The Old New Thing

Non-Computer - The Old New Thing

At least the Danes know how to count

December 30, 2003 Dec 30, 2003 12/30/03
Raymond Chen
Even though Danish is impossible for me to pronounce, I do appreciate their stubborn resistance to decimalization. The number 71 is (I hope I get this right) "en og halvfjerdsindstyve", literally, "one and half-four-times-twenty", or more commonly, just "en og halvfjerds". (Those familiar with other Germanic languages recognize "half-...

Another privacy policy that isn't very private

December 28, 2003 Dec 28, 2003 12/28/03
Raymond Chen
Today I read the privacy policy for Nuveen Investment Advisors. I like this part: We do not disclose any nonpublic personal information about you to anyone, except as permitted by law. "Except as permitted by law". How reassuring. Is it really necessary to have an official policy promising that that you won't break the law? And actually ...

Danish so-called "pronunciation"

December 28, 2003 Dec 28, 2003 12/28/03
Raymond Chen
Of course my real goal in studying German and Swedish is eventually to have all of Denmark surrounded. (After Swedish, the next most likely nearby targets are Norwegian and Dutch.) All I know about Denmark I learned from Swedes. Well, if you don't count one Danish co-worker, who moved back to Denmark several years ago. The Swedes tell me...

How to hide privacy violations in a privacy disclosure statement

December 27, 2003 Dec 27, 2003 12/27/03
Raymond Chen
I'm looking over my Fidelity privacy disclosure statement, titled "Our commitment to privacy". Google is amazing: It found a copy online: Our Commitment to Privacy. Scroll down to How and Why We Obtain Personal Information, fourth bullet point: (Italics added.) The italicized phrase translates as "We will collect personal information in ...

Famous people doing mundane things = news!

December 26, 2003 Dec 26, 2003 12/26/03
Raymond Chen
So an actor learns a foreign language and it's news: Actor Kingsley Masters Farsi Language. Meanwhile, tens of millions of people around the world learn a foreign language without any media coverage whatsoever. (And if you read the article: He didn't master Farsi. He mastered basic Farsi. Whatever that means...

One in five Swedes steal their Christmas tree

December 22, 2003 Dec 22, 2003 12/22/03
Raymond Chen
According to Aftonbladet, "Gathering Stockholm's finest news from overheard conversations on the street corner", En av fem stjäl sin julgran. ("One in five steals their Christmas tree.") This of course comes from a highly scientific online reader poll. The question is, "How do you get your Christmas tree?" and the response categories are...

Rip-it

December 18, 2003 Dec 18, 2003 12/18/03
Raymond Chen
Last night I had to frog several dozen rows of knitting because I forgot to change needles. Color changes I remember. Needle changes I always forget. Probably because color changes are much more exciting...