Unquiet Desperation » Misc.

Infinite Improbability

Chris Miller — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 13:33:50 +0000

Is it wrong that I read the following from this article and thought about giving the processor a really hot cup of tea?

As a research tool, Goodman has developed a computer programming language called Church — after the great American logician Alonzo Church — that, like the early AI languages, includes rules of inference. But those rules are probabilistic. Told that the cassowary is a bird, a program written in Church might conclude that cassowaries can probably fly. But if the program was then told that cassowaries can weigh almost 200 pounds, it might revise its initial probability estimate, concluding that, actually, cassowaries probably can’t fly.

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Tricksters, Operations, Birthdays, Interviews, Reviews, Winners, and Where to Lay the Blame

Chris Miller — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 12:44:45 +0000

Good morning, my people…

My apologies for missing my TRICKSTERS update for the last two weeks. Between a big event last Thursday and my wife’s operation this week, I’ve just not had the energy to put out a good episode. I’ve written three lousy episodes, but as they are sub-par, I’m going to hold on to them and try to magically turn them into something decent for next week.
My wife (Cathy) is recovering from he gall bladder surgery nicely…each day is a little better than the last. Thanks to everyone who has sent prayers, luck, and good wishes. She really does appreciate it, as do I.
Thanks to everyone who is wishing me a happy birthday today. In case I do not get to thank you personally, know that it is greatly appreciated.
Want to know what I was up to in Atlanta? My interview about PyCon is now available at The Command Line podcast.
My review of Charles Stross’s Halting State is up on The Secret Lair.
We’ve announced the winner of the Name Overlord Johnson’s Laptop contest.
I am once again dabbling in Second Life. You can blame Sam Chupp for this. I am known there as Brand MacIntyre…feel look me up. I am a lonely soul there, knowing no one.

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Winter in Ohio

Chris Miller — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 17:07:51 +0000

WInter in Ohio, 2009 Originally uploaded by Codeshaman

A little something that reminds me of how beautiful winter can be in Ohio. Taken at Chagrin Falls after the first real snow of 2009.

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Thursday Needs More Cowbell

Chris Miller — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 14:45:49 +0000

(Via my lovely wife. Thanks, hon. I needed that.)

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Essay Delayed

Chris Miller — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 03:08:58 +0000

My apologies, folks. This week’s essay will be delayed. Mick Bradley was in town today, and this was the first time I’ve seen him in three years. Kris and I got together with him. Dinner turned to drinks turned to me missing my own deadline.

I’ll get it posted by Tuesday morning. Thanks for your patience.

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No. I said there was a STORM.

Chris Miller — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 20:37:23 +0000

Yesterday, I tweeted:

I was not kidding. We still have no power. This is one of the fifteen trees down in my neighborhood. It’s six houses down the street from us. It missed the house behind it by three inches.

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Working. No, really. Working.

Chris Miller — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 02:00:21 +0000

Yes, yes. I’ve been quiet for a while, mostly because I’ve been trying to refocus a bit. Took some time away from Twitter and Facebook to ride herd on my various projects:

Working on a screenplay with Earl Newton for Stranger Things. Hovering between getting it just so, and getting it down on paper. In the third revision right now.
Working on a short story for P.G. Holyfield’s new collection, Tales of the Children.
Working on a short story for the small writer’s group that Kris Johnson, his wife Laura, and I seem to be starting. More on that in future posts.
Working my way through The Artist’s Way. Which, incidentally, is helping with some of the blockages I’ve been dealing with.
Working on wireframes for PB2.
Working on notes for a meeting with the guys working on PB2 on Wednesday to get the project moving along a bit more quickly.
Working out.

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Daily Digest for February 23rd

Chris Miller — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 05:00:54 +0000

