Articles

This is a collection of random thoughts and articles; some factual and some not.

• Telling Time Deciphering the mystery of analog clocks
• Telling Time - Advanced Topics Some devices make it extra hard to tell the time
• Seminal Ideas in Computer Science Innovations that changed computing
• Big Ideas in the History of Operating Systems A look at the big ideas and landmark innovations that shaped operating systems over the past seven decades.
• The Evolution of File Systems How file systems evolved from tape reels and flat catalogs to today’s cloud-native storage.
• Searching for the Ideal Coin System An exploration of how to choose optimal coin values to minimize the number of coins needed for making change.
• Why Electrical Engineering Seems Backward A reflection on the odd conventions in electrical engineering
• The Great, the Bald, and the Unready Let’s Bring Back Honest Nicknames for Leaders
• My macOS configuration My cheat sheet for setting up new Macs
• A Modest Proposal for the Return of Phrenology A look at the discredited "science" of phrenology, reimagined as a cost-saving, complementary tool for modern medicine
• In Praise of the Imperial System of Measures It really is superior
• Pounds, Shillings, and Pence A case for a return to British coinage
• Passport Artists A look at the forgotten profession of passport artists—artistes passeportiers—who sketched portraits for travel documents before photography was practical.
• The Strange Naval History of the Orange A look at how "naval oranges" became tied to sailors, scurvy, and even the wardrobe of Oompa Loompas.
• Potted Meat Food Products Let's hope we aren't what we eat