&T will get to working on improving my Edge network as soon as they get my enough of my daily reports. Either that, or they will ignore me because I'm just one guy in a little town complaining about my terrible service. Let's face it, I'm going to be marking the spot until it's time to buy my iPhone 7G.

I thought our equipment was getting old until I saw the other one.