The Old New Thing

May 23, 2007 - The Old New Thing

Das Leben der Anderen

May 23, 2007 May 23, 2007 05/23/07
Raymond Chen
A few weekends ago I finally got around to watching the movie Das Leben der Anderen. (English: The Lives of Others.) Apparently movies about the former East Germany get screen time in the States. Go figure. I'd been away from conversational German for a long time, but I was rather pleased that I was able to follow some parts without having...

Microspeak: The forcing function

May 23, 2007 May 23, 2007 05/23/07
Raymond Chen
At Microsoft, you'll hear the phrase "forcing function" and it won't be in reference to differential equations or to user interface design. Rather, it means a set of circumstances that forces a decision to be made or which forces an action to be taken that previously had no hard deadline. Example: "The impending Y2K threat served as a ...

Suggestion Box 3

May 23, 2007 May 23, 2007 05/23/07
Raymond Chen
Post suggestions for future topics here instead of posting off-topic comments. Note that the suggestion box is emptied and read periodically so don't be surprised if your suggestion vanishes. (Note also that I am under no obligation to accept any suggestion.) Topics I are more inclined to cover: Topics I am not inclined to cover...