	12:18am	Back at #scale7x, catching up on email and such before the keynote. Planning my day.
	12:19am	Back at #scale7x, catching up on email and such before the keynote. Planning my day. [#]
	12:26am	Thinking about picking up a copy of How Linux Works from No Starch Press. Anyone read it? What did you think? [#]
	1:04am	Just saw that @emmjane is at #scale7x. Saw her speak at #notacon a couple years back. Excellent speaker, sharp mind.
	1:14am	After attending #scale7x, reconsidering the choice of releasing Podiobooks2 under CC. May change to GPL. Might make more sense.
	1:18am	Gwibber might just be the coolest microblogging client I’ve ever seen.
	1:18am	Gwibber might just be the coolest microblogging client I’ve ever seen. [#]
	1:30am	Evolution vs Thunderbird. Hmmmm.
	1:30am	Evolution vs Thunderbird. Hmmmm. [#]
	1:31am	@dantheman @cmdln recommended you guys to me. Great show. Love the style. Keep up the good work.
	1:50am	Trying to get twitdroid to handle my twitter and identi.ca accounts.
	3:01am	Full of ideas after @jzb‘s FOSS talk. Hard to concentrate on the rest of the schedule, want to get to work on #podiobooks project.
	3:07am	@mightymur: I SO need a copy of that game. [#]
	3:10am	@mightymur: Yes, yes…I’m working on getting to #Origins2009. Believe me. [#]
	3:15am	Tried to start a group for !podiobooks, but one already exists. AWESOME. Joining now.
	3:22am	@Cmaaarrr: Gee…if I only know a doctor who could provide me with that note. Hmmmmm. [#]
	4:13am	New blog post: %clCWUdfepe% http://www.unquietdesperation.com/2009/02/22/clcwudfepe/ [#]
	4:15am	Ha. Note. Turn off Twitter Tools when using ScribeFire’s Live Preview. [#]
	4:45am	Download #flashbake to handle some of my writing projects: http://is.gd/jrlx
	4:45am	Download #flashbake to handle some of my writing projects: http://is.gd/jrlx [#]
	4:46am	Downloading…that is. I tipe guud.
	4:46am	Downloading…that is. I tipe guud. [#]
	4:51am	@AndyDoan: I’ve not used it yet, but I have the utmost confidence in @cmdln. I’ll give it a shot and report to him if I have issues. [#]
	4:52am	@mjjzf: Sweet. I can get you a logo for the !podiobooks group, if you like.
	7:14am	My brain hurts. #scale7x [#]
	7:14am	My brain hurts. #scale7x
	7:53am	@cmdln You just got a mention on TWIT for #flashbake. [#]
	7:53am	@cmdln You just got a mention on TWIT for #flashbake.

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Superbowl Goodness!

Chris Miller — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 15:45:55 +0000

We’re all waiting for it…not the game…the commercials!! Check out this list of what’s coming:

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PSA: MWS Live!

Chris Miller — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 04:17:32 +0000

It’s Matthew Wayne Selznick! In Concert!

On Sunday, January 25 at 3:00 PM Pacific time, I’ll perform in a live virtual house concert (my house) which will stream on video through uStream. Admission is free, but I will have a little tip jar set up. Everyone who donates $20.00 or more the day of the event will get high-quality MP3 versions of every original song I play during the show — at least a dozen live songs!

Interested? Check out his original post for details.

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Goth-in-training

Chris Miller — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 03:53:16 +0000

Younger daughter: “I spy something black.”

Elder daughter: “My life.”

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Flap

Chris Miller — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 08:26:38 +0000

I’ve decided to create a Tumblelog for some of the neat stuff I find that is not necessarily a proper blog post. If you’d like to follow along, head over to http://flap.tumblr.com, or subscribe with this link.

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Test post

Chris Miller — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 17:33:30 +0000

Just a test post to see if I can blog from my G1.

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I can haz sign?

Chris Miller — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 22:16:08 +0000

via flickr from jasoncalacanis

We have a sign above the door at Mahalo. I feel so grown up now.

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Inner Peace

Chris Miller — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 11:56:53 +0000

Me: I’m currently hunting about for inner peace. It’s around here somewhere. I know it is.

Julia: inner peace can be found most anywhere you look… in the moments when you realize you’re packed and ready… on a drive west… setting up a new home without the things you’ve chosen to unclutter… waking up the first morning and knowing you made it there

Me: you’ve never met my kids, have you?

Julia: i didn’t say outer peace… i said inner peace

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Not the droid you’re looking for…

Chris Miller — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:04:51 +0000

Day 47
Originally uploaded by a Dan of action

Very nice! Thanks to Ray Slakinski for sending this my way. It made my morning.

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The United States is a Cancer

Chris Miller — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 03:45:55 +0000

No, really. July 4th falls in the astrological sign of Cancer.

What did you think I meant?

Powered by ScribeFire.

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Audience Participation: Caption This Photo

Chris Miller — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 16:26:12 +0000

Let’s have a little fun. What should the caption of this photo be? Come now, be creative.

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Ask Chris

Chris Miller — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 01:02:48 +0000

photo credit: alicepopkorn

This is an experiment. I’m feeling a bit dry on the creativity side, so I’m turning to you, my readers.

What would you like to hear me talk about? Write about? I’m asking you to ask me questions. Give me topics. I’m dyin’ up here. Post them in the comments, and I promise I will answer all of them that I can in upcoming posts¹.

You know I run a podcast about geek life with Kris Johnson. You know I loved Campbellian Hero Myth from The Round Table. You know I write code for Mahalo and Podiobooks.com, and you know I talk about alternative spirituality with Michelle Belanger on occasion.

I’m hoping you can help me kickstart my muse and get writing again. Help a fellow geek out, wouldja?

So…hit me. What do you want to know?

Update: Great advice from Jared Axelrod on misplacing your muse.

You need to take off those little petticoats you’re wearing right now, strap on your man-pants, and suck it up.

He was kidding, but it’s still exactly the right thing to say. You don’t get creative by waiting around for it.

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Unless they are too silly or offensive. I mean, really.

Things Heard Around the House

Chris Miller — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 01:50:30 +0000

“Stop that! It’s a banana, not a glue stick!”

“Don’t lick the cheese grater!”

“Stop sitting on the cat!”

Ho-hum.

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